While I was serving with the 58th Siege Battery at Carnoy, on the
Somme, in 1916, a young Cockney of the 29th Division was discovered
walking in front of three German prisoners. Over his shoulders he had
three pairs of braces.
[Illustration: "... while I got their 'harness' they can't get up to
any mischief."]
A wag asked him if he wanted to sell them, and his reply was: "No,
these Fritzies gets 'em back when they gets to the cage. But while I
got their 'harness' they can't get up to any mischief."--_E. Brinkman,
16 Hornsey Street, Holloway Road, N.7._
"Bow Bells" Warning
At the beginning of March 1918, near Flesquières, we captured a number
of prisoners, some of whom were put in the charge of "Nipper," a native
of Limehouse.
I heard him address them as follows: "Nah, then, if yer wants a fag yer
can have one, but, blimey, if yer starts any capers, I'll knock 'Bow
Bells' aht of yer Stepney Church."--_J. Barlow (20th London Regt.), 18
Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, Essex._
"'Ave a Sniff"
My father tells of a raw individual from London Town who had aroused
great wrath by having within a space of an hour given two false alarms
for gas. After the second error everyone was just drowsing off again
when a figure cautiously put his head inside the dug-out, and hoarsely
said: "'Ere, sergeant, yer might come and 'ave a sniff."--_R. Purser,
St. Oama, Vista Road, Wickford, Essex._