SURRENDER !

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 27 March 1936, Page 8

SURRENDER !

FIELD CORNET AND N.C.O. (By Air Mail—From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 27th February. Some military archaeologists regret that (lie degrees of lieutenant have been substituted for the old ensign and cornet. The Dutch Army, perhaps out of respect to great commanders of former days, still retains most of the old-time rankings. And naturally the Boers, with whom we. had such intense dust-ups before a happier fraternal spirit animated South Africa, did the same. On one occasion during tlm last South African War a British R.S.M. found himself in charge of a body of troops who had surrounded a small Boer commando. The position of the latter was hopeless, and the R.S.M. called on them to surrender. The Boer officer in charge refused to do so unless to somebody of higher rank than a mere N.C.O. “I am a field cornet," he shouted, “and insist on dealing with a commissioned officer.” To winch the sturdy N.C.O. replied: “I don’t care if you are a brass band—surrender!”