p.

3. In which case it was too late to phone you up as I had wanted to do. Oh! & I nearly forgot - I ran into Mrs Read, who also talked & talked.

At Stoneleigh, I found a rather discouraging reply to my letter about the transfer. So I rang up & asked for a interview with the C.O. this morning. He spent some time telling me all about my appearance - baggy trousers, dirty belt, creasy jacket, & so on, blast him - & then proceeded to be thoroughly difficult about the transfer & his recommendation for it. He said [page break]

4. I must give him most complex details of my experience & qualifications etc - & that these must come from other people apart from myself. And then he went on to say a lot of silly things about my age, as tho I was an inexperienced child & a nobody in civil life. At which I got a bit cross - & he piped down a bit - but still wanted all the stuff & refused to move without it - if then.

So I have come in to see old Paulton this evening & told him all about it. And