TCD MS 10821 folio 1 recto
Diary of C.H.B.
May 29th [1916]. We left Charing Cross soon after 7 am in a train crowded with officers. There must have been between five & six hundred of us. Our valises were bundled into vans & we were told we need not bother again about them as they would go through to Boulogne. Trench, Davies, Sladen & Bennett, Warner & Dewhurst came with me from Sheerness. It was a beautiful summers day & the country was looking beautiful. On arrival at Folkestone we found that some of our names were not on the list, but after some arguments we were allowed on board. The ships decks – it was one of the Stranraer boats – were crowded with officers. Every regiment must have been represented. The sea was as calm as a mill pond & no one could have been ill. We were all served out with life belts, & were escorted by an airship which kept flying round us, also by occasional destroyers. On arrival at Boulogne, we had to put our watches back an hour as there is no day light saving bill over here. The scene of confusion on disembarking was extraordinary. The Landing Officer completely lost his head & temper on seeing the numbers arrive & kept every one hanging about for an unnecessarily long time. At length finding that we had to report at the station at 5 pm, we all went