"That is a complete record, in duplicate, of all the troops in your charge. When you get to the station hand those papers over to the R.T.O."
"How many men have I charge of?"
"Rather a big crowd going to-night—38 officers and 1,140 other ranks."
"What regiments do they belong to?"
"Well, I think you have got men who belong to nearly every regiment serving in France. There are reinforcement draughts going to various units, and numerous men returning from leave. You've got English, Scotch, Canadians, and Australians. You've got cavalrymen, artillerymen, engineers, and infantrymen. Believe me, you've got your hands full to-night.
"You will find a guide at the head of the column who knows the way to the station. It's a good five miles from here."
When I got outside I found the column nearly a quarter of a mile long, formed up ready to march off.
I gave the order to move to all those within reach of my voice, and trusted to the remainder to follow on.
It was quite dark as the long column moved slowly down the long boulevards. I had not the faintest notion where the station was. Wherever I went that long, unwieldy column would slowly follow me, and trust blindly to my direction. I pinned my faith to the guide, and on we went.
Before we had got half-way it became evident that the guide had a very remote idea which was the direction to take; and he began to make anxious inquiries of passers-by as to the right way.