Taken For A Boy Scout

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 120, 23 May 1942, Page 9

Taken For A Boy Scout

T HE recent news of the Luftwaffe

raids on the City of Bath recalled to the writer a rather amusing incident which happened in that very fine city. This little comedy of errors occurred during 1940, when as a member of the Second Echelon I was stationed in Kngland. By 21475 I had just started seven days' leave and on my way to Somerset had the good fortune to have an hour or so to spend in Bath whilst waiting for my train connection. I had strolled about the town for a time enjoying the sights. From the interest my appearance seemed to create on all sides, I think I must have been one of the first members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. to visit Bath. In addition to the distinctive New Zealand felt hat, I was wearing my khaki drill uniform instead of the official leave dress of serge. I think this latter fact had a great deal to do with the incident I started to narrate.

Time was getting on and I had just decided t© wend my way back to where I had left my kit, when a business-like looking citizen approached and asked me if I was a stranger to the town. I thought it was a strange question to ask a New Zealander, but explained that I had just arrived from London and was waiting for a train to continue my journey. My new acquaintance said that as we seemed to have a lot in common he would be delighted to go along with me until train time and show me some of the points of interest in Bath.

His reference to "a lot in common" was another surprise, as I couldn't follow his reasoning at all. However, an explanation was soon forthcoming after my companion's next remark. He inquired as to what troop I belonged to, and if it was a London troop. I explained that I wasn't in a troop of any sort as I was in an infantry unit in the New Zealand forces. It was his turn to be surprised, and his face certainly showed it. He told me that he thought I was a member of a boy scout troop, and being himself a local scoutmaster had been very keen to do all he could for a visiting member of the great brotherhood!

That explanation cleared up a lot of things for me, and after the scoutmaster had got over the embarrassment of his mistake he and I parted very good friends.