The Robesonian., 1918-06-24
MRack of the Iinen

OUR tour Ill Tic lIOul-lluc llChNh
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. 1t
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
march to rest billetS was thoroughly
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
and told B company to occupy billets
III, 118 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
flashlight stumbled through the door,
Just before entering I observed a
white sign reading: "Sitting so, lying
90" but, at the time, it's significance
did not strike me. Next morning I
asked the sergeant major what it
meant. He nonchalantly answered:
"That's some of the work of the r.
A. M. 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 stretctfer
cases."
! It was not long after this that was
one of the '2O 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. I helped him make
the fire, carry water from an old well,
and fry the bacon. Lids of dixies are
used to cook the bacon in. After
J breakfast was cooked, carried dixie
/ of hot tea and the lid full of bacon to
J 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 I immedi-
ately got wise to the trench parlance,
and never again informed that Break
i fast was served"
|, It didn't take long for the Tommies
!; to answer this call. Half dressed
they lined up with their canteens and
: dished out the tea. Each Tommy
carried in his hand a thick slice OF
bread which had been issued with the
!, rations the night before. Then I 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
q rush to the cookhouse, each carrying
q huge slice Of bread. These slice:
: they dipped into the bacon greas,
which was stewing over the fire. Th'
last man invariably lost out. I wa!
v the last man.
After breakfast our section carriet
'' their equipment into field adjoinin,
e the billet and got busy removing tn
S trench mud therefrom, because at 8 a
y a. NJ, they had to fall in for inspection
J, and parade, and woe betide the MAJ
- who was unshaven, or had mud on hi
. uniform. Cleanliness is next to godli
IS ness in the British army, and Old PEI
v per must have been personally az
l. quainted with st. Peter.
er Our drill consisted of close-orde
e formation, which lasted until nool
u Is During this time we had two ten-mi1
% ute breaks for rest, and no sooner tn
Va word, Fall out for ten minutes" wa
n given than each Tommy got out a ia
r and lighted it.
Id Fags are issued every Sunday NOR
m ing, and you generally get betwee
OF twenty and forty. The brand gel
orally issued is the "Woodbine." Som
o ~ times we are lucky and get "Gol
y fakes" Players or "Red Hussars
ce Occasionally an issue of Life Ray
p comes along. Then the older Tommi
to Immediately get busy on the recrui
is and trade these for "Woodbines"
es "Goldfakes." A recruit only has
ne be stuck once in this manner, and th
1e a he ceases to be recruit. There is
- reason. Tommy is a great cigaret
cv smoker. he smokes under all con,
he tlons. except when unconscious
W "nen ne is reconnoitering in No Ma,
he Lana at night. Then, for obvious re