Oxford eagle., 1918-04-11
CHAPTER K.
"The Days Work %


| was fast learning that there in n
regular routine about the work of the
trenches, although it is badly upset at
times by the Germans.
The real work in the fire trench
commences at sundown. Tommy ls
Ike a burglar, he works at night.
Just as IL begins TO get dark tas
word "stand TO" Is passed from trav-
erse TO traverse and the men get hnsy.
The Rrst relief. consisting OF two men
TO a tr2yerse. mount the ERE szep, one
man looking over the top. mhile the
other sits ST his feet. rsady 10 carry
messages or 10 inform the platoon off,
ser OF any report made by the sentry
as TO his obseS ailous in No Mans
Land. The sentry IL not allowed to
refax his watch for a second. II he is
questioned from the trench or asked
his orders. he replies without turning
around or taking his eyes from the ex-
panse OF dirt In front of him. The re-
mninder Of the occupants OF his trav-
erse either sit on the fire step. with
bayonets fixed, ready for any emer~
gency. or II lucky. and a dugout hap
pens TO be In the near vicinity Of the
traverse, and II the night is quiet. they
are permitted to 90 TO same and try
and snatch few wlnks OF sleep. Little
sleeping Is done; generally the men sit
around, smoking flags and seeing who
can tell the biggest lie. Some OF them,
perhaps with their feet In water. would
write home sympathizing with the
governor" because he was laid up
with cold, contracted by getting his
feet wet on his way to work In WOOL
wich arsenal. II man should manage
TO doze of, likely as not he would wake
with a start as the clammy, cold feet
Of rat passed over his face. or the
next relief stepped on his stomach
while stumbling on their way TO relieve
the sentries In the trench.
Just try to sleep with a belt full of
ammunition around you. your rife bolt
biting into your ribs. intrenching tool
handle sticking into the small Of your
back, with q tin hat for a pillow and
feeling very damp and cold, with
"cooties" boring for oil In your arm-
pits, the air foul from the stencil of
grimy human bodies ard smoke from
juicy pipe being whiffed into your nos.
trils. then you will not wonder why
Tommy occasionally takes a turn in
the trench for rest.
While In a front-lins trench orders
forbid Tommy from removing his
boots, puttees, clothing or equipment.
The "cooties" take advantage OF this
order and mobilize their forces. and
Tommy swears vengeance on them and
mutters to himself. Just wait until
nit rest billets and am able to get my
own back"
Just before daylight the men turn
TO" and tumble out OF the dugouts. man
the fire step until 1t gets light. or the
welcome order stand down" IL given.
Sometimes before "stand down" IL or
dered' the command "five round, ran.
10 Is passed along the trench. This
means that each man must rest b,s
rine on the top and fire as RAPIDLY as
possiDie nve shots aimed toward the
German trenches, and then duck with
the emphasis on the 'duck'). There Is
great rivalry between the opposing
Iorees to get their rapid fire all OF
nrst' because the early bird, In this In.
stance catches the worm-sort of gets
the jump on the other fellow. catching
him unawares.
we had sergeant In our battalion
named Warren He was on duty with
MS platoon in the fire treach one after.