大象传媒

On Tuesday 8 May 1945, VE Day, I was ordered to take command of the evening guard at the South African Armoured Division Base workshop in Rome. The South African Army had taken over the Breda machine gun factory and turned it into a repair centre for tanks which had been disabled in battle. All newly made tanks were destined for the second front and as a consequence we had to work at full stretch for over a year. The South Africans were generous to their troops and when the announcement of peace was declared they threw open the bar in the workshop canteen and both beer and wine were free.

The members of the guard not on duty asked if they might slip across the road to the canteen and have a free drink. Although this was strictly against army regulations, I felt bound to bend the rules and I allowed the men to drink until the next guard was due to be mounted at 10pm.

The "hairy backs" as the South Africans were known, duly reported back at 10pm but sadly they were completely intoxicated and hardly able to stand. They fell on their beds in a drunken stupor. Two men however started to quarrel, this rapidly turned into a fight and the larger of the two men seized his adversary and bit off part of his ear. I succeeded in securing the ear lobe which I hurriedly wrapped up in a field dressing. I then did my best to bandage the head of the man who had lost part of his right ear. As I was unable to leave the guard room I contacted the orderly officer who came to assist me. He too was quite intoxicated and I wondered if he would reach the base hospital safely as his staff car zigzagged down the road.

One hour later he returned, by this time more sober. The private soldier, with his head firmly bandaged, was also more contrite. I fully expected to be placed on a charge and ordered to be Court Marshalled. By good fortune, helped by the knowledge that his own state of intoxication would be made public, the Capitain patted me on the shoulder and said "Sergeant, forget that this has ever happened." Understandably I gave a sigh of relief and I spent the whole of the evening on my own keeping guard.

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