RAMBLINGS IN REVERIE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 165, 15 July 1939, Page 11 (Supplement)

RAMBLINGS IN REVERIE

MILITARY MIX-UP

AN AUSSIE PRANK

When The Boys Were At War "Donk" Travelled First Class

A strange military mix-up occurred n Christchurch early in June of 1915 when a man who was already at the front, and who had been there since the beginning of the war, was suranoned for not attending his territorial grades, stated the "Christchurch Star" jl that time. After having been a member of the territorials before the war, this young man joined up on the opening of hostilities, and in due course left for Egypt, where he was stationed before leaving for (Jallipoli. Strange as it seems, and although the Defence authorities were in full possession of particulars regarding his joining up, notices were sent regularly to his mother's house asking him to attend parades in Christchurch. After six weeks a summons was taken out by the Defence Department, commanding him to appear before the Court to explain why he should not be fined for failing to attend parades. The police were sent to look for him in his former haunts, but naturally could not find anything about him, except that his mother told them that he was fighting overseas. His mother went to the Defence Department ollice and stated that her son was on the other side of the world, as the Department's books would have shown, but the oflicials, '"dressed in a little brief authority," were obdurate; they could not be convinced; the notices still continued to arrive and the police to look for him. This was quoted by the "Star" of that year as being an example of official obtuseness and characteristic of the chaotic conditions prevailing at the time. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ SAVED THE DOCTOR Digger Treated Himself Private Ironbark went on sick parade one morning, and after waiting a considerable time for his turn, he was duiy ushered into the presence of the M.O. by the A.M.C. pill and dope orderly sergeant. ''Well, my man," said the M.O. "How long have you been sick?" "About six weeks, sir?" was Iron' bark's reply. "Then why didn't you come to m< before?" demanded the M.O. "Well, you see, I've been treating meself," said Ironbark. ''What do you mean by treating your self';" snapped the M.O.* "That's wha I'm here for. Anyway, what did yoi treat yourself with?" "Well," said Ironbark, "I uster wai outside and pk-k up the pills, that th blokes what had been on sick parad threw away." A.D. i

Did you ever see Teddy at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt—the only "donk" I have known that ever travelled first class? A luxurious passenger train used to travel between Cairo and Suez and one afternoon in Cairo some Aussiee saw Teddy running by the side of his mother, who was pulling a Gippo cart. They resolved to own him and after much bartering with the driver succeeded in purchasing him. Cairo poseessee a rather palatial station and to this the Aussies escorted Teddy, who was not too anxious to board the train. The effort* of the Aussiee to persuade him to enter a carriage were not iced by railway officials, and then the fun started. The Aussies, despite the protests of the officials, insisted on the donkey accompanying them to Tel-el-Kebir, and the more fuss the railway men made the more insistent became the Aussies. They were quickly reinforced and Teddy was hoisted into a first-class carriage and stood in the passageway between the eeats till he reached his destination. Then he was taken to the Aussie lines, and remained there till that camp was broken up, when he was transported on top of a baggage wagon to Moascar, where he joined the New Zealand Mounted Division. B.A. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ WELL CAMOUFLAGED. A Paris Episode. A couple of Diggers, on leave in Parie, hooked on to a couple of mademoiselles, almost as soon as their number eights hit the platform of the Gare du Nord. So, of course, the first thing they did was to treat them to some wine at a place with tables under an awning on the pavement of one of the boulevards. When they eat down, Blue had the chance of a good look at his cobber's girl, whose face was fairly plastered with make-up. "Cripe*. Snowy," he said, "your sheila is like that loin howitzer, away up at Ypres. She's well camouflaged!" E.H.W. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ WOULD HAVE HIS JOKE t An Army padre was talking to a group of Diggers and the conversation . eventually turned to Scripture. t The padre said, "When Lot's wife i looked round she was turned into a pillar of salt." t One of the Diggers said, "That's a nothing, my wife went'down the street e the other day. She looked around and then turned into a pub." T.N.

AUCKLAND R.S.A. Quarterly Meeting. I Some matters of more than usual im- [ portance will come before the quarterly meeting of the Auckland R.S.A., to be held in the Lewis Eady Hall on Thurs- ' day week, July 27. Details of the bu&i- ---" nevs done at the Dominion Conference will be reported and considered. while there is a probability that the president, Mr. J. W. Kendall, will have ' an important announcement to make - regarding a broadcasting session for the - R.S.A. in Auckland. ♦ ♦ i, Remuera Club. D 0 A social evening (ladies' night) will be held in the clubroorns, 77, Green Lane Road, to-night (Saturday) at 8 t o'clock. A good programme has been arranged and a pleasant evening is assured. 1 ♦ ♦ v Grey Lynn R.S. Club Q e Wednesday, July 19 —Indoor bowls, ie open tourney (post entries), Druids' Hall, Xewton. Ie Thursday, July 20—Dance, Gaiety Hall, Surrey Crescent.

THEY WERE MILES APART But "The Page" Found Them Two weeks ago "J.W.," Ist and 2nd Battalion N.Z.R.8., Ashburton, inquired through "The Page" for a stretcherbearer cobber, of the Ist Battalion, named Walley or Waller, also for a Sister Drummond, X.Z.A.N.S. 23/948 Rifleman H. T. Waller, Walton, Rotorua line, writes: "Please forward to me the addrese of J. W. Ashburton, who was inquiring for StretcherBearer Walley or Waller, Ist Company, X.Z.R.8." The address of "J.W.," Ashburton, has been forwarded, and no doubt two "Old Timers"' will have a few tales lo tell. Writing from Miriama Street. Taumarunui, ex-S.M. A. R. Kinninmont states: "Kindly allow me to express my sincere thanks to your paper for gettinp me in touch with our old comrades. ] have had eeveral letters from old com- : rades, and I am pleased to say manj ■ of them are doing well. It is really fint to hear from the old boys after allthesc i years and to revive memories of tin ; soldiers' life. With best wishes to ok I Diggers." S.M. Kinninm'ont was with tin M.G.C.