p.

6. beforehand. And then religiously have a sleep in the afternoon. And the trouble is that the higher authorities just carry on in the same way. I have heard them say it, young & old - little twirps of 21 & 22 & old fools who ought to know better - "the afternoon is sacred to the British officer." And all this in spite of the fact that letters have come round from Wavell & from [Andaimlock?] - that officers will work in the afternoons - the enemy does; & drink will be in moderation - The Navy have to convoy most of it here. But there is so little that I can do about it, beyond having my own unit up to scratch, & here I do not allow officers to drink at lunch time - & they have an hour for lunch, & then carry on. It really does seem the least that one can do, to work one's hardest & so hurry on the end of the war. God - how I want to see the end of it all.

I am rapidly becoming an almost complete Jewish Unit, I think. I told you that [Pillatt?] left a month ago. So Headley is now my only British subaltern. Sgt Griffith left yesterday, to be C.Q.M.S. in a new Coy. And in a month's time, C.Q.M.S. Hemmings goes, & I have a Jew in that job. And when C.S.M. Jack arrives back from S.A. - Sgt Kiley goes too. So I am left with Salamon, Headley & Jack. And I have Jewish understudies for all these, & anything may happen any time. Sgt Medukoff was the understudy for the C.Q.M.S. & a very