Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-27
CHAPTER. II.
Highly TO Rest BilletS.

Tho next morning; tho captain sent
for me aud Informed me: "E.mpcy. as
Il recruiting sergeant YOU arc q wash
OUT and sent me 20 a training depot.
After arriving at This place. WAS
hustled 20 the quar:ermastcr stores,
and received an awful shock The
uuartcrrnastcr sergeant spread water
proc: sheet on the ground. and COM
Incuced throwing a miscellaneous as
sortmcut OF straps, buckles and Other
paraphcrnalia into it. ! thought he
would never stop. but when the pile
reached To my knees he paused long
enough to say, Next. 80. 52i,, 'Arris.
u Company" | g1Zcd in bewildcr-
mont at tin. pile OF junk in front or
me. and then my eyes wandered around
looking for the wagon which was TO
carry il 10 tho barracks ! was rude
!" brought to earth h! the quarter
cXciaiming. Ere, YOU 'op it. tyke 1t
aw'y: blind my eyes, 'o's looking for is
batman To clip i'm carry H."
Struggling under tho load, with fire.
gucnt raus.S for rest, | reached our
barracks Gargn car barns). and my
WAS q marvel TO me how QUICKLY he
assembled Tn. equipment. after he had
completed the task. he showed me how
- ADJUST Il on my person. Pretty
soon stood before him n proper
Tommy Atkins in heavy marching or
der. feeling like an overloaded camel.
ON my fcct were heavy Suicd boots.
studded with hobnails. the toes ana
heels OF which were rc-cuforccd by
steel half-moons. My legs were in
ctsed ia WOODEN puttecs, olive dgnb in
color. with my trousers overlapping
them at III" top. Then Il wooden khaki
tun!c. under which was q bluish-gray
WOODEN shirt, minus collar, beneath
This shirt "a WOODEN belly band about
six inches wide. held in place 10y tie
strings OF white tape. ON my head
Wes = hetT% WOODEN trench cap, with
huge carlaps buttoncd over the top
Then the equipment: y canvas belt
with ammunition pockets. and TWO wide
canvas Straps likc suspcuders. called
D. straps, fastened 10 she belt in
front. passing over caca shoulder
crossing in Tho middle Of nay back. and
attached by buckles 10 the raur OF the
belt. on the right side OF the bolt
ming u water botSIe. covered with felt:
un he left side was ms ba@oucc and
this handle strapped 20 the bayonet
schbhard, and iutvcuch.mg tool handle.
scahbard. IN The rcar WAS my in
trcach!ns tool carried IL. :. canvas case.
This tool was Il combination pick and
spade. y canvas haVcrsack was
strapped to tho left sdu OF tho belt
while on my back WAS tho pack, also
OF canvas. hold in place by TWO canvas
straps over the shoulders suspended
on the bottom OF the pack was my
mess tin or cantccu in neat little
canvas case. NJ Waterproof sheet
looking Ike :. jelly roll. was strapped
on top of the pack. with I. wood IN
stick for cleaning the breech OF the
rifle projecting from each end ON a
lanyard around my wais; hung n huge
jnckknife with q Can-opencr attach
mcnt. The pack contained my over
coat, an extra pair OF socks, change
OF underwear. hod-ail containing
knif". fork. spoon, comb. toothbrush,
lnthcr brush, shaving SOAP ana q razor
stamped on the blade: when trying: 10
shave with this il made YOU wish that
YOU We're AT war with Patagonia. so
that YOU could have a hollow ground"
stamped Made in Germany'D; then
your housewife. button-clcaninG outfit.
consisting OF q brass button stick. two
stir brushes, ana u box OF soldiers
Fricnd paste; then n shoe brush and
outa box of dublin. a writing pad, in
dcliblc pencil envelopes. and paybook.
and personal belongings, such as a
small mirror. decent razor. and a
shcaf OF unanswered letters. and facs.
In Your havorSack YOU carry your iron
rations. meaning tin of buily beef
four biscuits. and a can containing tea
sugar anu oXo cubes: Il couple OF pipes
and a package OF shag. y tin OF rifle
on, and :. pull-throush. Tommy gen
orally carries the oil with his rations:
1t gives the cheese a sort OF sartinc
! taste.
Md To this hrst-aid pouch and n
long unEainly rifle patterned after the
Daniel Boone period. and YOU have an
idea OF British soldier in Blighty.
Before leaving for France. this rife
is taken from him and he is issued
with .eeEniield short trench rifle
and ration bag
Gro Be Continued To -AIorrow.)