Edward Darby worked for a wealthy American family in London. When they returned home in August 1914, he planned to go with them and submitted the paperwork to do so. A skilled mechanic and driver, he was a member of the Society of Automobile Mechanics. While awaiting his papers for America, he received a letter from the SMA that changed his life. It informed him that the army was in desperate need of skilled mechanics and invited him to volunteer. Believing the rumours that the war would be over by Christmas, he resolved to do his patriotic duty.

It was thus that he found himself at the Whitehall Recruiting Centre at 10.00am on the 19th October 1914. Sworn in to serve King and country for one year, or the duration of the war, he found himself at Grove Park Army Service Corps centre. Medical passed, uniform, paybook and regimental number issued, he was given lunch and just a handful of hours after walking into the Recruitment Centre was on a parade ground and in the army!

He was then sent to Dalston Bus Garage. Where, with his new mate, he waited for an omnibus to return from its day’s work when they took it over and returned to Grove Park. In less than one day, Darby had gone from civilian to soldier with ‘his’ bus, B1805, which he named ‘Nelson’ due to the number.

The following morning, the bus was filled with petrol and tins of grey paint and Grove Park was departed. It was not until later in the year that the familiar ‘army khaki’ began to replace the pre-war grey colour used by the Royal Navy. Stopping overnight at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, they slept in the grandstand. Here, Darby was able to purchase a postcard and inform his girlfriend as to what he had done!

Rested, the convoy of new recruits left at 10.00am the next morning, arriving at Marlborough. Parked in the High Street, the Sergeant-Major informed them that the following day they would embark for France. Each man was then issued with a First Field Dressing and a rifle. After three days, he was an armed soldier! Darby recounts his surprise that France was their destination, noting that they were a motley group of bus drivers, cab drivers, car drivers and a tram driver with minimal ability.

Day four, and the real soldiering commenced with a course in Musketry and Arms Drill while the dockers loaded their buses onto a tramp steamer at Avonmouth. Once aboard, they were greeted by the stench that was testament to the disembarking Belgian refugees’ far from pleasant voyage. The unpleasantness suffered was confirmed by the two-day voyage to Le Havre, when it was discovered that few of Darby’s new comrades had developed their sea-legs. Hope of finding land at Le Havre was dashed when orders were received that Rouen was the destination, a further day aboard the, by now, very foul ship.

Just seven days after stepping through the Recruitment Centre door, Darby found himself stood on French soil, albeit pleased to be back on terra firma. Relief was short lived as he discovered how kind-hearted the senior officers in France could be. They had ordered a route march in compensation for being couped up on ship for three days. Returning from the march, he was surprised to find that his bus, along with the others, was being attacked by French carpenters removing the upper decks thereby turning the buses into lorries.

This is the first indication that Darby had been enlisted into 93 Coy ASC (4 Auxiliary Omnibus Coy). Four bus companies had been formed in October 1914. 90 and 91 Coys were retained as bus companies on arrival in France, while 92 Coy was converted to lorries and re-designated 4 GHQ Ammunition Park. 93 Coy was re-designated 1 Mobile Repair Shop. It had no buses or lorries on its establishment, other than breakdown lorries, and there is no record of what happened to the personnel and vehicles. Darby recounts that he was transferred, with bus, to 46 Coy ASC (2 Cavalry Division Supply Column).

Buses converted, the company left Rouen the same day, arriving at Abbeville for the night. At Abbeville, he found a bakery and already tired of Iron Rations for his first week of Army life, he purchased some bread and buns. He was informed that the following morning the company would be leaving for Saint-Omer and he was to ride ahead on a motorcycle to check that the road was suitable for lorries.

A French officer joined the company the following morning as the interpreter. He was sensibly chosen to replace Darby and recce the route. Darby returned to the remains of his bus for the journey to Saint-Omer. Expecting a rest at Saint-Omer, he was disappointed to find his rest cut short as orders were received to move the same day to Hazebrouck. Here the company was formed into 2 Cavalry Division Supply Column.

It consisted of a random collection of lorries and parcel vans etc., requisitioned from companies such as Pickfords and the CO-OP, whose large biscuit van proudly advertised their trade in Manchester. An opportunity was taken to purloin tarpaulin covers from railway trucks in attempt to make their ‘lorries’ weatherproof.

At their destination, with the promise that the constant moving was at an end, Darby was able to reflect that it was just nine days after he had walked into the Recruiting Office in London. In that short time, he had become a professional soldier, travelled to a foreign country and was parked next to heavy Howitzer Guns. He reflected on the sound of the guns and the flashes that lit up the night sky and firmly reinforced the fact that he was now a soldier on the frontline.

2 Cavalry DSC ceased to exist at Abbeville on 1st May 1919.