The following story, which emphasises the Cockney war spirit in
the most adverse circumstances, and how it even impressed our late
enemy, was related to me by a German acquaintance whose integrity is
unimpeachable.
It was at a German prisoner-of-war clearing station in Douai during the
summer of 1917, where wounded British prisoners were being cleared for
prison-camp hospital.
A number of wounded of a London regiment has been brought in, and
a German orderly was detailed to take their names and particulars
of wounds, etc. Later, looking over the orderly's list, the German
sergeant-major in charge came across a name written by the orderly
which was quite unintelligible to the sergeant-major.
He therefore requested an intelligence officer, who spoke perfect
English, to ask this particular man his name. The intelligence officer
sought out the man, a Cockney, who had been severely wounded, and the
following conversation took place.
I.O.: You are Number ----?
Cockney: Yussir.
I.O.: What is your name?
Cockney: Fourpence'a'penny.
I.O.: I understand this is a term of English money, not a name.
Cockney: Well, sir, I used to be called Tanner, but my right leg was
took orf yesterday.
The final words of the intelligence officer, as related to me, were:
"I could have fallen on the 'begrimed ruffian hero's' neck and kissed
him."--_J. W. Rourke, M.C. (ex-Lieut. Essex Regt.), 20 Mill Green Road,
Welwyn Garden City._