The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-06-28
CHAPTER II.
eIIahty to Rest elIIets.

Inc next morning tue Cupldln ScIl
for me and informed me: "Empey, "A
q recruiting sergeant you are wash
out" and sent me TO a training depot
After arriving ut this place, ] wa
hustled to the quurtermaster store
and received an awful shock. Th'
quartermnster sergeant spread wa
terproof sheet on the ground and com
menced throwing miscellaneous as
sortment OF straps, buckles and othei
paraphernalla into 1t. / thought M
would never stop, but when the pile
reached to my knees he paused Ions
enough TO say, "Next, No. 5217, Arts
B company" gazed in bewildermenl
at the pile Of junk in front Of me, ant
then my eyes wandered around looking
for the wagon which was to carry II
to barracks. was rudely brought tC
earth by the quarter" exclaiming
"'Ere, you. 'op 1t; tyke 1t aw'y; blino
my eyes, 'es looking for is batman tc
'elp i'm carry It."
Struggling under the load, with fire.
quent pauses for rest, / reached our
barracks Qarge car barns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue. II
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 re-enfOrced by
steel half-moons. My legs were in
cased In woolen puttees, olive drab In
color, with my trousers overlapping
them at the top. Then wOolen khaki
tunlc, under which was blush gray
woolen shirt, minus a collar; beneath
this shirt a wooden belly band about
six inches wide, held in place by tie
strings of white tape. On my head
was a heavy woolen 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 "D" 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 a water bottle. covered with felt; 4;
on the left side was my bayOnet and
scabbard, and intrenching tool handle.
this handle strapped to the bayonet
Bcabbard. In the rear was my In
trenching tool, carried in q 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
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 a wooden stick
for cleaning the breach of the rifle pro-
around my waist hung a huge jack
knife with 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 razor made Of tin,
with "Made in England" stamped on
the blade; when trying to shave with
this 1t made you wish that you were
at war with Patagonia, so that you
could have a "holIow ground" stamped
''Made in Germany") ; then your house
wife, button-cleaning outfit, consisting
Of brass button stick, two stiff |
brushes, and box Of Soldiers |
Friend" paste; then shoe brush and /
a box of dublin, writing pad, indel-
Ible pencil, envelopes, and pay book,
and personal belongings, such as a
small mirror, a decent razor and a |
sheaf of unanswered letters, and fagS. |
III your haversack you carry your iron
rations, meaning a tin of bully beef,
tour biscuits and can containing tea,
sugar and Oxo cubes; couple of
pipes and pack of shag tin of rifle
1il, and a pull-through. Tommy gen.
orally carries the oil with his ratiOns;
t gives the cheese a sort of sardine
aste.
Add to this a first-aid pouch and
org, ungainly rifle patterned after the
Daniel Boone period, and you have an
dea of British soldier in Blighty.
Before leaving for France, this rifle
s taken from him and he is issued
With a Lee-Enfield short trench rife
nd ration bag.
In France he receives two gas he'll
nets, sheepskin coat, rubber mack
ntosh, steel helmet, two blankets, tear
hell goggles, balaclava helmet,
loves and q tin of antifrostbite grease
which is excellent for greasing the {
oOts. Add to this the weight of his
atoms, and can you blame Tommy for s
rowling at twenty-kilo route march? {
Having served as sergeant major in
he United States cavalry, I tried to 1
ell the English drill sergeants their '
but 1t did not work. They S
put me as batman in their Q
less. Many a greasy dish of stew was /
ccidentally spilled over them. &
Iwould sooner hGht than be waiter, S