An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 2II them comfortable (though they were not quartered on me) by lending them books and supplying them with vegetables. Not enough was done by other local residents, in fact, they did nothing at all. During the spring and summer I hardly did any -cycling at all, in fact, I don't think I took the trike out more than about 23 times, and that only for short journeys. I took several people out for motor rides, taking our food and drink with us, for the war and the military require– ments prevented our being accommodated at inns. Two favourite spots were an old sand-pit near North Walsham, and Palling Gap, where a steam trawler, bought by the Government, had run ashore. What I thought of the progress of the War about this time appears in this letter to the Eastern Daily Press:- " As some sort of modified compulsion is now practically " certain to be in force almost immediately may I point out to " those who talk about being 'ready when called on,' that if '' they wait till compulsion comes they will be known for the " rest of their lives as 'compulsory soldiers,' and suffer the " stigma of being so, whereas if they enlist at once they will go " down to posterity as men who, like those who have already "' enlisted, have been real patriots. When the war is over it will "not be pleasant for them to be asked whether they had joined "' only because they were made to do so. " Considering that within the last few days we find ourselves "battli11g with enemies who are able to destroy two of our "' battleships it is almost inconceivable that able-bodied English– "'' men should hang back from the defence of their country. "That such enemies are cruel, cowardly, and liars, who " have broken all treaties and rules of war is true, but no " amount of verbal protests will do any good or prevent them " persevering in their evil ways. " Nothing but ample reinforcements to be put in training " at once for use in six months time will be of any avail. We " have to realise the fact that submarines of the type now used " are capable of doing considerable exe.:ution, and that unless '' we all wake np we may be beaten to the ground by a set of " clever mechanical devils. In the air and on the field we are "more than their match, but fighting men in quantity, and at '· once, are absolutely necessary." Still barking on Chaucer I motored over to Lynn -on the 31st May, returning the next day after lunch by Swaffham, East Dereham, Cossey, Drayton, and Horsham, the longer way, and the worst road. Later on two of my sons came down in very hot weather, and we motored to Tasburgh after divers mishaps.