The officer who has come withnthem is a man called Herbert. I believe he was popularly known in the 3rd ninth as the "Plumber's mate" and the chap who came with him - Ellison - is the "Plumber". Ellison was to have come to us, but has since been poster to the 18th Rifle Brigade at Rangoon and has gone straight there. Herbert has to go on there as well in a day or two. I don't think we lose much. He is not quite the type of the rest of us and he himself would feel rather a fish out of water I fancy. It looks very much as if they did not establish the Cadet Training Corps for Officers any too soon if there are many of his type as officers at home.
Sunday August 27th 1916.
Orderly room in the morning. For a wonder there was not very much to do. By some perversity of fate, there is usually rather more to be done on Thursdays and Sundays than there is on other days.
I played "Footer" for the M.G. Second at 3.0 against No. 5 Platoon reserve. We drew 1-1. The one goal they scored was a very silly one. I ran out for it - sideways - and looking over my shoulder thought I was well outside the goal. So as it was rather an awkward shot I decided to let it go over the line and did so - to find that I was not outside the goal as I thought after all! So that was one goal to them.
I went straight up form the match, changed, then went on to tea with the Major and Mrs Hewett. As usual I had a very enjoyable time. The CO. had sent in from Murree the scheme for a "Regimental Exercise" to take place on Tuesday but he had left two problems for the Major to set. So after tea we all strolled a short way along the "Pipe Line" to survey the ground a bit.
Monday August 28th
Orderly Room at 9.0 as usual. The Major came down rather early for him and we got all the "work in hand" finished off by 10.45 when we set out to survey the Pipe Line and to get out the two problems the Colonel wants the Major to setfor to-morrow. We rode of course. At one spot we succeeded in getting a problem in three parts, and one that should prove very interesting.
Back to O.R. by 12.15 when a gentleman who was drunk last Saturday needed attention. As he had a Clean Sheet the Major contented himself with talking to his lordship in his best style. It is a curious thing that until the arrival of this first draft we have not had a single case of drunkenness in the battalion!
Had to go back to the Orderly room after Lunch chiefly to get out the Problem Slips for this - - - - - - Regimental Exercise.
Finished up and got back to the mass for tea at