3. I had received my second letter from the King a couple of weeks before, in which he assured me thatinsert comma based on the recent investigation of my person. replace with comma I was a perfect physical specimen adequately suited for his service. He also had included travel expence vouchers, instructions for finding my way to the town of Exeter in the county of Devon in southwest England, and documents to be presented upon my arrival.

20. We talked of the jobs we had left, of families, of girl friend, of chums, and of sports.

21. Immediately a number of khaki-clad sergeants and corporals started striding up and down the platform, yelling to all Army-bound passengers to leave the train and line up by the station's exit.

27. Coming to the end of his tirade, he raised a clipboard and instructed, open quotesThe following people bring your gear and stand behind me."


He was smartly turned out in a perfectly-fitted uniform with three rows of medal ribbons on his chest, and wearing the badge and insignia of the Devonshire Regiment.


31. "I'm Sergeant Parker, and I will be your Platoon Sergeant for the next six weeks," he announced. "And this is Corporal Tomkins, who will be assisting me, [replace with period]" and he indicated a tall, gangly two-striper standing behind him.

32. "We have a lot to do this afternoon," Sgt. Parker continued. "First I shall take you to the Mess for a meal; then we must get your papers in order and be welcomed by the Company Commander."

33. He led us around the perimeter of the Parade Ground, between two rows of one-storey wooden huts, one of which would be our home for the next six weeks.

35. Already in line was the group of recruits who had been marched away by Sergeant "Loud-Mouth," and grabbing plates we took our places in the line to be served our first taste of Army food. Since we were not eating at a regular mealtime we were the only group in the Mess Hall. It was to be the only time we would be able to eat in relative quiet and to converse without having to shout above the incredible din several hundred Army diners can make.

37. One tag contained name and Army serial number;

38. "We are now going to meet the Company Commander,"

41.I looked around me and counted the start of five ranks, so I made my way through the milling group to stand in third row from the front that was forming [I don't understand this].

44. "Stop where you are, for God's sake!" roared the Sergeant again.

45. Sgt. Parker's face as delete 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," he said, "you three will take these positions whenever I give the order to Fall In.

50. We assured him that we understood; after three attempts at "Right Face" and two tries at "Quick March," we marched toward our rendezvous with the Company Commander, almost in step.

A sergeant appeared on a low platform facing us. Calling for silence, he introduced our Company's Commanding Officer—whose name and rank I did not hear and whose shoulder insignia were a complete mystery to me.

52. He was small man with a large moustache and a bored expression and, after giving us permission to smoke, he welcomed us to the Army in general and to the Devonshire Regiment in particular. The Captain, as I later discovered was his rank, then outlined the training we were to receive during the next six weeks. He spoke at considerable length on the history and battle honors of the Regiment, and ended his address with the traditional, "Are there any questions?"

54. But at the same time I realized that I didn't have the slightest idea what a platoon was and neither did the rest of us, judging by the rapt attention given the Captain's explanation.

55. The rest of our first day was occupied with drawing blankets and pillows from the Quartermaster's stores, being introduced to our cots and lockers in our new home, and receiving our first lesson in bed-making, military-style. We returned to the Mess for our evening meal and were completely awed by the deafening roar of nearly 600 soldiers eating and talking in that confined area.

56. By this time we were "Falling In," Right Facing," and "Quick Marching" with more enthusiasm than skill.

58. Before "lights out" at twenty-two hundred hours, you all will have written a letter home telling your loved ones how much you are enjoying the Army and how much you like your sergeant," he said.