The motor-bus in war : $b being the impressions of an A.S.C. officer during two and a half years at the front — John Shaqi
The motor-bus in war : $b being the impressions of an A.S.C. officer during two and a half years at the frontBeatson, A. M.
History
The motor-bus in war : $b being the impressions of an A.S.C. officer during two and a half years at the front
Beatson, A. M.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, English; World War, 1914-1918 -- Transportation
Be invariably courteous, considerate, and kind. Never do anything likely
to injure or destroy property, and always look upon looting as a
disgraceful act. You are sure to meet with a welcome and to be trusted;
your conduct must justify that welcome and trust. Your duty cannot be
done unless your health is sound. So keep constantly on your guard
against any excesses. In this new experience you may find temptations
both in wine and women; you must entirely resist both temptations, and,
while treating all women with perfect courtesy, you should avoid any
intimacy.
Do your duty bravely.
Fear God.
Honour the King.
KITCHENER,
_Field-Marshal._
When all were safely on the _Trevithoe_, the padre whom I have already
mentioned came on board and called the men around him. The senior
officer present called all to "Attention," and the padre proceeded to
bid us farewell and God-speed. He adjured the men to place absolute
confidence in their officers and obey them implicitly. He added that he
hoped all might come home safe and sound in due course, though there
were some who might never return. Our caps removed, he raised his hand
and gave the Blessing, and shaking hands with each officer and a good
many men, he went ashore. Emotion travels quickly through a crowd, and
his words had brought tears to the eyes of many who were leaving home so
suddenly, for the first time, only a few days after they had been
following their accustomed occupations as of yore. Never, I must admit,
have any words I have heard uttered made me feel so momentarily
miserable. Still, from the religious point of view it was, I suppose,
necessary to remind each man going out on active service of the
consequent possibility of meeting his death, that he might order his
life and conduct accordingly. The whistle blew, the hawsers were cast
off, and the _Trevithoe_ steamed slowly away from the quay. I leant
over the side of her deck to have a long last look at Old England, whose
gradually disappearing shore and lights I could just distinguish, as we
steamed out into the darkness. I wondered how long it would be before I
should see them again. Only the silhouetted figures of the padre and an
Embarkation Staff officer were to be seen on the quay.
I lit a cigarette and lingered a few minutes on deck, and as I looked
across the dark silent sea, the throb of the ship’s engines seemed to
say repeatedly, "Three years or the duration!"
I am glad to have an opportunity of expressing our thanks to the captain
and officers of the ship’s company of the _Trevithoe_ for the
hospitality they extended to us on board. They gave us the run of the
ship; we messed with them in their saloon and had a right royal time.
The captain offered to take me one day for a voyage more or less round
the world. After the war I hope to find an opportunity of holding him to
his promise!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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