"Oi Thought That Was Grease"

There was an old war book which I read as a boy, including the following
exchange

A Sergeant (British Army, c1940) finds a new recruit burning the grease off his

boots. The Sergeant objects saying this will damage the boots and "It takes
leather to make boots, they import leather on ships. Sailors have to man the
ships, and sailors die. Your boots are covered with the blood of sailors!"

"O dear" says the recruit. "Oi thought that was grease"

Sergeant - "Gawd give me strength".

Does this ring any bells?

--
Mike Stone - Peterborough England

"But it _can't_ be true. The government hasn't denied it"