Talking of Boots!

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 125, 14 November 1941, Page 5

Talking of Boots!

\/HENEVER I think of boots, this story comes to mind. A. certain regiment in the last war had been resting behind the line for a week or two. Just before they were due to go back to the trenches again an issue of new boots wa’ made to all ranks. Then came the order for the regiment to march to a certain village some 19 miles away. Away they

trudged over the pave road and arrived at their destination footsore and weary, As the men were about to take off their heavy equipment and find somewhere to sleep for the night, a motor cyclist appeared on the scene and dashed up to the Commanding Officer and handed him a message. When the Colonel had digested its contents he blew his whistle and called on every-

one to stand fast. As he was explaining to all ranks that someone had blundered and that they had come to the wrong village, it started to pour with rain. Nothing daunted, he told his men that he was going to give them the alternative of spending the night where they were, sleeping under their waterproof sheets in the open, or of marching back whence they came. He personally favoured the latter method. He then called on all those who were not prepared to footslog back another 19 miles to take one pace to the rear. In response to his command every man barring ome took one pace to the rear. The Colonel grew visibly pale and went up to the lonely soldier and congratulated him and added: "I am proud to think that I have at least one man in my regiment who is prepared to face the ordeal." He then shook the man by the hand and as an afterthought said: "And so you really think that you can march back those 19 miles?" The man looked at him and replied, ‘What! Me do 19 miles in these new boots? Why I’m that blinking tired I couldn’t even take that one pace to the rear."-(" Just Boots," by Major F. H. Lampen, 2YA, November 6.)