journeys end

• s-m: thank you (pause)

  Good morning sargeant major
• Stan: Hullo Sir

  Hello Stanhope. Strong smell of bacon
• stan: yes sir we had bacon for breakfast


  hangs around doesn't it
• stan: yes sir clings to the walls

  (pause) lovely day
• stan: splendid sir

  springs coming (pause) i'm glad your alone. i have some rather serious news
• stan: will you have a drink

  just a spot (lift glass) here's luck
• stan: cheero sir

  thanks
• stan: whats the news sir

  the brigadier came to see me this morning. it seems almost certain an attack is to come on thursday morning.
• they've got information from more than one source but they don't know where it is going to fall the hardest. the boche began relieving his front line troops yesterday. they're bound to put in certain regements where they intend to make the hardest push
• stan: naturally-

  and the general wants us to make a raid to find out who's come into the line opposite here
• stan: i see. when

  as soon as possible
• stan: thats absurd

  i told him so. i said the earliest would be tomorrow afternoon. a surprise daylight raid under a smokescreen from the trench morters. i think daylight best. there's not much moon now and its vitally important to get a boche or two
• stan: quite

  i suggest sending two officers and ten men.
• quite enough for the purpose. just opposite here there's only seventy yards of no mans land. tonight the trench mortars can blow a hole in the boche wire and you can cut a hole in yours. harrison of the trench mortars is coming in to dinner with me this evening to discuss everything. i'd like you to come too. 8 o'clock suit you
• stan: very good sir

  i'll leave you to select the men
• stan: you want me to go with them sir

  oh no stanhope . i - i can let you go. no i want one officer to direct the raid and one to run in and collar some boche.
• stan: who do you suggest sir

  well i suggest osbourne hes a very level headed chap. he can direct it
• stan: and who else

  well there's trotter - but hes a bit fat isn't he, not much good at running in
• stan: do you suggest hibbert

  well do you suggest hibbert
• stan: i don't think so

  no
• stan: why nit send a good sargent sir

  no. i don't think a sargent the men expect officers to lead a raid
• stan: yes there is that

  as a matter of fact stanhope i'm thinking of that youngster i sent up to you last night
• stan: raleigh

  yes just the type plenty of guts
• stan: he's awfully new to is all

  all to the good. his nerves are sound
• stan:... whos only just arrived

  well who else is there, i could send an officer from another company
• stan: we'll do it

  then i suggest osbourne to direct the raid and raleigh to make the dash with ten good men
• we'll meet harrison at supper and arrange the smoke bombs and blowing a hole in the wire. you select the men abd talk to osbourne and raleigh about it in the meantime.
• stan: very well sir

  better send osbourne and raleigh down to see me first thing in the morning to talk things over. or better still - i'll come up here first thing tomorrow
• stan: right sir

  it's all a damn nuisance but after all - it's necessary
• stan: i suppose it is

  well so long stanhope, imll see you at 8 o'clock. do you like fish
• stan: fish sir?

  yes we've had some fresh fish sent up from the rail head for supper tonight
• stan: splendid sir

  whiting i think it is
• stan: good

  well goodbye