Soldiersf Humour Have Appeared Since World War Two
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Higkquality 6. x W bladr and Miphobgfaphi~ prints are avaiiabie for any photographs or illusüaüom -ring in mis wpy for an additional charge. Contact UMI diribdly to order. Ml&Hdl Infomiatiori and Leaming 300 North teeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 41-1346 USA CANADIAN MILITARY HUMOUR A Perspective on Canadian Army Humour During World War Two and Korea by Major W.A. Leavey A thesis submitted to the Department of English, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario In partial fulfillrnent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Kingston, Ontario May, 1998 Copyright by W.A. Leavey, 1998 This thesis may be used within the Department of National Defence but copyright for open publication remains the property of the author. 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TABLB OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .............................m........iii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTXON ........................ x Canadian ldilitary Bxperience and Humour ......................... xvi CHAPTER II TIIB SYSTgM .......................... 1 Joining Up .......................... 6 Diacipline .................m........ 20 Kurry and Wait ................... 37 Black Market ........................ 43 CHAPTER III THE HIERARCHY ....................... 49 Supariors ........................... 50 The Staff ........................... 58 Old Soldfer/New Soldier ............. 62 Allies .............................. 68 CHAPTER IV KARDSHIPS ........................... 71 Rations ............................. 74 Campe. Clothing and Equipment ........ 84 Stress and Fear ..................... 91 The En- ........................... 100 Wounds. Siclenees and Death ............ 104 Weather .............................. 111 CHAPTER V MORALE .....................m.......m114 Merry England ....................... 116 Alcohol ....................m........ 119 The Fairer Sex ...................... 126 CHAPTER VI TEE BIZARRE. THE RIDICULOUS. TIZE INEXPLICABLE ...................... APPENDIX B CARTOONS ~O,,O~.O,,,m,,e~.~OmOOOO~~~m175 zmszwwz 'Military Humour" has been described variously as everything from military mirth to fightersl folly. Warrior wags have normally reached their full stride during times of adversity. Scores of Canadian works depicting soldiersf humour have appeared since World War Two . The Opus Maj or is probably mfCanada' s "every manff citizen soldier by Sergeant Bing Coughlin and Captain J.D. MacFarlane. Other classic works include Earl Birneyfs Wev, two complementary works by Farley Mowat entitled -ent and No B- Sang, and H.F. Woodsr #- John Mimms along with Ray Stevens have also written two more recent but no less funny books called Meda Heroes and The Hms of Wax, respectively. Barry Broadfoot in his axWu Yeays 1939 - 94.5 and Joyce Hibbert in her Jof also added many humourous wartime oral histories from Canadians across the country. Even Pierre Berton got into the act in his witty Startipa Out. iii 1 have examined a number of lesser known. limited- edition and self-published works that have also yielded many nuggets. Cartoons and songs were a valuable weather vane of the soliders' version of solace during wartime. Anthony Hopkinsî Sonas from the Frantud Re= was the best source 1 found for harmonizing Herbies. Bing Coughlints cartoons from my perspective were by far the funniest and most representative, along with the work of John Mimms adEric Mansikka. The aim of this study is to examine humourous Canadian military literature and explore both its conceptual structure and how Canadian cultural history relates to that structure. The study is organized around the main subject focuses and attempts to reflect the dominant range of tone relating to each category. It is clear that humour was a valuable. if not essential, part of the wartime soldierrs equipment which deflected the fears and tensions of a brutal, unforgiving environment. Although 1 did not realize it at the time, 1 became interested in military humour back in 1968 when 1 joined my first unit, The Second ~attalion,The Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment of Canada. My Company commander, a rigidly pedantic man with al1 of the regimentation and formality of Major Dad, (a character in a television sitcom of the late 1980s), had ordered me to give a presentation on riot control to our unit officers, provincial RCMP, and local civic and judicial authorities. Knowing absolutely nothing about interna1 security (unless having been involved in a few near- riots myself as an exuberant youth counted), 1 did not have the foggiest idea how to proceed. After not a little brain-wracking and scurrying about, my survival instincts impelled me to prepare a series of humorous skits and witticisms. Much to my surprise and the chagrin of my OC, it worked. The senior RCMP officer attending, after almost losing control of his bladder, remarked that 1 should go on Ed Sullivan (a popular TV variety show at the time). Even the local judge, a dour septuagenarian with a scowl reminiscent of Churchill, seemed to abandon his characteristic moroseness. Our normally stolid commanding officer, a chisled veteran of Korea, appeared to be grinning, although it was hard to be really sure. He might have just had gas. My boss, at last, was forced to admit that humour had saved the day - and me along with it. 1 thought nothing of it at the time, but now, with the benefit of almost three decades of experience and hopefully a little bit of maturity, it is clear that humour has a very important part to play in the well- being of people in general and of soldiers in particular. Even in the peace-time Army, a soldier's life is filled with stresses that his civilian countrymen never experience. By law, he is subject to an unlimited liability, which in laymanfs terms means that, when so ordered, he must salute smartly and put his life on the line with unquestioning obedience. Most of the soldiers 1 have been exposed to in my career, 1 am convinced, would do just that. It is the shared hardships of battle and training for battle, along with the artificially rigid system of military administration and discipline, and the unproven, sometimes inept, hierarchy, which adds to the challenge and the unadulterated humour of it all. Soldiers have found their particular wworldlffunny, even in the most grim and traumatic of situations. They have made fun of everything from their rations to their rifles, from the general staff to the stress of military life. It has been my good fortune and pleasure to have known a good number of superb soldiers in units such as the Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment of Canada, The Royal Canadian Regirnent and the Canadian Airborne Regiment. With few exceptions, they al1 went about their daily business with dedication, professionalism, and, most obviously, an infectious sense of humour. 1 am most grateful for what these men have taught me. During the last several years, 1 have been employed with the Canada Remembers Prograrn with Veterans Affairs Canada. This opportunity has given me the chance to rub shoufders with Canada's WWII Veterans from al1 of the wartime services. Again, almost to a man, they remembered the humour and the laughter above all. To these men as well, 1 owe a great debt. 1 wish also to extend my gratitude to Lieutenant General (Ret'd) Jim Gervais who, as a Brigadier almost ten years ago, first allowed me to pursue my studies in English at RMC through the UTPO Programme. Col (Retrd) John Gardam, my immediate boss for the past two years and a critically acclaimed writer of Canadian rnilitary history, has been most helpful in encouragement and advice. The staff