Whats in a name?

I recently regaled Mssr Betts with this tale, who thought it sufficiently caddish and of drawing room interest to post here. He had asked me where the name "Yours in a White Wine Sauce" had come from...

About 15 years ago (good god! I'm really not that old you know) I was playing a Colonial game with a few of the lads. The Zulu war as I recall, with the movie of the same name playing in the background for ambiance purposes. Of course nobody wanted to be the Zulus so we all played British units and had the Fuzzies on some automatic rules. We all played Officer characters leading our own units of stout chaps in redcoats, but could not discuss tactics or anything while we played. Unless of course, a runner figure had first moved around on the battlefield to pass messages, at which time a hand written note could be delivered to the player concerned.

I was in a particularly hairy situation at the head of the column and surrounded by some rather angry locals with spears, when a runner arrived. I was given a note (written by the player who was the "Colonel") inviting me to afternoon tea at the centre of the column. It was signed "Yours in a White Wine Sauce etc" and took me quite by surprise, as that was before rampant silliness became the norm on our wargaming table.

With good Flashman-like courage, my character accepted the invitation and trotted off after handing command over to his Sergeant. Thus he was absent when his troops were completely surrounded and got the chop. The cucumber sandwiches were lovely and crisp though, with not a hint of sogginess.

It turns out that the good 'Colonel' got the idea from an old Monty Python skit where some shipwrecked sailors debate the finer points of cannibalism, leading to a letter of protest from a Naval Officer decrying that cannibalism is not longer an issue in the RN. He signs the letter "Captain B.J. Smethick in a White Wine Sauce with shallots, mushrooms and garlic".
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So there you have it, I hope you enjoyed the tale.
Its left my throat a little parched though, time for another drink!

Yours in a White Wine Sauce,
Paul

PS You can see the Monty Python skit here- the letter comes in at 3:05