Passing embarrassment

I told my favourite joke at Sunday lunch.

Sergeant had to give a soldier bad news and chose the parade ground to announce "Private Jones... your mother's just died." Jones was devastated.

Sadly, days later the sergeant had similar news for another soldier. Determined to be sensitive, he announced "All those with mothers still alive one pace forward!... and where do you think you're going to Private Smith?"

My host's mother had just died. Realising halfway through, I stumbled and apologised. Unruffled, he merely commented how uncharacteristically badly I'd told it!