Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-03-08
lover the Top"
81 An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Machine Gunner Seruing in France
Copyright, 1917, BY Arthur Guy Bmpey)
CHAPTER II.

for me and informed me: "Empey, as
a recruiting sergeant you are wash
out" and sent me to training depot
After arriving at this place, I was
hustled to the quartermaster stores
and received an awful shock. The
| quartermaster sergeant spread wa
terproOf sheet on the ground and com
.nenced throwing a miscellaneous as
sortment Of straps, buckles and other
paraphernalia into it. I thought he
would never stop, but when the pile
reached to my knees he paused long
enough to say, "Next, No. 5217, 'Arris,
B company" I 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 It
to barracks. I was rudely brought to
earth by the "quarter" exclaiming,
Il" Ere, you, 'op It; tyke it aw'y; blind
my eyes, 'e's looking for is batman to
elp i'm carry it,
Struggling under the load, with fire.
quent pauses for rest, reached our
barracks (large car barns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue. It
was a marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
had completed the task, he showed me
how to adjust it 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. My legs were in
cased in wooden puttees, olive drab in
color, with my trousers overlapping
them at the top. Then wooden khaki
tunic, under which was a blush gray
wooden shirt, minus collar; beneath
this shirt wooden belly band about
six inches wide, held in place by tie
strings of white tape. On my head
was 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 ID" 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 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.
tool, carried in a canvas case.
This tool was combination pick and
spade. A canvas haversack was
strapped to the left side of the belt,
while on my back was the pack, also
IF canvas. held in place by two canvas
straps over the shoulders; suspended
IN the bottom of the pack was my
ness tin or canteen in a neat little
canvas case. My waterproof sheet.
ooking like jelly roll, was strapped
IN top Of the pack, with a wooden stick
or cleaning the breach of the rifle pro-
Getting from each end. On a lanyard
'round my waist hung huge jack
inife with can-opener attachment.
The pack contained my overcoat, an
.xtra pair of socks, change Of under |
year, hold oil Containing knife, fork,
pooh, comb. toothbrush, lather brush,
having soap, and a razor made Of tin,
With "Made in England" stamped on
he blade; when trying to shave with |
his it made you wish that you were
It war with Patagonia, so that you |
ould have "hollow ground stamped |
Made in Germany then your house
Tife, button-cleaning outfit, consisting |
f brass button stick, two stiff |
rushes, and box Of "Soldiers'
friend" paste; then a shoe brush and
box Of dublin, writing pad, indel-
bic pencil, envelopes, and pay book,
nd personal belongings, such as a
mall mirror, decent razor and
heat of unanswered letters, and Tags.
n your haversack you carry your iron
atoms, meaning tin Of bully beef,
our biscuits and can containing tea,
ugar and Oxo cubes; couple Of
ipes and a pack of shag, a tin of rifle
IL, and pull-through. Tommy gen.
rally carries the Oil with his rations;
gives the cheese a sort Of sardine
aste.
Add to this a first-aid pouch and a
ing, ungainly rifle patterned after the
'aniel Boone period, and you have an
lea Of a British soldier in Blighty.
Before leaving for France, this rifle
taken from him and he is issued
18th a Lee-Enfield short trench rifle
nd ration bag.
In France he receives two gas he'll
cts, a sheepskin coat, rubber mack
tosh, steel helmet, two blankets, tear
Tell goggles, balaclava helmet,
owes and tin of antifrosth'tp crease
hich Is excellent f. slug the
)ots. Add to this IT., Weight Of his
tiOns, and can you blame Tommy for
owing at q twenty-kilo route march?
Having served as sergeant major in
e United States cavalry, tried to
II the English drill sergeants their
lsiness, but it did not work. They
put me as batman in their
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