9 April 1918

Tuesday April 9th.  Awakened at 4 AM, with the two other officers and a whole party of men, and marched slowly to station.  Took seats in a so-called Red Cross train.  Very crowded and uncomfortable.  Wooden seats.  In train for 60 hours.  Hot and good soup served on board.  Pitied a certain Sergeant Major – an old boy, a Regular, who was mostly wounded by a bomb in the backside, and who was sitting.
(One thing I forgot to mention.  All bandages are made from paper, whether for small wounds or for broken legs.  Splints are not wooden, but of stiff iron wire framework.  One of them we used very effectively at Hannover as a toasting rack).
Tuesday night I managed to sleep a couple of hours or so stretched out on the floor, but my morning freshness was spoilt by the number of people who walked on my face.  One particular kick in the ear I shall never quite forget.