“GET FELL IN!”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24594, 30 April 1941, Page 8

“GET FELL IN!”

SEA-DOG’S ENGLISH TALE OF “ DOOTY ” WATCH “Get fell in! Two thick! . . .” This is a fair sample of English as it is spoken at Home, according to a New Zealander who is in training in England for the Fleet Air Arm. One can imagine the scene. It was. a “ dooty ” watch parade, and the chief petty officer, a thick-set, rubicund, middle-aged sea-dog, whose arms bore golden anchors and other insignia, stood in front of a number of lads from “ way down under.” The boys were standing at the edge of the parade ground ready to do the job to which they were assigned. “ Get fell in! Two thick!” the descendant of Drake ordered, t Weary V of such ungrammatical language, the boys from Maoriland stood fast. “ Get fell in! ” the C.P.O. ordered in stentorian tones. “You mean, ‘fall in—two deep!’ Chief? ” answered one of the lads a little braver than the rest, for really their instructor had them' where he wanted them. The C.P.O.’s eyes blazed, and he puffed out his beribboned chest; “Nah, then! Get fell in!" the son of the sea literally roared. “None o’ yer sauce! Put you in the rattle, I will. •me lad. I won’t have none of it.” One can imagine the New Zealand lads roaring with laughter. And this they did. Finally, the C.P.O. won the day. And the work of adding claws' to the British lion was continued.