Stretcher Bearers at the Double - ElectricCanadian.com

"SUNNY FRANCE 105
Were you there the day Restive became fed up with his sani
tary fatigue work and requested Sergeant-Major Williams to put
him on some other duty? "Please-a, sarja-maij.," pleaded the
disgusted Italian, "put
someone else-a for do dees-a job.
I
get
too much-a deeg-a de grave, fix-a de wash-a-base and run de in
- Phew!"
cinerate. All-a time dump-a latrine buckets no good! -
Poor Restivo held his nostrils between his thumb and forefinger
and rolled his eyes in eloquent pantomime. Jack Williams, if he
couldn t catch all the words, was convinced by Francesco s gesticulatory
illustrations that Restivo deserved a change of duties.
Perhaps you remember the broad-hipped Flemish lass who
used to come to our G.15 camp for garbage. She carried over
her ample shoulders one of those heavy hand-hewn yokes from
which dangled the usual buckets. One day when she had her head
and shoulders down in the swill barrel Jack Gilpin sneaked up
behind her and tipped her up into the barrel. She was quite a
sight, what with her broad expanse of red drawers, her violently
kicking legs and her waving sabots - - and more of a sight when
she extricated herself.
The sequel was that her father came roaring vengeance a few
minutes later, carrying a wicked looking sickle. Cook Gilpin
armed himself with a meat cleaver and at about sixty paces from
each other they threatened murder - - the farmer in guttural
Flemish and Gilpin in nasal cockney. Jack Williams appeared on
the scene and succeeded in getting rid of the excited Flamand,
promising him that Gilpin would be fittingly punished. That
evening some of the lads visited the farmer and in eloquent
pantomime explained that Gilpin had been lined up before a
firing squad and shot. The father and daughter were so delighted
they supplied free beer to the artful tale-bearers.
Were you at Remy Siding the day one of the lads came into
the dining hut with a bulging mail-bag, and instead of giving
out the mail as was his usual custom, calmly sat down and began
his dinner? Corporal Morgan decided that the fellows should not
be kept waiting for their mail, so he grabbed the bag and pro
ceeded to hand out its contents - - and discovered that the bag
contained only imitation mail and that the day being April
First, some of the lads had successfully pulled his leg.
Remember that house with a large shining ball in the window
- and the mouthy old dame who waited on customers?