I deliberately gave away a pelanty once. Me and Albert 'Pongo' Cheeseman had been assigned

to the 14th Indian Division and were flown out to Burma in '43. After one of many failed advances on Akyab, the chaps were so demoralised, me and Pongo organised a game of footer to lift their spirits.

Tommy 'Ratchetface' Rudd was in goal for us and scored almost straight from the kick off with a header. To even things up, late on in the second half, I whacked 'Stinger' Nettles right across the back of his stockings resulting in him falling and the pelanty being awarded.

Smiles all round and the mess was a happy place that evening.

Pongo ran off shortly afterwards and joined the Chindits under the watchful eye of Orde Wingate.

A group of climbers found him in the Hengduan Shan mountains in 1987 living in a cave surrounded by gourds and tiny flies.

Posted By: malkybarkid, Oct 3, 12:12:06