PADRE AND CORPORAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3782, 21 April 1928, Page 4

PADRE AND CORPORAL.

AN OFFER MADE GOOD

A MEMORY OF COLOGNE

.'Stories of the war and the trenches were exchanged by Revs. J. R. Young and E. 'S. Emmitt at a welcome social to the lattex* at Hawera last Friday. . One told by the former delighted the listeueis. He described an experience with a “hard case” corporal Avho, m return for a service done by the padre, told him that “though I am no good at Bible banging, if at any time you want anything stolen, come to me.” The occasion for taking advantage of the offer arose after the armistice when the officer in charge of a regiment at Cologne, with the army of occupation, asked the padre’s assistance in checking the spread of gambling. It was mentioned that a “crown and anchor board” was the greatest attraction to the men and the padre, recalling the corporal’s offer, sent for him and told him he wanted that board. “But,” said, the corporal, “it is a nice little school and it would be a pity to disturb it.’” However the padre insisted and got the board. Later, when the men were being repatriated the corporal, when saying good-bye, asked for the board, a request which was refused. The padre later on found that the man had gone through his kit and again annexed the crown and anchor board.