大象传媒

The 2nd battalion South Lancashire Regiment was somewhere near Tiddim in north Burma on Christmas Day 1944- as I recall. There was an issue of whisky for the officers and rum for other ranks. I really had no part in it, but someone had done a switch and stolen some of the whisky, replacing it with rum. We had built a camp fire and sat around it swigging rum and everyone was obliged to entertain - to sing a song, tell a joke, recite a poem - anything. Only one person refused - that was Allen, our company cook. He refused to do anything. That was disaster! Everybody's attention was focused on Allen cadjoling him to do something. Finally he stood up (all five feet three), clasped his hands in front of him, cleared his throat and sang..."I like eggs and bacon, I like eggs and bacon, but if you think I'm gonna sing, you're f***ing-well mistaken!" It brought the proverbial house down. I wonder whatever happened to him? l

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