“THEY SAT ON HIT

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12199, 25 July 1925, Page 11

“THEY SAT ON HIT

WIVES AND THE SENTRY AMUSING WAR ANECDOTE. Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair, Governor of New South Wales, told an amuing war anecdote in a speech in Sydney recently. At* one time, he said, he had the 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, hut one change did not meet r with their approval. Prior to their naval service, the stokers left their ships on their return to the home port and another body of men then set to work to clean the engines. But that was not the "navy way.” On His Majesty’s ships the stokers have to clean up thejr engines before going ashore. This information waq imparted to Sir . Dudley fie Chair’s . “recruits.” They objected.’ Further, they decided to adhere to the old methods. But when they det out to go ashore, leaving their engines unrlaaned, they fonnd the 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 dear, the husbands decamped. ' “But,” concluded the Admiral with a smile, "when we returned from tbe next_ cruise we had devised means of keeping the ladies away from the •hip.”