“Not so much of your ‘Mercy, Kamerad,’ ” said the cockney. “ ’And us over your bloody ticker!”

It was the man’s watch he wanted, without sentiment.

One tale was most popular, most mirth-arousing in the early days of the war.

“Where’s your prisoner?” asked an Intelligence officer waiting to receive a German sent down from the trenches under escort of an honest corporal.

“I lost him on the way, sir,” said the corporal.

“Lost him?”

The corporal was embarrassed.