The Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy

Excerpt from "Goodbye to All That" by Robert Graves

• Two privates: We've come to report, Sir, that we're very sorry, but we've shot our company sergeant-major.
• Adjutant: Good heavens, how did that happen?
• Privates: It was an accident, Sir.
• Adjutant: What do you mean, you damn fools? Did you mistake him for a spy?
• Privates: No, Sir, we mistook him for our platoon sergeant.