Monday Sept. 11th.
O/R in the morning. The C.O. was not there to-day as he has started on a Senior Officer's course at Changla Gali. He is still living here, and rides over every day, getting back about 5.30 or 6.0. at night. Stratton is commanding the battalion in consequence, as the Major is on leave seeing Mrs Hewett off and visiting Delhi and Agra on the way, though if he were here he would be on the Course as well.
The chief excitement to-day was two "Drunk and's" Draft men of course! They both got 7days to remember it by. It is very extraordinary that we had no cases of "Drunk & Creating" until these drafts arrived!
Went up to the C.O's Bungalow in the evening to give him the correspondance that needed his personal attention.
Tuesday Sept. 12th.
Had a busy morning getting out the orders for the battalion show to morrow morning. We have had no official orders from the Brigade about it but the C.O. said last night that we are wanted xxxxx to be ready, just outside G.D. at 9.0. a.m.
The C.O. looked in at the Orderly Room before he went off on the course as their rendez-vous to-day was near G.D. so I was able to show him the Draft Orders. He xxx remarked that he would give me a pat on the back if the battalion was all there ready at 8.30. as we want them.
Wednesday Sept 13th.
We arranged a Swop round of ponies for to-day's show, so as to give the quieter ponies to the less efficient riders of those who had to ride. Consequently I am riding Slack's, Noad took mine, and Slack took the Adjutant's.
I got to the place of assembly in time to see a picquet off which had to go out before the rest of the show started.
The battalion was all there by 8.30! The only unfortunate thing was that we did not know what the order of march was to be until last night after our orders had gone out. Consequently I had a busy quarter of an hour which was not made easier by a Mountain Battery turned up in the middle of it, doing the job of the Staff Officer to O.C. Column and getting the Column into its right order. However it was all managed by 8.50 and we rode on to meet the General. He was a little late in arriving.
Poor Noad had a mishap right at the start as "Snooker" dropped him off. Apparently he got his spurs in (Silly ass to wear them!) He did not come out on the show so the section was left to Larner.
As soon as the General arrived we got moving. We were supposed to be Advanced Guard and Picquetting Troops to a force advancing from Ghora Dhaka to Murree.
Billy Jackson was i/c Advanced Guard and Stratton