THE FIRST DAY

20. The conversation was fairly lively, as is often the case when people are taken from familiar surroundings and thrust into unfamiliar situations over which they have little control. We talked of the jobs we had left, of families, of girl friend - should this be friends?, of chums, and of sports. We were regaling each other with horror stories of friends who had entered the armed services before us, when the train squealed to a stop in Exeter station.

27. Coming to the end of his tirade, he raised a clipboard and instructed, The - needs a quote before The following people bring your gear and stand behind me."

33. With a wave of his hand the sergeant indicated that we should follow him-and follow him we did, like the children of Hamlin behind the Pied Piper. He led us around the perimeter of the Parade Ground, between two rows of one-storey - story in US wooden huts, one of which would be our home for the next six weeks. We continued along a road bordered on either side with rows of white-painted stones, and to the door of a large brick building bearing a sign proclaiming it the "Mess."

38. With our documentation in order, Sgt. Parker assembled us outside on the road. "We are now going to meet the Company Commander," he announced, and - needs a quote before and I would really like it if we could actually march there instead of repeating the shambles I have been forced to witness so far. First I will give you the command "Fall In," - standard practice is single quotes inside double quotes, though I don't know the author's preference and then you will form three ranks, one behind the other, of equal length." We gave him our complete attention; this was to be our first military maneuver.

45. Sgt. Parker's face as - was blood red and, could we have seen his neck, I am sure his veins would have been visibly throbbing.

49. "Until I tell you other wise - usually otherwise," he said, "you three will take these positions whenever I give the order to Fall In. As for the rest of you dozey people," and he half turned to glare at the rest of us, "look to your right and remember the person standing there so that next time, perhaps you can all find your way to the same place. Do you understand?"