WAR REMINISCENCES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 227, 22 June 1936, Page 16

WAR REMINISCENCES

A General Who Was Not “All Right”

The “reminiscence man” at the 13th Battery annual reunion iu Wellington ou Saturday night) had some war stories to tell that were out of the ordinary.

He remembered when the battery was occupying one position seeing a general approach, accompanied by a lance-corporal. He thought it strange that there was none of the usual accompanying retinue of officers, but considered it none of his business Next day they were blown out of this position. They shifted to another where they so successfully camouflaged their position that, they were invisible from aerial or other observation.

Along came the general again, this time unescorted. His papers were demanded, and the general, slightly indignant. said he was officer commanding the engineers. However, the general produced papers which he htinded to the officer in charge at the time. These papers the officer said were "all right,” but next day they were again blown out of their so skilfully-con-cealed position. It turned out that the “general” was not: “all right.” The teller recalled another incident where a colonel took np the best position available, this in a house which was well sandflagged and protected. It was suggested that a few shells should be fired from near the house. This was done and duly the reply came from the enemy. "The colonel shifted out and we shifted in,” said the teller of the story. Another story told was of presentiment. A member of the battery had a presentiment one night that he was going to be killed. He wrote his last letters and made certain requests. He was killed next day.