"WILLING."

Northern Advocate, 15 May 1918, Page 4

"WILLING."

BIG MEN IN SMALL JOBS

(Published by authority of the War Office per favour Royal Colonial Institute.)

It is not clearly xmderstood, even in England what sacrifices arc being silently made by countless men who are beyond the age of usefulness in the field but are willingly giving all they have to assist the great cause in which the nation is now engaged. Many of these have cast away the labour of years, at a time when they had made great progress in building a promising edifice as architects of their own fortunes, without chance of reward, without the faintest hope of glory,, well knowing that the only recompense will lie in the satisfaction of having done what they could for their country. I was travelling in the train recently with a friend, with whom I had not spoken since the outbreak of war. We were both in khaki, and both .captains. He was about fifteen years my senior in age, and was ovar forty when the war began. He had listened with apparent interest tp my account of such experiences as had come my way. "Now," said I, "tell me about yourself and what you have been doing." '"Very little," he said. "After a stiffish year's work I was just beginning a summer holiday when the war broke out. I went back to the office immediately, and set myself to the task of putting things on to lines on which they could keep going for some considerable time if it should be necessary. This took me about two months, and by the beginning of October I felt that I could leave affairs to look after themselves so far as I myself was concerned. I explained all the varrangements to my chairman, and asked if I could push off. "At that time they were rather keen .on finding people to teach, as men were pouring into the new battalions at a terrific pace. I had done a bit of military work in a v6lunteer way, as you know, in my earlier years, and, had always taken it seriously, counting it as the duty of every man to learn something of the art of war in case anything of this sort might happen. The medicos vetoed me, and told me frankly that the probabilities were against my being strong enough for the strain of modern campaigning, hut that I was fit for service as an instructor. Accordingly I got a new commission (temporary) and joined up. I then had vague hopes that perhaps some day, if they became very hard up, I might possibly get a show at leading a platoon or even a company; in the field; but they have not got to the pitch of wanting me /there yet. Well, it cannot be helped. Fighting, after all, is a young man's game, and I do not believe in those fellows who, simply for the glory of it, go out with full knowledge that they can't be good for many weeks. Each fellow ought to do, what he can do best, and not be jealous of other fellows, who can do the best part which most appeals to a man. So that is all about it. "During the three years I have served in many parts of England on several jobs, but I always am, and I suppose always shall be, in this war at all events, an instructor." "Did. you not find it rather Strange at first to be a subaltern officer?" I asked. I know that in his civil life he had controlled an organisation with a personnel at least as large as an infantry brigade. "Yes and no," was the answer. "In some ways it was odd. After all, the vast majority of superior officers I have come across have been 'lindly, considerate gentlemen, and never truculent, except in rare cases through shyness of a peculiar type which shows itself that way. British officers almost all have good manners, and they are a very keen and energetic lot. I should not have liked to be a second lieutenant in my own profession; but in a job which is not one's life worki simply done with the idea of helping in a time of difficulty, there is no reason to feel any humiliation in holding a subordinate position. After all, the professional soldier ought to j be the best man at this particular work." "And what about your home?" was my last question. "Gone West," he said cheerfully. "Along with everything else. Furniture stores; it won't be up to much if it ever comes out, I should say. My wife and the babies get as near to me as.they can. At present they occupy a tiny cottage in which my wife does all the work with her own hands. We don't think we ought to have a maid; they are wanted for munitions and taxi-driving, and keeping the home fires burning till the boys come home. We manage very well, and it is one of our ways of doing what we can. Perhaps some day we shall get a house of our own again, and if so, we shall live our honeymoon days over again, making it into a, home with the remnants of our goods, if any. Well,. I get out here. So long. Awfully pleased to have met you. Tha best of luck."