zilla

She was a bit worse for wear, he says.

My father-in-law talks very little about the war. When Ian Smith declared independence, there were UDI parties and chants of 'good old Smithy'. He and a friend refused to celebrate. But they couldn't refuse to fight. Six weeks on, six off for more than eight years. A few gapped it. My mother-in-law's friend's ex-husband drove to the airport the day he was supposed to report for duty, hopped onto a flight and 'phoned her from England. But he was running more from debts (and excess children) than from the call-up.

Zilla was memorable in more ways than one. She was a stripper, brought in to entertain the forces. She made a trip to Chiredzi once. "Hey Zilla, you've got a hole in your pulling-socks," a rowdy member of the audience shouted. Zilla drew herself up to her full height. "So? Don't you know there's a war on?"