Positively the last words of farewell had been said, and it was
difficult to devise other forms of good-bye nearer the absolute ultimate
with which to engage our home friends, who, to our credit be it said,
were just as anxious as we were.

It was about this time that our attention was drawn to the anomaly of
the discharge rule. A man who had served for four years could take his
discharge as a time-expired soldier. At the same time men were enlisting
freely. One young man of under 21 was said to have claimed his discharge
on the very day that his grandfather, newly enlisted, entered upon three
days' "C.B." for coming on parade with dirty boots.

It was in Luton, too, that we overcame our distrust and dislike of
vaccination and inoculation against typhoid. We remember C.S.M. Lovett
being inoculated in public to give a lead to others, and we smile now to
think that in those days it was power of character and leadership only
that accomplished things, and incidentally made the way smooth for a
Government's compulsory bill.

We were inspected several times, in fact so often that the clause "We
are respected by everyone," which comes in our regimental ditty--(and
how could it not!!)--was given the alternative rendering "inspected."
Twice his Majesty the King honoured us with a visit, and in addition
General Ian Hamilton, Lord Kitchener, and others.

Regiments differ much; each has its peculiarities. The 5th
Leicestershire a county battalion, if in nothing else, excelled
individually in work across country. Though all may not have been as
clever as "Pat" Collins (G.A.), who acted as guide to the commanding
officer for many months--and we have the commanding officer's permission