Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 65 continued ... prepared to see the Huns coming into the backyards. My own feeling was much the same as that I have often experienced before a football match – a nervous anxiety to get started at something and an almost superhuman effort required to keep still. Finally, I got my orders to move off, passing a certain point, about a mile from the village, at a specified minute. The country was new to me and my ways were not complete, but galloping ahead I managed to pick the right road and we passed the given point on the dot. At the foot of a long hill, I halted the men for a rest, and started out to find the rest of the battalion, there was no sign of them anywhere. We seemed to be absolutely alone. However, my only course was to push on, so I decided to give the men an extra ten minutes then hike it for the objective. Just as my order to “fall in” was being carried out, who should appear but the Colonel and his Adjutant. The latter, after a moment’s conversation with the C.O. rode towards me, and my heart quailed for an instant, as I dwelt on the possibility of having come in the wrong direction. But the Adjutant said: “The Colonel’s compliments, sir, you are the only company on time. Your company will lead the battalion when the orders come up. The Colonel wishes you to ride with him, sir”. This in front of my own men was no mean compliment. We are not on parade, not marching through a city street, but marching towards a clever enemy whom we might expect to encounter at any bend in the road, or on the brow of any hill. Here was the essence of soldiering, indeed, much as we played when youngsters, and as our imagination led us believe it was in reality. Leading my company ready and expecting at any moment to swing into action, it was a proud and glorious ride for me. Later when we marched at attention and saluted the corps commander, who had come forward in his car to look us over, the buttons in my tunic suffered a severe strain. What happened later I must reserve for a fireside story at home. We had quite a time. That much you may know. I have drifted from my subject of leave but no matter. The trip to the base and across the Channel was uneventful. I spent much of my time and money in Bonnie Scotland, visiting such places as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayr, Firth of Clyde, Loch Lomond, etc., having an odd cup of tea with a bonnie lassie and enjoying to the full all the scotch hospitality offered. Give my very warmest wishes to all, good things to all, and best of luck and prosperity for yourself. Your affectionate Brother, Douglas
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