War Letters of a Public-School BoyJones, Henry Paul Mainwaring
History
War Letters of a Public-School Boy
Jones, Henry Paul Mainwaring
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, British
When I came in from my morning's work yesterday what should I
find but a telegram instructing me to report at the earliest
possible moment to Headquarters, Heavy M.G.C., for duty on
transfer! These things usually come with a rush after one has
been kept waiting a long time in suspense. I spent the rest of
the day in bringing my accounts and papers up to date, and this
morning came across in the motor to my destination. Is it not
splendid? My luck has never yet failed to stand me in good stead.
I won't deny, nevertheless, that it was a severe wrench parting
from the old Cavalry Division after twenty months of service with
it. I had formed many friendships there, among both officers and
men, and it cost me many a pang to bid them good-bye. All
partings from old associations are hard to bear even when the
parting leads up, as in my case, to the fulfilment of one's
greatest ambition. My delight knows no bounds at my new
appointment. I really am asking myself whether I am awake or not.
It almost seems too good to be true.
I am writing this letter in my new mess which is in a Neissen
hut. For the present I remain Lieutenant A.S.C.--till the period
of probation is past. But that's no matter, for the acme of my
military ambitions is now attained. My new messmates are almost
all ex-infantry men, many of whom, most in fact, are here
learning their new job. Strangely enough, I am the third Senior
Lieutenant in the company, and in point of active service, with
my twenty months in France, I stand well in front of almost all
of them. The O.C. of the company, stroke of good luck for me, is
an old Hussar officer and ex-member of the Cavalry Brigade which
I have just quitted. It was a joy to meet him again. I was able
to give him a lot of news about his old pals.
All the fellows in the new mess are amazed that I have been
without leave since the beginning of May, 1916. I must not set my
leave before my work, however. I have already started my new
labours. Altogether I am in luck all round. I verily believe I am
the luckiest man in the B.E.F. to-day. Congratulate me! You will
be interested to know that an old Dulwich boy, Ambrose, to whom I
gave 2nd XV Colours in my year of football captaincy, is in the
same battalion, but I have not met him yet.
TO HIS BROTHER.
_February 17th, 1917._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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