Italy, December 1944. I have mentioned Sid Robertson as the supreme scrounger. I should mention Floyd [Major] Brooks had a way of finding where a herd of pigs was in danger of getting shelled. He would call some of the farm boys in the unit torescue the pigs and see they were directed to dispatch and render the herd into chops and roasts. Sid would get a small lorry and he would have noted where there resided a pen full of nice pigs. Into the truck he would load a barrel with a hatch like opening with a sliding door. Sid would take a couple of fellows with him and drive to the farm where he had seen the pigs.
On arriving at the farm the three of them would enter the house and buy a flagon or two of wine, and usually would start drinking with the farmer. Everyone well into the vino, Sid would then slip outside catch a couple of medium sized pigs and put them in the barrel. After doing this he would come back into the house and say we have to go, goodnight all, and drive back to the gun position. Chops and Roasts were the order of the day once again. Sid the great con man would go back o the farm where he stole the pigs and listen to the Italian farmer curse the EENGLEESH for stealing his pigs when he was entertaining Sid and his buddies the night before.
Sid relates that the farmer made such a fuss he stole one more pig. On telling this story to another Italian farmer and saying the last pig was really small. This farmer then informed Sid that the first farmer was a Fascist and it served him right to get his pigs taken. Sid then bargained the little pig for some chickens, home cured sausage, and some wine.
According to Sid all was not lost and the little pig went to a new home. [lived to be an old Hog]
