THE LIGHTER SIDE OF WAR CHAPTER 22A PEOPLE

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The Lighter Side of War - CHAPTER 22a: People that pass in the Day

The Lighter Side of War - CHAPTER 22a: People that pass in the Day. Scots Dewar. The Yankee Pilot. The Medic. Brussels. River Ma

By Actiondesk Sheffield

People in story: Reg Reid, Dewar, Captain Mascoid, Staff Sergeant Smith
Location of story: Bayeux, Caen, Falaise Gap, The Seine, The Somme, Brussels
Unit name: `A' platoon, 133 Company, 7th Armoured Division
Background to story: Army

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk – Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Reg Reid and has been added to the site with the authors permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

The Lighter Side of War

By
Don Alexander

CHAPTER 22a: People that pass in the Day. Scots Dewar. The Yankee Pilot. The Medic. Brussels. River Maas. Fraternisation.

A Scots lad called Dewar, with a posh English accent, had joined 133 as a driver just before the invasion, and since the lads seemed to shy away from him and his accent, Butch became interested in his background and started chatting to him.

The half-caste Workshops Staff Sergeant Smith, the Scouser who had been scorned for his colour by French Arabs at Medjez-el-Bab, was particularly nasty to Dewar. Perhaps it was inverted snobbery but he constantly bullied the gentle, soft-spoken lad. Butch had defended the Staff Sergeant in Medjez-elBab, now he was prone to defend Dewar.

In chatting with the Scot he mentioned what a beautiful car the Alvis was, owned by Captain Mascoid, and that Sheffield police had a few of them. He was amazed when Dewar said he had three of them, and that he was, in fact, one of the Dewar Whisky family.

At university he had studied marine engineering - specifically submarine engineering - and was alarmed when war erupted that he would be called up in the Submarine Service of the Royal Navy. He was claustrophobic and couldn't bear the thought of this, so joined up as a humble RASC driver.

A few weeks later Staff Sergeant Smith approached Dewar with an ill concealed smirk on his face.

"You're in trouble now Dewar. A colonel from the Artillery is asking to see you. At the double!"

Dewar had had a slight accident on the road with an artillery wagon pulling a howitzer. Surely it wouldn't need a colonel to get involved with a minor road accident?

The Staff Sergeant took him to Captain Mascoid, the colonel breezed in and clasped Dewar: "Good to see you, brother!"

The colonel had got his brother a commission - Second Lieutenant, Royal Artillery.
The Workshops' base was constantly moved forward.

Back on the road with Ritchie as the push through France continued: Bayeux, Caen, Falaise Gap, The Seine, The Somme. Ever onwards. The weeks, the seasons passed, summer to autumn.

One morning a Yankee pilot flagged them down. He'd landed his light single seater US Army spotter plane in the field nearby and got bogged down. Could they pull him out?

The Yank got back in his little cockpit and radioed his unit as the two Limeys put tracks on their fifteen tonner, reversed into the field, pulled long wire rope out - power driven, fastened it to the plane, anchored the lorry (chocs under the wheels), put the power winch on and slowly edged the plane to the road. A huge US Army low loader came along - the plane's wings were folded and away it went with a casual wave and thanks to the Limeys.

"I'd love one of their sheepskin lined coats ", said Butch, wistfully.

At their next base an RAMC driver brought an ambulance in. Would Butch get it tested for roadworthiness straight away? Four of his officers wanted to be driven to a French nightspot to celebrate, and the ambulance needed testing.

Butch examined it, got a certificate, had it signed by the Mechanical Sergeant Major, and was given a bottle of whisky by the RAMC lad.

He didn't like whisky so gave it to the MSM, who, surprised at this generosity, asked if there was anything Butch would like.

"I'd love one of the Yankee sheepskin lined coats for when I have to sleep under the wagon".

Two days in Brussels - September 1944

Advance units of the British Army liberated Brussels and Antwerp. There had been an agreement between the British and German armies in the Belgian capital. The German army would make an orderly retreat and there would be no more damage done to the ancient and beautiful buildings in the centre of the city.

133 COY's convoy trundled in on the heels of the infantry.

Captain Mascoid took the opportunity to look round antique shops and make contact with antique furniture dealers with a view to future business. Butch, with half a dozen of the lads, including Wheeler, wandered round the historic centre and were greeted as heroes by the people of Brussels. It was heartwarming and flattering. He asked a man if he could recommend a local bar and was directed to one with an English name, the `Blue Pig'.

The lads trooped in to be treated effusively by the landlady, with free drinks all round. She had a little white Scottie dog and called Butch over:
"Say `Hitler"'.

Butch said "Hitler" and the dog showed its teeth and growled, snarled and barked.

"Say 'Mussolini"'.

Again the little dog showed its teeth and growled, snarled and barked.

"Say 'Churchill"'. "Churchill".

The dog sat up and begged!
One of the lads suggested the dog would snarl then sit up and beg at the third name, whichever it was, so she called to a red-haired Scots lad in their party whose eyes were fixed on a red-haired girl sitting with other girls along one side of the bar, as if in a doctor's waiting room.

"You red-haired Englishman, you say this".

"He's not English, he's a Scottie - like your dog". Wheeler put in helpfully. "You red-haired Scottie man, say 'Churchill"'.

Jock (or whatever his name was - Butch has forgotten over the years) said "Churchill". and again the dog sat up and begged.

They were in a brothel and the girls were lovely but all the lads resisted the temptation - even Wheeler - all except Jock. He'd never had a girlfriend, was very shy, but had taken a fancy to the red-haired girl. He couldn't take his eyes off her. It was love at first sight.

The lads agreed he should go with the girl, paid the landlady - with Butch's money of course, he being the one with the most cash - and the redhead took Jock's hand and led him upstairs.
He stayed all night - couldn't bear to leave her, asked her to marry him... but we have no more information on their little romance. The army were on the move and they left Brussels after two days.

Tags: chapter 22a:, alexander chapter, people, lighter, chapter