In 1917, when we were acting as mobile artillery, we had halted by the
roadside to water and feed our horses, and were just ready to move off
when we were passed by a column of the Chinese Labour Corps, about
2,000 of them.
After they had all passed, a gunner from Clerkenwell said: "Would
yer believe it? All that lot gorn by and I never reckernised a
Townie!"--_C. Davis (late Sergeant, R.A., 3rd Cavalry Division), 7 Yew
Tree Villas, Welling, Kent._
Sanger's Circus on the Marne!
On the way from the Marne to the Aisne in September 1914 the 5th
Cavalry Brigade passed a column of Algerian native troops, who had been
drawn up in a field to allow us to continue along the nearby road.
The column had all the gaudy appearance of shop windows at Christmas.
There were hooded vehicles with stars and crescents blazoned on them,
drawn by bullocks, mules, and donkeys. The natives themselves were
dressed, some in white robes and turbans, others in red "plus four"
trousers and blue "Eton cut" jackets; and their red fezzes were adorned
with stars and crescents. Altogether a picturesque sight, and one we
did not expect to meet on the Western Front.
On coming into view of this column, one of our lead drivers (from Bow)
of a four-horse team drawing a pontoon wagon turned round to his wheel
driver, and, pointing to the column with his whip, shouted, "Alf!
Sanger's Circus!"--_H. W. Taylor (late R.E.), The Lodge, Radnor Works,
Strawberry Vale, Twickenham._
"Contemptible" Stuff
When the rumour reached us about a medal for the troops who went out
at the beginning, a few of us were sitting in a dug-out outside Ypres
discussing the news.
"Mac" said: "I wonder if they'll give us anything else beside the
medal?"
Our Cockney, Alf, remarked: "You got a lot to say about this 'ere
bloomin' 'gong' (medal); anybody 'd fink you was goin' ter git one."
"I came out in September '14, any way," said Mac.
Alf (very indignant): "Blimey, 'ark at 'im! You don't 'arf expect
somefink, you don't. Why, the blinkin' war was 'arf over by then."--_J.
F. Grey (late D.L.I, and R.A.O.C.), 247 Ducane Road, Shepherd's Bush,
W.12._