On January 2nd the Battalion Rugby football team played the 17th Btn at Pry, winning after a hard game by 8 – 3. Shortly after the team went under to the Machine Gun Btn by 9 – nil. The snow lay thickly now on the frozen ground and so it was impossible to carry on with outdoor games. Having with us a 12 gauge shot gun which had been salvaged at Villers Bretoneaux, we used to fill in our time in trying to shoot the numerous partridges that abounded in the neighbouring hills. We never managed to, shoot anything, however, and only succeeded in giving the birds rather a severe fright.
On January 11th the first draft of 108 officers and men to be demobilised left Pry for England. The quota included Lt. Guard, Lt. Clarke, Lt. Cameron, Lt. McKeig and Lt. Barnes. It made me quite sad that these gallant comrades, officers and men, were to leave the battalion for all time without much possibility of our ever seeing each other again. Next day, I was informed that my turn had now come again to proceed on leave to England if I so desired.
As things were very monotonous with the battalion at Pry, I seized the opportunity, was given my leave warrant and soon after was on my way per train from Walcourt to Charleroi, twelve kilometres distant. Arrived at Charleroi, I proceeded to the pay officer at Divisional Headquarters at Charleroi, drew some money and received my ticket which enabled me to travel on the Cologne-Boulogne “Express.” I then went across to the E.F.C, Officers Club at the side of the Canal in Charleroi, opposite the station, and had dinner. At 10 pm I boarded the famous ill-named “Cologne-Boulogne Express” and for two days and nights slowly crawled along the route to Boulogne. The train had originally been built as a Hospital train and was fitted with bunks, tables and benches on which to sit. Our food consisted mainly of sandwiches and tea, plus anything else we could collect as we went along. Having suffered two whole days of this misery, we finally reached Boulogne at 8.30 am and went straight aboard the morning leave boat that was in waiting at the Quayside.