Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-03-07
CHAPTER VI.
Back Of the LIne.v

Our tour In the front-llne trench
lasted four days, and then we were
relieved by the - brigade.
Going down the communication
trench we were In a merry mood, al
though we were cold and wet, and
every bone in our bodies ached. II
makes lot of difference whether you
are "going In" or "gong OUT
AT the end Of the communication
trench, limbers were waiting on the
road for u.s. | thought we were going
TO ride back to rest blllets, but soon
fantryman rides Is when he Is
wounded and is bound for the base or
Blighty. These limbers carried our
reserve ammunition and ratlons. Our
march to rest billets was thoroughly
enjoyed by me. 1t seemed as if
We're on furlough, and was leaving be-
hind everything that was disagree
able and horrible. Every recruit feels
this way after being relieved from the
trenches.
We marched eight kilos and then
halted in front of French estaminet.
The captain gave the order to turn
out on each side of the road and wait
his return. Pretty soon he came back
and told b company TO occupy billets
III, 11S and 10. Billet III was an
old stable which had previously been
occupied by cows. About four feet In
front of the entrance was huge ma
nure pile, and the odor from 1t was
anything but pleasant. Using my
fashllght | stumbled through the door.
Just before entering / observed Il
white sign reading: sitting so, lying
20,' but, at the time its significance
did not strike me. Next morning |
asked the sergeant major what 1t
meant. He nonchalantly answered.
THAT'S some of the work of the r..
A. M. G. (Royal Army Medical corps). |
1t simply means that In case Of an at |
tack, this billet will accommodate |
fifty wounded who are able to sit Us I
and take notice, or twenty stretcher
cases.
II was not long after this that was
one of the 100 lying"
! soon hit the hay and was fast
asleep even my friends the Coolies
failed to disturb me.
The next morning at about six
3clock | was awakened by the lance
orporal of our section, informing me
hat | had been detailed as mess or
erly, and TO report to the cook and
i've him a hand. | helped him make
he fire, carry water from an old WELL |
nd fry the bacon. Lids of dixies are
sod to cook the bacon in. After
was cooked, carried dixie
f hot ten and the lid full of bacon to l
lr section, and told the corporal that il
was ready. He looked at me c
contempt, and then shouted, Break 1
list up come and get it," immedi- h
tely got wise to the trench parance, II
ld never again informed that Break e
st was served" Z
1t didn't take long for the Tommies II
answer this call. Half dressed,
icy lined up with their canteens and "
dished out the tea. Each Tommy b
Irried in his hand thick slice of
cad which had been issued with the II
lions the night before. Then / had N
e pleasure of seeing them dig into q
e bacon with their dirty fingers. The d.
lowance was one slice per man. The is
tie ones received very small slices. OF
) each Tommy got his share he inn re
disappeared into the billet b.
city soon about fifteen of them made fe
rush to the cookhouse, each carrying l
huge slice of bread. These slices OF
ey dipped into the bacon grease do
1ich was stewing over the fire. The II
st man invariably lost out. 1 was Or
e last man. d
After breakfast our section carried II
cir equipment into a field adjoining WI
e billet and got busy removing the al
ench mud therefrom, because at 8 :45
M, they had to fall in for inspection
d parade, and woe betide the man
10 was unshaven or had mud on his
form. Cleanliness is next to godli-
SIS in the British army, and Old Pep mn
r must have been personally ac-
ainted with st. Peter. IN
Our drill consisted of close-order 90
,mation, which lasted until noon. a
lring this time we had two ten-min-
: .hEeaks for rest. and no sooner the -