The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1918-06-07
CHAPTER u.


.44. &
The aext morning tho captain scot
Tor me and informed me ~Efnpey. AZ
n recruiting sergeant you are wash"
put" and sent ms 10 training depot
After arriving Ut this place. ] was
hustied tn the auartefmnster stores
nnd received an awful shock. The
uuartsrrnassr sergeant spread a wa
terproof sheet ON tho groaad and com
meneed throwing n miscellaneous as
sorsHent Ut straps, buckles mad other
paraphernalia into II. thought he
would never stop. hut when tho pile
reached TO my knees hs paused long
enough 10 say, "Sex,. No. haiT. ARTS.
n coupanS." gased In hewil1srment
at tho Pile III fink IN frsst ef 'fnei AVID
thsa tsss ssse@ ~snssssd srpupa ias,hanx
Tor the wagon which was ~ carry II
90 barracks I was rudely brought 10
sarth by the quarter" exrlalmlng.
"'Ere. you. 'op Il: tyke II AMY; blind
rky eyes, 'e's looking for III batman to
'afp ''ftn cRrry IT. ''
Struggling Under the load. with fro
Quent pausse for rest. reached our
barracks tlarge car barns,. and my
platoon leader came 10 the rescue. II
was a marvel 10 nae bow quickly be
Assembled tho equipment. After hs
had completed the task. he showed me
how to adjust II on my person. Pretty
soea I stood before him proper Tom
my Atkins In heavy marching order.
Feeling ilks an overloaded camel.
On my feet were heavyssoled boota
studded with hohnaiis. the toes and
heels Of which were r@enforvd by
steel half.moons. My legs were In
cassd In wooden puttees. olive drah In
rolos, With my trousers overlapping
them al ths top. Then woolen khaki
xunic. under which was \ blush gray
woolen shirt. minus 4 collar: beneath
this shirt wooden belly band about
nix inches wide. held IN place by tie
strings az white tape. On my head
was n heavy wooden trench cap with
huge aerlspa tuttnned. oyer, the tor
Thea the equipment; A canvas belt.
with ammunition pockets, and two
wide canvas straps like suspenders,
called ~" straps. fastened 10 the belt
In srunt. passing over each shoulder,
rross!ng In the middle Of my back. ard
attached by buckles to tho rcar Of the
belt On tho right side Of the belt
hung 4 water bottle. covered with felt
m tho left side was my haycnet and
ewbhar,i. and intrvnchinx tool handle.
this handle strapped to the bayenet
vcahhard In the rear was my In"
tr~nching tool. carried In canvas case.
This tool was a combination pick and
spade A canvas hsv~rsaek WINS
strapped to tho left side Of the belt.
while on my back was tho pack. also
nj canvas. held 10 place By two canvas
stnps ever the shoulder: snsp<Odsd
6h TIA tcftntn al th& rxek <wtxS nv
mess tin or eanteeu In . beat ne{ae
s~nvas ease My waterproof sheet.
looking like Jelly roll. vas strapped
On top nt the pack, with 4 wooden stick
Yor cleaning the hrvnch Of the rthe pro-
t~cting frum each end. On 4 lanyard
: srvaad, try waist, haeF huge hack
knife With cen-opener attachment.
The rack cuntnsued my cvvrcost. an
extra pair OF socks, change Of under.
wear hold all tcoataintne knife, fork.
srcsa, comh. toothbrush. ls,hes brush.
shaving soap, and vasur made Of tin.
with Made 10 England stamped On
the blade. when trying TO shave with
tsAa II made you w,sh that you we're
ut war with Patagonia, ~ that you
cculd have "hollow ground stamped
made In 0srmany"l tb~a your house
wife has.on-c,esnsnS outfit. consisting
Of 4 brass button stick, two sti1
Nrxshes and q bar Of Soldiers
rstead' paste: then a shc~ brush aud
. kcx of duhSin, . writing pad, sndel,
ih,e renc,,. envelopes and ray boob.
md personal eescnx.as~ such ~ .
ANAL mirror. 4 dec~at Ssce and q
cheat ef unanswered lsstsrx and AEA
In ycur hsversack yea carry yrar iira
rstieas. meaning = tn Of bully ss~s.
feue biscuits ard Z can ssscsaininx tea.
WaGAr and f,xo eaees: couple Of
papcs and q pack Of sAs4 a TN az rifle
oil, and Z rul!-tAroush Tenny zen
sNtty carries the ea WITH bis ratieas !;
Il etv~s III ehe~Ss . soxt VI sarairs
sAEtet
Add 10 th.s q trxs.aid pcqch ard
lca9. ursatnly r.ee patterned after the
naaicl i.Nene rsr.od. aud yoa have m
ldea cf British seld'es In kltgety.
Before leaving for France. this rite
b taken frosa Nin and he Is issued
With a Lee, Enfield short trsrch rats
And ration bag,
u rfAass he receives txe "a hsR