It was towards the end of '18, and we had got old Jerry well on the
run. We had reached a village near Lille, which had been in German
occupation, and the inhabitants were surging round us.
[Illustration: "Take the rough with the smooth."]
A corporal was having the time of his life, being kissed on both cheeks
by the girls, but when it came to a bewhiskered French papa's turn the
corporal hesitated. "Nah, then, corporal," shouted one of our boys, "be
sporty! Take the rough with the smooth!"---_G. H. Harris (late C.S.M.,
8th London Regt.), 65 Nelson Road, South Chingford, E.4._
"Playin' Soldiers"
We were in the Cambrai Salient, in support in the old Hindenburg Line.
Close to us was a road where there were a ration dump and every other
sort of dump. Everybody in the sector went through us to get rations,
ammunition, stores, etc.
There was just room in the trench for two men to pass. Snow had been on
the ground for weeks, and the bottom of the trench was like glass. One
night at stand-to the Drake Battalion crowded past us to get rations.
On their return journey the leading man, with two sandbags of rations
round his neck and a petrol can of water in each hand, fell over at
every other step. Things were further complicated by a party of R.E.'s
coming down the line with much barbed wire, in which this unfortunate
"Drake" entangled himself.
As he picked himself up for the umpteenth time, and without the least
intention of being funny, I heard him say: "Well, if I ever catch that
nipper of mine playin' soldiers, I won't 'arf knock 'is blinkin' block
orf."--_A. M. B. (late Artists Rifles), Savage Club, W.C.2._