Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-03-13
CHAPTER II.
Bliuhty to Rest BiIIets.
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mr. me and informed me: "Empey, as
o recruiting sergeant you are a wash
ant" and sent me to a training depot.
After arriving at this place, 1 was
hustled to the quartermaster stores
and received an awful shock. The
onartprmaster sergeant spread a wa
tarrroOf sheet on the ground and COM
-7sncpd throwing a miscellaneous as
srtmpnt of straps, buckles and other
DaTaDhernalia into it. | thought he
would never stop, but when the pile
reached to my knees re paused long
enough to say, me 40. 5217, 'Arris,
B company" / gazed in bewilderment
At the pile of junk in front of me, and
then my eyes wandered around looking
for the wagon which was to carry it
TO barracks. l was rudely brought to
earth by the quarter" exclaiming,
ARE, you, 'Op it; tyke 1t aw'y; blind
nv eyes, 'e's looking for is batman to
'elp i'm carry il"
Struggling under the load, with fire.
barracks Qarge car barns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue. 1t
was a marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
had completed the task, he showed me
how to adjust it on my person. Pretty
soon I stood before him a proper Tom
ny Atkins in heavy marching order,
feeling like an overloaded camel.
On my feet were heavy-soled boots,
studded with hObnails, the toes and
heels Of which were REINFORCED by
steel half-mOOns. Ny legs were in
Cased in wooden puttees, olive drab in
color with my trousers overlapping
them at the top. Then d wooden khaki
tunic under which was a blush gray
wooden shirt, minus a collar; beneath
this shirt a wooden belly band about
SIX inches wide, held in place by tie
strings Of white tape. On my head
was heavy wooden trench cap. with
huge earlaps buttOned over the top.
Then the equipment: A canvas belt,
with ammunition pockets, and two
wide canvas straps like suspenders,
called ID" straps, fastened to the belt
In front, passing over each shoulder,
crossing in the 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 and
@a0bard, and intrenching tool handle,
uIS handle strapped to the bayOnet
"ab0ard. In the rear was my in
Uenching tool carried in q canvas case.
ms tool was a combination pick and
SPADE A canvas haversack was
Strapped to the left side of the belt,
while on my back was the pack, also
VI canvas held in place by two canvas
Straps over the shoulders; suspended
Vn the bottom of the pack was my
WtSS TN or Canteen in a neat little
canvas case. My waterproof sheet,
'ooHlng like a jelly roll, was strapped
vi Top OF the pack, with a wooden stick
lot cleaning the breach of the rife pro-
J5cuhg from each end. On a lanyard
around my waist hung a huge jack
nlIe with a can-Opener attachment.
LIE pack contained my overcoat, an
extra pair Of socks, change of under
wear Mold all containing knife, fork,
spoon, comb, toothbrush, Iather brush,
Nla'lng soap, and a razor made of tin,
WIN Made in England" stamped on
we blade; when trying to shave with
.'''' II made you wish that you were
a. war with Patagonia, so that you
so-Iu nave hollow ground" stamped
naue IN Germany'O; then your house
we outton-cleaning outfit, consisting
VI brass button stick. two stiff
r'uSneS, and a box of SOLDIERS
.t,end paste; then a shoe brush and
~, oOA OF dublin, a writing pad, indel-
s pencil, envelopes, and pay book,
a"u personal belongings, such as q
sL'"u mirror, a decent razor and q
T"eaI OF unanswered letters, and Tags.
- !ouF haverSack you carry your iron
,''uS meaning tin of bully beef,
IOur biscuits and a can containing tea,
Sas"r and Oxo cubes; a couple of
~ a'reS and a pack of shag, a tin of rife
80 ~, anc a pull-through. Tommy gen.
- '0I.y carries the oil with his rations /;
taste. '- : " i - ~
-, Aua to this f1rst-aid pouch and
ms -s, ungainly rife patterned after the
Is- -,''' Boone period, and you have an
u a British soldier in Bhghty.
;, oeiore leaving for France, this rifle
-, ,aAen from him and he is issued
s1 ,sH a Lee-Enf1eld short trench rifle
Slq ration bag.
rance he receives two gas he'll