“JUMP TO IT!”

War Wit, Volume 1, Issue 6, 1 July 1941, Page 8

“JUMP TO IT!”

It was on the Mediterranean station, and, for reasons best known to himself, the skipper suddenly appeared on the bridge ’at the unearthly hour of 6 a.m., to the consteration of the officer of the watch. . Latter’s worry, however, was nothing to that of the messenger —a young ordinary seaman, who never in all his life in the R.A.N. had been so close to a captain, and was rooted to the bridge. Captain, feeling the chill of the morning air, turned 'to the messenger and said, “Fetch my greatcoat.” Awful fact of being addressed by the great man nearly caused the messenger to faint, and galvanised him into such immediate action that, when he hurled himself at the bridge ladder in order to carry out the captain’s instructions, he tripped and went down the few steps without touching one. As he picked himself up from the deck below, the skipper looked over the bridge rail, and bellowed, “And hurry up!” ♦ * *