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[Page 19]
(c) Soldiers!
"Bulletin"
As the 4th Bde. of Diggers were going into the line below Messines a tony Imperial battalion was in comfortable billets at Merris. Three weeks later, on our return, they were still there and of course looking in the pink.
The Diggers looked a sorry crowd, for not only had they been severely straffed than usual, but their trenches had been constantly flooded, and they themselves soaked with continuous rain.
A Tommy sub. coming out from his mess gazed in open-mouthed bewilderment at the sore-footed, straggling, muddy column. It was too much to keep to himself. He put his head through the mess window and called out - "I say "Skippah" do come and see these fellows, they look perfectly IT." Out strolled the "Skippah". After his monocle had rested on us for a moment he remarked to his sub. - "What are they? They must have had an 'ahfly' rotten time", and then to us he called out - "I say you fellows, what are you?' "SOLDIERS!" bawled out one of our roughest.
The Last Laugh
Most Diggers will recall the 'Pimple' at Codford, and many will remember the slipperiness of its southern slope toward the Wylie River.
The 4th Training Battalion had fallen in one snowy morning facing the officers huts,and they roared generously as the feet of each officer slipped from under him, and he brushed the mud from the seat of his breeches.
Presently the popular C.O., Twinkle, was received with most hilarity as being weighty, he slipped as far as MacPherson of the 16th.
An hour later, however, when the battalion had finished its route march by the descent of the "Pimple" at the same place, they didn't know whether to blame the colonel or adjutant, but all agreed that that it wasn't wise to laugh too loudly at officers in undignified positions. - "Blanc".
Smith's Weekly 15/10/21 [?]