"And I do remember one time I had an Owen gun there and I was taking a few pot shots at rats with not a great deal of effect and Harry said to me in that slow measured way of his, don't worry about the rats Des.

"He said rats are survivors and they will be found in every part of the world from Antarctica to the tropics and they have been poisoned, killed, eradicated, everything has been tried against them but they're survivors and he said they always leave a sinking ship because they have an inbuilt instinct for survival and he said while there's plenty of rats in the roof you're safe because it won't get hit by a shell but he said if the rats aren't there or they suddenly leave you leave with them and mighty quick."

PRIVATE DES GUILFOYLE