AFRAID

Otaki Mail, 21 February 1919, Page 4

AFRAID

j -A (BY A CANADIAN V.C.) I was once asked to describe my most nerve-racking experience during the var. Without any hesitation I replied, i “Attending the investiture at Buckingham Palace. ” I X suppose it is purely a matter of • temperameni, though I think my own emotions experienced at that time ere rather common ones. 3 fervently hope that it is possible for a person not tc look quite us ridiculous and us fearstricken as he may actually feel...otherwise J am sure that 3 for one must have I presented a sorry spectacle. It was a most delightful sunny summer moni'iig when i reported'at 'luck

- iiigli am Palace promptly at 3') o'clock J After reporting 1 was shown into a eorner of a large room and waited there., feeling, quite comfortable and unafraid, and constantly assuring niy- | self, in the popular Canadian phrase-. ; that there was “nothing to it.” Alas ; for my premat lire confidence! We were nil “lined up-"’ and moved in single file out into the quadrangle. I thought it all most interesting and ; rather enjoyed watching those of the senior Service who were ahead of me. ! I. was feeling most comfort ably outside of U all. when the fact of my ova immediate participation in tiiese eere--1 monies ne-hed upon my mind like an i avalanche. I felt a rebellion in all the i members of my body; they flatly n- \ fused to answer the frantic “S.O.S. 1 that my brain was sending to them. I j became absorbed in iiie struggle to the i exclusion of everything else, and then . —I heard .my name called. I d'senlaiigled my legs from some in- i visible entanglements, and when my brain seemed at last to triumph my eyes began to play tricks with me! I had heard, in the general instructions, some mention of a chalk mark, but had never dreamed that I should find .it such an elusive thing. There it was —a huge streak of white across the platform. which alternately rushed at me and then away from me. Despairingly—coinulsivelv—l pounced upon it and held it for a moment. I wrenched my feet around and then suddenly fell us if a huge weight had been attached to my right hand. With a Herculean effort I brought it up to my cap—then braced my legs and prepared to stand stiffly to attention. But no! My legs entered into a vile conspiracy, my knees became suddenly and violently affectionate, a horrible sickeningfeeling came over me. It was the most, humiliating, nauseating fear! - Someone was reading out something which 1 realised, in a vague sort of wav, was concerned with me. I became crafty—cunning: by easing the weight from the right heel and left toe I felt myself steadying _pp. But I fervently repeated to -myself (maybe it was aloud, 1 wouldn’t swear that it ' wasn’t), “ Never again—not for a trayful of decorations! ” At last, the reading stopped and my sufferings came to an abrupt end. The kind words, the genuine interest, the -kingly charm, of King George quite put me at my ease. It was gratitude ! fc-:t: more than pride, and loyalty more than all. My I’And —rs promptly and will’ugly obedient this time, and my feet moved with perfect ease and freedom. [j Bur what a nightmare I had passed