11 a.m.
Peter could hardly believe his ears , but he could barely keep a straight face either . The D.A.Q.M.G. hung up the receiver and repeated the latter part of the message . Peter thanked him and departed , walking on air . A day later an orderly from the group informed him at 11 a.m. that the order had been applied for and might be expected that day , and at 1 o'clock he received it . Such is the humour of the high gods who control the British Army . But he never saw Colonel Lear again , and was thankful . Peter reached his new base , then , early in March in a drizzle of rain .