p.

Letter No. 93. Saturday - 17th Jan
Capt J.H.Massey, 6th Palestinian Coy, The Bluffs, Middle East Forces
My own darling Barbara,
It seems that my life out here is to become
ever funnier, before it becomes better - or before I come
home. Another of my battles is now won & on Monday
Ben became Captain Ben Arzi. And Salomon goes &
Headley goes & I am all by myself. It sounds more
Tragic & Terrible than it really is but still it is quite a
break. If only because I shall have no more poeple from
England in my mess - but I spend so little of my time
there, & neither of them are particularly interesting. Ben
will be equally as good as Salomon as far as administration
& accounts & so on are concerned - probably better - It
remains to be seen whether he can or will be of any
help in chasing the subalterns around. And Headley, as
I have told you is more of an obstruction than a help
& is more complacent than my patience can cope
with. I am to get another Jewish subaltern from another
Coy, but my hopes are not too high that he will be
of much use as they will almost certainly send their
worst, unless Col. L. controls it & instructs them who
to send. In any case, there are bound to be difficulties
as the Coy he is coming from is frightfully slack &
ragtime. Ben is elated & doing his best to conceal his
delight - & he is itching to put up the extra pips
but cannot do so until it is confirmed - an annoying
formality. Sgt Lareny has now been promoted C.S.M.
C.SM. Jack having been in hospital since before Xmas &
having become fed up with having no sergeant-major.
And so here I am, as I said, all alone , &
enjoying the doubtful distinction of being the first