Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 22]
this we were allowed lights at night. Our next bit of excitement was crossing the Line, we had a great big canvas bath fitted, & filled with salt water, & some of the officers were dressed in all sorts of costumes, we had a father Neptune, (Capt Swanell) he was killed on the first day at Anzac at the head of his men in the charge) & then special constables, who had been duly initiated, that is ducked, were told off by Father Neptune & his Court to arrest all & sundry, they came across, these constables grabbed hold of anyone they could lay their hands on, it was no good of them protesting in they had to go, the more you struggled the worse it was for you, when they got them to the tank they shot them in clothes & all on
& when you came up some of Neptunes slaves shoved you under again with a pole until you were nearly drowned & when you went to get out, they were there to help you with hands all over grease & tar, which they took good care they rubbed all over you, besides scrubbing your teeth with grit, & grease, & trying to shave you with a piece of hoop-iron. Oh we had some fun I can tell you once you had been through Neptunes hand's you were free to go & help the others drag them in, & sometimes we had to storm a position taken up by some of the chaps who objected to being ducked, under a perfect deluge of water, from buckets, dishes, hoses & etc, water & wet towels were the only weapons that were legal