Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-02-28
CHAPTER VI.
"eack Of the Llne.p

"8ack OF the Line"
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, I'LL
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. l 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
march to rest billets was thoroughly
enjoyed by me. 1t seemed as if I
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 a 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
and told b company to occupy billets
III, 11S and 119. Billet III 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
t1ushlight stumbled through the door,
Just before entering l observed
white sign reading: Sitting SO, lying
90" but, at the time, its significance
did not strike me. Next morning l
asked the sergeant major what 1t
meant. He nonchalantly answered:
That's some Of the work Of the r.
A. NJ. G. (Royal Army Medical corps).
1t simply means that in case of an at
tack, this billet will accommodate
fifty wounded who are able to sit up
and take notice, or twenty stretcher
cases."
1t was not long after this that was
one of the 100 lying"
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 l was awakened by the lance
corporal of our section, informing me
that had been detailed as mess or
Derby, and to report to the cook and
give him a hand. 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, 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
In contempt, and then shouted, Break
fast up, come and get It'll" / immedi-
ately got wise to the trench parlance,
and never again informed that Break
fast was served"
1t didn't take long for the Tommies
to answer this call. Half dressed,
they lined up with their canteens and
dlshed out the tea. Each Tommy
carried in his hand thick slice Of
bread which had been issued with the
rations the night before. Then 1 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
4 rush to the cookhouse, each carrying
huge slice of bread. These slices
they dipped into the bacon grease
which was stewing over the fire. The
last man invariably lost out. was
the last man.
After breakfast our section carried
their equipment into field adjoining
the billet and got busy removing the
french mud therefrOm, because at 8 AS
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-
| 1ess in the British army, and Old Pep
per must have been personally ac-
1uainted with st. Peter.
1
Our drill consisted of close-order
formation, which lasted until noon.
During this time we had two ten-min-
lite breaks for rest, and no sooner the
word, Fall out for ten minutes" was
given than each Tommy got out flag
md lighted it.
Fags are issued every Sunday morn
ing, and you generally get between
twenty and forty. The brand gen.
orally issued is the "Woodbine." Some
times we are lucky and get "Gold-
lakes" Players or 'Red Hussars."
Occasionally an issue of "Life Rays"
zones along. Then the older Tommies
Immediately get busy on the recruits
and trade these for "Woodbines'' or
Goldflakes." A recruit only has to
De stuck once in this manner, and then
ne ceases to be a recruit. There is a
/: reason. Tommy Is great cigarette
i smoker. He smokes under all condi-
!: lions, except when unconscious or
I, when he is accommodating in No Mans
and at night. Then, for obvious rea-