World War, 1914-1918 -- Anecdotes; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, British
I served with the 11th London Regiment in Palestine. One day our
officer paid us a visit at dinner-time to find out if there were any
complaints. While we were endeavouring to find the meat at the bottom
of the spoilt water we heard a voice say: "Any complaints?" One of the
platoon, not seeing the officer, thought the remark was a joke, so he
replied, "Yes, why ain't the band playing?" On realising it was an
official request he immediately corrected himself and said: "Sorry,
sir, no complaints."
I rather think the officer enjoyed the remark.--_F. G. Palmer, 29
Dumbarton Road, Brixton, S.W.2._
His Deduction
Our battalion, fresh from home, all nicely groomed and with new kit,
stepped out whistling "Tipperary." We were on the road to Loos.
Presently towards us came a pathetic procession of wounded men
struggling back, some using their rifles as crutches.
Our whistling had ceased; some faces had paled. Not a word was spoken
for quite a while, until my Cockney pal broke the silence, remarking,
"Lumme, I reckon there's been a bit of a row somewhere."--_Charles
Phillips (late Middlesex Regt.), 108 Grosvenor Road, Ilford._
Peter in the Pool
We had advanced beyond the German first line in the big push of '18.
The rain was heavy, the mud was deep; we had not quite dug in beyond
"shallow," and rations had not come up--altogether a most dismal
prospect.
Quite near to us was a small pool of water which we all attempted to
avoid when passing to and fro. Suddenly there was a yell and much
cursing--the Cockney of the company, complete with his equipment, had
fallen into the pool.
After recovering dry ground he gazed at the pool in disgust and said,
"Fancy a fing like that trying to drahn a bloke wiv a name like
Peter."--_J. Carlton, Bayswater Court, St. Stephen's Court, W.2._
Where "Movie" Shows Cost Soap
We landed in North Russia in June 1918. We were piloted in on the _City
of Marseilles_ to a jetty. We did not know the name of the place. On
the jetty we saw from the boat a British marine on sentry duty. We
shouted down to him, "Where are we, mate?" He answered "Murmansk."
We asked, "What sort of place," and he shouted, "Lumme, you've come to
a blighted 'ole 'ere. They 'ave one picture palace and the price of
admission is a bar of soap."--_M. C. Oliver (late Corporal R.A.F.), 99,
Lealand Road, Stamford Hill, N.16._
Sherlock Holmes in the Desert
In the autumn of 1917, when training for the attack on Beersheba, in
Palestine, we were encamped in bivouacs in the desert.
The chief meal of the day was served in the cool of the evening and
more often than not consisted of bully beef stew.
One evening the Orderly Officer approached the dixie, looked into it,
and seeing it half full of the usual concoction, remarked, "H'm, stew
this evening."
At once there came a voice, that of a Cockney tailor, from the nearest
bivouac--"My dear Watson!"--_R. S. H. (late 16th County of London
Q.W.R.), Purley, Surrey._
The Army "Loops the Loop"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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