The car purred through towns and villages, passing Bridle as he clutched a bruise that was forming on the side of his face. "Bugger!" He allowed himself a rare expletive, "this isn't going to look good in front of the colonel!" Despite his misgivings he went to the interview he had arranged with his commanding officer.

"So, Stefan, how are you?" The C. O. asked.

"Very well thank you Colonel," he smiled politely, "you?"

"Can't complain," a wry grin creased his face, "just got a call from the war department, who knows, may be a brigadier before this is over eh?"

"Hope so sir!" The subaltern realised what a crawler that made him sound, "Sir, I wanted to talk about my transfer."

"In good time, how are your brothers?" The other replied.

"Well thankyou Sir, my oldest brother has volunteered for the RAF and is now in ground crew," Stefan smiled, "best he can do these days and it fits his experience."

"Good, and your younger brother?"

"Looking at the Navy," Stefan smiled, "not quite the thing I know but they will let him keep his beard, he is proud of it."

"What about the other brother?"

Stefan had hoped he would escape mention, "still in Texas Sir, I doubt he will be back anytime soon."

"Yes, well, thats no reflection on you chaps eh?" He chuckled, "so, the yeomanry eh? Why?"

"Well sir, the future is in tanks. I want to serve with one of the best, most modern units in the army and the Yeomanry seems like the best way to get there."

"Good show," the colonel smiled, "I never saw you as a rifleman anyway. I shall talk to the CO and do my best, it may take a while but don't worry, you'll see some adventure!"

"Thank you sir!"

"Dissmissed!"

The young officer saluted and left the office with a smile on his face. Little did he know that four years later the war would still be going on and he would still be waiting to see a German soldier!

(I think this is me bowing out until we reach 1944, ttfn chaps)

__________________
There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.