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27th March 1919 Crystal Palace
David to May Sheerness Thursday [27th March 1919]
My Darling,
I really have good news today.
Last night those details came through & naturally I thought I should be off to you today & went so far as to get my kit packed up & sent to the station.
Then I trotted off to get my papers, as I thought, from the demobilisation officer, but he said that everything was ready for us to go but he had to apply for vacancies at the dispersal camps.
He said that he ought to get these permits today & then we should go tomorrow or Saturday but that nothing was certain. I could have told him that, having a considerable amount of experience.
Still this has brought things very much nearer & I really think I shall get away this time, then it means going to the Crystal Palace. I don’t know what they do there, whether they search up records or not or what, but according to the fellows down here the procedure can be got through in under an hour provided there is no crowd.
Isn’t it lovely, Darling, I feel like doing back somersaults & kissing my hand to the C.O.
I am orderly officer today & early this morning I went to see the men’s breakfasts which of course were alright.
At 10 o’clock I mounted the new guard.
It was a funny sort of guard, half the men having only just been discharged from hospital & their kit being at Rugeley they were not exactly all they should have been, but still what did that matter, if they had stood on their heads & waved their feet at me I should have looked the other way.
As it was I felt like doing a Highland Fling for their benefit, but restrained myself, in case they thought it somewhat out of the ordinary & not knowing the cause would of course misunderstand.
For goodness sake don’t work too hard. I am awfully glad your indigestion has gone but do take care of yourself.
I am rather amused at your Aunt’s visit, those poor kiddies must have a life of it.
However Georgie got one back at her over his gloves.
Later
So far I have heard nothing further as to going tomorrow.
My name with a list of others (there are 12 in all) has been put up in the mess to hold themselves in readiness for early demobilisation.
When tomorrow’s orders are published this evening they may say that we are to go tomorrow, but of course they may never come round in time for me to let you know.
Of course if I do come up tomorrow I will either wire or telephone to you.
Goodbye, Darling,
David