The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-03-15
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seven in the remaining tin"
He passed around the jam, and
there was another riot. Some didn't
like apple, while others who received
plum were partial to apple. After a
while differences were adjusted and
the issue went IN -
Bermuda onions. seventeen"
The corporal avoided a row by say
ing that he did not want an onion, and
I said they make your breath smell, 80
I guessed I would do without one too.
The corporal looked his gratitude.
"Cheese, pounds, two"
The corporal borrowed q jackknife
(corporals are always borrowing), and
sliced the cheese-each slicing bring
ing forth q pert remark from the on
lockers as to the %corporal's eyesfght.
"Raisins, ounces, eight"
BY this time the corporals nerves
had gone west, and in despair he said
that the raisins were to be turned over
to the cook for 'dufr' Opium p%udding).
This decision elected a little "grousS
Ing" but quiet was finally restored.
biscuits, tins, one"
With, his borrowed jackknife, the
corporal opened the tin Of biscuits, and
told everyone to help themselves-no-
body responded to this invitation.
Tommy is "fed UP" with biscuits.
"Butter, tins, two"
"Nine In one, ten in the other" :"
Another rumpls.
pickles, mustard, bottles, one"
Nineteen names were put In a steel
helmet, the last one out winning the
pickles. On the next issue there were
only 10 names, as the winner is elmi-
mated until every man In the section
has won q bottle.
The rattle is closely watched, because
Tommy Is suspicious when it comes to
gambling with his irations.
When the issue ia finished the cor
poral sits down and writes a letter
home, asking them If they cannot get
some N. P. (member Of parliament) to
have him transferred to the Royal Fly
ing corps where he won't have to issue
rations.
At the different French estaminets
in the village and at the canteens Tom
my buys fresh eggs, milk, bread and
pastry. Occasionally when he Is flush,
he invests In a tin Of pears or april
cots. His pay is only a shilling a day,
"a cents, or q cent an hour. Just imag-
inc, a cent an hour for being under
fre-not much chance Of getting rich
out there.
When he, goes into the fire trench
(front line), Tommy's menu takes a
tumble. He carries In his haversack
what the government calls emergency
or iron rations. They are not supposed
to be opened until Tommy dies Of star
walton. They consist Of one tin Of
bully beef. four biscuits, q little tin
which contains tea, sugar and Oxo
cubes concentrated beef tablets).
These are only to be used when the
enemy establishes q curtain Of shell
fire on the communication trenches,
thus preventing the carrying in" Of
rations, or when in an attack a body
Of troops has been cut off from its base
Of supplies.
The rations are brought up at night
by the company. transport. This is a
section Of the company in charge of
the quartermaster sergeant, COMPOSED
of men, mules and nmbers two
wheeled wagons), which supplies Tom
my's wants while In the front line.
They are constantly under shell fire.
The rations are mloaded at the en-
trance to the communication trenches
and are carried In" By men detailed
for that purpose. The quartermaster
sergeant never goes into the front-line
trench. He doesn't have to, and I have
never heard Of one volunteering to
do so.
The company sergeant major sorts
the rat1ons and sends them In
Tommy's trench rations consist OF all
the bully beef he can eat, biscuits,
cheese, timed butter (sometimes II
men to a TIM, jam or marmalade, and
occasionally fresh bread (ten to a
loaf). Whens it is possible. he gets tea
and stew.
When Things are quiet, and Fritz is
behaving like a gentleman, which sci.
dom happens, Tommy has the opportu-
nifty Of making dessert. This is
"trench pudding" 1t is made from
broken biscuits, condensed milk, jam