Taylor, John McGuire
Memoir
Page 142
evolved into six - four from the original room & two new companions a friend of mine - one of McLeod's. I was the only member who could speak German & so I did all the trading & other ‘acquiring'.
The first day we just managed. ‘Schrocky' my ‘pair' & I were green to this business or rather we were dulled by the calamity of this 2nd trek. The second day we started to enjoy it. The weather was fine & the pace slow enough for us to appreciate it. So I started on my quest for a wagon & equipment. That day I wasn't very successful but I got potatoes & onions I think. That night we banded with 3 others & messed & camped further together. The third day Col. McLeod & Pete Kinpford Smith managed to acquire a baby buggy for a chocolate bar! So they were set. That night we camped down & were told we were to have a 24 hour halt. That spurred us on we really got organized in a hurry. I had managed eggs & potatoes & an extra load of bread so we fed well. The next day was the highlight. I got my wagon! Here's how I did it. I went out ostensibly to get food but really on the scrounge. On the way back after a several hour stroll I spied a harrow which was fastened to the set of wheels. It was these wheels which took my eye. I sat down until no one was looking & then over I went & lifted the collar off & pulled the wheels out. I then loaded my food on & calmly dragged it back to the camp. No one stopped me & I got it safely into the camp in the crowd.
- Drawing labeled ‘This is what I got.'
Back with the gang we got together to decide how we could fix a platform on it so that we could carry our kit. It was here that I asked Don Edy to join up. So we had to fix it up to carry food for six & kit for four, the baby buggy managing Cols & Petes kit. So we started looking around. Finally I found a bridge over a stream
evolved into six - four from the original room & two new companions a friend of mine - one of McLeod's. I was the only member who could speak German & so I did all the trading & other ‘acquiring'.
The first day we just managed. ‘Schrocky' my ‘pair' & I were green to this business or rather we were dulled by the calamity of this 2nd trek. The second day we started to enjoy it. The weather was fine & the pace slow enough for us to appreciate it. So I started on my quest for a wagon & equipment. That day I wasn't very successful but I got potatoes & onions I think. That night we banded with 3 others & messed & camped further together. The third day Col. McLeod & Pete Kinpford Smith managed to acquire a baby buggy for a chocolate bar! So they were set. That night we camped down & were told we were to have a 24 hour halt. That spurred us on we really got organized in a hurry. I had managed eggs & potatoes & an extra load of bread so we fed well. The next day was the highlight. I got my wagon! Here's how I did it. I went out ostensibly to get food but really on the scrounge. On the way back after a several hour stroll I spied a harrow which was fastened to the set of wheels. It was these wheels which took my eye. I sat down until no one was looking & then over I went & lifted the collar off & pulled the wheels out. I then loaded my food on & calmly dragged it back to the camp. No one stopped me & I got it safely into the camp in the crowd.
- Drawing labeled ‘This is what I got.'
Back with the gang we got together to decide how we could fix a platform on it so that we could carry our kit. It was here that I asked Don Edy to join up. So we had to fix it up to carry food for six & kit for four, the baby buggy managing Cols & Petes kit. So we started looking around. Finally I found a bridge over a stream
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Taylor, John McGuire
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