NEARLY A FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 11 (Supplement)

NEARLY A FATALITY.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day. *pHE battalion had just shifted from Le Bezit to Romarin, and my genial Irish cobber decided we visit Bailleul to observe the 17th March, 1917, in a proper and fitting "Ould Ireland" manner. Vin Rouge, Bock and various concoctions were duly sampled. Some Tommy artillery officers wer ( e billeted next door to the estaminet and "Shamrock," noted for his ratting ability, sneaks away to reconnoitre for some buckshee whisky. After some time I decided on a search party, as he was carrying his fair quota and "red caps" were in evidence. He is eventually dug out of another estaminet carrying a sandbag, which felt like extra blankets to me. Singing our way to the nissen huts at Romarin, "Shamrock" opens his plunder. Wrapped up in an officer's sleeping bag is a bottle of "Canadian Club" and two of vin blanc. The hectic night draws to a close. Cries of 'less Killarney" and "get to bed" are heard. The climax is reached when someone discovers "Shamrock" head first in the sleeping bag practically suffocated. Yanked out feet first and reversed, one digger is saved from being described as "an heroic soldier whd died fr - his country." MARLBOROUGH.