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“THE OLD BRIGADE"

DUNEDIN DIGGERS " DO IT AGAIN ’’ NATIONAL RESERVE BATTALION PARADE THROUGH CITY STREETS TO-NIGHT [Written fur the ‘ Evening Star.’] At 5 o’clock on the morning of November I], J9lB, there was issued the most pregnant message that history had hitherto recorded, ft read: “ Hostilities will cease nt 11.00 to-day, November 11. AAA Troops will stand fast on the line reached at that hour. AAA.” When this news reached the Otago Regiment in Franco there was nothing in the nature of an hilarious demonstration, as might have been expected. Indeed, in one Otago battalion Digger Joe turned to iiis friend Digger Bill, saying: ‘‘ Well, me old tin did you hear that bit o’ news?” ‘ 1 Yes,” said the tin plate. “ Well,” said Joe, “don't von believe it! I’ll bet the ‘ heads ’ 'have gone wrong again—probably the old man has got the wrong map reference,” was the reply. As the Otago Regimental historian put it. there was scarcely a shout from the billets in Le Quesnoy, except, perhaps, as a protest against the noise at the “ civvies.” The weary soldier, with a sigh of relief as after a task well donoT turned over and went to sleep again. But one thing implicit in the old digger’s attitude was certain—finish khaki, “ napoo ” the soldiering, how soon do I got back to dear old Pig Island ? He might even have been heard to chant: When this wicked war is over, Oil. how happy we shall be. We will tell the sergeant-major Ho can go to . But, in spite of all that, to use a hackneyed phrase, he is “ doing it again.” When you sec him now in a National Reserve Battalion in his middle forties and over thorn, jumping to the regimental sergeant-major’s snappy commands, you are forced to the conclusion that he almost, but not quite, regrets what he was wont to say about sergeants-major and their type. And so. after 22 years, Dunedin' diggers, like their comrades in other parts of the Dominion, are taking their place in the various National Reserve battalions all because the wily Hun, whom they had considered they had properly drubbed, has been allowed to get away with it. Many of them, virile they assist on the home front, have lads overseas as they themselves were 23 years ago What a mess a bully who does not get a coup de grace can cause! Tho old digger is full of hope for ins grandsons, at any rate. What a night it was when, for the second time in their lives, they went up after enlistment again for medical examination at the Dental School. Bald pates and grey hairs drew no veneration from stalwart comrades of other davs. On the contrary, they formed the base of many a good-natured gibe. As tho old Maori pioneer put it from tho professor’s rostrum in the Dental School room he had mounted, “ I ask von, gentlemen of the jury (as he called his audience), look at them—greyheaded, bald-headed, hard old clocks; can they come the double —can this mob bo soldiers two times? But, py corry, I’ll bet they give the old quack a go for it, anyway.” At this stage Ehoa left the gentlemen of the jury for the judgment of the aforeeaid “ quack,” as his hearers laughingly answered, “ Too right, Ehoa.” No censor would pass tho full story of what was said and done that night. It can he said that tho medical examination revealed a surprisingly high standard. Many of the veterans were more than pleased to learn that they were grade I.—“ fit for overseas if it wasn’t for your age.” One had not been too good for some years—most carefully nurtured by a dutiful wife and family. Always “ Dad ” was thought of first; lie must have quiet and restful week-ends. On Sunday mornings the slogan was: “Take father’s breakfast up first, Ethel.” Now, good-bye to all that. He has no longer a kindly considerate family. They are an exasperated household. He will'insist on a most objectionable expression, “ Como on, spring to it!” He will persist in showing them howto turn to the right with some newfangled check step, and how ho snaps up the right to the left when he halts. As for the way lie turned them out at 7 ack emma the two Sundays he went to Forbury Park for drill, well, that was simply not the father they had known for the last 15 years. As young Bill says, “ He’s just gone awful.” IVific adds, “ Anyhow, ho doesn’t complain now of aches and pains, and he daren’t.” After two months the local battalion, known officially as tho 4th Battalion of tho National Reserve, is over GOO strong. The Army musketry course is soon to bo fired, and then will come tactical exercises on the piece of coast allotted to their care. In the meantime infantry training and brushing tip goes on apace —nothing seems to bo too much for tlmse keen fellows. Even the vigorous bayonet fighting is lapped up with zest. Did not someone say that life begins at 40? At all events, young soldiers in earlier days used to sing, “ Old soldiers never die, they only fade away.” This evening this new battalion of old soldiers will march along the streets of this fair city from which so many of them went out and whose defence will be their second service as soldiers should it be necessary. Many of them have not marched in military kit since they tramped in Cairo, in Armentieres, in Ypres, in Amiens, and in bravo and mighty .London itself. What memories this march must necessarily awaken! Some will think of that day, a long time ago now. when that grand old military man, Colonel E. R. Smith, said good-bye to them as they set out on tho great adventure. Others will think of stout chaps they hoofed it alongside 20 years ago and left behind—those chaps whoso very resting places arc in tho .hamis now, after nil, of the ruthless, destroying Bosche.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19401004.2.30

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,008

“THE OLD BRIGADE" Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 4

“THE OLD BRIGADE" Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 4

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