We were on a forced march to a sector on Vimy Ridge. It was a wicked
night--rain and thick fog--and during a halt several of our men got
lost. I was ordered to round them up, but I also got hopelessly lost.
I had been wandering about for some time when I came across one of our
men--a young fellow from the Borough. We had both lost direction and
could do nothing but wait.
At last dawn broke and the fog lifted. We had not the slightest idea
where we were, so I told my friend to reconnoitre a hill on the right
and report to me if he saw anyone moving, while I did the same on the
left.
After a while I heard a cautious shout, and my companion came running
towards me, breathless with excitement, and in great delight gasped,
"Sergeant, sergeant! Germans! Germans! Fousands of 'em--and there's
nobody but you and me knows anyfing abaht it!"--_G. Lidsell (late Devon
Regt.), Brixton, S.W.9._
Window Cleaners Coming!
We were passing through Ypres, in 1915, in a Wolseley Signals tender
when we came upon a battalion of the Middlesex on their way out to
rest, very tired and very dirty.
Our cable cart ladders, strapped to the sides of the lorry, caught the
eyes of one wag. "Blimey, boys," he cried, "we're orl right nah; 'ere
comes the blinkin' winder-cleaners."--_"Sigs.," Haslemere, Surrey._