45Q2 - THE QUINTINIAN, SUMMER 1945

We are now at the end of our first school year in London since our return, and when I say "in London" I mean well in London! As most readers know, we are very scattered in three different buildings.

I had hoped to be able to announce in this issue that one or other of the various schemes put forward for the consolidation of the school had come to fruition but I am afraid at the time of writing these notes, I have nothing definite from the authorities which I can tell you. This makes the running of the school very difficult and, in some cases, causes delay. The, performance of the boys has, however, been very good indeed and if the hazardous conditions do not continue I think no serious harm will be done.

The end of term "hall" will be the last occasion on which Mr. Waldo Clarke will make an appearance as a member of the staff. He has been with us for two years only but in that time he has made himself part of the school and we are very sorry to know that he is going. But we must congratulate him on his appointment to a senior post in London.

Another very serious loss to the school will be the departure of Mr. Parsons who is going to a Government Training College for teachers. As all Old Boys know, Mr. Parsons is an ideal candidate for such training and lie will make a first-class teacher at the end of his period of training. Meanwhile, we shall have to get used to doing without his ready help in all matters. I personally will miss him, but wish him the best of luck and I know that everyone joins with me in this.

One of the few things which reminds us of the school before the war is the Sports at Chiswick which are to take place on Saturday, 21st July. Many preliminary events will be decided on the Thursday previous to this day, but I look forward to seeing a very large crowd of parents and Old Boys and any other friends of the school who can possibly get to this very important meeting which is really the first social event we have had since we returned from Minehead as well as being, I hope, a meeting of first-class interest from the Sports point of view.

One or two very good performers are not able to take part —one would have made school records I know on the cinder track but there are other good entrants. I am quite sure it will be well-worth a visit to our "re-union" Sports.

Boys have been getting used to Chiswick again by their Saturday morning matches which I expect, as usual, are fully reported elsewhere in the magazine.

At the time of writing these notes, the Swimming Gala is going through the preliminary stages and although some boys have withdrawn, there is every chance of a very successful gala on Monday, 16th.

This year , the Harvest Camp at our old site at Broadchalk seems to have attracted more boys than the previous ones. When I first appealed for volunteers the response was very meagre and it looked as though we were to disappoint many farmers who were anxious for our boys to be back again on their farms. However, by the time the idea had had a chance to sink into the minds of the boys, the response was wonderful: the full complement for the camp has already been taken and Mr. Sambrook has a long waiting list.

As before, we hope to have the services of two of the trainees from the Battersea Polytechnic Domestic Science Department to look after the cooking and welfare side of the camp. Several masters have volunteered to help Mr. Sambrook. I hope that a full report of this camp, giving the names of the masters and boys, and relating their activities, will appear in the next issue of the Quintinian.

The A.T.C. held a marvellous record in Minehead as you will have noticed in the reports in the Quintinian. They were outstanding in Sports and "efficiency" and it was a well respected Flight on all counts. However, after the lack of intake in the R.A.F. (due, very fortunately, to the light casualties in operation), the interest in this Flight was not so strong and now we are back in London where accommodation is the everlasting cry, it seems undesirable to continue with two Cadet Units. Unfortunately, therefore, we have decided that this Flight will cease to operate after the end of this term and the large stores which are unusable for lack of accommodation, will be returned to the R.A.F. and the space so formed will help the remaining cadets to function a little more easily. I must congratulate Mr. Checkley and his helpers and the cadets on a "worth-while" job well done.

I have had an interesting run of visits from Old Boys including some who left so far ago as 1924 —many returned prisoners of war, and others on B.L.A. leave or from other theatres of war. It has been very interesting to hear their accounts and to see their reactions when I have been able to tell them something of what they have been doing since they left school! This of course is information from other Old Boys and Masters who know my weakness for Old Boy Gossip.

In this connection, I would like to make uncomfortable any Old Boy who has failed to let me know of his doings since he left school! My plea is, "Do let me know what you are up to!" Whatever you are doing now is of interest to us all and I have an ambition to have my card index of Old Boys full to over-flowing. In the middle of all the present difficulties, I think I get real enjoyment in hearing of the success of boys who were with us in former years.

One very sad event has to be recorded, namely, the death of Pegrum who left us in Minehead and who was killed in action as a Commando Lieutenant of the Royal Marines. All the people who knew him agree with me he is a type of fellow we can ill afford to lose.

Many Old Boys have been wondering what happened to the Magazine which was published at Easter. A delay has been caused by the fact that the file of Old Boys was in a packing case returned from Minehead which was stored in an inaccessible place. After much trouble, it has now been released and addresses made available to the editor who, like myself, wishes to send his apologies for this unavoidable delay.

At the time of writing these notes, I am very busy dealing with applications from parents of new boys and there seems to be no doubt that the total applicants will far exceed the number of places available. One of the consequences of the new Education Act makes difficulties in admitting brothers of boys who live outside the London area unless by any chance they obtain a high enough mark in the Common Entrance Examination to Secondary Schools, which local authorities are running.

Next term I hope to have a Speech Day for the events of the present year and, at the same time, to give out the prizes which should normally have been given at this year's Speech Day which return from evacuation prevented. I hope when the date is announced parents will regard it as one to keep. It is just possible that I might be able to arrange then a meeting with parents to discuss matters of vital interest to the school.

Can I repeat as a final paragraph that I would like information from Old Boys (or their parents) about their careers since leaving school. I still have many gaps in my information and I do hope that these will be filled as soon as possible.

Since the last issue of House Notes, the football season has ended and House cricket has got into full swing. The Juniors haven't been doing so well, but the House Senior team has not yet lost a match.

Congratulations are due to Rosen on becoming School cricket captain and also to Cowell as vice-captain. Congratulations also to Greenaway on becoming School swimming captain and to Burbridge, Cowell and Scott on their appointments as prefects.

Our hopes for the sports are very high. Those boys who have turned up for sports practices show real talent and keenness and should bring the House many valuable points on Sports day. Indeed, the House should do better this year than for some time.

In the swimming gala, the first since the war, we should also fare well. Swimming practices have been well attended and most boys are very keen.

First, we must welcome back Mr. Checkley from his long stay in Minehead and wish him an equally happy one in London.

The main interest of the term has, of course, been the Inter-House cricket competition in which the Senior eleven has given a creditable performance. Again, as in football, it is pleasing to note that, due to our present lack of seniors, there will not be many changes in our next year's team.

Our hopes for the Swimming Gala were rather smashed by the illness of P. Denham, but there still remains much swimming talent in the house, and we may still pull through.

The Sports' Day is fast approaching and there is a great need for training. Because of our shortage of talent in the Open (Senior) Group we have been handicapped in the past two years and have not really shone in Athletics. Let us now see if we can overcome this handicap and achieve a higher position this year.

Congratulations to P. Ladbrook, P. Denham and P. Sampson on their appointment as prefects. This now brings the House total to seven! Finally, I speak on behalf of the House in thanking those members, senior and Junior who have joined during the past year. Many of them have played a worthy part in House activities and will, I trust, combine with the older members of the House to put Hesters right at the top in the days to come.

A peep into the future would be most helpful at the time of writing these notes, since the school swimming gala and sports have still to take place, and, likewise, the final outcome of the Inter-House cricket is still greatly in doubt.

News of the proposed swimming gala found us hopefully optimistic, and the House swimming evenings have, if anything, served to raise our expectations. Our sincere congratulations go to D. Freedman on being elected House swimming captain. Any success we may achieve in the pool will be thanks mainly to his tireless delving out of latent talent.

It would be a great pity, apart from the lowering effect on our prestige, if our run of sports successes was to be broken this year. However, we hope that with the full co-operation of each boy, Kerridge's will have "done it again" by the time these notes come to be read.

On the whole we are faring quite well in the House cricket. The juniors, having lost two of their four games, must, however, make a greater effort if they are to finish up on top. They have been well captained throughout by Doran, whose good all round performance has secured for him the captaincy of the school junior eleven. Although our seniors have only lost one match, their tie with Lambert-Newman served to offset the other two victories. Our last match with Broodbank-Stevenson will therefore decide whether or not we shall once more win the cricket competition.

In conclusion, I should like on behalf of Calder to thank the House for its support throughout a very difficult year. The House, too, wishes every success in the future to all boys who are leaving this term.

Success this year has in no small way been due to the efforts of our House Secretary, T. Chapman. He has been a prominent figure in all House and School activities. He has played for the School 1st XI's at cricket and football as well as the basket-ball team; he has been elected School Vice-Swimming Captain, and more recently House Athletics Captain. Congratulations.

With the School back in London Inter-House Competition has commenced with a new interest in order to regain the high standard reached before the war.

In football the House has done pretty well by coming second in both the senior and junior competitions.

Cricket has not been too bright but on several occasions the House has put up a very good performance. The juniors are to be especially commended.

Hard training is now in progress for the Athletics and Swimming. Unfortunately, our star athlete, Sinzheimer has had a breakdown and is unable to compete but we hope he will soon regain health and next year add more records to the House. Swimming is a new event for the majority of the House as this is the first Gala since 39.

Lastly, we must say farewell to all those leaving and wish them the very best of luck —especially those who have served the House so well.

The past term has seen but small changes in the House. A few boys only have returned from Minehead.

Our enthusiastic junior cricket team is doing very well indeed. The senior team however, has had bad luck and lacks bowling.

The school is able to hold an Inter-House Swimming Gala again this year. We must wish good luck to our entrants, especially those who have been training, on the days of the events.

We must also wish for good luck at the time of the sports, which come a few days after the gala. Here again, on House training evenings, the juniors have been most enthusiastic.

Lastly, the House should bid farewell to the leavers. Among them are most of the House Officials. It remains with the new officials to lead the House on to greater days.

Congratulations are due to A.E. Beck and R.J. Woods on being appointed prefects.

This is the last time notes will appear under this heading. After a long and careful review of all the relevant factors, it has been decided that 622 Flight shall cease to function from the end of the term. The uncertain prospects of boys being accepted in the R.A.F. in aircrew or congenial trades, together with our peculiar difficulties in arranging parades and classes, make it very difficult to ask boys to give up the necessary time.

Past and present members of the unit will be sorry at the passing of the unit after four years of pleasant, useful and vital work. Our thanks are due and are offered most cordially to those instructors who have made our record of proficiency results so satisfactory, to the N.C.O.'s who have worked so well and efficiently —especially the Flight Sergeants who have done so much for the Drill. From them all has grown a unit of which we were proud and which has always been a happy one. We remember also the teams who won the Somerset Sports in 1942 and were Runners up in 1944, the individuals who competed in Command and Inter-Command Boxing and Running. We must also record the unsparing and unselfish work of F/O Beresford, who has set and kept such a high standard in the Equipment Section as well as in the general work of the Unit.

Finally, and most of all, we should like to thank Dr. Worsnop for his initial inspiration and continued work for and interest in the Unit.

Troop meetings have been held regularly through the term and good work has been done by the keen Scouts, in spite of the difficulties of the premises from the Scouting point of view. In connection with the weekly meetings the Troop owes much to Ralph Worsnop and Bill Alison, who, as A.S.M. and T.L. respectively, have borne the burden of most of the work this term.

The "Discovery" Patrol has met regularly on the boat and three senior members will have received their Charge Certificates before this is in print.

A few out-door meetings have been held, including a day on Stanmore Common and a ramble in the Caterham district.

Mr. "Paddy" Hammer of the Deep Sea Scouts paid us a visit which was greatly appreciated. As a result of his visit an afternoon at the Deep Sea Scout Headquarters at Roland House, Stepney, is projected and the Troop is looking forward to another visit of "Paddy" before the end of term.

This term the Corps has continued its policy of "marking-time." The parades are limited to one a week, with an occasional Sunday parade as variety, and are usually held in the vicinity of St. Katherine's where the ground is admirably suited to fieldcraft training. An Annual Inspection will be held at the end of the term and this will be preceded by a period of semi-intensive preparation to make up for time lost during the University Exams. when all parades were suspended.

There was not, as we had hoped, a Somerset A.C.F. Camp at Dunster, and in place of a suitable alternative we are considering a series of long-range bivouacs. The Corps used to be extremely proficient at this form of activity and they should prove valuable training for many cadets.

Finally, I would like to thank the N.C.O.'s who have carried out their duties this year under very difficult circumstances. More particularly, I would like to thank those who have had the additional burden of University Examinations and who are now leaving, namely Sgt. Calder, Cpl. Freedman and L./Cpl. Leski.

In this, the first season after evacuation, cricket has made a most promising start, great enthusiasm having been shown in both House and School matches.

The School 1st XI opened its programme on May 26th against the Poly Institute 2nd XI and made a creditable draw, though it was in favour of our opponents. On July 16th they played the Institute 3rd XI, collapsed and were badly beaten.

On June 23rd we met St. Clement Danes 1st XI who took 3½ hours to make 87 against our bowling, leaving us only 11 hrs. to bat. Rosen decided that it was the best policy to go for the runs but we failed and were beaten. The 2nd XI won its game but 3rd XI and Juniors lost.

On June 30th we met Latymer Upper and in the 1st XI game put up the best performance of the term. Batting first we scored 87 for 8 wkts. against a very good and varied attack and when stumps were drawn Latymer had lost 8 wkts. for 49 runs. In this series the 2nd and 3rd XI's were beaten.

The Junior XI did extremely well to beat Hampstead Ramblers at Chiswick on June 9th, winning by 10 wkts. in a two innings match.

As we go to Press the house competition is unfinished but B.S. appear to be winning. Cricket, however, is an uncertain game and who would foretell the final result?

An explorer tried to explain to me the wonders of the jungle. The giant trees stand all around and deep rivers flow sullenly along. Green slimy reptiles live in these rivers while gibbering monkeys swing in the trees overhead. Birds of bright plumage fly everywhere. Animals and uncanny lights startle any stranger. At night there is an awful silence, broken now and then by the call of a lion answered by another in the menacing distance.

A small sailing ship was passing peacefully through the lovely lagoons when, suddenly, through the early morning mist, came dozens of canoes carrying savages. They swarmed over the sides of the small ship intending to plunder anything they could lay their hands on.

There were only twelve men in the crew, and whilst eleven of them grappled with the fearsome savages, little John the hunchback, made his way to the cabin and got a large box of tacks. Climbing swiftly up the rigging he scattered the tacks all over the deck.

With loud cries of pain, the savages, their bare feet full of tacks, made quickly for the sides and scrambled back into their canoes. The crew wondered why the savages had given up the fight so suddenly, but when little John told his story the men laughed and little John was the hero of the day.

It stood alone in fields of grass and colourful flowers. I watched it as I lay on a grassy knoll in the sunshine; white, with beams of blackened oak which were at least seventy years old. As I stood enjoying the silence and tranquillity I saw a woman descending the steps dressed in an early eighteenth century frock. She walked along to the stream which sparkled like a host of diamonds as it rippled along its bed. I walked over to her and said, "Excuse me, but can you tell me the time as I have to be at my hotel by 8 o'clock?" "Certainly, Mr. — ?" "Smith is the name,'' I interjected. "Ah, yes, Mr. Smith, it is 6 o'clock." "Thank you so much madam. Isn't it beautiful around here?" "Yes," she replied, "but you look hot, come into the house and have some refreshments."

We went over to the house and as I entered all the exquisite beauty seemed to fade and in its stead I saw a dark sinister looking room with heavily barred windows. The lady bade me sit down at the table and then brought in some cherry brandy and cocktails. She asked me which I would like, so I said, "Cherry brandy, please." She then introduced herself and told me she was staying at this cottage for a holiday. Suddenly I was seized from behind and thrown on my back, a knife came plunging towards my throat, — then thud, I found myself at the bottom of the knoll. A lady was bending over me saying, "Are you hurt? Come and have a drink at my cottage." "No," I exclaimed, "Not for a thousand pounds," and before she could reply I was off like a flash. She just shrugged her shoulders and stared after me.

As Big Ben marked the close of the day by its last singing stroke, the weird silhouette of a man could be seen marching to-and-fro on Waterloo Bridge, whilst the strident swishing of the old River Thames could be heard far below. Suddenly he came to an abrupt halt. He leaned his body over the parapet and peered down. The slight crescent of a silvery moon now lit up his dry features. His small glazed eyes were set well back under his shaggy black eyebrows. His sullen, white face was slightly lined and under his eyes were large bags which gave the appearance that he had not slept for many days.

With a start he jerked himself hack and eccentrically flung off his jacket, and then, without warning, the creaking and rumbling of a horse drawn cart was heard advancing on the South side of the bridge. He turned his head quickly and then shuffled back into the deep and ghostly shadows and waited silently until the vehicle had passed out of hearing. He again breathed freely and stood up. Without turning his head he clambered onto the parapet. At this moment a policeman on his nocturnal beat was crossing the bridge whistling as he went. Suddenly he stopped dead and stared. "Oi! You there! What's the game?" he shouted, but no reply was received. He broke into a run towards the man on the parapet whose body was now clearly outlined against the moonlit sky. The policeman gave an echoing blast on his whistle. As he did so, the slim figure standing on the parapet was seen to hurtle over the edge. Within a few seconds a splash was heard below and all returned to a somnolent silence once more. Like a giant sentinel of the man's death Big Ben struck the quarter hour and the old River Thames still flowed on towards the open sea.

In this article I am going to describe the aerial weapons which are going to be used in the war against Japan. First I shall deal with the heavy bombers, then the medium and fighter-bombers and fighters.

First, there is the Avro Lancaster I, II, III. The one I am going to deal with is the Mk. III, which is similar to the Mk. I in having Rolls-Royce Merlin motors, but is most likely modified to carry the 22,000 lb. Volcano bomb. These modifications consist of removing the nose and mid-upper turrets and internally strengthening the fuselage.

Next, we have the Avro Lincoln. This is a four-motor heavy bomber like the Lancaster and it has just come off the secret list.

It has four motors and twin fins and rudders and is believed to have a wing similar in shape to that of the Consolidated Liberator. It has a higher top speed and a greater range than its predecessor, the Lancaster. It also has a heavier bomb-load than the latter. The motors are unknown and are presumably of Rolls-Royce manufacture.

The Handley-Page Halifax is not included as it is not used so extensively as the Lancaster and Lincoln.

In the medium bomber class we have only two representatives, one of which is the famous De Havilland Mosquito. The mark I am dealing with is the Mk. XVI, which differs from all other versions in having a pressure cabin. The supercharged air is supplied by a Rolls-Royce Merlin 73 on the port wing. The other engine is not a Merlin 73 as might be supposed, but is a Merlin 72. The bomber version of the Mosquito has a bulged bomb-bay in order to carry a 4,000 lb. "cookie." The bomber version has a range of about 1,500 miles, but the P.R. version has a range of 2,000 miles, and has a higher top speed. The other one is the D.H. Hornet which is presumably a bomber as well.

We have several fighters and fighter-bombers, among them the Bristol Beaufighter X which carries an 18 inch torpedo beneath its belly in addition to its armament of 4 20 mm. cannon and 6 303 Browning machine-guns. The Beaufighter X is powered by two Bristol Hercules radials and has a top speed of over 300 m.p.h.

Next we have the De Havilland Mosquito Mks. V, VI, XIII and XVIII, the last version having an armament of one 6-pounder (57mm.) cannon and four 303 Browning machine-guns. The Mk. VI can be used as a fighter-bomber with two 500 lb. bombs in the rear half of the bomb-bay and two 500 lb. bombs on racks beneath the wings. They may or may not carry four rockets under each wing. The rockets may be additional to or replacing the wing bombs. The Mks. II and V are similar to the Mk. VI . The Mark XIII 'is similar to the other marks but it sports an unusual "bull"-nose which contains special night-fighting equipment. The armament of 4 mgs. and 4 cannon is reduced to four 20 mm. cannon in the underside of the fuselage. There is another night-fighter "bull"-nosed Mosquito, which is like the Mk. XIII but has a different type of nose. The above Marks are powered by Rolls-Royce Merlins of varying designations.

There are several British single-engined fighters, one of which is the D.H. Vampire a jet-propelled design. It is capable of speeds over 500 m.p.h. This is the only available information released to the public, but we should hear a lot about it when it goes into action in the Far East.

Another jet-propelled design is the Gloster Meteor, which is powered by twin jets, one under each wing. It too, is capable of speeds over 500 m.p.h.

The most famous of our fighters, the Vickers-Armstrongs Spitfire VI, VII, VIII, IX XI, XII XIV and XVI is going to be used against the Japanese. The Mk. VI, it is disclosed, was the first of our fighters to be equipped with a pressure cabin, enabling it to climb to great heights without great discomfort to the pilot. It also was t he first Spitfire to be fitted with the extended wing of 40ft. 2in. span. The Mk. VII was a Spit. VI with a more powerful Merlin. The Mark VIII is the tropical version of the Mk. IX and it has a wide Chord fin and rudder and a retractable tail-wheel. The Mk. XI is a Photographic Reconnaissance version of the Spit. IX and has a bulged cockpit and nose. The Spit. IX was designed in a hurry when we needed high-altitude fighters quickly. It now has several modifications, among them the IXE-1, which has a clipped wing and an armament of 2 20mm. cannon, 2 half-inch Browning machine-guns and two 500Ib. bombs. The standard armament for most of the Spitfires is 2 cannon and 4 303 machine-guns except for the P.R. versions, which have none. The Spit. XII has Rolls-Royce Griffon motor and clipped wings. The Spit. XIV also has a Griffon but is unique in having a five-bladed airscrew. The Spitfire XVI is like the Mk. IXE-1 but has a more powerful Canadian built Merlin.

One of the latest single-engined single-seater fighters is the Hawker Tempest. Its side view is similar to the Typhoon except for a fairing in front of the fin and rudder. It is powered by a Napier "rolled-over" Sabre IIA which develops over 2,200 horse-power. The wings are like the P.47N Thunderbolt's and are elliptical in plan. The armament of 4 20mm. cannon is housed completely inside the wings, but on earlier versions the cannon project about 18ins. in front of the leading-edge. Two streamlined extra fuel tanks or two 500 lb bombs are carried on racks beneath the wings. It may be fitted with 8 rocket-projectiles, 4 under each wing.

Wilberforce Dreadnought sat in his sombre, brown study. The floor was covered with learned books. The wreaths of smoke coming from his yard long pipe whirled round his head giving it a sinister appearance. There came a stealthy knock on the door. The detective hastily took a wig from the wig stand by his side and, wrapping a purple cloak round himself, called, "Come in." His batman entered disguised in a hearth rug and announced that he had a secret message. The great detective hissed, "Disguise yourself and tell me." The batman took a moustache off the tray and whispered in the detective's ear. The detective, squinting under the chairs and looking up the chimney, said, "Bring him in."

The door opened, and the Bishop entered crawling along the floor and under the door mat, tears streaming down his face. Waving him to a seat without a word, the detective relapsed into thought. Rising to his feet, he said, "I know your trouble. You've lost your button hook." "Astonishing!" said the bishop looking down at his unbuttoned gaiters . "Quick ! We must catch him." Seizing the bishop's hand with one hand, and his umbrella with the other, they dashed out.

Arriving at the bishop's home, he called for the servants. "Alfred!" he thundered at the boot boy, "You have not washed your ears." Seizing the boy by one ear, he produced (much to the bishop's astonishment) the button hook from behind it.

I saw him sitting on the road bank between Folkestone and Dover. He was rather tall, about 6 feet 1, I should imagine. He was tanned and dirty, and was wearing an old, begrimed army uniform. I noticed he was a major. His face had a tired look, the look of one who has done his job and is finished. He had a prominent nose and piercing green eyes.

As I had walked a long way and was tired, I dropped on the bank beside him and tried to draw him into conversation. At first he only grunted, but when I started speaking about the war I noticed that his face had an expression of deep interest.

Then he started talking. He told me that his name was Harcourt, that he lived in Dover, was married and had a son. He also explained that he had commanded the 51st regiment in the Italian campaign, and had been wounded at Anzio and transferred to a hospital in Naples.

I moved on and thought no more about him until that evening, when I picked up a newspaper and a certain paragraph caught my eye. It was headed "Anzio V.C." and went on, "His Majesty has awarded the Victoria Cross to Major James Harcourt. Major Harcourt, who lives in Dover, is married and has a son and . . ."

It was morning, —such a morning as only. the high ranges know. The air was diamond-clear ; the lories calling in the trees; the gorgeous butterflies were already fluttering about the clustered blossoms which showed flame-like in the sombre trees.

Miles away were crenellated ridges, with castle-like projections; and sugar-cane peaks purple in the morning sun. Vast gorges opened themselves to view; the gleam of a river far below was like a streak of silver set in a sea of emerald-green. From a limestone cliff near at hand a small stream flung itself riotously in a sheer plunge of a hundred feet, making a music which mingled with the call of birds, whilst its spray flashing into rainbows, vied with the butterflies themselves.

Far below and on every side, rolled the jungle, stretching, as it seemed, to every corner of the distant horizon; tremendous; mysterious; the haunt of wild beasts, birds, insects, venomous snakes and the greatest pest to human life itself, —leeches.

At first the jungle seems deathly still. A deep, minatory gloom prevails. Listen carefully, and make no noise; presently you will begin to hear little sounds, difficult to locate, such as the muffled chatter of birds, bamboos scraping together, the tinkle of distant water or the tapping of a woodpecker. A fruit hurtles down with a loud plop and startles you; or a squirrel gives a truculent cry. But most noises are low, almost furtive. There is not much movement. Suddenly, inexplicably, a leaf begins to twitch to and fro in a maddening rhythm, as a faint current of air moves it; then a banana leaf starts to flap idly. The passage of a pair of hornbills sounds quite loud . At dawn the gibbons greet the day, and as the rising sun curdles the mist they troop off into the depths of the jungle. But the baboons cough and grunt very discreetly to each other, and suddenly the trees shiver and shake to their feverish gymnastics as they take alarm and go helter-skelter. Then a loud, reverberating cry rings out, making you jump with sudden fright; there must be a troupe of howling monkeys nearby.

One night in March, 1943, five men were in conference. They were round a little table in a wine cellar in the outskirts of Paris. Earlier that night there had been six of them, but one had been killed.

These five men were leaders of the French Resistance Movement and were planning to strike a blow for France. They had a hunted look about them, for earlier that night there had been a Gestapo raid on their headquarters in the centre of Paris. In the ensuing fight they had lost their friend who was also their second in command. Two of the other five were wounded. But these five men were still determined to carry on. Their present idea was to smuggle a recorded speech of theirs into the broadcasting station and change if for a programme of the Germans.

It was after midnight when the plan was finally decided upon. It was decided that a radio mechanic who worked at the broadcasting station, Marcel Dufont by name, was to do the job. He had to smuggle the record into the studio, get rid of the announcer and at the right moment put on the record and then take whatever action he thought necessary. The date fixed for this coup was March 17th. Then after deciding upon this plan the five went different ways as it was not safe to be seen together.

The fateful day of 17th March arrived. Marcel Dufont had the record under his shirt and an automatic under his left knee. On reaching the entrance to the broadcasting station the two guards started running their hands all over him to search him. Dufont wondered what had happened as the regular staff of the broadcasting station were never searched. He was just getting ready to sell his life as dearly as possible when one of the guards pulled out a packet of cigarettes. Apparently the German troops had filched cigarettes off everybody. Marcel Dufont passed on to the studio where he was to carry out his orders. He found that it was very easy to truss up the announcer who hardly put up any resistance. Dufont then waited until time for the broadcast and switched on the record. As he walked towards the door the Quisling director of the station walked into the studio. As soon as he heard the record he opened his mouth to shout and jumped at Dufont. Dufont immediately attacked and soon there was a terrific mix up in the studio. It did not last long and when it had finished the Quisling was dead and Dufont could only just stagger to the door.

Meanwhile the record had been going and giving accounts of German atrocities and losses. By the time the Germans stopped the record the damage was done and the whole of France knew about the blow struck at Germany.

The harassed voice of a German official said, "What you just heard was due to a 'technical' hitch."

This form is "jet propulsion." Being comparatively new in the era of aeromodelling it might need some explanation

There are two main forms of jet propulsion, these are the constant pressure combustion cycle and the rocket.

The former is more suited for duration and the latter for speed. A "jet" unit constitutes an outer mild steel casing, a turbine and compressor, two ball races as bearings for the shaft to run on, inlet nozzles for the fuel feed and an igniter for the ignition of the compressed air and fuel.

The forward end of the unit has an air intake similar in appearance to a trumpet and the rear has a constriction so as to obtain a high velocity jet of hot fumes from the ignited fuel and air.

The question of fuel depends on the requirements of power from the jet unit but the two main fuels are paraffin and petrol. The matter of the fuel feed to the combustion chamber is a point to be decided upon by time and experience. The two more commonly known ones are the float control and the pressure feed. The pressure fed system has a needle valve to regulate the amount of fuel which goes to the combustion chamber.

Now for the rocket. The limit to its duration is owing to its having to be small for a model aeroplane. The rocket also has a constriction from which a stream of hot gases is ejected. The rocket could perhaps be fitted to the sailplane so as to get it to a fairly great height for a long duration flight. Other than this it isn't of much use owing to its short duration.

The other night after 1 had finished my Homework. I looked in the Radio Times and noticed that there was a programme by the B.B.C. Midland Light Orchestra, conductor Ian White. I turned on the radio just as the announcer said that there were three pieces of music, the overture to Rossini's opera "William Tell,'' the "Tales from the Vienna Woods" by Johann Strauss, and Tchaikovsky's piano concerto in B flat minor.

The concert commenced with the playing of the National Anthem. The overture seemed to represent the rising and subsiding of a storm, and then the brave, carefree spirit of William Tell, the hero of the opera who casts off the bonds of Austria that enslave the peace loving people of Switzerland and who kills Gessler, their tyrannical governor.

The second piece was the "Tales from the Vienna Woods" by Johann Strauss. Johann Strauss lived from 1825 to 1899 and during his life wrote many pieces including "The Blue Danube" waltz and his famous opera "Die Fledermaus" or "The Bat."

The finale was Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto in B flat minor; played by Myra Hess. I think this is one of the greatest pieces of music ever written and is my favourite.

I think this programme was the best that I have ever heard, and was very well selected because it was not just several pieces of music, related to each other but each had a different tempo and a different spirit. I also enjoyed it because by a coincidence all three pieces were my favourites.

I had resided in Devon before I knew there was such a branch of sport as conger fishing.

One evening we sailed to a likely spot, anchored, and down into the green depths went two large hooks, with the best part of a herring on each, heavy leads, and some seven fathoms of line.

We sat meditatively awaiting results. "I have got one," said my friend hauling away as hard as he could., and up came a great conger of seven pounds weight.

Bob stuck a huge gaff into him, had him in the boat, and by making free use of the heavy stretcher, soon killed him.

A little time elapsed before getting another bite, when my line received a violent jerk. "By George, I've got something," I yelled. The thick line was spinning away too fast for my liking. "Blazes!" says M—, "He's a stunner! the tackle will hold, so haul away." Easier said than done, for most of the hauling was being done by the conger.

We beat him at last, and, looking over the side, I saw a great bar of silver as thick as a man's body, fifteen to sixteen feet long, wriggling' about in the clear, phosphoric water. Bob gaffed him and with help from M—, pulled the serpent into the boat.

A moment's respite while the conger disposed of the gaff by breaking it between his teeth like a carrot. Oh! That sight settled me and apparently M— too, for, as I disappeared over the bows, he did ditto over the stern.

As the conger wriggled towards the bows up would come M—'s head —"Go it Bob, give him snuff,'' and when he wriggled towards the stern, I would pop my head up and entreat Bob to give it him.

Bob cut the conger's head off in the end, and when we boarded the boat again Bob and I were genuinely grateful for the existence of our legs below the knees.

It was a sunny afternoon in August, and I was helping to gather in the hay-crop. Then, suddenly, the sky darkened, so that the labourers feared a disastrous storm. But no, it was not a cloud that obscured the sun, it was the beginning of an eclipse. The sun appeared to have a piece bitten out of it as if by some huge, invisible monster. As we watched, the bite grew larger, and the stars could be seen shining undimmed by the once fiery brilliance of the glowing orb. Then, when the whole of the fiery disc was obscured, what a sight met our eyes! The darkness was as intense as night, the Stygian blackness being relieved only by the stellar rays, and the soft pearly radiance of a corona of light that encircled the sun. Reaching far out from this corona were plumes of a glowing haze, so inconceivably tenuous that the smallest stars could be seen shining through the ethereal screen. This we saw within a space of about twenty seconds; then we saw a crescent of yellow on one side of the sun gradually increase in size as the eclipse passed, and the sun shone again in his sublime majesty.

Each of the following clues lead up to a film (e.g. Great American President —Wilson). What are:—

With your friend's aid, you soon have the tent satisfactorily pieced together, and the fire is at last smouldering. You then unpack the culinary utensils.

Buckets of it fall from the skies. You give up the idea of warmth and a hot meal, and retire to the tent. There you open a tin of pressed beef, and make the best repast possible under such circumstances. You get out the jam, only to find that the paraffin oil, which you packed for the fire, has crept into it. You mix the two together, spread the mixture on a slice of bread, and try it. You find that the jam has been completely ruined, and you experiment to see if it will burn. The result is a smell of singed hair, burned fingers, and a sizzling mass of toffee on the remains of the fire.

You then turn in to sleep. When you finally manage to "drop off," you are awakened by an elephant sitting on your chest. You waken fully to find the elephant kicking you in the abdominal regions. After a while you roll clear of the elephant, to find a hand clasping your big toe.

The rain is pouring down in a steady deluge, and a sudden flash of lightning shows that the "elephant" was the debris of the tent, and the hand holding your toe belongs to yourself.

The result of all this is two tired, bedraggled hikers with canvas, frying pans, kettles, cakes and bottles hanging from every available portion of their persons, knocking at the door of the nearest inn, in the early hours of the morning, to know if there is a room to spare.

The night is still. Not yet accustomed to the darkness outside, I pause until the things about me begin to resolve themselves into familiar objects and cast off their indeterminate shapes. The sky above, blue-black with the sheen of a raven's wing, lies undisturbed except for, here and there, the swift sharp gleam of a star. A faint sound of distant traffic can be momentarily heard, and then, as though shut out by some invisible barrier, it ceases abruptly. The pure, cold air assails me as I stand there in the shadow of the warm building which I have just left, and, shivering a little, I draw my coat together. I step out into the darkness, and the sound of the pavement beneath my feet recalls me from my musing.

Somewhere a crowd of boisterous revellers are singing and their joyous sounds come ever nearer. For a fleeting moment one may forget that there is such a thing as war. There in the darkness and the night there is peace and rest. The revellers have ended their song and silence once more pervades the atmosphere with its very feeling of nothingness.

The dim outline of a row of houses and the lofty spire of a church come into view. At this moment a vivid flash of orange flame leaps across the background. I stop short, half-wondering, half-afraid, not knowing what to think or do. As the awful glare vanishes, a terrible peal of thunder resounds in the shattered silence of the night. I hear the sound of glass breaking and, at this, I hurl myself towards the ground.

A few moments later, as I get to my feet again, I can hear the clamour of fire-engines and ambulances not far off. With my heart hammering madly I hasten towards the noise. As I approach I have to pick my way carefully through streets covered with broken glass and debris. Somewhere out to my left someone is sobbing hysterically.

I cross the street and there, just ahead, I can see the grotesque, shattered mass that was a house some seconds ago. Smoke is rising from the ruins and farther on, someone is playing a hose on a smouldering heap of rubble. A twisted lamp-post is lying awkwardly in the middle of the next road. Destruction is all around me and the acrid taste of the smoke arouses a horrible feeling of nausea within me. There is nothing I can do, there is nothing any of us can do now. A few haggard men in uniform move the gathering knot of people away.

(It is with deep regret that we have to announce the serious injuries sustained by the first two persons who attempted to obtain the said samples).

The analyst was dressed in chrome-steel armour plate and asbestos suiting, while the recorder sat at the other side of a brick wall specially-built for the purpose.

PRELIMINARY: After heating in a dry tube, the tube expanded until it burst. Carbon and heavy ash left. On heating again in a steel pressure furnace, heavy fuming yellow liquid formed, resembling glue. Gave it to a dog —dog dissolved.

The sample did not dissolve in water. On adding any acid, everything blew up with evolution of Chlorine, Phosgene and Arseniated Hydrogen.

NEGATIVE TESTS: Added Barium Chloride; contents of tube went solid. (Sample sent to concrete manufacturers —Catering authorities immediately received a large secret contract). This solid was insoluble in HCL —shows SUPLHATE.

POSITIVE TESTS: Added HCL: HCL shot back. Added HCL carefully, fearful noise from the denizens of the dinner, accompanied b y murmurs of Buchenwald and Belsen. White precipitate formed. Boiling water on filter —precipitate dissolves. White crystals on cooling —LEAD.

Passed sulphuretted hydrogen. Catalytic action starts, and gas retreats back into Kipp with a broken nerve. About three times more gas given off than went in. Put cork on tube and shook. Window smashing indicated direction cork left tube. Added yellow Ammonium Sulphate to precipitate. Huge jelly formed and wrapped itself round hand. Threw it down sink, which promptly started to dissolve. Bench collapsed. (Voice heard saying that Reding was playing Basket Ball). Fixed bench together again with spare samples. Added HCL (Lab. staff receive danger pay), solution behaved comparatively quietly. Swept up mess and kept precipitate, added conc. HCL (Two Lab. stewards resigned), and precipitate formed was identified as ARSENIC.

Passed Hydrogen Sulphide once more, sample tiring now, and acted decently, precipitate formed soluble in HCL. Filtrate boiled, tube dissolved. Boiled once more in Platinum crucible. Started again and later found ZINC.

Tested solution for Magnesium (was that a rocket ?) —none present. Called in bomb disposal squad to deal with remains.

Evaporated remaining solution to dryness (even A/Cpt. Sir B. Disposer, G.C., G.B.E., S.D.O., G.M. retires), collected vapour, which when condensed is known Las lemonade in the restaurant and lounge.

Added little Iodine. Enough Blue (dark) colour formed to last dye industry a life-time, shows STARCH.

This will certify that we the undersigned have examined the given sample, and declare that the above report is correct. Contrary to popular opinion, Polytechnic School Dinners do not contain Nitro-gelatine.

Crawling through a filthy, dirty, muddy ditch (as is my usual wont) I was lucky enough, nay, supremely lucky enough, to see the blue-eyed, hollow-checked down at heel Chiff-Chaff. No! I'm wrong, it's the Chaff-Chiff staring me straight in the eye. I realise now that it could not be the Chiff-Chaff because it was the Chaff-Chiff, and you can't have it both ways because the bird would then be the Chaff-Chiff-Chiff-Chaff, birds do NOT have doublebarrelled names do they? Many of you nature fiends may say to yourselves: "Hallo! What's a Chaff-Chiff doing in England in July, eh?" My reply is, "What are YOU doing here?" The real reason is that the Chiff‑Chaff is oviparous. That means they come in eggs, Easter eggs. By the time they hatch out it's July.

The study of birds is infinitely fascinating and it is wonderful to see all the sixth form studying them so diligently. You might call them a lot of Ornithologists! It sounds delightfully rude but really it isn't a bit.

A friend of mine wrote and asked me "had I noticed about the pigeons ?" Yes I have and it's a shame. Still there it is, as the man said.

I now come to our furry friends. No, not the sixth form but rabbits. All they need to eat is food and they are so easy to keep. I hope everyone buys a rabbit.

I was going to write a paragraph on tortoises but I see that it has already been done in a previous issue. But how many of you noticed that a tortoise walks on three legs. The fourth is false. It is one of natures' little jokes, which incidentally is the cause of the high death rate in the tortoise world. So many laugh themselves to death at the little joke.

Well, nature lovers, I wish you every success, GO TO IT, and having done it, CARRY ON, and who knows you might see the brown-eyed Pee-wit, not to be confused with the brown-eyed Pee-witt, which is pronounced with a 'tt' as in stutter.

Adverts. 1. FOR SALE, black shoes, size 6, slightly burnt, to defray expenses of search.

How ubiquitous these Americans are! I came across a negro soldier at Rainbow Corner the other day. He was composing a poem for the New York Herald and asked me to help him. So far he had only written the following:

It is the first verse, as you are all no doubt aware, of an epic story of two elephants and their hippo friend, who turns out to be a bounder, a rascal, a snake in the grass, a fly in the ointment. All this is explained in the first verse. (Can you hear the tom-toms rolling down, the river?). The second tells of their mutual affections —all three —and how, unsuspicious-like, Tara the mighty but soft hearted bull elephant and the lady (Kalla, of course) go on a long journey through the teeming Congo with the handsome hippo, whose Christian name, as you have already guessed is 'Scratzi' and whose other name is 'Mitzchi.'

The story shows how one Thursday they came to a wallow hole. Scratzi, whose manners were usually faultless, had been tormented for some time past by a particularly vicious tse-tse fly, which, as you know, can give you a severe attack of berri berri on the tum tum. He pushed past Kalla, and, rushing forward, began to wallow uproariously in the wallow hole. The elephants were so taken aback that the lady said 'bother.' This was too much for Tara the mighty, and with a stentorian trumpeting he rushed forward to where Scratzi was disporting in the wallow hole and hit him in the eye with a rather large piece of mud.

Now that's the story and we were stumped over the last verse. After a few minutes' deep thought I suggested the following:

But this as he explained would not quite stress sufficiently the caddishness of Scratzi's behaviour, so now boys I want you to enter for my competition and complete the story in your best Hoogoo —no grammatical mistakes mind! —in your best handwriting, on a page out of the middle of your best maths note book.

1.	Alibi.	9.	Great Day.
2.	Lifeboat.	10.	Up In Arms.
3.	Top Hat.	11.	Lady in the Dark.
4.	Till We Meet Again.	12.	Gone with the Wind
5.	Together Again.	13.	Women Aren't Angels.
6.	Christmas Holiday.	14.	White Cliffs of Dover.
7.	Casablanca.	15.	Madame Curie.
8.	Girls He Left Behind.

(The date of leaving School is in brackets after name. The second date in brackets is the one on which he last called at School).

Baker (7'42). R.E.M.E. Just finished engineering cadetship and expecting commission through (4'45).

Barringer. A. (7'44). Gunner. R.A.. Thinking of transferring to Glider Pilot Reg.

Castle, Tony (7'44). Training in Japanese at School of Oriental Languages (5'45).

Channon, D. (7'41). Has had a long spell in hospital but now with a firm of chartered accountants.

Delves, J. (7'41). R.A.C. H.Q. Liaison Regt. Injured in accident at time of Ardennes retreat. Out of Hospital and returned to B.L .A. (3'45).

Dunford, F.G. (7'43). Awaiting entry to R.N. Engineering Officer, Fleet Air Arm.

Eagle, H. (7'41). R.N. Been training at Aberdeen and Ayr. Radio mechanic, expecting to go to Pacific (4'45).

Edmunds, W.S. (7'43). R.E. Just returned from Bremen and Amsterdam. Attached to 1st Canadian Army (6'45).

Evans, G. (12'40). Now has a commission and has moved from Inverness to South Wales (3'45).

Felber, G. (7'31). Sgt. R.A.F. Captured end of '41 in North Africa. Was with Lazarus for a time at Camp 52 near Genoa, but separated on removal to Germany (5'45).

Frost, B.W. ('35). Sgt. R.A.M.C. since 1939. Has served in Norway and Nigeria. Now married.

Frost, A.C. ('37). Capt. Royal Signals. Teaching Maths and Electricity at Catterick (7'45).

Gaylor, J. (7'44). Been training with Matthews, Harfield and Veale for Intelligence Corps. Moving from Anglesey to Rotherham (6'45).

Gilliar, P. (7'44). Training as Glider Pilot. Now on embarkation a leave for Far East (7'45).

Cowers, E.A. (7'40). Sgt. Navigator, R.A.F. Trained in Prince Edward Island (5'45).

Joyce, J.A. (7'44). Grenadier Guards. Now awaiting draft. Stationed for part of training at Wayside Hotel, Minehead (4'45).

Lazarus, A.A. (7'31). Captured in North Africa '41. P.O.W. Camp in Italy; escaped for 7 months. Recaptured and moved to Germany when he was employed as Interpreter in Stalag VIIA (7'45).

Langrish, D. (3'44). Has been in hospital with broken arm. Returning to Aldershot (7'45).

Loder, , D.R. (12'39). Sub.-Lt. R.N. In D. Day operations - Major landing craft (6'45).

Menzies, V. (7'43). Returning to Germany to teach French and Spanish when E.V.T. starts (6'45).

Middleton, P. (7'44). Finished course at Plymouth. Proceeding to Rosyth to train for commission (5'45).

Nussbaum, ('23). In Army and reports that Edgar is now an Army Chaplain (6'45).

Ryan, C. (7'39). Joined R.A.F. '41 and was on ground staff for 2 years. Flt Engineer in '44, and since then a Pathfinder with Bomber Command (3'45).

Smith, E. (7'43). Training as Navigator, Canada, Prince Edward Island (3'45).

Smith, L. (7'40). Sgt. R.A.F. B.L.A. Near Brussels, expecting move to Berlin (5'45).

Steele, T. (7'39). L/Cpl. Royal Tank Regt. Now in Austria with 8th Army. Served in Egypt (Alamein), Syria, Italy (landed Taranto) (7'45).

Stevens, P. (G. Hein) (7'36). Flt. Lt. R.A.F. Over 20 operations over Germany. Raid on Berlin, came down at Amsterdam. P. of War since 1940. Several escapes and liberated by Russians (6'45).

It is with deep regret that we have to record the death of another Old Quintinian:-

Capt. J.D.G. Pegrum (7'40). Royal Marine Commando, was killed by a sniper on Lake Comacchio, Italy on April 11th, 1945.

Cost.		£	s	d
	357 Test Tubes	2	10	0
	8 Evapourating Basins	66	10	0
	2 Laboratories	0	12	6
	Salary of Decontamination Squad, at 6½d. per hour per man	5024	15	3¼
	Extras (Risk Money, etc.)	5024	15	4¼
	Total Cost to Polytechnic Institute	----	7	3¾