January 6, 1918
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Arrived at Birmingham about 6 a.m. after having changed trains at Crewe, put in an hour or so in the waiting room and then strolled round the place in order to fill in time until 10 a.m., when I judged that Elliston would be about. It so happened that the tank which was parading round the country as a Bank was shifting that morning so I saw it on the move, quite a huge crowd had collected to see it off. First came a line of Police, then a squad of Home Defence troops, quite the funniest lot of soldiers I have ever seen.
They were old and grey-headed, but their intense pride made them carry themselves like wooden soldiers, a sight indeed. The music for the march past was supplied by a Police band, making quite a triumphal procession. I then took tram out to Elliston’s boarding house and I was pleased with his appearance, he had developed into quite a man, and we spent a good day together, yarning in the morning and a walk to a park in the afternoon, the weather being still mild. I caught the 6.20 p.m.back to London and arrived at the hotel a little before 9 o’clock a wee bit tired after all my travelling, but very pleased with it.