大象传媒

I was called-up in 1941, was sent to Woolwich for three weeks training in March 1942. I embarked on the CPR liner 鈥淭he Duchess of Richmond鈥�, and was sea-sick for the first three days. I was lucky enough to share a cabin with another Private by the name of Settle 鈥� one night he said 鈥淗ow about a game of cards?鈥� and I said 鈥淲hy not.鈥�

So as to make the game interesting, he suggested we play for money. Well, gambling in the Army isn鈥檛 allowed except 鈥淗ousey Housey鈥� (bingo now), so out come a few coppers (pennies, that is). But before we started we agreed that at the end of the game, win or lose, we would finish with the same amount. Back then in the Army, lights out was at 10 o鈥檆lock, but we carried on playing. Then there was a knock on the cabin door and in comes the Orderly Sergeant, 鈥淥h鈥� says he 鈥淕ambling eh?鈥� Well, we could not say we were not as he had seen the money. We had to go before the Officer and I got 14 days working in the ship鈥檚 galley (kitchen, that is). I had a whale of a time with all the food etc.

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