大象传媒

One of the things I seem to remember was that we were always scrounging around for food, especially when we were in action when it was difficult for rations to be sent to us. Not that our cooks didn't do their best to get food to us, many times in the form of some sort of pie but we were usually hungry,however one item we always had was the makings for a "Brew Up" where ever we were ad as long as we had that we survived !

For example: When we were at rest one time we had to do some training as usual with our mortars,practising "Crash Action" with a Brigadier and some other officers of ours watching us. We vaulted out of our carrier unloaded our mortar barrel,base plate,tripod, bombs,etc., and set everything up,one of the safety precautions we had to do before placing the barrel into the base plate was to tip the barrel down to make sure there was nothing in it before firing. But with us there was! because to make sure that we ALWAYS had the makings for our "Char" available we put everything in the barrel.
All this lot came tumbling out when we took the protecting cap off,and tilted the barrel down, Our platoon commander went a strange colour,I think it was the CO that yelled "What the @#$% is that doing in there",we didn't know where to put our faces, but thank goodness the Brigadier took it in all good part, and said "I see you are well prepared for everything let me know when you brew up and I'll join you".
After that every one broke up with laughter, and we were told later on by our platoon commander that were lucky to get off so lightly.

Another time we moved into one place where American troops had been earlier on and there were unopened packages of "K" rations strewn all over the place.
We were overjoyed at this windfall, cans of Spam (the original type)packages of powdered fruit drink mix,coffee,and a whole host of other goodies,I could never understand why the US troops hated, as I was told by them, their "K" rations. They went mad for our "Bully Beef" and would give almost anything for some cans.
We ate very well that day !

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