The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-03-28
CHAPTER vi.
aBack of the Line"

"Baek of the Line"
Our tour in the front-line trench
TASTED four days, and then we were
Ireheved by the - brigade.
| Going down the communication
trench we were in merry mood, al
though we were cold and wet, and
every bone in our bodies ached. 1t
makes lot of difference whether you
iare "going in" or "going out"
At the end of the communication
trench, imbers were waiting on the
road for US. I thought we were going
Ito ride back to rest billets, but soon
found out that the only time an in
Efantryman rides is when he is
wounded and is bound for the base or
Blghty. These limbers carried our
preserve ammunition and rations. Our
hnarch to rest billets was thoroughly
senjoyed by me. It seemed as If l
swere on furlough, and was leaving be-
fhind everything that was disagree
sable and horrible. Every recruit feels
tthis way after being relieved from the
trenches.
We marched eight kilos and then
halted in front of French estam1net.
tThe captain gave the order to turn
tout on each side Of the road and wait
his return. Pretty soon he came back
land told B company to occupy billets
tl17, 11S and 119. Billet LIT was an
Iold stable which had previously been
occupied by cows. About four feet in
front of the entrance was a huge ma
inure pile, and the odor from it was
anything but pleasant. Using my
|Aashlight I stumbled through the door.
fJust before entering observed a
white sign reading: Sitting 80, lying
TO-" but, at the time, it's significance
did not strike me. Next morning I
Easked the sergeant major what it
meant. He nonchalantly answered:
'Thats sopaesof the work of the R.
ia. M. c. 1sSyal Army Medical corps).
nt sYdy means that in case of an at
ssA this billet will accommodate
Hfty wounded who are able to sit up
land take notice, or twenty stretcher
leases"
1t was not long after this that was
lone Of the "2O lying"
I soon hit the hay and was fast
asleep, even my friends the "cooties"
failed to disturb me.
The next morning at about six
O'Clock I was awakened by the lance
corporal of our section, informing me
that I had been detailed as mess or
derly, and to report to the cook and
give him hand. I helped him make
the fire, carry water from an old we'll,
and fry the bacon. Lids Of dixies are
used to cook the bacon in. After
breakfast was cooked, I carried dixie
of hot tea and the lid full Of bacon to
our section, and told the corporal that
breakfast was ready. He looked at me
lin contempt, and then shouted, Break
fast up, come and get it," immedi-
ately got wise to the trench parlance,
and never again Informed that sBreak-
fast was served"
: 1t didn't take long for the Tommies
Ito answer this call. Half dressed,
they lined up with their canteens and
q dished out the tea. Each Tommy
carried in his hand thick slice of
bread which had been issued with the
rations the night before. Then had
the pleasure of seeing them dig into
the bacon with their dirty fingers. The
allowance was one slice per man. The
late ones received very small slices:
As each Tommy got his share he i'm
mediately disappeared into the billet.
Pretty soon about fifteen of them made
q rush to the cookhouse, each carrying
"a huge slice of bread. These slices
they dipped into the bacon grease
which was stewing over the fire. The
last man invariably lost out. I was
the last man.
After breakfast our section carried
their equipment into field adjoining
the billet and got busy removing the
trench mud therefrom, because at S:45
a. m, they had to fall in for inspection
and parade, and woe betide the man
who was unshaven, or had mud on his
uniform. Cleanliness is next to godli-
ness in the British army, and Old Pep
per must have been personally &C
;quainted with St. Peter.
Our drill consisted of close-order
formation, which lasted until noon.
During this time we had two ten-rnin-
ute breaks for rest. and no sooner tie