I replied
that I would be delighted. He then wrote:--
"My dear K----,--I am so pleased that you are willing to come over
to Macedonia and help us. You had better ask War Office for a week's
extension of leave, by which time my application for you will probably
have filtered through. That will save you the trouble of rejoining
your reserve unit."
I thought this an excellent plan and went to the War Office to see
about it.
After the customary wait I was granted a few moments of a Staff
Officer's precious time.
"What do you want?" said the Staff Officer. He seemed used to meeting
people who wanted things, and familiarity had evidently bred contempt.
I humbly explained.
"Have you got a written authority to support your application?" he
asked.
I produced my friend's letter, which was endorsed with the stamp of
his Command Headquarters.
The Staff Officer, standing (not out of politeness, I am sure), read
the letter. Then he looked up, suspicion in his eye and in the cock of
his head.
"I don't understand this," he said. "You told me you wanted to go to
Ireland. This letter distinctly refers to your going to Macedonia.
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