Information
was received that the Division was to be inspected next day by Lord Kitchener.
The author of the Divisional History later recalled the confusion which
followed:
“the
official notification of his intention to do so was only received late on the
preceding day. His visit was to be kept secret, but the short notice at which
the telegram announcing it was received necessitated cancelling certain orders
already issued for the following day. The adjutant of one of the battalions
guessed the reason of this alteration to orders, with the horrifying result
that Lord Kitchener’s secret visit was announced that evening on the screen at
the local theatre. It was confidently anticipated that half the countryside
would turn out the next day, but, thanks probably to no hour having been
mentioned, none of the inhabitants appeared, and all was well. Lord Kitchener
expressed his approval of the troops he saw”.
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