Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 28

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and I have been busy improving
my hole-in-the ground (I can't
dignify it by giving it the title
of "dugout"). I think if it
rains tonight I won't get more
than ordinarily wet.
We've been busy today putting
the finishing touches on our lines.
The Battalion which was camped
here before us left them in a
filthy state - tins, paper, refuse
of all sorts scattered about everywhere:
in some cases, even, the
'possies' had been used as latrines!
And the blighters hadn't even the
decency to disguise it! However,
everything is spick and span now.
Our Battalion has a name for
cleanliness and tidiness, and I'm
not going to let it lose its good
name while I've got it in keeping.
"Tidy man" is quite a new role for me,
isn't it?
"Fritz" came over again this afternoon
but a few well placed shots chased
him home again very quickly.
Poor old Sawer, our Machine Gun
Officer, went to hospital this afternoon.
That wet night finished
him. So our little mess is cut
down to six - Major Beevor, the
C.O. (a self-opinionated old buffer
with a monocle and a large idea
of the dignity of his position);
Major Lorenzo, former Adjutant, now
2^nd in Command (genial, bluff, hearty,
but rude and uncouth, and devoid
of manners); Capt. [[Nxxx gall]], our
Quartermaster (whose life was made
a burden in the days of Lorenzo's
Adjutancy by the latter's bullying,
a kindhearted, generous natured,
silly weak old woman); Capt Morlet,
our Medical Officer (the essence

122
of a gentleman. - I need say
no more); Lieut M^cCann, the
Signalling Officer (alert, keen,
and plucky); and yours
truly (modesty forbids the
extolment of his virtues).
Poor old Sawer, who has gone
to hospital, was one of those
cheerful individuals who, if you
tell him its a nice day,
says "Well, yes, not bad, but
wait till the winter comes." When
everybody else was watching the
weather, and hopefully remarking
on the fact that the sea was
getting much calmer, Sawer
would dismally croak out his
opinion that the "wind was
changing; and he didn't think
we'd get away tonight sir."
It always took a lot of argument
to convince him that things "might
easily be worse"; his view was that the
battalion would never get its holiday
and it seems almost like poetic
justice that on the eve of our
departure he should have to
go to hospital. After all, I suppose
it wasn't the poor old chap's fault
that nature and an impaired
digestion (soldiering in India) have
made a pessimist of him).
Sunday, Nov. 21st. - It didn't rain
last night, but it blew! and it
blew cold! All day it has been very
very bleak. However, there's a silver
lining. we got a wire tonight to say
that all being well the 10^th Bn will
embark tonight; 12^th Bn and
Brigade Headqrs tomorrow night

124
We are anxiously watching the sea
in the hope that the weight of our
 intense gaze will act as oil on the waters.
The wind is blowing from the north east
so I fancy it won't get too rough.
Col McPhee turned up yesterday
after a few months' absence. He is
the padre (Protestant) who was with
us on the "Ionian", and is a real
good sort, so we persuaded him
to hold a special church parade
for our Battalion this morning It was
the largest church parade that has
ever been held on this Peninsular, I
should think. it is getting dark
now, so I must stop. We are to 
start moving about 7.30 pm. I hope
Beechy keeps quiet
Monday, Nov. 22^nd 1915
It is difficult to realise that we
are actually away from the
Peninsular at last. It seems too good to
be true. But oh! what a beast of
a night we had of it. We got
away about 7.45 pm so as to reach
the pier by the appointed time -
9 p.m. (It is a good hour's march, up
hill & down hill). On the way
we passed the 2^nd Div. Headqrs, so I
broke away and said goodbye to
Ted. Incidentally I scored a couple
packets of chocolate from him
We reached the pier in time,
only to find that the transport
had not arrived. It was terribly
bleak, so we packed the men
into a cutting and sat down to
wait. We discovered a cheery,
hospitable Lancashire lad, who was
drying some gear by a big wood
fire, & who invited us to "coom
inside choom, & warm thaself".

126