Saturday 20th February 1943

My “ships label” has been taken away to the office. That means I'm not staying here. Sure enough, I now learn I am going to a hospital in Beirut tomorrow. Even that may not be my journey's end.

Four sergeants came in to see me this evening – Ling, White, Nade and Neal. All looked frightfully jolly and cheerful. “We're moving up to Aleppo next week, Steve. See you up there, shortly, boy...” I felt rather like the soldier in “The Road Back”, who was left behind, while his comrades tramped out of the hospital and on, homewards.

Here ends Stillness 1943