The Huttig news., 1918-03-30
CHAPTER VI.
Back of the Iine.1


 Our tour In the front-line trench lasted four days, and then we were relieved 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. It makes lot of difference whether you are going in" or going out"
 At the end of the communication trench. limbers were waiting on the road for us. I thought we were going to ride back to rest billets, but soon found out that the only time. an in- fantryman rides is when he is wounded and Is bound for the base or Blighty. These limbers carried our reserve ammunition and rations. Our enjoyed by me. It seemed as if l were on furlough, and was leaving be- hind everything that was disagree able and horrible. Every recruit feels this way after being relieved from the trenches.
 We marched eight kilos and then halted in front of French estaminet. The captain gave the order to turn out on each side of the road and wait his return. Pretty soon he came back -suT told E company to occupy billets IF, 11S and 119. Billet TIT was an old stable which had previously been occupied by COWS. About four feet in front of the entrance was huge ma nure pile, and the odor from it was anything but pleasant. Using my flashlight I stumbled through the door Just before entering I observed white sign reading: sitting 90, lying 20" but, at the time, it's significance did not strike me. Next morning asked the sergeant major what ii meant. He nonchalantly answered.:
 That's some of the work of the R. A. NJ. c. Royal Army Medical corps). It simply means that in case of an nt- tack, this billet will accommodate fifty wounded who are able to sit up and take notice, or twenty stretcher cases"
 It was not long after this that l was one of the "20 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 a hand. l helped him make the fire carry water from an old well, and fry the bacon. Lids of dixies are used to cook the bacon Tn. Alter breakfast was cooked, 1 carried dixie of hot lea and the lid full of bacon to our section, and told the corporal that breakfast was ready. He looked at me in contempt, and then shouted. "Break- fast up, come and get u" l immedi- ately got wise to the trench parlance and never again Informed that "Break- fast was served"
 It didn't take long for the Tommies to answer this call. Half dressed they lined up with their canteens and l dished out the tea. Each Tommy carried In his hand a thick slice oi bread which had been issued with the .rations the night before. Then l had the pleasure of seeing them dig Into the bacon with their dirty fingers. The allowance was one slice per man. me 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 carryias a huge slice of bread. These slices they dipped into the bacon grease which was stewing over the fire. Int last man invariably lost out. l wa' the last man.
 After breakfast our section carried their equipment Into field ad1oinlnt the billet and got busy removing tht trench mud therefrom, because at $ :4' a. m., they had to fall in for inspection and parade, and woe betide the mar who was unshaven, or had mud on ms uniform. Cleanliness Is next to godii ness in the British army, and Old fep per must have been personally ac quainted with St. Peter.
 Our drill consisted of eiose-ofdel formation, which lasted until noon During this time we had two ten-mlln