A PICCADILLY BUS

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 522, 18 May 1915, Page 2

A PICCADILLY BUS

ITS WAR SE-tVICE. I will try -and explain what a "run out" is m my job (writes a private eerving with the motor transport branch). Picture yourself comfortably m bed on a very cold night. All of a sudden, at 1.30 a.m., come officers, etc., shouting afc the top of their voices: " Start your engines." Well, out we get, start them, light our headlights, and move off to some unknown spot m- the North of Prance or Belgium. There we pick up two or three thousand reinforcements, carry them all through the night to some spot where our troops have been b**trd pressed. Well, perhaps we will be at that for 50 hours at a time, without sleep, so you can see we are all doing our bit. And what a lark the troops have! You hear them say " Piccadilly, driver," or " Marble Arch, driver." Then, perhaps, one will get up and ring the bell, and say : " I will report you, driver, if you don't stop." And that's how they go along until we are Hearing the trenches, and, then, 'my. word . what a difference m them then. Men, who a few hours before were playing about^-uow not a word out of any of them. Thoy know what they are going to. They have Had some. But, still, it's war. We*; get rid of them, and then start for home to await the next call. I can tell you this much, dad, it is recognised that the busmen have "saved the situation" times out of number, and I reckon the Germans would give anything to gefc hold of us. You should. see the German airmen follow us about m the hope of finding where we are going, Then, perhaps, some English airmen will come and give chase, and then there's a sight ! It is worth seeing. >