Therefore on December 23rd after having spent only two days at Daussois, we moved the battalion across country to the villages of Chastre and Pry. These two villages were close to Walcourt but were tiny places about a kilometre apart from one another. “A,” “B” and “C” coys were billeted in Pry, whilst “B” coy took up their quarters in Chastre. The village of Chastre was clean at least and the officers, with the exception of myself, occupied for billeting purposes, a very fine house called the Chateau. The N.C.O.’s and men also were very comfortable and soon made friends and nearly everyone had a bed in which to sleep.

On Christmas Day, we had a great feast. We had bought a number of tinned turkeys at 30 francs each, out of regimental funds which together with beer and other luxuries which had arrived in comfort fund parcels enabled the men to enjoy quite a good Christmas dinner. “B” company officers had also made great preparation for this Christmas Day, for it was to be the day of days for us. We had all contributed extra mess fees and had laid in a stock of turkeys, fruit, Christmas cakes, wine, whisky, Vermouth and some cordials which together with vegetables, which we had “scrounged” from various sources enabled us to enjoy a very fine meal.

We had borrowed a piano also and had invited some other officers to our mess so that Christmas Day, 1918 passed off very happily indeed. Now that the war had ended, there was no necessity to drill the men or to practise them in any war movements whatever. Nor was there any reason to carry out any other than the necessary battalion routine so that all ranks simply filled in the time with sport and education. I still remained the battalion Sports Officer whilst Lt. Saunders was appointed Education Officer. My duties never ended, and I considered myself the most hard worked officer in the Battalion at the period. I was constantly attending meetings at Brigade headquarters, receiving a great quantity of typewritten correspondence on the subject of sport and its organisation throughout the corps, out of which I had to manufacture a programme of recreation for the Battalion. My duties included the raising and organisation of an inter-company hockey and Rugby League football competition. From the battalion, I also raised a representative team in Rugby League, Soccer and hockey which teams took part in the Brigade competitions which had been arranged and drawn up at different meetings I had attended at Brigade Headquarters. The 20th contested in all these branches of sport very successfully winning the soccer competition and being close up to the winners of the Rugby football and hockey competitions. There was a host of details to attend to in my capacity as Sports Officer, such as searching for suitable grounds and fixing up rooms and grounds, obtaining lights and fires, arranging for prize money, transport etc. In addition I was expected to see that the teams trained for their matches and ensure that they took the field equipped and in full strength.

For all this I was “chaffed” unmercifully by the other officers, being termed the Sports “Gink” and if my teams were unlucky enough to lose a game, I never heard the last of it for days after. There was a constant battle between me and the Battalion Education Officer, Lt. Saunderson, as I think the men really preferred sport to school. When the E.O. sent men to school, I got them back for the football teams etc. and so I won easily On top of all this, I also was expected to assist the Padre and the Y.M.C.A. people in running a recreation room where men could read and write letters, Play indoor games etc.

About this time, the Prince of Wales paid a visit to the Australian Corps and spent two days with the 5th Brigade at Walcourt. On one occasion, the Brigade held a combined Church Parade in the Walcourt cinema hall and I found myself sitting just behind the prince. He also visited the troops during their games and was even reported to have “tossed the pennies” in the most approved style with a “school” of infantrymen who happened to be indulging in this purely Australian game.