ON THE SOMME.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1917, Page 4

ON THE SOMME.

“Canyon supply hot cocoa enough for two battalions in twenty minutes ? ”

Such was the straightforward request ol a commanding officer to a certain Australian Y.M.C.A. man on a certain bitterly told and frosty morning on the Somme. This officer had galloped ahead of his troops in anticipation that somewhere along the road he would find a spot where his men would find refreshment and encouragement to continue a twelve-mile forced march they were making “ into the line ” that morning. He had met with several set-backs and disappointments, but, not to be defeated, he sped on out of his course a little un til he found an .old tumbledown barn and stable, marked, in letters splashed with mud, “ Y.M.C.A.” His request was not altogether unusual, but it came “unusually ” early, and caught us existing under very unusual conditions. Our fires were out. We had.no orderlies, no fuel, and certainly no facilities to supply two battalions all at once and iii twenty minutes. We were told the men could not wait or waste time. But the spirit of “ Dare and Do ” fired our blood, and we said, “Yes, sir, it shall be done ” ; and he rode off to make the announcement.

Meantime, we set to work to load our guns with the ammunition that would cope with the onrush and attack of this mob of Australians. We called up our forces ; they were poor —an old cOok, long since passed the flower of his youth, a sick soldier who had strayed .in, a Frenchman who was self willed and couldn’t “ compree,” and the Y.M. representative. We called up our resources; they were poor, too —no luel, no fire, no facility. But we felt the very reputation of the old Y.M. I 'depended on us, and we set to work to make a decent defence. Tables and chairs were flying under the swing of the axe. The crabs and eels in the well were dying with the swill of the bucket of the mad Frenchman. The old cook became young again as he stirred with magic vigour the mixture of cocoa, milk and sugar, using the leg of a chair. Soon the boiler took up the joke and made “himself” heard in no uncertaip tone, until, to satisfy his greedy haste, we poured his contents with vengeance on the cook’s preparation. The troops were within hearing. The cocoa was'iuade, the boys marching round in a circle, being served bj" their own officers, and continually passing round the thiaty-odd cups (all we had), until two battalions were served —and all over in twenti" minutes. A “ thank you ! ” marked the officers’appreciation. The men had the cocoa, and we the satisfaction that service always brings.

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