Andrew Richard Buxton. 3rd Rifle Brigade

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"Imagine a small manager's room with a big writing table and desk, very orderly, with papers and paraphernalia associated with business. Andrew sitting at it with the serious air of a man with other people's interests in his hands. His face lights up with a warm welcome as you come in, and you notice that in one corner rests perhaps a catapult, in another a treatise on trapping vermin, or perhaps a parcel which contains a prize won at the retriever trials. All these were matters which Andrew turned to in his spare moments, but they were never allowed to interfere with the main business in hand. But the odd thing was that though they were to him only by-play, he was probably as good an authority on his subjects as any one alive. Not the least interesting of his hobbies was the study of spiders, but I am not aware that he ever let loose any of his deadly tarantulas in a London office. It might not have been good for business if an important customer had died from the bite of a tarantula which had escaped from it's cage in Victoria Street. Nor did he, so far as I am aware, use a catapult in London, in spite of the many inviting sparrow targets, but I do know that he was a nailing good shot with one, and that its use was one of his chosen methods of training his dogs.

"Imagine also the dusty vaults of the Bank when the tedious work of counting Gold was at hand. Accuracy is everything, and Andrew is just the man for it. All has to be carried out in the confined atmosphere of the safes, and lifting and counting and weighing heavy bags of sovereigns is no light work. One bag, after being counted, burst and the contents roll all over the floor. They are all picked up and a weary clerk says, 'We need not count them again, need we ?' Only one answer could come from Andrew. Even if it meant additional hours of work and the breaking of important engagements, the work must be thorough. 'Yes, count it all again, I'll lend you a hand.' Or, with one eye on the clock one of the party remarks, 'Let us do the rest to-morrow.' But he gets no encouragement - the job of the day must be completed before adjournment."

Lord K. writes :

"In all my life I have never met anyone I 'took to' so much as the dear boy. I had heard much about him and his Labrador, but had never met him, until one day I found myself penniless in Victorai Street and saw Barclay's Bank at the corner, so I went in to beard the formidable manager and borrow money. I was shown in and to my joy Andrew made himself known. So we met first, and have often met since to my great pleasure. His gentle synpathy and keeness were so attractive."

[marina]

A catapult in the bank manager's office! And how did he train a dog with a catapult?

Marina

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All through this time he lived at home, except for his summer holidays, which were usually spent in Scotland. On two occasions he went on trips abroad; one of these was to the Black Forset with his sister Rosamond in 1911, and the other to Canada in 1913.

During this time at home, first at Hunsdon Bury and then at Easneye, he took great trouble and interest over his lad's and men's clubs at Hunsdon and St. Margaret's. Later on he started anohter club at Waters Place and a men's Service at Stanstead Abbotts. It must often have been a very great effort to him after a long hard business day to get a little supper and then bicycle off again on dark winter nights to the Clubs, returning late and tired out; but he never complained, although he must have longed for a quiet evening at home. He took special interest in the "Shovers Club" in Stanstead Abbotts. One of the members of the Club wrote after his death :

"As to myself, no one knows what it means to me, as I looked upon Andrew's influence in this village, with the young fellows, as something to be proud of. Only the last time I spoke to him he told me he did so hope, if anything should happen, I would try and run the Services that he started. I am quite certain that his influence in the Army must have done a power of good, and we whom knew and loved him realize that we have lost a friend whom we are proud to look up to."

Despite these local claims on his spare time, he contrived to render valuable assistance to various other efforts and movements of a Christian kind. Amongst these maybe mentioned the London City Mission, on whose committee he served from 1906, the Home for Working Bys in London, the Spanish and Portugese Church Aid Society, and the "Cambridge University Missionary Party," of which he remained the Treasurer until his death. He used constantly to visit his special friends about Easneye - in particular the bedridden "Billy" Stone (on his way from the station), also writing to him from Canada of France. On one picture postcard he wrote:

"Fret not - He loves thee.

Faint not - He holds thee.

Fear not - He keeps thee."

Others he specailly visited were the old shepherd's wife, Mrs. Butt, who died a few hours after one of his visits, aged nearly 100; and a poor man and woman dying from cancer, for whom he had a "Specialist" down from Town to see if anything could be done for them.

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Here are some extracts from letters of this period :

To his Mother.

Letterfinlay,

Invergloy,

August 18, 1905.

"...........We are enjoying this place so much. Our trophy is, as I expect you have heard, an eight and a half pound brown trout on a minnow in the loch. I expect that will make Arthur's mouth water !"

To his Mother.

Hunsdon Bury,

April 1907.

"Very many thanks for your most welcome letter at the bank this morning. We have had a very good Easter, though your absence has been very sad. Father, Harry, and I had a game of fives on Saturday afternoon, and yesterday fished in the morning, catching four pike, walking round the wood and did a little cutting in the afternoon; and then drove to Easneye for tea, where a few people and Harry and I walked back along the river with a rifle and shot two rats and a sparrow........ Tell Arthur his rabbits spent a very happy Bank Holiday morning on the island of the pond.........Zulu's (his favourite retriever) first birthday today."

To his Mother

Easneye

Undated.

"..... I was awfully disappointed with Zulu who never sat still for a single rabbit or hare, though otherwise he worked magnificently. If I could have a weekwith him here shooting rabbits alone I believe I could get him right, but it cannot be, and I am afraid I shall never do any good with him, though I hope I am mistaken."

To his Mother.

Tarvie, Pitlochry,

August 19, 1907.

"......I have been out all day on the middle beat with Uncle Robert and Gurney. We got fifteen and a half brace and three hares......... Tomorrow are the games at Pitlochry, and on Wednesday at Kirkmichael.... How I wish you were up here, with the refreshment of the air and view; the hills tonight most beautiful across and up the glen with the setting sun on them."

To his Mother

Hunsdon Bury

October 31, 1908

"..........I went down to the Boy's Club in the villagelast night, which I found to be going most successfully, thanks largely to Mr. G's kindness and interest.

"I am going to have made some pulling boards such as we had at D.'s at Harrow for a tug-of-war, sitting down with bars to get your heels against, as the boys require some means of letting off animal energy! This afternoon I have been playing a game of football with them in the Warren, since when I have been training my three dogs with a duck which I brought from Cromer. Sultan has grown a great deal and will, I think, turn out very handsome and a good dog, though longer in the leg than I care for. They are now all three helping me write in the new room; there is no need to tear up letters as Sultan so efficiently does it, but does not, alas ! return them to the paper basket."

[marina]

What a busy man he was with all his societies. I suppose he is what used to be called 'a muscular Christi'an, living his faith rather than just professing it.

Marina

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To his Mother

Tarvie, Pitlochry,

August 24, 1908

"We are such a nice party here and having such a nice time. On Saturday Uncle Robert, Harry and I walked up the east side and shot twelve and a half brace grouse, and to-day Harry, Tom, Gilbert and I went up the west side to the top of Ben Vuruch and got twelve and a half brace again. It was a most lovely walk, and I took the left, following the Clunskeagh burn the whole way, which is most lovely; bright green moss on the stones and banks, with the clearest water coming down and a good many small trout about two and two or three water ousels. I got a snipe on the yop of Ben Vuruch, and Harry got a woodcock..... The heather is in full flower and the pollen quite covers you. Zulu gets quite grey at times. The smell is often just as strong as a bit of heather honey. We usually go out shooting rabbits with rifles in the evening, which is great sport.........F. says Zulu is 'too fat.' He is doing very well and finds the grouse splendidly, but has, I regret to say, run a few blue hares."

To his Mother

Cromer

January 9, 1909.

"........We are just in after a most delightful day at Trimingham, getting over 130 pheasants and 12 woodcock, of which we saw no end........ I did long for you along the cliffs by the sea coverts, with their jolly depth and wild waste appearance of the land slips with the roar of the sea below....."

To his Father

1 Whitehall Gardens

January 26, 1909. "Events have taken a rather important turn for me at the Bank. I saw the General Manager yesterday, who tells me that they are short handed at Pall Mall and he wishes to know if I would be agreeable to take C.'s place at Westminster, with possibly the title of Local Director. I shall be pleased to accept it."

To A.G.H.

95 Victoria Street,

February 10, 1909.

"............I have got the sack from Lombard Street, either because they are tired of me, or else because they cannot hit on any one better suited to take charge of this great branch. Anyway, I started here as Manager on February 1, and the Branch is still existent!......I shall no doubt shortly be known as the Victorai Street Banker and Financier.

"A very nice office next door to the Stores, and business of a nature which I much look forward to, for a period which may easily find me with a bald head and a stick in each hand.

"I do indeed congratulate you on the splendid result of 857 from your coverts. My day with you was delightful."

To his sister Rosamond

Tarvie, Pitlochry, N.B.

August 30, 1909.

"It is the day before your twenty first. Accept the tip top of best wishes. What a stage has been achieved by you, the last of us, having vome of age, but nothing to be sad about, as time must slip on - being quite impervious to any orders to sit still - and our point of view towards it must be to subject the use of it to the laws of God (Rom. viii. 7), the basis of which is the abiding life of John xv

"Well my Ros, my best wishes for many good days fishing and other enjoyments for you body, delightful thoughts and books for your mind, and unseperated walk with God for your soul for all the future of this life."

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This chapter may fitly conclude with some further account of Andrew's interest in sport, in particular of his success as a trainer of retrievers. He was a remarkably good shot, but his pleasure in shooting was always second to his pleasure in living animals. He would spend hours in going after a wounded bird or rabbit, and he was never happier than when training his dogs. One of his sisters recalls that during the shooting seasons prior to the War he began more and more to dislike shooting, except for sporting pigeon and such like shots, and would, on the occasions of a day off from business, prefer to work his Labradors for picking up other shooter's game than take a gun's place himself.

His Mother writes that :

"He could never bear to see a wounded creature of any sort; he always followed them up even if it were only a sparrow hurt by his catapult. This he specially taught his nephews to do in after life.

"When in France he once astonished the occupants of a French cafe by untying the legs of the chickens which were lting alive on the floor ! And he would feed the starving dogs and loosen the chains of those tied up, or shoot one with a broken leg. He was also especially careful to examine the horses oats, fearing lest German 'hooks' should have got among them."

His cousin, Major R.L. Barclay, who frequently shot with him, writes of their sport together :

"Of course it goes without saying that a character such as Andrew Buston's was a delightful asset in any party for sport or games. He always added to the spirit of any fun that was going on, and never 'played for himself.' Many a pleasant day have I passed with him, and fond are the recollections of the sport we have so often shared.

"He and Zulu spent some time with us at Glenbrittle in the Island of Skye five years ago. Al kinds of sport were to be found there, from deer-stalking to spearing crabs on the bottom of the sea. It was possible to kill a satg, shoot a grouse, catch a sea trout, and land a net full of sea fish on the same day, although indeed bags were never heavy. A typical day was one which started with Andrew trying to teach his famous dog to choose which kind of game he was to retrieve when more than one kind were to be picked up. So grouse and rabbits were hidden and hunted for, certain orders were given to the dog and he certainly learnt what was expected of him, but I cannot say performed this difficult operation without mistake. This went on until in the pouring rain we went off to look for snipe, and found quite a number along the river. It was the most wonderful thing in the world to see Zulu find and bring the killed and wounded. No time wasted, yet no rushing about, always straight on the scent and back at a gallop. Now and then the immaculate Zulu would do something of which his master disapproved, and out would come the catapult, and a buckshot landed on his flamk recalled him to the strict path of duty. But it was always a treat to see how master and dog worked together.

[marina]

Don't know as I fancy his catapult much - poor Zulu!

Marina

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Now for the part's we have been waiting for, sorry about the build up but I think it is essential to get a feel for the person and one of the reason I do enjoy these Memorial books so much, you really get to know the person.

Andy

[marina]

I agree. Getting to know the participants makes the accounts of the war service all more vivid and real; and getting familiar with mindsets which are possibly dfferent from our own can only increase understanding of the times and the people.

Now I find myself wondering and anticipating how Andrew will face it all. Staedy as a rock and kindly I;d bet.

We shall see.

Roll on the next intsallment.

Marina

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Chapter IV

Joining up.

September, 1914 - June, 1915.

For Andrew, as for millions of others, the War came down upon life with relentless and decisive force, completely closing one chapter and opening another, with new and strange things to writ therein.

His father had taken a Scotch Lodge (Urrard) that August (1914), hoping for the usual large family party; but Andrew, like many other men in those days, was facing the vital question of enlistment. Of the difficulties in his way his mother writes :

"First, he was over age at that time. Secondly, it was a most critical business time and he was responsible for his Branch of the Bank. Thirdly, the medical officer, after examination, refused to pass him and wrote privately to his father as follows:

" 'May I write a confidential note to say that your son, who has just been for medical examination before me, cannot be fit to become a recruit..... It is hateful to decline any recruit, and I write this private note with much regret. - C.B.G.'

"The same doctor wrote this after his death :

" 'June 13th, 1917.

" 'I at any rate, knew of his great keeness at once to do his duty to his King and Country when War began, and how he resented my turning him down, when, from the facts before me, I could do nothing else from my standpoint of right. Had he not been as true as the best tempered steel he could perfectly accepted my verdict, and no one could have gainsaid his action, but he elected to let nothing stand in his way, and surely his honour is thereby doubly great. - C.B.G.'"

Andrew himself writes :

From 95, Victorai Street,

"August 7, 1914.

"We live in exciting times in the financial world. A 'moratorium' has been declared..... How dearly I should like to enlist at this moment, but it is impossible to leave the Bank at so critical a time...... The summary actions taken by the War Office, etc., are all good. I have just heard of a man driving with carriage and pair to a Surrey country station and having his horses commandeered and so left stranded ! In this office we have several amusing incidents in the form of offers from aged spinsters offering to help if it will enable the clerks to enlist. The question of enlisting is very difficult, both as to myself and the clerks. I am bound to drag on, anyhow for a few days, and see how the Bank will be able to manage with smaller staff."

[marina]

I wonder was it only his age which made him unfit to pass the medicals.

Got a nice vision of helpful elderly spinsters too...

Marina

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To a Sister

County and Station Hotel

Carlisle

Sunday, August 30, 1914.

"I smoked my first cigarette since Friday after supper, here, and sweet indeed it is. It has been hard work not to have a smoke before, but I must now get fit for military duties, which I am confident are incumbent upon me, unless a very different turn takes place from the German awful move onward.

"I pray that each day as it comes you may be an aexampler of Christ's nature, and that you may have real fellowship with Him. Pray then for me too as I fail to get real fellowship, which, if I had, the events of life which tend to care would not so affect me."

Monday, August 31, 1914.

"The topic of cenversation and discussion in Lonmdon appears to be whether Russian troops have come through England - Sandy (keeper) here confirmed it! I know you don't want me to enlist, but I cannot help thinking it my duty from every point of view to do so soon - say next week or the following. I am not a born soldier, but I am a bachelor and I have an idea of rifle shooting, and with every available man being required I cannot stand out. There is a Corps called 'The Artists,' which rather attracts me, as I should not, I think, try for a commission. It would, no doubt, mean three or four months training, and then choice of volunteering for abroad or not.

"Bank Rate 8 per cent this afternoon. Martial Law in Germany, and the Stock Exchange closed to-day. I am much better for my time with you and it will be a long remembered holiday (one week at Urrard). I am glad I arranged it."

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September 4, 1914.

"I have not yet enlisted. I went up last night to Lord's Cricket Ground where a good many of the Artists are quartered on the practice ground and sleep in the booths, etc., all round where tea parties usually reign supreme. It was a strange contrast to the Harrow and Eton Match ! Of course my intention is to join the ranks and not try for a commission. This will be all right, provided I get in with nice men. I am now using every endeavour to get men I know to arrange to come into the same Company with me..........I hope the Germans will now get a bad smash outside Paris - how thrilling it would be to be out there ! The disadvantage of waiting to enlist is that the probability of going to France is more doubtful. This, as you can imagine, I should wish to do.!

On September 24, 1914, he managed to pass a Doctor (another one, who knew nothing of his previous rejection), and enlisted as a Private in the Public Schools and University Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, then quartered at Epsom. Kis mother records that in his first billet he drew lots with the two 'Tommies' as to which of the three should have the two beds in a tiny room - and the lot fell to him to sleep on the floor. Within a few days of enlisting he wrote to his sister.

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The Croft, Ashstead

September 27, 1914.

"Do you think the front, or national military service, which we are both in for, may lead to the front in missionary service for God ? Thios might be a way and time opened by God.

"I feel my course has been right, and if not taken, to be endlessly regertted, though how to shoot or bayonet a German will, I think, continue, and endless problem till the time comes, and then it has got to be done, even though conscious that he may have a mother who loves, in some degree, as mother does ! Am I sentimental too much ? I fear I am. You must put me right.

"Did I tell you one doctor absolutely refused to pass me, and with the greatest trouble I had to manoeuvre for another to do it ? L.S. agreed to my sticking to it.

"P.S. Passed my medical, and sworn in to-day after considerable trouble, one doctor refusing to pass me in spite of L.S.'s second letter. I parade in Hyde Park at 1 o'clock tomorrow, and am billeted at either Ashstead or Leatherhead for training at Epsom. I much want to hear how you are getting on. Best of Love.

An aunt (and great friend) who lived near Epsom and saw a good deal of him at this time contributes the following reminiscence :-

"To any one who only knew Andrew at home or at the Bank, it would have been a revelation to see him during the time he was training in the U.P.S. in billets at Ashstead, Surrey.

"I had the joy at that time of seeing him constantly, and can only say that the energy and determination he put into his work was amazing, when one remembers that soldiering was entirley new to him, and that he was no longer a boy, though indeed his 'joie de vivre' and wonderfully youthful air often deceived people as to his years.

"He was always ready to make light of any hardships and laugh at the difficulties they experienced, saying that the training, though sometimes irksome, was 'most valuable' and that it was quite right that they should go as far as possible through every detail of what they would have to expect of their men in the future, when they themselves had got commissions. Having a bad circulation, I think Andrew did at times feel the cold and damp of that winter pretty severely, though he never mentioned it except to remark, 'Well this is good - better than digging trenches or lying flat in the mud' - when having walked over after a long day he found himself sitting in front of a cosy fire, with, however, the prospect of another muddy tramp back to his billet and an early start the next morning. When I look back at that time, I think what struck me most in Andrew were, his wonderful power of sympathy (which made him the most perfect listener in the world) - his extraordinary unselfishness - and his iron will to carry out what he had made up his mind was right and best, which was sometimes quite a surprise to those who had only seen the gentle side of his character.

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Once convinced that a thing was his duty, or the best thing to do, nothing would turn him from his purpose; but with this he had a very broad-minded tolerance of other people's views, especially of those who had not the same upbringing as himself; and it was the gretaest help at any time to talk things over with him and ask his advice, which was given with great earnestness and his whole attention. He was never too busy or too tired to help, if he could, in the difficulties of others, and took a real intense interest in their joys, in every detail. Combined with these characteristics was a quite exceptional humbleness of mind, a humbleness which made it genuinely impossible for Andrew to realize that he was loved for his own sake; it seemed to be a constant surprise to him that any one should take trouble on his behalf, and the smallest service rendered, or least thing done to give him pleasure, was always met by far more gratitude than it deserved. He was always more than anxious to avoid giving any sort of trouble. It goes without saying that the charm of this unusually beautiful character made itself felt by a large number of people, though Andrew himself was completely unaware of it, abd though some failed to understand him just because of his diffidence. His great devotion to his mother in mentioned elsewhere in this book, and one of the little things I specially recollect at Ashstead is the infinite pains he took over the designing for her of a locket with the badge of the Rifle Brigade, when at the end of his training he received his commission, and his pleasure at the family's admiration of it. His love for children was one of the most attractive qualities, and as for children's love of him, it amounted to hero worship, and his memory will be an inspiration to many of them all their lives. No trouble was ever too great to take for them, whether it was (in my own childrens case) walking back to the shop at Ashstead after a long and tiring day, to search for something he knew they specially liked or taking them for a delightful country walk to learn about birds nests or spiders, or later in France, sitting in his dug-out in the midst of the incessant din, writing to them by the light of a candle. One could write many more recollections of Andrew, but no words can ever express what he was. To those who have known and loved him his friendship is something to thank God for all their life.

In thinking of him the words that always occur to my mind are those of Kingsley's:-

"Can we forget one friend, can we forget one face

That cheered us towards our end, that nerved us for our race ?

One presence that has made us know to God-like souls, how deep in debt,

We would not, if we could forget."

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Here follow some extracts from his own letters of this period :-

The Croft, Ashstead,

October 10, 1914.

"This is a strange life, and I feel I am back at both Harrow and Cambridge mixed up in one, with drills corresponding to 'schools' at various times, and more or less a Cambridge life with others in the house. One sore toe is the extent of my ailments so far, though this becomes a big thing with long raod grinds !"

"Billet, The Croft, Ashstead,

October 12, 1914.

He writes of the idea of building a sufficient number of huts to accomodate the whole Brigade of between 5,000 and 6,000 men, and goes on to say : "The King came down to-day and walked round informally;" and then continues : "When I was in Canada my great grief was to feel incapable of attempting to put up a simple wooden 'shack' which every one seemed to do for himself, though I tried hard to learn the system of it, and so you can imagine I delighted in this chance of experience in what is just similar work. The site is a splendid one, high up and looking on the Grand Stand of the Race Course."

[marina]

Nice picture of him writing to the children in the trenches. And designing the locket for his mother.

Marina

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October 15, 1914.

"This morning I had, for some unknown reason, an honour paid me in being ordered with one other man to fall out with the Non-Commissioned Officers and told they would like me to become one. I am glad to say I was able to get out of it, though at the time I did not think I could work getting off. I hope you think I was right. Non-Commissioned Officers have already had a lot of training and the responsibility of being in charge of fourteen men has duties which I do not consider without previous training that I was able completely to fulfil......... We have often in the afternoon 'extended' drill, which is interesting. It is considered of considerable importance to heave yopurself on the ground and get up for the next sprint as quickly as possible as casualties chiefly occur at these times. An afternoon of this sort is splendid exercise. I am glad to find I can usually get up quicker than others and have a considerable laed. I am also glad that my clothes so far need no mending............Probably khaki uniform to-morrow. This morning we had a lecture on 'Tactics !' "

To his Sister.

The croft, Ashtead,

October 18, 1914.

"I have your Weymouth Bible you gave me at Quinish, 1911, and enjoy it extremely - just now I am reading 2 Cor. I told you what I pray for yourself and myself, and 2 Cor.ii.15 gives the state and the aggressive result of it : 'We are a fragrance of Christ, grateful to God in those whom He is saving, and in those who are perishing; to the last named an odour of death predictive of death, and to the others an odour of life predictive of life."

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To his Mother.

Billet,

November 12, 1914.

".......We fall in at 7.50 (after breakfast), which makes the day with the same work all the time seem a long one ! You will, though, be glad to know that we knock off at 10.45 for a quarter of an hour to get what we want from the Canteen arranged in one of the huts. My military efforts I still put in terms of other experiences, especially in the matter of marching with rifles in which the feeling is that of going up a Scottish hill to get to the moor to shoot, and of digging trenches to the inevitable digging-out ferreting.

A military nature will no doubt soon occur."

December 13, 1914.

"No uniforms yet except cap and puttees, which latter are useful for wet days, and a pair of boots which seem to fit well and to be good ones in spite of simply 'drawing' them by size only. It would have tickled you too when drawing boots, when of course the record of doing so is kept, to have just two questions asked - 1st, what religion you are - then size of boots, as it did me, but I am getting used to the many strange ways of conducting things here. They ask us every few weeks what religion we are, and I hope will soon have the record. Atheists and agnostics are apparently classified as Church of England !"

[stiletto_33853]

December 18, 1914.

"This letter brings the prospect of an event in my life (The Rifle Brigade accepting him). Now I am taking steps to get a transfer to the Cambridge O.T.C. as a Private."

To a Sister

The Croft, Ashtead,

December 29, 1914.

"I shall value them (the socks) immensely, both for what they are, and then for the rememberance each time I wear them of you and your love and interest, especially in this war life in which I am occupied. We have had such a nice Christmas at Easneye, though of course more or less quiet. We appear to be in for digging trenches all this week."

The Croft, Ashtead,

20-12-14

"I expect you feel as I do - just overwhelmed with the immensity of this war, and with the terrors of it. Big things sometimes come to a sudden end, and perhaps we may see this. Are we and our Allies nations of righteousness to whom God can give victory in response to next Sunday's day of prayer ? It seems to me interesting and critical.......... It is a joy to know that you and W. have me in mind in this really awful war."

[stiletto_33853]

26-12-14

"If nations aimed at attaining a Kingdom of Christ instead of temporal national interests only, I cannot think that this war would have occured. I am frightened whether we are a nation honouring God, and hence whether victory will be ours. I wish there was more sign of men turning Godwards."

Billet

January 2, 1915.

"The feeling I have is entirely like being back at school. .............Jocelyn Buxton (1) is thinking of the Rifle Brigade. I therefore hope both he and others I know may be in the 6th. We had a rotten day going early to W. with an inevitable full half-hour wait at Ashtead Station first - and about 11.30 knocked off owing to the rain and marched to the station, where we waited from 12.30 till 3.30 for a special train. It was driving rain all the time and a very great number of the men had to stand on the uncovered part of the platform. I was very fortunate being under cover and having a Times to read. I always have something of this sort with me in view of frequent waits to which we are subjected. All day was very cold and draughty and I was so grateful for your present. If you really intend to give me the pair of long mittens some day which I shall wear under M.'s mittens (which have no fingers) I shall be provided for till I get to Berlin ! The wait yesterday and this afternoon free seem very strange when I think of what my life would, in ordinary way, be at the Bank these few days at the end of the yeay !"

(1) Missing (later presumed killed) 1916.

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To his Sister Rosamond.

The Croft, Ashtead,

January 6, 1915.

"What a tremendous victory over the Turks in the Caucaua in to-day's paper, but how strange to have it spoken of more in the strain of being satisfactory than in number of casualties as ranking as one of the biggest battles in the world's history. How awful, how frightfully awful from a humanitarian point of view the news is each day."

January 12, 1915.

"As I told you I now posses a uniform as outward and visible sign of being a full 'private !' I am told that my hat does not fit and I look like a 'bus-driver !....... This morning we had a lovely sky with the remains of the waning moon near Sirius and some star."

January 13, 1915.

"Have heard from Major C., which means that I may be discharged from here any day. I shall have to report on 22nd to Sheerness and arrange for a three weeks O.T.C. course at Cambridge. Victor wires me that Jocelyn can get into the 6th, which is splendid."

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Prior to receiving a Commission in The Rifle Brigade he went to Cambridge for the O.T.C. course. It was a great joy to him to find himself once more in rooms in Trinity College and "returning to old ways, cooking buttered eggs for breakfast with the bed-maker fussing about."

He writes in letters :

January 18, 1915.

"The Kit is really the most wonderful bag of tricks you can imagine. It includeds haversack, kit bag, trenching implements, water bottle, bayonet, etc., and without previous instruction could not be put together. I have just tried to count the number of buckles that are attached and they appear to be thirty seven !"

Canbridge

January 29, 1915.

"Patrick Buxton joined me in the middle of breakfast. A great number of men have come up and are mostly at Pembroke where I wish I was also, as it is there we fall in for parades, and also lunch and supper and lectures, and as our programme is most strenuous with very short intervals between parades there is no opportunity to get back to one's rooms."

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To his Mother

Cambridge,

January 31, 1915.

"How do I wish you were here to-day to have a peaceful talk and day together. I think specially of your love to me and the fact that God has the same love and care for us both. We thus seem to have a God a uniting centre for the love that we have to each other. I have had a hard time of faith-testing lately with things on hand and mind to worry my nature, and I fear I have worried and hence not glorified God. I am pretty confident that God is not going to (He cannaot do so or life would become rididculous by our having no need for decisions) show us the right course to take in business or other material decisions in life, but He is all the time wanting to give us His Spirit whereby we shall have the right motive in everything. Lately I have missed this, to-day I recognize by receiving His Spirit that this sickness is from Him, also that worries have lately been given that I might show a peaceful spirit in spite of him."

To his Brother Arthur.

Cambridge,

February 7, 1915.

"I write to ask whether you will do me and the nation a favour by lending me your field glasses ? They are very difficult to procure, in fact only a French make can be got, and as I believe you have a pair, cannot resist suggesting it. Will you, however, take the risk of their being lost if I am shot, or if they are lost and I am not shot, of accepting a new pair in their place ? Strange being here in 'C.' New Court. The instruction is good, but very strenuous, and it is hard to find time for anything. You will of course say me 'nay' re the glasses if any hesitation. J.B. is here with measles."