I however, received orders from the adjutant to proceed next morning to the Infantry Training School, at Aveling near Albert on the Somme. Therefore I was once again prevented from going into battle and in fact I had not actually been in the firing line, at this time, for a period of over six months, al- though of course, I had been in close proximity to it and under shell fire several times during that period. I did not dispute the order or argue the point as I had by this time learned to take things as they came and took the good with the bad, as I knew that there was plenty of fighting to be done in the future before the war ended, of which I would get my full share. So, on the morning of October 8th, I marched out from Ypres to Dickebush camp and there remained for the remainder of the day and the following night, occupying a hut with the other officers of the battalion, who were in charge of the battalion nucleus which was proceeding back to Flêtre reinforcement camp. Next morning, I proceeded per motor lorry to Baileuil and found out the officers outfitting store and there obtained a uniform and a valise which I paid for out of a credit of £15 which had been placed in my paybook before leaving the battalion. I then caught another lorry going to Flêtre, which carried my gear and myself via Meteren to the reinforcement camp at Flêtre.

Arrived at this camp, I dressed myself up in my new uniform with cap, stars and Sam Browne belt, and congratulated myself that I looked quite nice. Then I discarded my old privates uniform and selected my batman to look after me and clean my belt and boots, make my bed and carry my gear, etc., as being an officer, I was entitled to a servant. My first batman’s name was Private Edwards, a lad of about 17 who had misstated his age on enlisting and indeed was rather young for active service, and who was only too pleased to have the opportunity of getting away from the horrors of the front line. He had never before been a batman to an officer and the first thing he did was to drop my valise into about a foot of slush, which completely spoiled the appearance of it, much to my disgust. My pay had increased with my promotion from 10/6 per day as a sergeant to 21/- per day as a Second Lieutenant and also I had numerous other privileges. As an officer, I travelled first class in trains, had the privilege of 3/- a day for mess fees, had the services of a batman, for which of course I paid, performed no manual work and was treated with a certain amount of respect, being addressed either as Sir or Mr.

Next day, I proceeded to Brigade headquarters of the Reinforcement Camp and obtained my orders to proceed to Aveling School after which I went to the railway station at Câstre, where I found my batman waiting with my gear. After waiting about on the railway station for an hour, the train at last arrived and I travelled via Hazebrouk, St. Omer, Calais, Boulogne, Etaples, Abbeville to Albert, and there disentrained and met the remainder of the officers and N.C.O.’s who were to be the students at the Corps School for the ensuing five weeks.

During this course at the Infantry Training School, at Aveling, my training was composed of much more advanced work, such as Compass work, map reading, topography, close order drill, German bombs and machine guns, patrol work, company drill, communication drill, extended order drill and lectures on the various military subjects such as duties of officers, military law, gas shells, co-operation of infantry and artillery and a hundred other subjects which an officer was required to know something about. The officers of each division were kept together in one platoon under an instructor or Wing Commander named Captain Bland, the N.C.O.’s forming the other three platoons of each company. Each division formed a company each with its platoons of officer and N.C.O.’s students, in charge of a wing commander. The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th divisions were all represented by a separate company, the whole school composed of four separate companies, being commanded by a Colonel Heritage.

This system of keeping the divisions separate was the means of creating a fine spirit of competition, both on the parade ground and on the field of sport and at the end of the course, the best division was selected by a series of competitions which were judged by neutral judges. Several games of football were played during the term, the 2nd division defeating the 4th division by 32 to nil, of which I scored five tries, and in a match against the Technical wing, the 2nd division was again victorious by 18-7, in which match I scored three tries. Every week end we were granted leave to Amiens, which place we reached by tram from Albert and on four occasions I availed myself of this privilege. Being now an officer I could visit places of amusement, hotels and restaurants, etc. which as a private I was debarred from entering and generally managed to enjoy myself thoroughly during such periods of respite from military discipline. I also visited Albert on several occasions after the parades of the day were completed and there visited the Officers Club where we could obtain a good three course meal for 31/2 francs. I also bought more clothing from the Ordnance Stores so that by now I was well equipped with the clothing and accessories which officers needed, including a walking stick and gloves. Every evening, we dressed for Mess and had to wear trousers, instead of breeches. Our mess was quite a swell affair. A Mess president was appointed each week, whose duty it was to preside over the meal and who gave the signal to sit down in our places and waiters to wait upon us, serviettes, crockery and chairs, and even had an ante room adjoining; the mess room, furnished with proposed the toasts, etc. when the meal was finished. We had piano and easy chairs, where we adjourned after the meal. At the end of the five weeks course, the school broke up with a banquet and a concert in the lecture room, after which the winner of the greatest number of points in the competitions were awarded trophies, the 2nd division retaining the Challenge Cup.