The elder of my two unexpected but most welcome guests
was employed in a wholesale business. His hours were 9.o to 5.3o, he was allowed Saturday afternoon free, and was given three weeks holiday a year. Four nights a week were spent in his regimental drill-hall perfecting his signalling with lamp and buzzer and flag. Practically every week-end was also absorbed by the territorial army and of his three weeks holiday he spent a fortnight every year in camp. He had disliked it at first but now he loved it. His regiment had become part of himself.
My second signaller, when disguised as a civilian, was employed in a well-known London club. His hours alter- nated between 7.3o to 5.o one day, and 12.3o to midnight the next. He was accorded only every other Sunday and that was always absorbed by territorial work. The Club authorities did not, it appears, allow him more than a fortnight's holiday in the year. That fortnight was spent in camp. Thus year in and year out he never obtained a free day to himself. He did not resent this unduly. He doubted whether any holiday he could himself devise v. ould be as gay or varied as the trainingsamps which he attended. His was a blithe and manly soul.
So we discussed the Danzig situation.
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