The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE SEVEN THE LIBERAL, RICHMOND HILL. ONTARIO THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26th, 1940. OMW¢WONWNMMOMONOOWOWWW bridge. and here we were met by the CHAPTER 8 "Drums". Joining the Battalion By “Steelback” The drums in this case were not “Q”. OM9WO¢OWOOOOOWOOOOOONOOOO OOOOOWOO“ oommm Egg “Reminiscences of Army Life". keeping the Empire intact. The cost? the story of soldiering in the Britâ€"lof keeping the Union Jack at the‘I _â€"â€".â€" vâ€"â€"v W w- ish Army back in the late days cf‘top of the pole is going to be ire-l the last century and the early days of this century, appears as a conâ€" tinued story in The Liberal. The first instalment dealing with the start of “Steelback’s” army life in 1881 appeared in our issue of Noâ€" vember 28th. ,In a letter to the Editor “Steel-‘ back" says: “I would call your at- tention especially to the remark I make when I say ‘Thercâ€"the secret of the Empire's greatness is out." This statement is an absolute fact. It, was not until the war of 1914 that the rations of the British sol- dierâ€"or should I say the lack of rations?â€"this would, perhaps, be nearer the markâ€"began to interest those whose duty it was to see to these things. Boards of officers would meet to ‘ discuss new methods of attack. Field days would be held to try them out. Inspections by officers of foreign powers, new uniforms, new arms and equipment, but nobody seemed to notice the quality and the quantity of food supplied to the sol- dier. Ruminating on .my story yOu will perceive, perhaps, how cheaply, exâ€" cept for loss of life, the Empire’s present status was won. The daily papers inform us that we are having a difficult time. in RADIO SERVICE i ON ALL MAKES OF RADIOS BY CERTIFIED RADIO TECHNICIAN TUBES TESTED FREE FREE ESTIMATES RADIO LOANED WHILE YOURS IS AWAY Yerex’s Electrical 26 Yonge St. Phone 242 s: _________._ Helen Simpson Lynett ORDER HELEN SIMPSON FLOWERS For All Occasions Phone orders delivered any- where in North Yonge St. District 2518 YONGE STREET (At St. Clements) MOhawk 3000 Ma'aaqiuuawwmmwm [It v o J.F.Lynet1‘ iiieiidous, but in thinking of hold.n\r on to what We got so cheaply we1 iiiiL-tii't forget that times havei changed. Enviousness and greed have devel- oped to such an extent in some counâ€" tries that if we have to live up to our statements of ‘Wliat we have well hold' we all have to back the British Government to the best ofi our ability and place our trust iniI Almighty God and the endurancb of, the Army and Navy who, ciicour-‘ fitted by the capacity of the. people to take it, will offer a resistance that our enemies cannot overcome. Let us pioust remark: ‘So be it'." CHAPTER 7 On to Ireland. Some Incidences on the Way The first stage of our journey to the land of the Shamrock and prettyi Colleens had begun. and in due course we arrived at Holyhead.‘ Anglcsey, Wales, pulling into the station about 11.30 pm. i Holyhead is the chief mail packet, station for Ireland. We boarded one of the small packets/which was. ap- parently, awaitingr our arrival. The last man of our party had scarcely cleared the gangplank when the whistle sounded. The hawser was, cast off, and in a little while the Lights of Holyhead‘ had disappeared. The Irish sea has a reputation for possessing a very uneven temperg and we had a sample of this short- ly after we had left port. Our fellows gathered on deck, and some of us, forming a ring around the mast gave the air a specimen of our vocal abilities, singing that well known refrain “Who killed Cock Robin.” The answer to this query 1 is revealed later on in the song, the. sparrow being credited with the. crime, but he had nothing on us. We murdered him, dissected his body, 1and flung dismembered parts to the and Fifcs". It was a real hand. There were no wood instruments or trombones. but, apart from this, the but were made of copper. and it was generally known as “The Copper Band". i had a distinction all its own. It was the only one of its kide in the British Army. When on the march. the band pro- per would regale us with music we didn‘t know. Selections from operas, and other high (‘lflFs stuffâ€"whereas the copper band played popular airs sci to march time, which were more as “Wait ‘till the clouds roll by Jenny". “The Corn is waving Annie dear" and other old favorites. well known at that time. but l(\llg' since forgotten. That was the kind of music they played for us on our way to barracks. On arrival we were formed up in two ranks. Inspected. Told off to the various companies. Provided with the necessary bedding. We were then allowed to fall out and take up our quarters and rest our weary bodies. “'0 had been on the go a long time and we were tired. At reveille the next morning we were on the job. Out of bed, make it up. sweep cut, wash, dress, and out on parade for a run round beâ€" fore breakfast. At 9.00 a.m. we paraded at the company’s store room to receive a fresh issue of equipment to replace that which we handed in at the depot before we left. At 11.00 am. all of us who had joined the day before had to parade on the right of their respective com- pany for inspection by the company officer, after that we were taken in charge by an instructor. ‘ He was a 'Colour Sergeant. A man about 35 years old. He was an in- structor alright. He had a large stock of patience. Never lost his temper no matter how awkward the recruit would be. He would repeat a command time after time until the movement was done properly. It had |winds of heaven without the least display of feeling. If you assume from this that the singing was something out of the lordinary your assumption would be labout right. The ship at this time was trying its best to get stem first, failing this it would stand on its head, so to speak. These actions on the part of the ship had a tendency to cause breaks in our rhythm, and some of the fellows got so disgusted at the performance, that was the excuse they gave, went below. There were quite a few who were 'hanging their heads over the sivi iof the ship, apparently admiring th heaving waters, accompanying thr ‘motion with heaving bodies. They gradually drifted away unti there were only two of us left t" carry on the program. so we decide? that any further efforts of ours would be wasted, so we wert ‘belov too. It was quite a job getting ft the companionway owing to the toss» ing ship, but after a struggle we made it. What a sight we Saw. Some lyinI' some sitting, were the civilian passâ€" engers, and without exception the‘ were sickâ€"~very sick. This was my first cortact with the real native of Ireland. They ha" been harvesting in England and wei' When you want to treat the Children or Mother and Dad to a trip. ..send them by Highway Cruiser for a happy and carefree journey TICKETS AND INFORMATION AT A. HISLOP, Phone 177 returning home. As we stood lOokâ€"' iiig at the passengers the ship's Bo'sitn came along with two of the crew. The Bos’sun asked us if we would mind helping to make the people more comfortable. Willing-iv we responded. It would have been a very unsympathetic person who could have resisted the appeal. We laboured and struggled for more than an hour but eventually we cleared up the mess. I think the men passengers were the worst. They certainly made the most. noise. The women were quiet enough. but absoluteiy helpless. They lay in their vomit making no effort to help themselves. I only heard one speak, a young woman. She asked to be lifted up. We complied. She wasn’t exactly in a presentable condition. but even in her misery she was worth looking at a second time. Early the next morning we were nearing Dublin, and about 7.30 we made fast to the quay. The civilians were the first to go ashore and a sorry sight they were. They showed the effects of the rough passage, and it can be safely assumed that men- tal prayers were offered to their patron Saint for their safe return. We followed the civilian passeng- ers ashore. picked up our kits, and both eyes. official. after a time I found it the better to be done right. Anything didn’t do for him. He had a clear pene- trating voice 'which was plainly heard by the whole squad, and he would be quite a distance away too. He was a strict disciplinarian but he was just. He had been a recruit him- self. Newly joined officers would have to drill with us even if they had just come from Sandhurst, and they received the same treatment that we received. I take off my hat to his memory. He was a splendid fellow. We had two months with him, and under his exacting tuition and guid- ance we learned the rudiments of the profession of arms in peace time :ni, Incidently, preparing for war. After he was through with us we vere taken over by the musketry ffi'ei‘. The sergeant instructor of or ketry was a peculiar chap. His words of command were a decided contrast to the snappy and decisive tones of our-former instructor. His c'ce was a sxrt of sing song. The 'iine tone. Never varied. From here i) the rightâ€"â€"right turnâ€"quick “iichâ€"»halt~_front. and so on. He vas a good man. He knew all about he rifle then in useâ€"the Martini Henry. He was a good shotâ€"the est in the battalion and when fir- 'ng kept both eyes open. It is difficult for some men tak1 ing aim to keep their left eye closed, and his remedy for this was to use He quietly instructed the recruits in this method. It wasn‘t I gave his idea a trial, and way. It requires a bit of practice to become efficient, but after a time it is just as easy to get the backâ€" sight, the foresight, and the object aimed at, in line. as it is to focus a pair of field glasses. We spent a month at musketry and were dsmissed di‘ills. ‘CAREFULâ€"WE’LL GET MAD', IL DL'CE “'ARNS “More Blows We Get. More Danger- ous We Are” New York, Dec. 14â€"The Italian radio warned Britain in effect last night: “Be careful or we'll get mad." In’a broadcast heard here by th_e Columbia Broadcasting System, the Italian announcer said: “There is one thing British propa- ganda fails to take into account, and that is the peculiar temper of the Italians. The Italian is a light- hearted and easyâ€"going fellow until he is aroused. Sometimes what he needs is just a little slap, then he stands up and fights to a finish. and the more blows the more dangerous what was generally known as “Drumsi instruments were the same a< a liiilldi appreciated by the men. Such tunes l l WWWWWWWW WOQOQWOOWWOOWOOGQ 99006909909.909”99999”9909090N 9009009<v oooououoaooooeeom WMwoeoooooooooowo W «m M WWW Wmm Wm M m m j .. w....,”..”momm”.mw.::° ’ ’9’0“ “0“ 60 60006.0 » weooeooooeeoowooo oewwo Mooooooooonai@l TE-NO One year may not be long enough for a good council-- But it is too long for a poor council. The present system of annual Municipal Elec- tions has in the main given Ontario municipalities ‘good Municipal Government. A safeguard for con- tinued good municipal government is to retain the right of annual Municipal Elections. Under the present system, if the people who pay the taxes are satisfied with the performance of a municipal council they have the privilege of avoiding ‘an election by giving the council an acclamation. Under the two term legislation, should a vac- ancy occur in council in 1942, the new member or members are appointed by the remaining members of council, not elected by the people. The most democratic system, is the present one of annual Municipal Elections. / The Two Term Legislation, with its vicious pro- vision forwthe‘ appointment, not election of men to 41“” e .-~-m» ~ -' ifw‘imyc' ‘ " “(unfitfiflw'vmfiw ‘ ‘ J . u .> 4,: 1, fill vacanc1es, IS a threat to one of our most demo- cratic privileges â€"- the right of annually saying who will spend the ratepayers money for the coming year. Bureaucratic government can come into exist- ence so very easily in these days of turmoil, we must be always on guard. To lengthen the term of mun- icipal councils under the proposed legislation could easily become. an open invitation to bring bureaucracy into the realm of municipal office. TAKE NO CHANCE ON A TWO YEAR TERM â€" VOTE N0 Retain The Right of Annual Municipal. Elections “Are you in favour, as a Wartime measure, under the Government Extensioa Act, 1940 of the mun- icipal council elected for 1941 holding office for two years?” YES NO (This space donated by The Liberal in the interests of Continued Good Municipal Government) GRAY *concH LlllES “fem soon on Bur Way to the Sta- he becomes. The British ought to' tion, where we entrained for New-lremember this_"__(A,p.) E@