So long and good luck! Ever yours, WILLIAM. PIRBRIGHT HUTS, 1/10/15. * * * * * The day after I had written this letter the news came to me that Robert Whyte had been killed. The letter must stand--I have not the heart to write another. W.H.L.W. PIRBRIGHT HUTS. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. ENLISTING 1 II. THE JOURNEY TO THE FRONT 12 III. THE BATTLE OF MONS 26 IV. THE BATTLE OF LE CATEAU 40 V. THE GREAT RETREAT 51 VI. OVER THE MARNE TO THE AISNE 76 VII. THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE 105 VIII. THE MOVE TO THE NORTH 140 IX. ROUND LA BASSEE 167 X. THE BEGINNING OF WINTER 197 XI. ST JANS CAPPEL 230 XII. BEHIND THE LINES 253 LIST OF MAPS. PAGE ROUTE TAKEN BY FIFTH DIVISION _At beginning_ ROUND MONS 25 THE MARNE (LAGNY TO CHATEAU-THIERRY) 87 THE AISNE (SOISSONS TO VAILLY) 104 ROUND LA BASSEE 166 YPRES TO LA BASSEE 197 LINE OF RETREAT AND ADVANCE _At end_ Adventures of A Despatch Rider. CHAPTER I. ENLISTING At 6.45 P.M. on Saturday, July 25, 1914, Alec and I determined to take part in the Austro-Servian War. I remember the exact minute, because we were standing on the "down" platform of Earl's Court Station, waiting for the 6.55 through train to South Harrow, and Alec had just remarked that we had ten minutes to wait. We had travelled up to London, intending to work in the British Museum for our "vivas" at Oxford, but in the morning it had been so hot that we had strolled round Bloomsbury, smoking our pipes. By lunch-time we had gained such an appetite that we did not feel like work in the afternoon. We went to see Elsie Janis. The evening papers were full of grave prognostications. War between Servia and Austria seemed inevitable. Earl's Court Station inspired us with the spirit of adventure. We determined to take part, and debated whether we should go out as war correspondents or as orderlies in a Servian hospital. At home we could talk of nothing else during dinner. Ikla, that wisest of all Egyptians, mildly encouraged us, while the family smiled. On Sunday we learned that war had been declared. Ways and means were discussed, but our great tennis tournament on Monday, and a dance in the evening, left us with a mere background of warlike endeavour. It was vaguely determined that when my "viva" was over we should go and see people of authority in London....