“THEY SAT ON HIM.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 July 1925, Page 9

“THEY SAT ON HIM.”

WIVES AND THE SENTE,Y. Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair, Governor of New South Wales, told an amusing war anecdote in Sydney recently. At one time, he said, he had command of 24 converted merchantmen. When the navy took over the -ships they took over the stokers. The accommodation of the latter was greatly improved, but one change did not meet with their approval. Prior to their naval service rhe stokers left their ships on their return to the home port, and another body of men then set to work to clean th e engines. But that was not the “navy way.” On his Majesty’s ships the stokers liav e to clean up their engines before going ashore. This information was imparted to Sir Dudley de Chair’s “recruits.” They objected. Further, they decided to adhere to the old methods. But alien they set out "to go ashore, leaving their engines uncleaned, they found th e way barred by an armed sentry. The stokers’ wives heard of their husbands’ predicament. They came to the wharfside. Then, marshalling their forces, they made a surprise attack on the sentry, knocked him down, and sat on him. Thereupon, the way being clear, the husbands decamped.* “But,” concluded the Admiral with a smile, “when we returned from the next cruise ,-w P had devised means of keeping the ladies away from the ship.”