Chapter Twelve - Marie
The Company had given Albert and Grieve access to Douglas motorbikes so they could get away from the front and have a respite.
They sat at a table outside the small cafe in the centre of Armentieres, drinking white wine from an unlabelled bottle. Soldiers, enjoying a brief respite from the front line, packed the area in front of the café. Most of them were joining in with the innumerable verses of Mademoiselle from Armentieres, the lyrics of which embarrassed the more religious and conservative in the company.
Mademoiselle from Armentieres
Parlez-vous
Mademoiselle from Armentieres
She hasn’t been kissed for 40 years
Hinky-dinky parlez-vous
Oh, Mademoiselle from Armentieres
Parlez-vous
She got the palm and the croix de guerre
For washin’ soldiers’ underwear
