AN A.R.P. JOKE

Evening Star, Issue 23371, 14 September 1939, Page 12

AN A.R.P. JOKE

ONLY THE LABEL LEFT The A.R.P. chief of a comfortable London suburb takes his duties with commendable realism (writes our London correspondent, August 24). He has organised several air raid reheatsals . to perfect his staff in their respective duties. The last one was a great success. Everything 1 worked smoothly, and everybody knew his or her job without any fussing or telling. When the nocturnal practice was over* and they were preparing to pack up, the A.R.P. chief, who was congratulating himself and everybody concerned on a really good show, sustained .a sudden setback. Someone suddenly recollected that one of the amateur “casualties” had not been collected and conveyed to hospital. Off dashed a swift ambulance, driven by an acutely remorseful driver, to pick up the forgotten casualty. But no recumbent figure was to be found. Only the surgical label attached to him, which stated his injury. The label, bore the official intimation, “ Severed jugular, to which had been added in blacklead : “ Bled to death and goh« home.”