to add "counsellor and friend"--there was never any difficulty in
finding the way in the day or at night. If we may anticipate our early
days in France, a few months hence, we can remember being occupied all
one night in extricating parties of men who had lost their way
hopelessly in open country in the dark. Those were men who came from a
city battalion, brought up amongst labelled thoroughfares, street lamps,
and brilliantly-illuminated shop windows. We practised night work at
Luton, and all was easy and natural, though we added to our experiences,
as on the night when in the thrilling silence of a night attack the fair
chestnut bolted with the machine gun; and having kicked two men and lost
his character, reverted to the rank of officer's charger.

On a day in October the whole division had entrenched itself in the
vicinity of Sharpenhoe and Sundon. To enliven the exercise night
manoeuvres were hastily planned. Our share was to march at about 11
p.m., after a hard day and half a tea, and to continue marching through
the most intricate country until five o'clock the next morning. At that
time we were within charging distance of the enemy, and day was
breaking. Filing through a railway arch we wheeled into extended order
and lay down till all were ready. When the advance was ordered, though
we had lain down for two minutes only, the greater number were fast
asleep. Despite this hitch the position was taken, and then a march home
brought the exercise to an end at 8.10 a.m. For this operation we voted
a second bar to our medal.

To those who knew all the details of the plan the most brilliant feature
was the wonderfully accurate leading of our Brigade Major, now
Brigadier-General Aldercron. He led us behind the advanced posts of the
enemy and it was their second line that we attacked.