An English, Irish and French soldiers are caught fighting as mercenaries in a foreign land. As prisoners of war, the judge sentences each to 12 months of solitary confinement, but to show he is fair, he will give them each a year's supply of a luxury item of their choosing.
He asks the Englishman what he wants. He says: 'I'll have some of the finest English Gin!'
The judge agrees and sends a years of Gin into his cell.
Next the Irishman: 'I'll have to go with the finest Irish Whiskey'
The Judge agrees and sends in a years supply of 12yo. Irish Whiskey
He asks the Frenchman what he wants and he replies: 'I'll have a case of the finest French cigarettes'
The judge orders in a case of the finest French cigarettes he can get.
The three prisoners are sent into their cells with their chosen comforts and locked for a year with only meals being sent under the door.
After the 12 months is up, the judge returns to release the POWs.
He opens the door to the Englishman's cell and the Englishman hobbles out and says: 'I'm finally free'. before falling down dead and dying of alcohol poisoning.
They head to the Irishman cell and open it and out scuffles the Irishman and says: 'Free at last'. takes a few steps, straightens himself and keeps walking slowly towards freedom.
The Judge turns to the Frenchman's cell and opens the door. The Frenchman looks horrible. He takes a few shaky steps forward, raises his hands and pleads: 'Please... PLEASE... Does anyone have a light?!?'