SOME CAMP TALES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 219, 20 October 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

SOME CAMP TALES.

HUMOUR OF OCR BRAVE TOMMIES. The great thing when in camp is to submit to the lite gracefully, remembering what you enlisted tor. This carries one through a great deal. For example, it makes it easy when reveille sounds at four o'clock, or when the sergeant sends you with that awk ward recruit Jones w~th a barrow to tidy up the lines at the very Vine when your sister and another fellow's sister arrive 011 a visit. Making things spick and span, accompanied by .a barrow, :s a humour of military life that does not dawn upon the participator, although doubtless it does to his female visitors. The adjutant was one of the old school, and something of a martinet He hnd a large bell erected in front if the quarter-guard tent, and his 'instructions were that the sergeant on duty should rjng the bell every halfhour through the night, and that thereupon the sentries should challenge all round. One night when the bell was run:', sentry number one shouted, "Number one jails well!'' Number two took up the challenge, " Number two; all? well! without, however, eliciting anv response from number three. He tried it a second time, but still number three was silent. Ihe third time the challenge eanr>. "Number two; all's well! Numb?r three's asleep!" lo which tlie reply came in stento--ian tones, "Number three; all's we!!! Number two's a liar!" A relieving, guard in a camp on a Scotch links one night arrived at -i sentry-box without the usual challenge. The corporal went forward, finding a rifle, a greatcoat, and a belt, but no sentry. He marched the relieving guard 011 to the next sentry and inquired where the missing man was. "He's over there, chayn' rabbits'-' was 'the reply. And sure enough, through the beautiful dawn, could be seen this "lonely soldier" far off among the sandhills, conducting some investigations intr> rabbit-holes with his bayonet. He was aproached and interviewed, and what he got was not a distinguished conduct medal, although the imtitls were tie same!