C.V. Thomas of Victoria, a former member of the Royal Air Force, tells this one:

“After the Japanese surrender at Singapore, we were lined up in front of our aircraft awaiting inspection by the air officer commanding.  His plane had been delayed by bad weather but our commanding officer, a nervous Nellie, kept us out in the very hot sun most of the morning.

“A junior officer finally arrived and went down the line chatting with each man, always finishing with the question: ‘And how long have you been out here?’

“‘Four years, sir,’ answered the first; ‘Three and a half years, sir,’ said the second, and so on.  Finally, he reached a cockney sergeant.

“’And how long have you been out here, sergeant?’

“’Four bleedin’ hours, sir.’”