- Contributed by听
- gmractiondesk
- People in story:听
- Neville G. Hughes, son of George Thomas Hughes
- Location of story:听
- Portland Navel Base (Dorset)
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A4587069
- Contributed on:听
- 28 July 2005
This story was submitted to the Peoples War website by Karolina Kopiec from the 大象传媒 GMR Action Desk on behalf of Mr Neville G. Hughes and has been added to the site with his permission.
My old dad was telling this story to my mum (both gone now, bless them) during a visit of an old shipmate to our home in Cheadle (Stockport area). It was soon after the war years, about 1948 as a near as I can recall. I was a ten year old lad who was sat at the bottom of our stairs ear-wigging when I should have been fast asleep in bed.
Dad鈥檚 ship was in port for battle damage repairs (1941-ish). The crew were given home leave whilst the work took place.
One of my dad鈥檚 shipmates was passing through the dock gates carrying a large wicker type picnic basket. The police on the gate asked him 鈥淲hat鈥檚 in the basket, pal?鈥 The ships cat, was the reply. 鈥淒on鈥檛 try and kid me鈥 said the policeman, 鈥淥pen it up!鈥, 鈥淣o鈥 said the sailor 鈥渋t took me an hour to catch it, I鈥檓 taking it home with me, I鈥檓 a cat lover, and if I open it up, the cat will be away back to the ship鈥. Not believing his story the Policeman insisted he open the basket. Sure enough, out jumps a huge black cat and away it runs back towards the dock area. 鈥淭here you are, what did I tell you?鈥 said the sailor 鈥淚鈥檝e got to catch it again.鈥 Very disgruntled the sailor went back to his ship.
Back at the ship, the sailor filled the basket with provisions from the cooks store room, butter, tins of ham etc.
On his approach to the dock gate for the second time (carrying his basket of loot) the same policeman confronts him. 鈥淒on鈥檛 you dare ask me to open this basket again! You know what happened an hour ago!鈥 said the sailor.
鈥淥k鈥 said the policeman waving him through, 鈥淓njoy your leave pal, you鈥檙e a good lad, I鈥檓 a bit of a cat lover myself.鈥
Back home, the ill gained grub was very welcome, as you well know food was very scarce.
I would call it 鈥淐rafty deception鈥, wouldn鈥檛 you?
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo