C R U S A D E R
Dvr N.S. Coutts, M AC N.Z.
E .F . : W ith regard to your article
entitled “Benders v. Menders” we
would like to ask a few questions
in fairness to the drivers.
W e read that a certain Ford
truck came in with a great list of
trouble to be remedied. In this list
it was stated that a “poo!" en
gine was fitted. But what amazed
us was that it is also stated that
the distributor, dynamo and start
er had to be overhauled and a
new water-pump fitted.
Having had several pool mo
tors fitted we know that a pool
engine has these parts fitted and
in working order, so why make
this long list sound much worse?
If. as you suggest, these parts
are again overhauled in forward
areas we are at last enlightened
as to why we are told : “T oo
busy today, come back tomorrow,
chum !”
W hy spoil a good little rag
with this type of propaganda ?
Remember the old saying : “You
can fool all the people some of
the time and some of the people
all the time ; but you can't fool
A LL the people ALL of the
time.
Unit P e ts Corner
“ B E S S I E ”
Dvr J. Burnett sends us this
snap of “ Bessie,” mascot of
Eighth Army Headquarters M. T .
Section, and adds : “She was pick
ed up at Gambut in April, 1942.
She is well known throughout the
camp and is the pet of the M. T .'
Section. She has given birth to
two fine healthy pups. “Diana”
end “ Minnie,” neither of which
have yet graced the camera."
O.C. Workshops makes the fol
lowing comment on Dvr Coutts'
query.
“ Ford engines are being issued
from base after overhaul less dy
namo, starter, distributor, carbur
ettor. water-pumps. etc. In other
words, the bare engine arrives
and the accessories from the old
engine have to be overhauled and
fitted to the new pool engine. A
visit to any stores depoc will con
firm this."
W ell, Dvr Coutts, it looks as
if the fooling isn’t being done by
“Crusader” !
* * *
Dvr A. R. Desmond, R.A.S.C.:
It is not to be expected that an
article like “Benders v. Menders’
will escape unscathed. No one
will dispute the fact that there
are bad drivers, any more than
Ithey d dispute the existence of
“ dud" fitters, who spend their
time “botching” jobs. It is so easy
to sling the blame on the driver !
But how about the other side of
the story ?
You quote the fact that “W ork
shops” did 1.400 miles in three
months with only four broken
springs. So what ? Compared to
the average M .T. Section, W ork
shops waggons are static. Some
one has to do the running around,
bringing rations, petrol and
N.A.A.F.I. (!!) stuff. W ear and
tear can only be expected. Act
ually. the article in general ap
pears to be directed principally
against staff-car drivers. But is
it generally realised that the cars
used are civvy' cars — the only
concession made to the hard
going is the fitting of sand or
track tyres ? So that considering
the tyres of ground and mileage
covered, is it surprising that fre
quent attention is required ? The
cars were never designed for the
purpose they’ve been put to.
W ith regard to the detailed
Bill of Fare' on the station wag
gon. You state. “A pool engine
was fitted...” Now I stand to be
corrected, but usually a “ Pool”
engine is delivered complete with
dynamo, starter motor, water
pumps, and distributors, the only
attention required by the latter
being the removal of the grease
applied to prevent any corrosion.
W h y then all this extra work on
these odds and ends ?
I am a staunch supporter of
your little paper, but for once I
find I cannot agree with your
isentiments. Still, we ll agree to
differ. All the best for the future.”
Thanks for your good wishes,
despite your disapproval of “Ben
ders v. Menders.” Actually, the
article was not “ aimed at” any
section of Eighth Army drivers ;
it merely points out that a good
dead of needless damage and work
is caused by going too fast over
bad tracks. And if you re-read it
you will see that it says plainly
that the regular driver is N O T
usually the worst offender. W ith
regard to your “ pool engine” cri
ticism, see Workshops reply to
Dvr Desmond.
W e have received several other
letters on this subject on much the
same lines, but have not space to
publish all of them.
* * *
Tpr W .J. Peden s Please settle
an* argument on which depends
many ackers and my prestige as
a Man-about-London. Is the Cafe
Royal in Regent Street or Picca
dilly ? 1 say Regent Street.
As Men-About-London oursel
ves we’re glad to assure you that
your prestige is retained.
* * *
Cpl. A.D. Williams, R .T .R . :
Yes, the Argyle Theatre, Birken
head had a direct hit during the
1940 Merseyside blitzes. W e ’ve
no way of knowing if it’s been
subsequently reopened, but a
newspaper report of the period
says the famous musical hall was
“ wrecked.”
* * *
L/Cpl. J. Reagan, R.E. : Settle
an argument, please, and tell us
the longest odds ever paid out on
a British racecourse. One hun
dred ackers is involved.
3,410 to 1. Paid on Coole in a
race at Haydock Park in 1929.
This bet-settling is causing us
quite a lot of trouble. In future
we’re going to demand a percen
tage !
Sgt. E . Longman, R.A .F. (Yes,
it s Edgar !) : I was tickled by
the arguments which raged about
the brother and sister problem.
Here’s another one that usually
puts a match to the fireworks. A
man sends his shoes to the cobb
lers, calls to collect them and is
told the repairs will cost hinr 15s.
He proffers a £1 note but the
cobbler has no change. The cobb
ler takes the note to the butcher
next door, obtains change and
gives the customer five shillings.
Later the butcher rushes round
and informs the cobbler the note
is a dud. The cobbler gives the
butcher a genuine £1 out of his
till and burns the dud note. The
problem is — how much has the
cobbler lost on the deal ?
W ell, we say £1. And we ad
vise you to drown all the red her
rings in the story before you put
pencil to paper to tell us we’re
wrong.
* * *
Sgmn H, Lyle, 1st Armd Div.
Sigs i I read with interest the
claim of C.S.M . Collins, that 7
Armd Div. are the only true des
ert rats. As a member of a divis
ion which has not been publicis
ed, I would like to point out that
if we have been referred to as
desert rats, then it was by some
one who had a grudge against us.
W e are the Rhino Boys’ and
proud of it. Also he said that 7
Armd Div. have never had a
“write-up.” W ell, the other night
a glowing account was given on
the wireless, describing how 7
Armd Div. drove the enemy from
Alamein to Tripoli.
* * *
B.S.M . H. Holding, 76 A.Tk.
Regt R.A. : I would be much ob
liged if you would publish the
enclosed photograph of my dog.
which was lost between Tmimi-
Gazala on the Tobruk road on the
8th. Feb. 1943. W ould finder
please return to me or let me
know ?
G e o r g e G u m p t io n
i\o. 23 — D ie lic D i le m m a !