were kept on the watch at night.

On the 26th of November, the time of our life began when the regiment
marched into billets at Sawbridgeworth. The town was built for one
infantry regiment and no more. The inhabitants were delightful, and we
have heard, indirectly, more than once that they were pleased with us.
We soon learnt to love the town and all it contained, and we dare not
say that our love has grown cold even now. The wedding bells have
already rung for the regiment once at Sawbridgeworth, when Lieut. R.C.L.
Mould married Miss Barrett, and we do not know that they may not ring
again for a similar reason. In Sawbridgeworth, our vigorous adjutant,
Captain W.T. Bromfield, was at his best. Everyone was seized and pulled
up to the last notch of efficiency, pay books were ready in time,
company returns were faultless, deficiency lists complete, saluting was
severer than ever, and echos of heel clicks rattled from the windows in
the street. Best of all were the drums. Daily at Retreat, Drum Sergt.
Skinner would salute the orderly officer, the orderly officer would
salute the senior officer, then all the officers would salute all the
ladies, the crowd would move slowly away, and wheel traffic was
permitted once more in the High Street.

The ordinary routine of military life was broken into at times by sudden
and violent efforts dictated by lightning ideas of the Divisional or
Brigade Staff, or by the latest news from the front. There was a time,
for example, when we could think of one thing only,--the recessed
trench. That gave place to the half company trench, a complete system,
embracing fire trenches, supports, inspection trenches, with cook
houses, wash houses, and all that a well regulated house could require;
and so important was it, and its dimensions so precise, that an
annotated copy was printed on handkerchiefs.