THE COVENANTER
different places etc etc. Then he got a pack included. Each unit in the Brigade was to
of cards and entertained us with card tricks enter teams of up to ten men(I think) led
and manipulation I’ve never seen bettered by an NCO and although I was TechStores
even on television today. We naturally MT Sgt at the time with a nice comfy berth
thought he’d done a real job on the card hidden away behind the garage area I found
school but he was quite insulted at the idea. myself elected to take a team of drivers on
He said he was a member of the Magic the march.
Circle and had sworn never to use his skill On the morning of the day that it was our
with cards to cheat and therefore steal from turn to do the thing I received the map of
other playersbut he’d watched the game and the area and grid references for the halfway
saw that two of the players were cheating, point and finish area. There was nothing
quite crudely, but nobody else knew what tactical or forced about the march but there
they were doing. was a reasonable bogey time to beat and a
Although he wouldn’t cheat in any ordinary bit of a bonus in that after the halfway point
card game he had no objection to playing the team leader could decide whether to
against those who were doing it to others take the obvious route to the finish which
and that’s why he joined the game on its simply meant staying on the small country
last night. He still claimed that he had not lane or march cross country on compass
actually cheated. What he had done was bearings, taking the easy route on the road
prevent the other two from doing so until meant doing the full distance but choosing a
he had the cards in the order he wanted compass route from the right place could cut
then he fed the Welshman a few winning a very considerable mileage off the total and
hands and took Dicky and his mate to the since I fancied myself a bit at the navigation
cleaners. He gave us this advice though - The stuff that was for me. I’d worked out my
usual game played for stakes in barracks is route and waypoints and was lolling back in
Pontoon and the only skill required is the my comfy chair with a nice cup of tea and
ability to memorize and follow the run chocolate biccy; when the door opens and
of the cards. Its normallyplayed with the in walks the CO. Good God I nearly spilled
cards shuffled at the start of the game and my tea, I didn’t think the CO even knew
the cards simply picked up and put to the where the Techstore was. Whilst leaping to
bottom of the deck after each hand. Most my feet,fumbling to button my jacket and
soldiers want to play this way because they look efficient and busy I was trying to think
think they will be able to learn the run of of what I might have done lately to cause a
the cards. Playing like this leaves the game visit from on High.
open to card manipulation since the dealer He simply enquired as to whether my team
can pick up the cards in such a manner that was ready for the march that night and I
he can place the winning hand back in the had I received my map and instructions?
pack in position to ensure that he gets that had I worked out my route? Would I care to
hand next time it comes round. show him my proposed route on the map?
It can’t be done with every hand but a dealer etc,etc. Everybody in the Bn was doing or
doing this can make sure he has four out of had already done this so I couldn’t figure
five winning out why he was so interested in my little
hands. Therefore you should insist that part of it. Then he told me that he was
that the cards are shuffled every time before going to do the march. He would meet my
they are dealt. team at the start that evening (We’d drawn
a fairly early start so with luck we’d finish
Most soldiers except those who work in Bn before midnight) and just sort of tag along
HQ don’t have much contact with the CO behind us.
It’s generally accepted that best practice is That was just what I needed, a long night
not to bring yourself to his notice unless it’s march with a cross country compass
for a good reason like a decent course report element in it and all the opportunities that
and I usually took this line. gives for getting lost and wandering about
looking for the road you probably should
We had a new Brigadier take over when we have stayed on in the first place and the
were in Minden and he must have reckoned CO hovering behind me. I didn’t see the
we didn’t look too fit or something because CO at the Starters tent when I collected our
he decided that the whole Brigade should team number and time out stamp and this
take part in a twenty mile night march. bothered me a bit because although this
Cooks, clerks, storemen and everybody else was not a forced march there was a time to
55
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