The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-02-21


Then the equipment: "A canvas belt.
with ammunition pockets, and two
wide canvas straps like suspenders.
called ID" strnps, fastened to the belt
In front. passing over each shoulder.
crossing In tfe middle Of my back. and
attached by buckles to the rear of the
belt On the right side of the belt
hung water bottle, covered with felt !:
ON the left side was my bayonet md
scaDbafd, and intrepching tool handle.
this handle stripped to the bayonef
scabhnrd. In the rear was my In
trenching tool, carried in a canvas case.
This tool was a combination pick and
spade. A canvas haversack was
stripped to the left side of the belt,
while on my back was the pack, also
Of canvas held in place by two canvas
straps over the shoulders; suspended
ON the bottom of the pack was my
mess tin. or canteen in a neat little
canvas case. Ny waterproof sheet.
looking like Jelly roll. was strapped
on top of the pack. with a wooden stick
for cleaning the breach of the rife pro-
iecting from each end. On n ianyurd
around my waist hung u hinge jack
knife with q can-opener attachment
The pack contained my overcoat. an
extra pair Of socks. change Of under
wear. hold sll Containing knife, fork.
spoon, comb. toothbrush. lather brush.
shaving soap. and q razor made Of tin.
with "Mnde in England" stamped on
the blade; when trying to shave with
this It made you wish that you were
at wnr with Patagonia, SO that you
could have ''hoiiow ground" stamped
MADE In Germany: then your house.
wife, button-cIeaning outfit. consisting
Of n brass button stick. two stiff
brushes. and box of Soldiers
Friend" paste: then shoe brush and
box Of dublin. writing pad. indel-
tble pencil, envelopes. and pay book.
and personal belongings. such as q
small mirror. a decent razor and a
sheaf OF unanswered letters, and fags.
In your haversack you carry your iron
rntfons. meaning a tin of bully beef.
four biscuits and can containing tea
sugar and Oxo cubes: a couple of
pipes and q pack Of shag. q tin Of rife
oil. and pull-through- Tommy gen.
errlly carries the oil with his rations;
IL gives the cheese q sort of sartine
Add to this first-aid pouch and
long. unsainiy rife patterned after the
Daniel Boone period. and you have an
idea Of British soldier In Blighty.
Before leaving for France, this rife
lis taken from him and he In issued
with a Eee-Enheid short trench rife
and n ration bag.
In France he receives two gnP he'll
meth. sheepskin coat. rubber mack
Intosh. steel helmet, two blankets. tear
shell goEEies. q balaclava helmet.
gloves akd TN Of antifrostbits grease
which b excellent for greasdnG the
boots. Add to this tho weight of his
rations. and can you blame Tommy for
growing at twenty-kilo route u,archf
Having served as sergeant major In
the United States cavalry. tried to
tell the English drfll scrEeants their
business, but Il did not work. They
Immediately put me as batman In their
mess. Many n greasy dish Of stew was
accidentally spilled over them.
would sooner fight than be a waiter.
50 when the order came through from
Headquarters calling for a draft of
$50 re-enforcements for France. vol
unteered-
! Then We went before the II. o.
| (medicai ofiicer) for another physical
examination This was very brief. He
| asked our names and numbers and
snid Sit" and We went out to fight.
We were put into troop trains and
sent to Southampton. where We de-
trained. and had our trench rides is-
gtled fo ms Then in cnlumua of tprO<
we went up the gangplank OF a little
steamer lying alongside the dock.
At the hend OF the gangplank there
was an old sergeant, who directed that
we line ourselves along both rails Of
I the ship. Then he ordered Us to take
life belts from the racks overhead and
| put them On. / have crossed the ocean
| several times and knew I was not sea-
sick. but when 1 buckled on that life
belt l had q sensation Of sickness
After we got out into the stream all
/ could think of was that there were a
million German submarines with tor
pc,io on each, across the warhead of
| which was Inscribed my name and ad.
dress.
After Eve hours we same alongside
. pier and tifscmbarked. I had at
| tained another one Of my ambitions.
| was somewhere In France" We
dept In the open that night on the side
! Of the road About six the next morn
Ing We were ordered to entrain.
looked around for the passenger
|! coaches but all could see on the sid
Ing were cattle cars We climbed Into
4 - n. -