ORIGINAL. AHMET.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 3, 1 April 1920, Page 6

ORIGINAL. AHMET.

A True Sfory of Life with the N.Z. Division in Egypt,

(By 11/1275.)

HE JOINS THE FORCES.

CHPTER THREE. Zeinab, the wife of Mahmoud, was not too pleased at Ahmet's return. At first she thought he would be useful to her, as she could send him to the camps to soll things to the troops, but on bearing tn.u his pass had been taken from him, and that he would not be allowed to pass the guard, she bewailed her fate. Said she to her neighbours "It is not enough that my husband should be at Tanta, and that the Omdar hath casi covetoas eyes at me, and that Abu Sulehnan should have robbed me of the earnings of Ahmet my husband's son, but now I am left with this off spring of a Berberine woman, who hath ,got in trouble with the Inglese." But it is safe to say that nothing could keep the small Ahmet away from the camps. His quaint English or rather "Australese," amused the troops and from before "RevieUe" till after "Lights Out" he was to be seen hanging about the cookhouses and mess huts, or near the stables. Ho attondod parades of all kinds and rapidly picked up the words of command. In the village it was his delight to gather a mob of smaller boys and drill them, not forgetting to correct their iaults with all the acid vituperation of a veteran sergt. major. Armed with sticks which they sloped iike rifles, Ahmet's squad soon became very experi. He taught them everything that he learned from "right turn to the bayonet exercise," and after seeing the funeral of a soldier; he soon had them , "reversing arms" and "resting on their arms reversed," in trus guardsman style. One day Ahmet's squad were as usual being put through it, hy their small commander, who was airing his most recently acquired epithets, and taking away their characters, and casting refiections on their birtli and parentage in pungent Australese, \ in a manner that had they only under- | stood its meaning would have called their ) dire wrath to descend on his devoted 1 head, but which at the time called forth only their uttermosi admiraticn. He had gone through the whole of his repertoire, and was on the point of dismissing the squad, when he saw that a party of Aussies was watching the performance with evident amusement. At once he formed his squad to the right, to face th3 new arrivals, and calling out "Preseu-, Api" He gravely saluted the party. One oi the Aussies at once called out "Party Shun," and, as the grinning soldiers "sprang to it" he returned Ahmet's ealute. Ahmet then marehing up to the Aussie said, "Sir, have I your perrniasion to dismiss my men?" "Dismiss at onoe, and report to me immediately after," was the reply. Ahmet then returned to his squad, "Now, you I, am going to dismiss you, though what the 'ell's the good of me staadin' ere talkin' to a lot ov — -such as this squad is more than I can tell yer, all I can say is that youse s think yer eelves soldiers, then gawd 'elp ther British army, squad! shim! ! 'smiss." "Spare me days I'm dry." Then he marched smartly to where the Aussies were waiting. The following diatogue took place : — Aussie : "What's yer moniker son?" Ahmet; "Me not know monika." Aussie: "What do they call yer, what is your name, Hassan ? Mahomet?" Alrniet; "Nor Sar I Ahmet." Aussie : "Who's yer ole man?" Ahmet; "Not know oi' man." Aussie : "Yer father yer blommin' Abu." Ahmet; "Mahmoud Abu Ahmet, I Ahmcr. Ben Mahmoud (Mahmoud is the father of Ahmet, I am Ahmet the son of Mahmoud). "I suppose yer right son, but gawd knows what yer talkin' about," said the Aussie, "now supposin you was tcr come with us, and we will get yoose a dmkum soldiers rig, and a dinkum gun, and all tli-? rest of it, and make you our blinkin' mascot, how'd it suit yer?" Ahmet did not undcrstand all of this but he did undcrstand that his new fiienda were going to givo him a unScrrm and a gun and these things had for him the same attaracticais as they would have lw ^ small boy, he he white or

black. Thus, it was not long before Ahmet was marehing off towards the camp with his Aussie pals. Behold him next meaning, clad in a suit of khaki, made by the regimental tailors, puttees, tan boots, and slouch hat with emu plume complete, a miniatnrs webb equipment, and to cap all, a pea rrlle which later made him feel very psroud indeed. Behind the cook-house be practised his drill with his rifie, till he became quite ttsed to it, encouraged bjr any of the troops who could find time (and quite a> lot of them did too) to help him. One day his new friends after inaking him polish his equipment and arms, for by this time a miniature bayonet had been made by the armourer, took him before the O.C. company, and introdueed him as a few recruit. The "Bkipper" was very much amused, at the quaint way jn which the boy "drilled himself." He agreed to the men '3 request that Ahmet might remain as the company's mascot. Thinking that the joke was too good to be kept, he ordered the boy to report to him at the officers mess, the same night, The officers had just fiai&hed their dinnur and were leaving their mess, when Ahmet full of importance marcbed up to his company commander, and saluted sayxng "Private Ahmet, reporting in accordance with orders, Sir." A curious grcrnp formed, all passing remarks and criticising the little figure who was standing to "Attention" and looking straight to his front. A littie way off was a crowd of grinning Aussiee, whilst the most aston ished man of all was the Colonel. Private Ahmet will give an exhibition of rifle exercises," said the Skipper. "Caxry on Private Ahmet." Then Ahmet started to drill himself calling out the commands and carrying oat the movements, whilst all tiie timo he carried on a running fire of correction and Inrid critieism. "Squad shun! su ware, spring to it what dye think y'are a bloomin' sunday sckool picnic? shake it up number five, and don't be lookin' at your feet, number three they*re big enough gawd knows, shun ! s'better, slo — wait fer th' last Bound of the word number four. Slow pip! fer gawds gake ump yerself number five, that's the second time I've spoke tcr yer, p'raps yer didn't ear before, well, gifc yer ears washed out before next p'rade; steady now, change — if you don't wait for the last sound of the word number fcur ril put yer up in the mornin"change ip! ther's nund>er three gazin' at them feet ov his again, old yer ed up can't yer, yer bloomin feet won't fall off> I only wish they would, try it again, change ip! s'better, slow pip! take y«r eyes orf yer feet number three, I shan't speak ter yer again. Smartly now, pre— fer the luv ov Mike ump yerself number five you ain't oxne on the fazm now, yer a sojer. Present ip, not so dusty, dam gooc1. job I was'nt lookin' at yer that time number three, just remember yer bioomin feet can't fall orf worse luck, if they did I'd hang em up lea'el with yd' eyes so as yer'd av ter old yer ed up ter locV at em, slow pip, not so dusty, but number 2ve, '11 ave ter ump isself a bit? ordah ip, don't drop yer blinkin rifle liks tliat number three yer might urt the111 feet ov yourn, s'natease, s'aneasy." The Colonel, when he had recovered from liis laughter complimented Ahmet cn his turnout and his smartness, and said that such an eloquent instructor should not remain in the ranks but shouW be promoted sergeant, and be gave crders to that effect and Ahmet was duly on the strength of the umpteenths as Seigt. Ahmet Mackenzie, which was th® nearest the orderly room clerk could ge to Ahmet Ben Mahmoud. (Next Chapter, Mahmoud comes homc.)