On Joining Upas a "Deserter95
THE YPRES TIMES
177
I CHANCED to be one of those men who during the war experienced the irony
of joining the forces on a Fourth of JulyIndependence Day; the day we
relinquished our independence and slipped into the shackles of military
discipline. After the lapse of years, it is difficult to recapture the mood of that
summer morning when, but for the war, I might, conceivably, have been going off
on my annual office picnic. The picnic now before me was of another setting.
I suppose my-brain-pan was a medley of hopes and fears and doubtings. For the
future was uncertain; I was passing into the unknown. From the snugness (I had
almost said smugness) of civil life I was to be caught up in the maelstrom of the
barracks and the world war. My feelings will be best appreciated by the thousands
of other men who were then being transferred from office and warehouse to the
tented field and the parade ground. Owing to defective eyesight I was scheduled
for a non-shooting battalion, and I set out for my appointed depot with but
the vaguest notions on non-shooting battalions.
All that I did know was that I was bound for the Seaforth Highlanders, then
encamped at Nigg, in Ross-shire. I may say I never reached the placeand I have
yet to make the acquaintance of Nigg. Why was that? I did not fall out of the
trainI was too sober for that. No, I merely deserted," and under the following
engaging circumstances. It required the greater part of the day to travel from
Edinburgh to Invergordon, where the ferry boat was to carry us across the Moray
Firth in continuance of our journey. It happened, however, that we were too late;
the last ferry for the day had gone, and in my dilemma I appealed to a soldier on
the kerb. He was all kindness and affability. He said, The Camerons are in
camp in this town, and if you report there I'm sure they'll put you up for the night
and send you on to Nigg in the morning." The Camerons did more than that;
they kept me for good. But more of that presently.
Their camp was laid out in a quite delightful spot. I do not suppose, however,
the place was selected for scenic reasons. Doubtless the matter of drainage or other
earthlyor earthyconsiderations had prior attention. On a long and gentle slope
row upon row of huts stood in wooden array. These were the men's quarters;
while the top of the hill, nearest the town, was reserved for the Orderly room,
Quartermaster's stores, etc.
The day had been long and tiring and the sun was going downnot on my
wrath, but on a despondent frame of mind as I passed within the lines and cast
about for someone to give myself up to; but duties and drills being over for the
day, the camp had rather a deserted aspect. At that hour the men in training were
free to follow their own bentwithin bounds. Finally I told my tale in the orderly
room and was assigned a hut. In it there happened to be a bed vacant, and at the
stores I was provided with a mattress and a couple of blankets. The mattress gave
some trouble. It was new, and very, very bulky, and in shape cylindrical, and to
lie for any length of time on its smooth apex was quite a Blondin feat in the art of
balancing oneself. Again and again I woke up in the night watches, and if it was
not to find myself slipping down the back of the mattress into the cold air it was
to feel myself sliding forward into it. Sleep came only in brief spells, which was
peculiarly exasperating to one to whom insomnia is a trouble unknown. I was not
sorry, therefore, when at 5.30 the bagpipes skirled Ravally." All unrefreshed,
