January 17, 1917
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The day of my return. Called at cloak room Charing Cross for a tunic and waterproof cape given me by Ramsay, and later left mine there for him to pick up and keep for me. Saw my friend off to Winchester and went out with Mrs. Furber as she wanted to buy me a scarf for a present as I had lost mine. After that I picked up my gear at the Hotel and went to Waterloo to catch the 4 p.m. train.
The station seemed full of soldiers returning and there was a great crush getting on to the train. Many were tonicked, but no notice was taken by the heads and we moved out at 4 p.m. after various farewells had been said by those who had friends seeing them off. One old lady gave tracts to us with words of advice and so on, it was a strange experience altogether this leaving London. As one man said - he did not wake up till the train moved out. For 5 minutes conversation was brisk after that we all seemed to get sad at once and not a word was spoken for the rest of the journey, truly a sorry crew.
At Southampton we boarded the “Donnegal”, and at 8 p.m. set off for Havre, reaching there about 3 a.m. I chose a good corner on deck and then went down to the galley to get something to eat and managed to raise some bacon and eggs and sandwiches for the morning, but on my return to the deck I found a drunk had been put in my corner. Not liking to pass him out I turned in alongside but later he was troublesome so I had to move. The last I saw of him was about 2 a.m. when he sat on my face just when I was well asleep. The trip itself was very calm, but I managed to get very little sleep.