RAINY AFTERNOON

Arawa Guerilla, Issue 19, 1 October 1943, Page 6

RAINY AFTERNOON

“We can’t possibly go on the bull-ring to-day,” said Lieutenant Hickson plaintively, “so we will proceed to the recreation hut. I will talk to the men about China.” “Yes, sir,” said -Sergeant-Major Pebble. , “March off, sir?” “March off,” said Lieutenant Hickson. ' ■

We marched off, blessing the rain, because we were on a week’s “ rest ” between two intensive courses of gunnery instruction, and nothing is quite so exhausting as a period of “ rest ” in the Army. “Rest” consists of drill, P.T., route marches, parades and the revision of all those things we have happily forgotten since our first months in camp. To listen to Lieutenant Hickson losing himself in the interior of China was perhaps not an ideal way of spending the morning, but it was a darned sight better than the bull-ring. We were within a few yards of the rec. hut when “B” Company, led by Lieutenant Hollow, rounded the cookhouse, evidently also bound for the rec. hut. “ Hurry our men along, Sergeant Major Pebble,” said Lieutenant Hickson, “or ‘ B ’ Companv will bag the hall.” “ C ’ Company,” bellowed Sergeant Major Pebble, “ Double march Both companies arrived at the door together and halted, glaring at one another. “ I beg your pardon, Lieutenant Hollow,” said Lieutenant Hickson, with assumed politeness, “but I am lecturing to 1 C ’ Company on China, and I am afraid I shall require the rec. 'hut.” “ I am extremely sorry, Lieutenant Hickson,” said Lieutenant Hollow, with a forced smile, “ but I am saying a few words to ‘ B ’ Company about Gas.”

There was an ominous pause, and then Lieutenant Hickson laughed breezily. “ We musn’t keep the men standing about in this rain,” he said. “ I have thought of an excellent solution. Your men can join us and hear my lecture on China.” Lieutenant Hollow shook his head. “ I gave them a lecture on China last week,” he said, “ and so they know everything about China and the Chinese now. It would be a waste of time for them. But I shall be delighted if your men will join mine for my lecture on Gas.” Lieutenant Hickson turned to Sergeant Major Pebble. “ How long is it since I told my men about Gas?” he asked. “ Six weeks, at least,” said Sergeant Major Pebble, dutifully, ■ and you covered all the ground very thoroughly, Sir.” - •»

The rain was pelting down by this time and as none of us had groundsheets, we were shuffling and mumbling. At last, the two officers, after borrowing a coin from Corporal Mays, tossed up for the use of the hut, and we won. We filed gleefully in, and found the place already occupied by “A” Company, to whom Captain Crumble was lecturing on “ Some Interesting Facts about Trajectories. “ We’ll have to use the little room off the Y.M.C.A.,” said Lieutenant Hickson gloomily. “March off, Sir?” said' Sergeant Major Pebble. “March off,” said Lieutenant Hickson. We found Lieutenant Hollow and his men in possession of the little room off the Y.M.C.A. We trudged through the slush to the old armoury to find Captain Woodbine talking to “D ” Company on “Customs of the East African Negroes.” We trotted briskly to the room off the Q store to discover ■ Lieutenant Wanders discussing Hand Grenades with the new recruits. Finally, the miniature range, our last hope, was occupied by Captain Denham lecturing to HQ about “Care of the Feet.” We spent the rest of the afternoon in the field pretending we were Germans in Russia making a strategic withrawal to extremely unprepared positions. Not a man in “C” Company now thinks a rainy afternoon anything like the asset he once did.