Thanks to Georgina and Diane for your thoughts on the subject. Panic over!! I've scrutinised the records more closely and found in very faint ink the part that says he was granted home leave from France, but no mention of the reason, between 14/11/17 and 29/11/17..Mum was born 17/8/1918.... he obviously put his time to good use! He then went back to France until 14/4/18. So, problem solved. Jennifer