[Cecil Harwood enlisted shortly after war was declared 4 August 1914 and served in the British Armed Forces September 1914 - March 1917. He arrived in France autumn 1915]

September and October passed, when during one afternoon we were dismissed early and told to prepare to move next day. No hint of where we were going was given […] Next morning we paraded as usual and no time was lost. As soon as roll call was over we formed into our own companies and marched off with the Regimental band. I fancy we all thought we were off to France. The band only played with us from the drill ground to the Railway Station […] 

At long last we arrived at Thurston station where we alighted. A company first, then B, C and D in that order. We filed into the road. At last we got under way and to our surprise we moved off with the band at our head, to our destination “Stowlangloft Hall” 5 miles from the station, and this was our home for the next month or so.