Memoirs of Gordie Bannerman - World War II

• Actually this was our second Christmas in England and our third in the army. Our sergeants' hut was a Nissen hut along a pathway with evergreen trees bordering. It was very shaded primarily to avoid detection from German aircraft.

  A bit of humour was the first thing in mind to offset any boredom. Being sergeants we had certain privileges, and one of these was that we did not have an enforced lights out. Well, a young officer along with another battery duty sergeant knocked at our hut door quite well after the normal lights out and wanted to know why our lights were still on. Right away Orme Payne, George Cooper , and Bill Stickney went out side to talk about this intrusion in our privacy [ Orme tells it that we were in the midst of lapping up a small keg of beer ]. This discussion was held in the darkness outside our hut door, While Orme and Bill are explaining to LT Fisher that it was our right and privilege, George Cooper, ever to have a good thought, commenced to unbutton his fly and, being full of beer throughly wet down Lt Fisher's new serge dress uniform. The serge being new it took a moment for Georges great stream to get through and wet down Fisher's leg. When it did the last we saw of Lt Fisher was a shadow hurriedly disappearing down the path with the duty sergeant following really not knowing what had transpired. Needless to say we were never bothered again or heard any more of this incident. Lt Fisher survived the war but passed away a number of years ago. But over the years we have told this story many times.

  Oh yes there was another incident. This was one where some sergeant in our hut was getting up in the night, and taking a leak in a corner of the hut , Now Bill Stickney and I felt it was not either of us so we decided to stay awake and catch the sinner or pee'er. So, armed with our issue flashlights we waited. An hour after the last light went out we heard someone get out of bed. Bill And I nudged each other and here was the culmination of all this peeing. We were going to find out who it was! Tension was right for the finish! Soon we heard the gushing of someone peeing. We flashed on our flashlights and saw a figure peeing away in the corner. We knew it was Roy Johnson.

  Bill hollered, "We have you in our sights." The figure replied, still peeing, that it was not him but Stickney. To which Bill Stickney said It is I with the light on you Roy. So Roy finished the gallon or so and went back to bed. I do not think he ever woke up. But the nightly peeing stopped. Incidently, Roy was always known as Smiler Johnson.

  Roy too survived the war and passed away in 1995.