THE SPIRIT OF BRITISH CHIVALRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 44, 15 November 1917, Page 7

THE SPIRIT OF BRITISH CHIVALRY

A SOUTH AFRICAN AND HIS MEN, "Yes," said the wounded officer, "I am a South African of Dutch extraction, but I am a graduate of Oxford. I was in the war in South Africa, though I do not wear the ribbons—l was on the other side, you 6ee. I followed our Botha into German West and saw practically all the campaign.' I got to England and got .a commission in one of the line regiments after the South-West African show was finished, and got out to France in time for the Somme push.. "My men are splendid. They are very lovable fellows, ectfd-hnraoured, clean, smart, and obedient. At firsf I think they were a little suspicious of me— they did not understand the difference between 'Van' and 'Von/ I think that must have been partly the reason. I told theeorgeantthe whole story of my life, not omitting the_jact that I once had been an enemy of Britain, and I told him to be discreet in telllne the men what I was. The change in the attitude of my fellows was delightful. The shy way they let me see how anxious they were to forget old 6cores, and how they tumbled over eaoh other in their, efforts to' please! "But tliero! I know the type of old, and they have not changed; they aro the most chivalrous soldiers in the -world, none excepted. The French are charmin" of course. I know them well, havinS'studied law in Paris; but one must remember that their poUtoness is .much easier of achievement than that of the British Tommy. Ho is gruffest when he is being kind. He threatens the Boche with the most awful luridness, and the next thing you see of him is that he is apoon-feedinsr a bandaged prisoner, as he would a child, and as gently. A wonderful fellow."