Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-03-09

menccd throwing n miscellaneous as
sortmcnt Of straps. buckles and other
paraphcrnalin into Il. I thought he
would never stop, but when the plie
reached 10 my knees he paused long
enough TO say. "Next. No. 5217, 'Arris,
II company" gazed in bewildermcnt
at the pile Of junk in front OF me. and
then my eyes wandered around looking
for the wngon which WINS 10 carry II
TO barracks. was rudely brought 10
earth by the quarter" exclalming,
"'Ere. you. 'op Il; tyke II aw'y; blind
my eyes, 'e's looking for Is batman 10
'elp I'm carry H."
Struggling under the load. with fire.
. quent pauses for rest. I reached our
barracks large car barns), and my
platoon leader came 20 the rescue. II
was q marvel 20 me how quickly be
assembled the equipment After he
had completed the task. he showed mo
how TO adjust II ON my person. Pretty
soon I stood before him a 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. Ny legs were In
cased In wooden puttees. olive drab In
color. with my trousers overlapping
them at the top. Then a wooden khaki
tunic, under which was a blush gray
wooden shirt. minus a collar; beneath
this shirt n wooden belly band about
six inches wide, held In place by tie
strings OF white tnpe. On my head
was a heavy wooden trench cap. with
huge earlaps buttoned over the top.
Then the equipment: A canvas belt.
with ammunition pockets. md tw"
wide canvas straps like susr- De'
called I'D" straps, fasten~h shou'uer,
In front. passing sc OF my back, ana
crossing In buckles TO the rear OF the
attachon the right side OF the belt
hing water bottle, covered with felti
on the left side was my bayonet and
scabbard. and intrenching tool handle,
this handle strapped to the bayonet
sea bbard. In the rear was my In
trenchlng tool, carried In a 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 In place by two canvas
straps over the shoulders; suspended
on the bottom OF the pack was my
mess tin or canteen In a neat little
canvas case. My waterproof sheet.
looking like a Jelly roll, was strapped
on top OF the pack. with wooden stick
for cleaning the breach Of the rifle pro-
jecting from each end. On n lanyard
around my whist hung a huge jack
knife with a can-opener attachment.
The pack contained my overcoat. an
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 In 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 n brass button stick, two stiff
brushes, and box OF SOLDIERS
Friend" paste; then n shoe brush and |
n box OF dublin. n writing pad, indcl- |
lble pencil envelopes. and pay book. !
and personal belongings, such as e
small mirror. decent razor AMI
sheaf OF unanswered letters, and flags
In your haversack you carry your Iron
ratlons, meaning n tin Of bully beef. |
four biscuits and can containing tea.
sugar and OXO cubes; couple ~ |
pipes and n pack Of shay a tin 81 ri,
oil, and a pull-through. Tommy Egu-
orally carries the OIL with his rationa
it gives the cheese a sort Of sardlnC
taste.
Add 20 this a flrst-aid pouch and
long. ungainly rife patterned after thg
Daniel Boone period. ana you have an
idea of n British soldier In Blighty. |
Before leaving for France, this rifle
is taken FROM him and he Is issued !
with n Lee-Enfield short trench rifle
and a ration bag.
In France he receives two gas he'll |
NETS, a sheepskln coat, rubber mack
intosh, steel helmet. two blankets. tear
shell goggles, balaelava helmet,
gloves and a tin Of Gntifrostbite grease
which Is excellent for greasing the |
boots. Add 10 this the weight OF his |
rations, and can you blame Tommy for
growllag at a twenty-kilo route marchi
Having served as sergeant major In
,ie United States cavalry, l tried TO
tell the English drill sergeants their |
business, but II did not work. They |
Immediately put me us batman in their !
mess. Many a greasy dish Of stew was
accidentally spilled over them.
would sooner fight than be a walter.
so when the order came through from
headquarters caliing for draft Of
250 re-enforcemeIts for France, l vol
unteered.
Than usa uauN hafara fha n n