Friday, March 25, 2011

The Young Constable and "The Amphibious Caged Truck"

* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)
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The young constable is one of the Century's innocents.  He has no malice in him.  He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's  lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind.  I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.
John Clarke
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THE AMPHIBIOUS CAGED TRUCK

One cold winters nigh, the YC was the driver of the Tweed Heads Caged Truck with another Police Officer as the observer.  They were patrolling in a n industrial area about midnight when a job came over in a neighbouring suburb.  The YC explained to the other Officer that there was no need to go the long way around (via public streets) as he knew a short cut, so he proceeded to drive along a dirt road off the beaten track.  About a kilometre in they came across a puddle which took up the entire width of the track.  After some discussion, the YC started driving through the puddle as he assured the other Officer that cars frequently used this route.

Half way across the puddle, the car started sinking, and continued sinking until the wheels and completely disappeared and water was halfway up to the doors.  After numerous attempts to drive the car out, the Kingscliff car was called for to pull them out.   The YC, not wanting to dirty his new Police pants or boots, took his boots and socks off and rolled his pants up well above his knees.  He waded through the muddy water and hooked the winch up to the front of the truck.  He got back in his truck and was winched out much to the laughter of the other police officer.

When safely on the other side, he rolled down his pants and noticed a small mud spot on a pants leg, so the YC walked back to the water, wet a handkerchief and proceeded to rub off the mud.  However the water he used was dirtier than the mud and the YC finished with both pants legs a brown-blue colour.  He became a bit upset at this, as the other three Police were laughing and joking, so he opened the door of the truck to abuse them, and out fell one of his boots into the mud.

The next day, a brand new pair of pants and boots were found in the station dumpmaster.

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