Wilf Clark of Spencerville, Ont., wrote about his time with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War.

The Boufarik Winery in North Africa was at one time the billet of 420 Squadron. The upper storey housed the tops of the 12-foot-square wine vats and these tops were used as tables and bunks. In the centre of each was a small opening with a cork ball to allow fermenting gases to escape, but nothing to enter.

Mr. Clark continues: “Scant inches below was the final product of Algerian vineyards. Alas, how was one to share in this booty? Issue mugs were too large and spoons inadequate to dip out this fine elixir. Shortly the Canadian airman’s resourcefulness surfaced and, presto, a new use for our issue of Sten guns was born. Barrels were removed and used as straws to suck up the cool contents.

“It was a sad day when we had to move on with loaded canteens. Later, some Stens were spotted without barrels. Some unsteady hands had allowed the makeshift straws to slip into the vats forever.”