Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-08-03
CHAPTER XXI.
About Turn.

The next evening we were relieved
by the --th brigade, and once again
returned to rest billets. Upon arriving
at these billets we were given twenty
four hours In which to clean up. | had
just finished getting the mud from my
uniform when the orderly sergeant in.
formed me that my name was in orders
to leave, and that was to report to
the orderly room In the morning for or"
ders, transportation and rations.
I nearly had fit, hustled about
packing up, filling my pack with SOU
venirs such as shell heads, dud bombs,
nose caps, shrapnel balls, and a Prus-
sian guardsman's helmet. In fact, be-
fore turned in that night, had every
thing ready to report at the orderly
room at nine the next morning.
was the envy of the whole section,
swanking around, telling Of the good
time was going to have, the places l
would visit, and the real, old English
beer / intended to guzzle. Sort of
rubbed it into them, because they all
do 1t, and now that it was my turn, |
took pains to get my own back.
At nine reported to the captain, re-
ceiving my travel order and pass. He
asked me how much money / wanted
to draw. I glibly answered, "Three
hundred francs, sir; ;" he just as glibly
handed me one hundred.
Reporting at brigade headquarters,
with my pack weighing ton, waited,
with forty others, for the adjutant to
inspect us. After an hours wait, he
came out must have been sore because
he wasn't going with us.
The quartermaster sergeant issued
US two days rations, In little white
canvas ration bag, which we tied to
our belts.
Then two motor lorries came along
and we piled in, laughing, joking, and
In the best Of, spirits. We even loved
the Germans, we were feeling so happy
Our journey to seven days bliss in
Blighty had commenced.
The ride in the lorry lasted about
two hours; by this time we were GOV.
cred with fine, white dust from the
road, but didn't mind, even If we were
nearly choking.
At the railroad station At F. we
reported to an officer, who had white
band around his arm, which read "R
T. o." (Royal Transportation Officer)
To us this officer was Santa Claus.
The sergeant in charge showed hin
our orders; he glanced through then
and said: MAKE yourselves comfort
able on the platform and don't leave
the train is liable to be along in five
minutes-or five hours"
1t came in five hours, string o.
eleven match boxes on big, higl
wheels, drawn by dinky little engine
with the CON" These match boxeI
were cattle cars, on the sides Of which
was painted the old familiar sign
"Hommes 40, Chevaux g."
The II. T. O. stuck us all into on,
car. We didn't care; 1t was as goo'
as a Pullman to us.
Two days we spent on that train
humping, stopping, jerking ahead, an'
sometimes sliding back. AT three sta
tons we stopped long enough to max
some tea, but were unable to wash, s.
when we arrived at B., where W
were to embark for Blighty, we wer
as black as Turcos and, with our un
shaven faces, we looked like q lot o
tramps. Though tired out, we wer
happy.
We had packed up, preparatory t
detraining, when r. t. o. held up hi
hand for us to stop where we wer
and came over. This is what he said
s'Boys, I'm sorry, but orders have jus
been received cancelling all leave.
you had been three hours earlier 20
would have gotten away. Just stay !
that train, as it is going back. Ration
will be issued to you for your retur
Journey to your respective stations
Beastly rotten, know" Then he lief
A dead silence resulted. Then me
Stated to curse, threw their rifles o
the floor Of the car; others said notl
ing. seemed tn be stupefied, while som
had the tears running down theI
checks. II was bitter dissppointmer
10 all