Private Arthur Pettifer (°1874) entered the army as a 'band-boy' when he was eleven, and had served in India and South Africa before he crossed the Channel in October 1914.
In November 1915 he reluctantly obeyed the Buffs Adjudant who detailed him as a batman to "a greenhorn of a chaplain", Tubby Clayton.
Pettifer soon developed unique capacities in acquiring things for the House and had a brilliant sense of humour.
Being exceedingly war-wise, Pettifer alsways took command "when things were getting hot". Also dozens of children relied on 'Le Général', as they called him.
After the war 'Gen' became Vice-President of Toc H and would continue to serve his 'master' until his death in1954.