Lovely day.

Went to Exeter to buy mourning. The town was full of soldiers, and it was quite thrilling seeing so many people, I felt more in the world and among things that were happening.

Came back by 5.17 & met Col. Clark at Queen Street. We traveled back to Tavistock together, he told me several stories. One was that a cousin of his, Cecil Chichester, who is a commander, has had such a fearful time of anxiety in the N Sea that his hair, which was dark at the beginning is now snowy white. He also said that the deeds of our army during that retreat will live in the annals of war. That at no time in the history of the world has a rearguard action been fought for a fortnight without losing the morale of the lines.

At Tavistock station was the car almost full with Father, Arthur & Mary. The latter had a tale that Prince Louis of Battenberg had been discovered to be a spy & was shot “Prince Louis” .

Owen Morshead was also in the train.