WAR AND CONSCIENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 262, 4 November 1944, Page 4

WAR AND CONSCIENCE

Many Diggers of the 1914-18 war years will remember the conscientious objector song that was, at that time, a popular ditty with the troops, especially if sung in a trembling effeminate voice. How applicable are the words of the chorus, "to-day, after an interval of close on thirty years, with a dental bursary being presented to a man who refused to shoulder arms, and hovels for disabled soldiers who did so. Here it is:— Call out the Army and the Navy, Call out the rank and file. Call out the good old Territorials, They'll face the danger with a smile. Where are the boys of the Old Brigade, Who set old England free? Call out my mother. My sister and my brother, But for God's sake don't call mel As far as I am concerned, I have written my piece, and with your permission I pass on this space to the disabled soldiers' cause, or, in fact, to all soldiers who have done a job of work and who demand a straight deal. As I slam the door and turn the key on the pretenders, I salute those stalwarts who wrote in unison with me on the subject of the "objects" and advise them to watcn the "conchies"" friends. STAUNCH STILL.