Random reminder

Press, 28 November 1980, Page 21

Random reminder

NO NAMES, NO PACK DRILL

To become a soldier is to become ’ supremely fit. It is, in fact, i compulsory. Twice a year, the Fitness I Test is taken seriously. All personnel, men and women, of whatever rank, ; know that future promotion depends 1 on passing it. . _■ . However, the good news is that by i way of getting things back to normal there are from time_ to time social . gatherings, over details of which the . Official Secrets Act must be drawn; except to say that fitness isn t ! everything, the Lieutenant was unlucky to have rolled his car, it was , a pity about the rhododendron bush J but the 11 passengers are quite all right again now thank -you. . ] At another such social gathering for Unit members and their ladies, and Unit members and their men (its an integrated Army as this column has indicated in the past) the refreshments i

went round and round, and the cigarettes were shared, many of them tobacco. A man, who as it happened was a soldier, and, a lady, who as it happened was not, fell to chatting of this and that. Like,' the imminent arrival of a new lieutenant. “We got plans for that fellow,” hiccupped the soldier. “We’ll soon have him whipped into shape. Y’beautiful, you know what? Woss your name? Y’lovely.” “My name,” said the lady, 'is So-and-so ... my husband is the new Lieutenant.” The soldier looked deep into her lovely, beautiful eyes. **D’you know my name?” “No. I don’t,” replied the lady. ‘Thanks heavens for that,” said the soldier, and vanished.