DIARY OF A MONTH.

Flak, 1 July 1943, Page 32

DIARY OF A MONTH.

(Any resemblance of the characters in this diary to human beings is entirely coincidental.) April I.—Hopped the fence last night and did a turn on the mat this morning. 14 days C.B. April 2.— Sgt.-Major Rogers went off on furlough to-day. WAAC-o. April 3.—The Colonel went off on furlough to-day. Too good to be true. Heaps of gun-drill. Sgt. Bartlett doesn’t seem to like me. April 4.— The Colonel is still around. I never did believe Routine Orders. Was late for parade this morning. That makes 21 days C.B. ; U... April s.—Cheers ! Didn’t see the Colonel all day. R.O.’s must be right after all. Heaps more gun-drill. April 6.—More gun-drill. April 7.—Went to the sports meeting to-day. Stood around for half-an-hour in our greatcoats looking at the blizzard. Then Mr. Masters found out that it was raining and said that we could come home. Only my elbow got any exercise.

April B.—Sgt.-Major Rogers returned from furlough. Not so good. Visiting day to-day—-that included the Colonel. I can’t make out what that man sees in this place. Hauled two kids out of a gun barrel at 5 o’clock. April 9.— Slept in this morning. That makes 28 days C.B. April 10.—Sgt. -Major Rogers went out on seven days’ special leave to-day. More gun-drill. April 11.—To-day’s R.O.’s say that the Colonel marched in from furlough. R.O.’s must be blind. Still more gun-drill. April 12.— There’s going to be a Regimental parade this afternoon. I wonder what the hell has bitten them this time. Some cranky idea of Capt. Chapman’s April 13.— 1 like Regimental parades. April 14.—More gun-drill. April 15.— Sgt. -Major Flanagan shouted at one of the WAAC’s this morning and she burst into tears. This army discipline ! Had to be. consoled on Sgt. MacKinnon’s shoulder. Gun-drill. April 16.— Army education lecture to-day on raising the birth rate. I don’t know why they came to us about it. Followed by gun-drill.

April 17.- — Sgt.-Major Rogers returned from special leave to-day. Gun-drill as usual. 1 fell asleep after lunch and missed parade. That makes 35 days now. April 18.—Domestic tragedy this morning. They tried to make one of the WAAC’s move into the hut next door. She said her curtains and lino, would, fit the new place all right, but she wouldn t be able to transplant the rosegarden. Tears, wouldn’t swop, in spite of the Colonel in his most persuasive mood. Tut ! Tut ! This army discipline ! Gun-drill. April J 9.— Slept in my own hut last night. Wasn’t on guard. Special treat—two oysters for lunch. April 20.—Sgt.-Major Rogers went out on furlough to-day. Gun-drill. Our rations have been increased— three oysters for lunch to-day. April 21.— Gun-drill— same as usual. April 22. Same as usual. April 23. — Wasnt in bed at tattoo last night. Colonel won t believe my story, though it's the best I could think of. Haven’t worked out how many days that makes yet. Pic-

tures last night-“ Honeymoon in Bali.’’ interrupted honeymoon. April 24.— Slept in my own bed again last night. Same as usual—gun-drill, I mean. April 25.- — Pay-day to-day. I only owe them six bob now. Canteen out of tobacco, anyway. It must be near the end of the month again. April 26. — Stood at attention while the radio played the Blue Danube” to-day. Knew 1 had heard the tune before, but how was 1 to tell it wasn’t the “ Star-Spangled Banner.” It s a long tune. Same as usual. April 27.—Sgt. -Major Rogers returned from furlough to-day. He seems to have put on weight. Gun-drill (?) April 28.— Haven’t been on the mat for five days now. Touch wood. April 29. Same as usual. April 30.— Man-powered out of the army to-day. I think I will tell some of these sergeants what I think of them and their gun-drill. On second thoughts, I don’t think 1 will. I might be back here soon. It’s too darn good to be true.