Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-02-21

menced throwing 4 miscellaneous a..
uortment of straps, buckles and other
paraphernalie into Il. thought he
would never stop. but when the pile
reached to my knees he paused long
enough to say, 'sNext, No. 5217, 'Arris.
3 company" gaxed in bewilderment
ut the pile Of Junk In front Of me, and
then my eyes wandered around looking
for the wagon which was to carry 1t
to barracks. I was rudely brought to
earth BY the quarter exclaiming,
Ere, you, 'op It; tyke II aw'y; blind
my eyes, 'e's looking for 10 batman to
elp i'm carry it."
Struggling under the load, With fire.
quent pauses for rest, reached our
barracks (large car harns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue. Il
was marvel to me 4How quickly no
assembled the equipment. After he
had completed the task, he showed mo
how toadjust 1t on my person. Pretty
soon stood before him . proper Tom
my 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 woolen puttees, olive drab In
color, with my trousers overlapping
them at the top. Then wooden khaki
tunic, under which was q blush gray
woolen shirt. minus collar; beneath
this shirt q w0olen belly band about
six inches wide, held in place by tie
strings OF white tape. On my head
was a heavy wOolen 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 I'D" 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 a water bottle, covered with felt /;
on the left side was my bayonet and
scabbard, and intrenching tool handle,
this handle strapped to the bayonet
scabbard. In the rear was my In
trenching tool, carried in a canvas case.
This tool was combination pick and
spade. A canvas haversack waa
strapped to the left side Of the belt,
while on my back was tho pack, also
Of canvas, held In place by two canvas
straps over the shoulders: suspended
on the bottom Of the pack was my
mess tin or canteen In neat little
canvas case. Ny waterproof sheet,
looking like Jelly roll. was strapped
ON top Of the pack, with Z wooden stick
for cleaning the breach ef the ride pro
jecting from each snl On lanyard
around my waist hung 4 huge jack.
knife with q canrepeper attachment.
The pack confused my sOvseeoat, IN
extra pair Of socks, change Of under.
wear, hold all Containing knife, fork
: spoon, comb, toothbrush, lather brush
shaving soap, and q razor made of tin
with Made in England stamped on
the blade: when trying to shave with
this it made you wish that you wers
Mt war with Patagonia, 80 that you
could have "holl0w ground" stamped
Made in Germany'J; then your house.
wife, butt0n-cleaning outfit, consisting
! Of brass button stick, two stifl
brushes, and a box Of Soldiers
Friend" paste: then a shoe brush and
box Of dublin, writing pad. indel.
ible pencil, envelopes, and pay book
and personal belongings, such as 4
small mirror, a decent razor and 4
sheaf Of unanswered letters. and fags
In your haversack you carry your iron
rations. meaning tin of bully beef
four biscuits and can containing tea
sugar and Oxo cubes; a couple Of
pipes and pack Of 'shag, a tin Of rifle
oil, and q pull-through. Tommy gen.
orally carries the oil with his rations
1t gives the cheese a sort Of sardine
, taste.
Add to this flrst-aid pouch and q
long, ungainly rife patterned after the
Daniel Boone period. and you have On
idea of British soldier In Blishty
Before leaving for France, this rifle
Is taken from him and he is issued
with Lee Enfield short trench rifle
and ration bag.
In France he receives two gas hel.
NETS, a sheepskin coat, rubber mack.
lntosh, steal helmet, two blankets. tear.
shell goggles. q sebalaclava helmet
gloves and . tin o1 antifrustbite grease
which is eEcelloue 1oe greasing the
boots. Add - ~ - Wulght Of his
rations, and caa - (lanas Tommy TO,
growing ut q twsnly-a1lo route march
Having served ~ esegeant major in
the United States cavalry. t1asd to
tell the English drill ssrgeants their
business, but 1t did not work. They
Immediately put me az batman in theil
mess. Many greasy dish Of stew waa
accidentally spilled over them.
would sooner fight than be waiter
30 when the order came through from
headquarters calling for q draft OF
250 re-enforcements for France, vol
unteered.
Then we went before the n. O
(medical officer) for another physical
examination. This was very brief. he
asked our names and numbers and
1 said "Fit," and We went out to fight.
We wora mt into frOnn frafna and