Lives of the First World War

known 16th March 1915

March 11th - Watford Recalled from leave on Sunday. Waiting till Admiralty guarantee crossing: days passing on the alert; bayonet-fighting the principle thing. March 15th Lecture tonight, when Adjutant announced departure on Wednesday morning. Men celebrated and paraded in Essex Road, eight deep singing Balm o’Gilead. Instructions as to conduct over there issued… [There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead To heal the sin-sick soul. Some times I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain, But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again. (Chorus) If you cannot sing like angels, If you can’t preach like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus, And say He died for all.] March 16th My last night in England. Wonder when I shall return. Dinner with the Stubbs and said goodbyes; they have been good to us. March 17th. 7.15am. In the train. Wives, sweet hearts etc. turned out to see us off. Birds were just beginning to sing. Entrained amid plaudits of admiring crowd who followed us on to the line and even along the line some way. Came by a very roundabout way, Willesden, Acton, Kew, Woking to SWR main line; then though to Southampton. All the way down, cheering and waving of handkerchiefs. Solo is the order of the journey at present. Just started Miss Stubbs’ rations, sandwiching them with the Golden Treasury. 2.30pm. At the wharf. Now waiting in a big shed on the wharf, men all at coffee, officers playing cards. Everybody pretty well strung up [tense]. Diversion caused by the appearance of a little black dog ‘Gip”, who used to follow us about at Watford; he will be adopted now as regimental mascot. 10.30pm. On board HM Transport. After an interminable time it began to get dark, and at 8pm “Fall in!” went. Everybody was in great coat with equipment, marching along the wharf in absolute silence, all lights dowsed, stumbling over ropes and rails. The Battalion embarked in two ex pleasure boats. A tug pulled us into the dark waters, and we three loud cheers we were off! Everybody was on deck to see the last lights of England.

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