Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-05-03

would never stop. hut when the pile |
reached to my knees he paused long |
enough 10 say, "Next, No. 5217, 'Arris, |
Il company" gazed in bewilderment
at the pile OF junk in front of me, and |
then my eyes wandered around looking |
for the wagon which was to carry II |
to barracks. ! was rudely brought to
earth by the "quarter" exclaiming, |
ERE. you, 'op 1t; tyke II aw'y; blind
my eyes 'es looking for is batman to
'elp i'm carry IT,"
Struggling under the load. with fire.
Quent pauses for rest. | reached our
barracks (largc car barns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue. 1t
was marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
had completed the task, he showed me
how to adjust II 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 hobnals, the toes and
heels of which were REINFORCED by
steel hafmoons. My legs were in
cased in wooden puttees, olive drab In
color, with my trousers overlapping
them mt the top. Then u wooden khaki
tunic under which was blush gray
wooden shirt, minus a collar; beneath
| this shirt wooden belly band about
six inches wide, held in place by tie
strings Of white tape. On my head
was n heavy wooden 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 n 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 canvas case.
This tool was n combination pick and
spade. A canvas haversack was
strapped TO the left side of the belt.
while on my back was the pack, also
Of canvas, held I'm place by two canvas
straps over the shoulders; suspended
on the bottom of the pack was my
mess tin or cantcen i'm neat little
canvas case. My waterproof sheet
looking like Jelly roll, was strapped
on top of the pack, with wooden stick
for cleaning the breach of the rifle pro.
iecting from each end. On a lanyard
around my waist hung huge jack.
knife with n can-opcner attachment.
The pack contained my overcoat, I'm
extra pair of socks. change of under
wear, hold all Containing knife, fork
spoon, comb, toothbrush, lather brush
shaving soap, and n razor made of tin
with "Made I'm England" stamped on
the blade; when trying to shave with
this II made You wish that you were
at war with Patagonia. so that YOU
could have "hollow ground" stamped
"Made In Germany~ then your house
wife, buttOn-cleaning outfit, consisting
Of brass button stick, two stiff
brushes, and box OF SOLDIERS
Friend" paste; then n shoe brush am
n box of dublin, writing pad, indel
ible pencil, envelopes, and pay book
and personal belongings, such as ,
small mirror, n decent razor and /,
Sheaf of unanswered letters, and flags
/, In your haversack you carry your iroI
rations, meaning n tin of bully beef
four biscuits and can containing tea
sugar and Oxo cubes; couple %
pipes ana pack Of shag. II tin of riff,
, oil, and pul-through. Tommy gen
orally carries the oil with his rntlOnS
II gives the cheese II sort of Sardin,
taste.
Add to this frst-ald pouch and ;
long, ungainly rifle patterned after thu
Daniel Boone period, and you have ~
idea of British soldier in Blighty
Before leaving for France, this rill,
is taken from him and he is ISSUED
with Lee-Enhcld short trench riff,
and a ration bag.
In France he receives two gas hel
!, NETS, sheepskin coat, rubber mack
intosh, steel helmet, two blankets, tear
shell goggles, balaclava helmet
gloves and tin Of antifrOstbite greaS
4 which is excellent for greasing tn
: boots. Add to this the weight of hi
ratlons, and can you blame Tommy fo
growing at Il twenty-kilo route march
Having served as sergeant ma lor il
the United States cavalry, | tried Il
tell the English dril ScrgeantS thei
business but il did not work. The.
Immediately put me as batman In thei
: mess. Many u greasy dish Of stew wa
accidentally spilled over them
would sooner fight than be a waiter
= so when the order came through from
. Headquarters calling for II draft %
: 80 rconfurccmcnls for France, vol
: unicered.
Then we went before the NJ. q
fmydical ohicc) for another physica
"Xamination. This was very brief. III
n asked our names and numbers ant
= spid FIT and we went ont To fight,
. We were put into troop trains AM
cent TO southampton, where we De
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