Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-07-12
CHAPTER XXI.
About Turn.

The next evening we were relieved
by the TIL brigade, and once again
returned to rest bIllets. Upon arriving
at these billets We were given twenty
four hours In which TO clean up. had
Just finished getting the mud from my
uniform when the orderly sergeant In
formed me that my name was In orders
10 leave, and that ! was 10 report TO
the orderly room in the morning for or
ders, transportation and ratlons.
I nearly had a fit, hustled about
packing up, filling my pack with sou.
yenrs such as shell heads. dud bombs,
nose caps, shropnel balls, and Prus-
sian guardsman's helmet. In fact, be-
fore turned in that night. had every
thing ready 10 report at the orderly
room al nine the next morning.
was the envy Of the whole section,
swanking around, telling Of the good
time | was going to have, the places
would visit, and the real, old English
beer intended 10 guzzle. Sort OF
rubbed II into them, because they all
do II, and now that II was my turn,
took pains to get my own back.
At nine reported to the captain, re
ceiving my travel order and pass. II,
asked me tow much money wanted
70 draw, glIhly answered Three
hundred francs, Sir" he just as glib!
handed me one hundred.
Reporting at brigade headquarters
with my pack weighing ton waited
with forty others, for the adjutant L
inspect US. After an hours wait, h
came out; must have been sore becaus
he wasn't going with US.
Tho quartermaster sergeant issue
as two days rations, in a little whit
canvas ration bag, which We tied I
} our belts.
Then two motor lorries came alon
and We piled In, laughing, joking, an
!, In the best of spirits. We even love
the Germans, we were feeling so happ,
Our journey to seven days bliss /
Bllghty had commenced.
The ride In the lorry lasted abor
. two hours; by this time We were COZ
r cred with fine, white dust from III
road. but didn't mind, even II we wer
yearly choking.
AT the railroad station at r "
reported to an officer, who had whit
! band around his arm, which read Il
. T. o. (Royal Transportation officer
To us this officer was Santa Claus.
The sergeant In charge showed hi
our orders; he glanced through the
and said Make yourselves comfor
( able on the platform and don't leav,
the train is liable to be along in e.
:. minutes-or five hours"
II came in FIVE hours, a string
4 eleven match boxes on big, hi
wheels, drawn by dinky little engi
. with the con-" These match box
4 were cattle cars, on the sides Of viii
n was painted the old familiar sig
II "Hommes 40, Chevaux s."
The II. T. o. stuck us all into o
% car. We didn't care; ii was as go
n as Pullman to US.
e Two days We spent on that ira
humping, stopping, jerking ahead, n
sometimes sliding back. At three S
\ lions we stopped long enough to ma
= some tea, but were unable to wash,
when we arrived at B, where
IL we're to embark for Blighty, we w
ns as black as Turcos and, with our
n, Lhaven faces, We looked like lot
tramps, Though tired out, we W,
y. happy.
re We had packed up, preparatory
IS IS detrainlng. when r. 7. o. held up
C. hand for US to stop where we W
I'm and came over. This Is what he sa
II. Boys, I'm sorry. but orders have
CT been received cancelling all leave.
you had been three hours earlier
would have gotten away. Just stay
ne that train, as 1t is going back. Ratl
Is will be issued to you for your ret
Journey to your respective static
vo Beastly rotten, know" Then he !
A dead silence resulted. Then I
eli. started to curse, threw their rifles
4: the floor Of the ear; others said n
II; ing, seemed to be stupehed. while 81
Of md the tears running down d
icy hooks. 1t was bitter disappointu
to all.