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Householders of Berkhamsted busy mending bedsteads broken by last year's billets, and buying patent taps for their beer-barrels. Oct. 15. Informed that a representative of the Army wished to see me. Instead of my old friend Q.M.S. Beddem, who generally returns to life at this time of year, found that it was an officer of magnificent presence and two pips.
Found composite photograph of French, Joffre, and Hindenburg waiting for me in the hall. Introduced himself as Quartermaster- Sergeant Beddem, and stated that the Inns of Court O.T.C. was going under canvas next week. After which he gulped. Meantime could I take in a billet.
Q.M.S. Beddem came towards front-gate with a smile so expansive that gate after first trembling violently on its hinges swung open of its own accord. Very old member of the Inns of Court, Private Keen, had re-joined, and he wanted a good billet for him. Would cheerfully give up his own bed, but it wasn't long enough. Not to be outdone in hospitality by my own gate accepted Private Keen.
Private Budd helped Private Merited to repair bells. Sept. 8. Privates Budd and Merited helped each other to repair bells. Sept. 9. Sent to local tradesman to put my bells in order. Sept. 15. Told that Q.M.S. Beddem wished to see me. Saw C.O. first. She thought he had possibly come to take some of the billets away.
After comparing notes with neighbours, feel deeply grateful to Q.M.S. Beddem for sending me the best six men in the corps. July 15. Feel glad to have been associated, however remotely and humbly, with a corps, the names of whose members appear on the Roll of Honour of every British regiment. Mr. Purnip took the arm of the new recruit and hung over him almost tenderly as they walked along; Mr.
Never owned such a thing in his life. Seems to be unaware that he always sleeps with his mouth open. Nov. 14. Private Bowser, youngest and tallest of my billets, gazetted. Nov. 15, 10.35 a.m. Private Bowser in tip-top spirits said good-bye to us all. Told that Q.M.S. Beddem desired to see me. Capitulated. New billet, Private Early, armed to the teeth, turned up in the evening.
Saw Q.M.S. Beddem in the town. Took shelter in the King's Arms. Jug. 3. Went to Cornwall. Aug. 31. Returned. Billets received me very hospitably. Sept. 4. Private Budd, electrical engineer, dissatisfied with appearance of bell-push in dining-room, altered it. Sept. 5. Bells out of order. Sept. 6. Private Merited, also an electrical engineer, helped Private Budd to repair bells. Sept. 7.
Saw Q.M.S. Beddem on the other side of the road and gave him an absolutely new thrill by crossing to meet him. Asked diffidently as diffidently as he could, that is how many men my house would hold. Replied eight or ten at a pinch. He gave me a surprised and beaming smile and whipped out a huge note-book.
Above Lardo he established at comparatively short stages further posts at, in their order, Rageef, Beddem, Kerri, Moogie, and Laboré, immediately beyond the last of which occur the Fola Falls, the only obstruction to navigation between Khartoum and the Lakes.
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