After spending the greater part of the day (the 26th February) lounging
about the Hangars at Southampton, we at length embarked late in the
afternoon--Headquarters and the right half battalion in S.S. Duchess of
Argyle, left half, under Major Martin, in S.S. Atalanta. The transport,
under Capt. Burnett, was due to sail later in S.S. Mazaran, since
torpedoed in the Channel, but they embarked at the same time as the
rest. Four other ships containing Divisional Headquarters and some of
the Sherwood Foresters were to sail with us, and at 9 p.m., to the
accompaniment of several syrens blowing "Farewell," we steamed out, S.S.
Duchess of Argyle leading. The Captain of the ship asked us to post a
signaller to read any signals, Serjt. Diggle was told to keep a look out
and assist the official signaller, a sort of nondescript Swede or other
neutral, like the rest of the crew. We soon sighted some war vessel, and
asked if they had any orders, the reply being, according to Serjt.
Diggle, "No go"--according to the Swede, "No no." The Captain preferred
to believe the latter, and as there were no orders continued his course,
though we could see the remainder of our little fleet turn round and
sail back. The weather was appalling, the sea very rough, and long
before we had reached half way we were all very ill. This was not
surprising, as our transport was built for pleasure work on the Clyde,
and, though fast, was never intended to face a Channel storm. Each time
a wave crashed into the ship's side we imagined we had been torpedoed;
in fact, it was one long night of concentrated misery.

We reached Le Havre in the early hours of the morning, and disembarked,
feeling, and probably looking, very bedraggled. From the quay we crawled
up a long and terribly steep hill to the rest camp--some lines of tents
in a muddy field. Here, while we waited 24 hours for our left half
Battalion, of whom we had no news, we were joined by our first