buffnut453
Captain
It's a bit sad when you're responding to you're own posts...but this was too good not to share.
Chapter 2 describes the constituent parts of the 29th Brigade one of which was 1st Bn, Royal Ulster Rifles. Following the British Army's regimental tradition of local recruiting, this Bn was drawn predominantly from Northern Ireland but a large number of soldiers hailed from the Republic of Ireland. This resulted in a mix of Protestant and Catholic soldiers in the same unit, leading to the following tale recounted by one of them:
The regiment's Catholic and Protestant contingents were demarcated on church parades. One Sunday, the men formed up and the RSM bawled: 'Catholics on the right! Protestants on the left! Fall out!' As the soldiers fell into the appropriate ranks, one man was left standing there alone. 'What are you doing standing there?' the RSM thundered. 'I'm…I'm Jewish, sarn't major.' quavered the unfortunate soldier. The RSM proved equal to this conundrum. 'Protestant Jew or Catholic Jew?' he demanded.
Absolute classic! Reminded me of far too many SNCOs of my acquaintance over the years.
Chapter 2 describes the constituent parts of the 29th Brigade one of which was 1st Bn, Royal Ulster Rifles. Following the British Army's regimental tradition of local recruiting, this Bn was drawn predominantly from Northern Ireland but a large number of soldiers hailed from the Republic of Ireland. This resulted in a mix of Protestant and Catholic soldiers in the same unit, leading to the following tale recounted by one of them:
The regiment's Catholic and Protestant contingents were demarcated on church parades. One Sunday, the men formed up and the RSM bawled: 'Catholics on the right! Protestants on the left! Fall out!' As the soldiers fell into the appropriate ranks, one man was left standing there alone. 'What are you doing standing there?' the RSM thundered. 'I'm…I'm Jewish, sarn't major.' quavered the unfortunate soldier. The RSM proved equal to this conundrum. 'Protestant Jew or Catholic Jew?' he demanded.
Absolute classic! Reminded me of far too many SNCOs of my acquaintance over the years.