In the early part of 1915, when the box periscope was in great use in
the trenches, we received a draft of young recruits. One lad, of a
rather inquisitive nature, was always looking in the glass trying to
find Jerry's whereabouts.
An old Cockney, passing up and down, had seen this lad peeping in the
glass. At last he stopped and addressed the lad as follows:
"You've been a-looking in that bloomin' winder all the die, an' nah yer
ain't bought nuffink."--_E. R. Gibson (late Middlesex Regt.), 42 Maldon
Road, Edmonton, N.9._
"I Don't Fink"
After we landed in France our officer gave us a lecture and told us
that our best pal in this world was our rifle. He warned us that on no
account must we part with it. A couple of nights later Gunner Brown,
a Cockney, was on guard. When the visiting officer approached him and
said, "Your rifle is dirty, gunner," he replied, "I don't fink so
sir, 'cos I cleaned it." "Give it to me," said the officer sternly,
which Brown did. Then the officer said, "You fool, if I were an enemy
in English uniform I could shoot you." To which Brown replied, "I
don't fink you could, sir, 'cos I've got the blinkin' bolt in my
pocket."--_E. W. Houser (late 41st Division, R.F.A.) 22 Hamlet Road,
Southend._