Ramblings In Reverie

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 11 (Supplement)

Ramblings In Reverie

A WORD FOR THE NAVY Their Great Work at Anzac the war I liad a very biased opinion of naval men. They seemed to mi; to be the "hard" type, pretty good drinkers and fairly irresponsible. Since the Ga'.lipoli landing my opinion of them lias entirely changed. Tlie efficient manner ii\ which they did their work there was indeed a revelation to me. And kindness! It was no trouble for a sailor to give a soldier his rations and last cigarette and go without himself. I remember going out to the Blenheim, after being sheered off all other ships in the cove, and these "sea-dogs" gave of their best and filled my boat with stores, etc., and all buckshee! The middies were really wonderful lade. They were in charge of pinnaces, taking Irarges ashore. Several "tars" were on their pinnaces, and it intrigued me to hear the shrill, boyish, soprano voices give orders, and the deep, gruff "Aye. Ave, Sir," of the men sounded real funny to me. Never did these "kids" of the Navy blink an eye when shrapnel was falling all around them. They had a real job to do. and they intended to do it. I tiike of! my hat to these embryo admirals and their men. * AXZAC.

THE LONG, LONG TRAIL " Lead-Swinging" In Egypt the training of the troops in Egypt many long marches across the desert to Xo. 2 tower, a distance of almost 25 miles, were undertaken. It was usual to leave on these marches at dusk, arrive at destination, rest a couple of hours, dig trenches and fight an imaginary battle at daybreak and then march to camp via the road. On some of these excursions I had several of my men absent, having been given leave to stay in camp by the doctor. I was intrigued, and decided to keep an eye open when the next visit to No. 2 tower was to take place. I had made up my mind that these two "birds" would take the journey with the rest on this occasion. I stayed in camp all that day and felt a certain amount of satisfaction that the men were to be on parade. When the battalion fell in for the "trek," I noticed that they were not present, so I made it my business to inquire why they were absent. It appears that while I was resting during the afternoon they were busily engaged at the grindstone, wearing the soles off their boots. They then reported to the medico that the boots they had were not in a fit condition for them to undertake a long march, and after an examination of the boots they were excused. Some initiative, elil TWO PIPPER. |