We went off to Paris Plage for the afternoon.

TCD MS 10821 folio 6 recto

TCD MS 10821 folio 6 recto

Sunday June 4th [1916]. A peaceful day. I heard that I am posted to the 9th Bn, a new Army Battalion, for which I am sorry as there is no one there that I know, while all the others are going to the 2nd Bn where I know everyone. Spent the morning writing letters, then walked out to Merlimont about 7 Kms away to lunch with Brock. The cottages along the road side were surprisingly neat & tidy with very pretty flower gardens & some looked most attractive. Brock gave me an excellent lunch in a farmhouse & we spent the afternoon reading & talking as it started to rain. After tea he lent me one of his polo ponies & we rode back to Etaples. In the evening we had a cheery 4th of June dinner in the Club with champagne.
Monday June 5th. A very wet & stormy night. Some of the tents were blown down, but ours luckily held. We went off to the Training Camp, but as it started to pour with rain we were all sent back. So we lunched in Etaples & went off to Paris Plage for the afternoon. It was blowing a gale & the surf there was very fine. On return to camp, I found orders awaiting me to proceed up  the line that night: the others that are going to the 2nd Bn were not to leave till the morning. I found myself in command of the train with about 60 officers on it. After a good dinner at the Club I went down to the train which