OUTPOST DUTY. 65 and detached posts in the bushes when you had started to go the rounds, it was simple work. One distinguished officer of the G.C.R., however, found it anything but simple, for, owing to a dearth of officers of his rank, he had to superintend the outposts for six or seven days running ; he was in a deplorable state at the end, and went for ever afterwards by the name of "the Field Officer."

On Christmas Eve occurred the first casualty in the G.C.R. A private of the Scots Guards (Tomlinson) died of enteric fever, and was buried with full honours next day. Sir Herbert Stewart, always the best of friends to the " Brigade," gave up the flooring of his tent to make the coffin, though there was not the smallest chance of his getting any more planks. Not many Generals would have done that.

Christmas Day was solemnised by letting as many men off parades and fatigues as possible, and consuming as much as we could hold. Plum-puddings were concocted out of every imaginable eatable, and eaten in due style as such. The great difficulty lay in getting suet to make the puddings with, as the cows and sheep