It was at the siege of Kut, when the 13th ("Iron") Division was trying
to relieve that gallant but hard-pressed body of men under General
Townshend. Rations had been very low for days, and the battery had been
digging gun-pits in several positions, till at last we had a change
of position and "dug in" to stay a bit. What with bad water, digging
in, and hardly any food, the men were getting fed up generally. An
order came out to the effect that "A certain bunchy grass (detailed
explanation) if picked and boiled would make a very nourishing meal."
One hefty Cockney, "Dusty" Miller, caused a laugh when he vented
his feelings with "'Struth, and nah we got ter be blinking sheep.
Baa-Baa!"--_E. J. Bates (late R.F.A.), 37 Ulverscroft Road, E. Dulwich._