LANGUAGE LESSONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1940, Page 5

LANGUAGE LESSONS

ANGLO-FRENCH PILOTS.

One day when bad weather conditions reduced R.A.F. patrol work and reconnaissance to a minimum, I went to lunch with some bomber pilots who share a palatial mess vcitli a French formation, wrote Peter Lawless from France to the London “Daily Telegraph.”

Not for the first time, T was tremendously impressed by the spirit of camaraderie which prevails between our men and their French Allies. Relations are cordial in the extreme. The luncheon, consisting of chipolatas and rice, mutton chops, and a variety of cheeses, with an excellent special cuvee of champagne, was admirably served by the French staff. Dicing for cigars, followed, and I record with pleasure that the tradition of “the visitors always pay” was broken.

My four aces proved good enough to head a large field, and a visiting censor, for once showing all that he had in bis hand, won the last desperate throw.

Before luncheon a pleasant ritual was observed. Each day a British .and a French officer take it in turn to read the hill of fare aloud in each other’s language and wish the assembled company “good . appetite'.” to remove linguistic difficulties. These difficulties, it may he added, do not prevent the continual exchange of 'words of various well-known, songs. These are typed out and studied with an intensity which ted me at first to believe that they were operation orders. Not till a chuckle and a familiar line or two cattght iniy.Cear across the anteroom did 1 realise what was afoot. ‘ .. •' ■

One squadron leader of outstanding personality has been signally honoured. A French regiment has made him its honorary colonel. It is to be hoped that every .endeavour is being made to speed uptthe allowances. In many cases these are verv much overdue. The result is that hardships unmerited and surely unnecessary. are being suffered by dependants at home. This should not be. Anxiety, and flying do not go hand in hand.