When the telegram reached us on November 11th there was no excitement, no wild cheering or parading of the streets. It was too big a thing to treat in that fashion. Men became silent and thoughtful--thankful for their own escape, reminiscent of those less fortunate. Lille itself, unlike London, did not become a scene of rowdy rejoicings. Thankfulness for deliverance from the infernal horrors of the war, with its all too recent and sad memories, was too deep for a form of celebration more properly associated with Boat Race night in Leicester Square or a "rag" in a 'Varsity town. CHAPTER X ARMISTICE--LILLE--ARRAS--FINALE With the cessation of hostilities began what was really the most difficult period of the war. Training, always irksome, had now lost its one stimulus--the prospect of battle. No one supposed for a moment that hostilities could ever be resumed. The question of demobilization immediately sprang to the front; and though most men realized clearly enough that the delay would necessarily be long, yet it was impossible not to chafe a little, and to feel that at the best you were merely killing time. It was evident from the outset that everything possible must be done to prevent boredom and stagnation. Training could clearly be reduced to a minimum, and that only retained which would insure fresh air and exercise. Athletics and amusements could now be freely cultivated, as men could be spared more generously than during hostilities. Education was also likely to be of great assistance in occupying the men's minds and assisting them to restore their thinking powers, which in many cases soldiering had greatly weakened. Unfortunately, no preparations for the commencement of this form of occupation had been possible, and it was not till the battalion reached Arras that our arrangements were sufficiently advanced to commence operations. In the meantime the daily routine consisted of a march with the "bugles" to the Divisional Football Ground, some battalion drill, physical training, musketry, and rifle bombing. These were varied by an occasional route march to Roubaix, Mons en Baroeuil (an outwork of the defences of Lille, where British prisoners had been confined under appalling conditions), and a weekly field day, often interfered with by a heavy mist. The afternoons were taken up with football and visits to Lille, which, after first being guarded like some sacred shrine, was soon accessible to all. Considerable attention was devoted to messing arrangements, and before long a fine Central Mess was provided in the covered yard of a large brewery. Here the whole battalion, except Headquarters, sat down together for meals. Cookers and field kitchens were installed in the yard, and the whole staff of cooks worked under the eye of Sergeant Austin, the Sergeant-Cook. Similar quarters were arranged for Battalion Headquarters.