Our Despatches from the Front (No. 121).
Page 14
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From Infantry to M.T., A.S.C., for Duty with a Siege Battery.
WITH A SIEGE BATTERY, November, 1916. ' It is one thing to servewith the 9th (Service) Battalion of the " Dukes " for eight months and feel that one is doing some useful work ; it is another to be transferred as a junior subaltern to the 11th (Reserve) Battalion on the 9th going Overseas, and to serve 10 months with the Reserve with no definite goal in view. Hence my joy when there appeared in orders one night a notice to the effect that applications for transfer into the Mechanical Transport Section of the Army Service Corps of Officers with the necessary qualifications would be considered_ That very evening I sent in my application for transfer in the hope of getting an interesting job and one at which I might be of some service.
Interviewing the D.A.D.T.
Three weeks of expectant waiting, then an invitation to an interview with the D.A.D.T. at the War Office at any time between '3 p.m. and 5 p.m. the next day or the following Monday. Being a believer in " first come first served," I duly arrived at the War Office at 2.45 p.m. the next day. The green pass obtained, the screen in the entrance hall left behind, the route match through the maze of corri
• dors, an hour's wait., and I stood before an officer who wore a red cap and asked me questions concerning my education at school and 'varsity, my service as a soldier before, or as an officer since the outbreak of war, my knowledge of motors and puff-puffs, and other interesting subjects, winding up with " You will receive further coin munication in the course of a few days." I saluted and withdrew.
Report for Duty.
A week later I received an order to report to the 0.C., M.T., A.S.C., Grove Park Depot. All was well. The order came on a Thursday and I had to report on the following Monday. That a busy week-end, and my 5 h.j Indian did good work. It took n from Brocton Camp, Stafford I Bolsover on the Friday, to Cheste
field and round about the place o the Saturday ; from Bolsover t Cambridge on the Sunday, 1( miles in three hours, pretty goo going, and from Cambridge t Grove Park, London, on the Mot day.
Puzzling M.T., A.S.C. drill.
I spent a month at Grove Par] The first week I learnt the dril very puzzling at first after infantr drill but quite simple after a coup] of days. The next two weeks attended lectures on organizatim military law, and miscellanem subjects by instructors who kne their business. The next week was "on convoy," which mear that I did nothing but hang .abot and wait for a job. At the end .( the week, along with a dozen othi officers, I received orders to pie eeed to Belford Camp, and subsi quently found myself at that ou landish spot amidst the downs ( Salisbury Plain.
Preparing for Overseas Duty.
I had an easy time for five day; one of which I spent in taking convoy to Avonmouth and returi ing by train. Then the Assistaz Adjutant went away on leave. took his place, and when I di covered that I had to do the shou ing at a parade of 1600 strong, thanked my lucky. stars that I ha been for some time in the Ii I antry.
(To be continued.)