WE DID, DIDN'T WE.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 3001, 24 July 1916, Page 1

WE DID, DIDN'T WE.

THE HUMOUR OF THE TOMMY. One who has braved the battle on tho Western front (and who is at- present in Wellington)) pays a- very high tribute to the bravery and wonderful spirit of humour that is shown by the liYitish "Tommy" under the most tragic circumstances. To Continental people the British are considered stodgy and a triile dour, but this war has brought out tho sigular fact that the Britisher has the liveliest sense of humour of any of the nations engaged in tho war. He loathes anything in the nature of morbidity, and avoids dwelling on tbe tragic side of things. Aud. strange to say. said our informant, it was always when things looked blackest that the humour of "Tommy" was at its best. He relates a story—which he vouches to be true —whore a "Tommy" who had been captured said to his captor: "Well, old pal, I'm nabbed, but the British did j?ivo you blokes 'ell yesterday." The German soldier (who understood English) reported this to his superior officer, who resolved to test the loyalty of the prisoner, by ordering him either to be shot or swear allegiance to the Kaiser. The "Tommy' 'at once decided that it was best to "take on the Kaiser." After having done so. ho said:""Well, wot am 1 now, that's wot I'd like to know?" "Oh. you're a German now!" said the officer. "Ho. is that so." replied Tommy. Then, with a glint of humour in his eye, added: "Say, the British did give us Germans 'ell yesterday, didn't thoy?"