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Western Mail, Thursday 9 March 1933, page 2
A Soldier's Love for His Mount
This story is said to be correct in every detail. It illustrates the point that in the army a soldier became very fond of his mount-moke, donk, or camel as the case may be - and that a sentimental feeling - for a motor car - did exist in the bemedalled breast of at least one general.
He was a general and quite a good general. Not very wealthy, but with plenty of initiative and a capacity for sudden decision lhat compensated for periodic shortage of cash. Just after the armistice he was driving across a "section of France when he noticed a new car of expensive English make outside a car "remount" depot. Unhesitatingly he pulled up, and finding after inquiry that it had not been issued, changed it for his somewhat war worn limousine. A general carried a bit of sway in those days, and there was only a warrant officer in charge.
Th» next chapter shows the general wrangling the car on board a boat leaving for England, against Army orders. The car eventually found its way to a London garage. But it was still army property.
Chapter Three opens with a distinguished general at the War Office pleading with a high official with the power of an Imperial Caesar over army property. "I have a small request to make," said our general. "I have a car which I have used throughout all the big battles in France. It has been to me a faithful friend, and I am sentimentally attached to it. I feel towards that car much the same as a cavalryman feels towards the faithful steed that has carried him safely through the battle. If it he possible I would like an order that I can retain the car."
So eloquent was our general that the High Official, after dropping several tears on his blotting pad, handed over the order to the general with a sob.
The final chapter: Next day the general sold the car for £750!
Those in the story:
the general = Unidentified
Narrator = Unidentified