We were taking a much-needed bath and change in the Brewery vats at
Poperinghe, when Jerry started a mad five minutes' "strafe" with, as it
seemed, the old Brewery as a target.
Above the din of explosions, falling bricks, and general "wind-up" the
aggrieved voice of Sammy Wilkes from Poplar, who was still in the vat,
was heard:
"Lumme, and I only asked for a little drop more 'ot water."--_Albert
Girardot (late K.R.R.), 250 Cornwall Road, Ladbroke Grove, W.11._
"Ducks and Drakes! Ducks and Drakes!"
After the evacuation of the Dardanelles the "Drakes" of the Royal Naval
Division were ordered to France. Amongst them was Jack (his real name
was John). A young Soccer player, swift of foot, he was chosen as a
"runner."
One day he tumbled into a shell hole. And just as he had recovered his
wits in came Colonel Freyberg, V.C., somewhat wounded. Seeing Jack, he
told him he was just the boy he wanted--the lad had run away from home
to join up before he was seventeen--and scribbling a note the colonel
handed it to him.
The boy was told if he delivered it safely he could help the colonel to
take Beaucourt. Jack began to scramble out. It was none too inviting,
for shells were bursting in all directions, and it was much more
comfortable inside. With a wide vocabulary from the Old Kent Road, he
timely remembered that his father was a clergyman, and muttering to
himself, "Ducks and drakes, ducks and drakes," he reached the top and
went on his way.
The sequel was that the message was delivered, reinforcements came
up, led by the boy to the colonel, and Beaucourt was taken.--_Father
Hughes, 60 Hainault Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea._