Falcon Fall/Winter 2005 RGB.indd - 48th Highlanders of Canada

questions. He turned, sat down and howledwith laughter, “The patrol cut off the tail.” Ithought he meant that one of the drunks hasswung a machete, cut a donkeys tail, and theywere mad. “No, no, they cut off the tail.”It seems the patrol had made a thoroughsearch, including the local bordello (a legalbusiness). After the search and ready toleave - “Quanta Costa?”--10 Liras. Now, nopure minded, red blooded, Church going,honourable Canadian boy would think of only10 cents to get ashes drawn. They scornfullythrew down 50 Lira each - still a whale of abargain and left. The Madame, quick to sensea new economic era had arrived, changed herprices. There wasn’t a man in town who couldafford it!!!. That patrol really cut off the town’stail!!!!While at Torella, “A” Coy. was about 3miles further ahead, at a town called PietraCupa. There was a small hall, and the Padrecame up one day to hold a service. The nextday I decided to luxuriate with a shave bythe town’s barber. All the locals knew wehad had a meeting, but were confused as tothe meaning. I told the barber that it was achurch service. He could not see how, -Norobes, no altar, no incense, etc. I tried toequate with the nearest religion- minister= priest, SI SI- Canon = Monsignor, SiSi-.Bishop = Bishop, Si Si- Archbishop =Cardinal, Si Si- Niente PaPa = No Pope. Hestarted to yell, and wave a six inch straightrazor around my nose, throat, ears, etc.Aspete-wait, and I went through it again up toNo Pope, and all hell broke out again. I sawa fellow passing I had communicated withbetween garbage Italian and his little bit ofFrench, and my Montreal street French. Helaughed, and for the first time that barberlearned that there were other religions in theworld. Torella was about as far as he had beenin his life. I wiped off the suds and got out.I passed the barber on the street later, andmoved over. He glared as though I were theDevil Incarnate. He might have had his razorwith him.The services are wonderful. The Army paybook was in fact a bank passbook run by thearmy. Once a month they were called in, andour pittance, was entered (less fines of anysort). When we drew pay, the £s and shillingswere converted at $4.47 to the Quid. In late‘41, early’42, they withdrew them and issuednew books. The old ones went back to Canadafor audit. January ‘44, we were up in front ofVilla Grande. Word came for me to report toBrigade. I was 4.5 years overseas, so everyonefigured I was being sent home. Congrats allaround, then I crawled for about 50 yards.(We were sort of isolated) walked bent overbehind a hill, got to B.H.Q., Congrats again,put in a jeep to Brigade. The road was underobservation, and the drivers played roulettewith the Jerry mortar-men. Stop. Go like hell.Sit for a while. Crawl. I got to Brigade and wastold to report to the paymaster. Turned overmy pay book. The first pay books had beenaudited, and an error of 4 cents had beenfound in converting from dollars to pounds.So a message had gone from Canada toEngland, to North Africa, to Corps, to Div., toBrigade. The paymaster made the adjustment,and I was returned to the Regiment!!So we came home. Older, and much moremature? Wiser???At one of the early re-unions, a bunchsitting around with their drinks asked theREGIMENTAL HE MAN (remember) howcome he had arrived at his unusual situation?He shrugged, raised his eyebrows, wiggled hishead, smirked and said “I guess I got a littlecareless.”Cliff Evans and Branch 34 of the Legionin Orillia, started “D Day Dodger” re-unions.Goodly numbers of 48th attended. One of ourmore “visible” types, well known in every oneof the various segments of our Regimentalfamily, showed up one year, ready to paradewith the rest of us and forgot to bring his Glenand Gongs!! That same week-end, the samecharacter hit Orillia, checked into his motel,and then roared down to the Legion to buryhis nose in a mug of suds. He kept it thereuntil closing time, and then discovered he hadleft his lights on. Ever tried getting a “jump”at 1 AM?And then there was the trio who decidedto cut expenses by taking a travel-trailer. Thisleft some extra funds, which they used at theL.C.B.O. before even starting out. They were“merry” by the time they reached Orillia,proceeded to park the trailer in one of thevery many camping parks around Orillia, andthen away to the Legion. Came closing time,and the question of “where did we leave it?” At10:30 AM we were getting ready to parade tothe Memorial, and the three sparks were stillwandering around in last-nights clothes. Theyeventually found it. One of them claimed theyused a tank of gas driving from one camp toanother.Bless ‘em all and DileasBill DeHarteCOMING SOON –48th Museum Book SaleThe 48th Highlanders Museum hasaccumulated a large number of books thatare duplicated or not related to our history.A check of the books has been completedand research is being done to establish a fairmarket price. The books will be offered tothe regimental family before being sold onthe open market. Watch for the lists beingcirculated in the near future.For more information contact TommyThompson – 705-722-0250 or e-mailtom.thompson@iobject.caOur Nov 11, 2005 Sentries: Sgt Doucette, Sgt Carswell, RSM Alkema, Sgt Smintich, Sgt KwokTHE FALCON, FALL 2005 14