Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-26
DIARY OF A BOY o
Extracts From tho Journal Of a Boy
Soldier.

Extracts From tho Journal OF q BOY
Soldier.
The diary Of a Boy Scout, published
in the Manchester (England) Guard
ian, is an interesting piece Of juvenile
literature and describes more clearly
than has heretofore been done, some
Of the work the scouts are doing.
H and I have complete charge
of sixteen miles of coast" the young
adventurer boasts in telling of his life
in an isolated bungalow on the North
Shore on the lookout for hostile cruis-
ers and aircraft or the signalling Of
spies. He tells Of sleeping on the table
on a pile Of overcoats until midnight,
when the two boys went on duty.
Some paragraphs from the diary
read:
Had a very decent night. Receiv-
ed message about the Zeppelin raid
and as H and 1 were alone we had a
rather exciting time. We called n
military, as instructed, and vi six
hour watch passed like a few minutes.
THE lookout box, in which I am
now writing is a small place, about
five feet by eight, with windows OH
three sides, which look out to the sea.
1t has a stove, cupboard, various tele-
phones, signals, revolvers, rifles, tele-
scopes, clocks, etc. H has now the
revolver around his waist. He is, Of
course, on duty outside. He comes in
every few minutes, passing remarks
on the night.
"Friday-it is now midday, and H
and I have just come off duty. We
have had a very interesting morning.
Two government patrol boats have
passed quite close to us, also two tugs
towing a big salvage crane, which In
turn was towing a derelict. Life here
is great; you have no idea how i'm
portant and 'bossy' we feel when on
watch, because ever the soldiers come
to us every hour to know If we have
any messages or orders. The 'dugouts,'
trenches guns along the coast are
simply glorious; really I'm in my ele-
ment. We are on very good terms
with the soldiers-so good, in fact,
tina when we said it was a bit cold
in our bungalow the lieutenant asked
for blankets, and the men, I believe
offered fifty, ten Of which were &C
cepted. 1 have now four blankets and
great-coat, also a ground sheet and
camp bed. and I really sleep as we'll
here as I do at home, the only differ
ence being that I find no difficulty In
getting up when called, at all hours of
the night or day. We get a 36-hour
rest 'stand-off' (nautical expression)
every fifth day.
II have charge Of the log, and it
practically takes up all my spare
time, because we are on twelve hours
and off twelve. But the log-book
promises to be a very interesting vol
ume when completed If I keep UP on
the same lines as I have begun. Yes
terday morning I had the job Of clean
ing all the rifles, revolvers, showrd-
sticks, and leather-work for the coast
guards and got complimented on the
way in which I did it ESQ I suppose I
always shall have the job. This is
the advantage 60 of being a thorough
workman (please tell father this).
This is a rotten, fiat, and uninter-
esting coast, although the surf on the
reefs (of which there are plenty makes
a very pretty picture. 1t is a fine place
for landing 'Germhuns' If they know
where to come; but all the nice land
ing places are jolly we'll guarded. Yes
terday two Of my fellow 'mud-diggers'
came back in a very excited and
breathless condition-they said they
had found a mine washed ashore. 1t
turned out to be an old boiler off a
ship"