American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-05-21
CHAPTER VI.
"Back Of the Line"


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. 1t
makes a lot Of difference whether you
are "going In" or going out"
At the end of the communication
trench, limbers were waiting on the
road for US. 1 thought we were going
to ride back to rest billets, but soon
found out that the only time an In
fantryman rides is when he Is
wounded and is bound for the base or
Blighty. These limbers carried our
reserve ammunition and rations. Our
march to rest billets was thoroughly
enjoyed by me. 1t seemed as if l
were on furlough, and was leaving be
hind everything that vas 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 a French estaminet.
The captain gave the order to turn
out on each side of the road and walt
his return. Pretty soon he came back
and told B company to occupy billets
III, 11S and 119. Billet 1T was an
old stable which had previously been
occupied by cows. About four feet in
front of the entrance was a huge ma
nure pile, and the odor from 1t was
anything but pleasant. Using my
lashlight l stumbled through the door.
Just before entering l observed a
white sign reading: Sitting 80, lying
90" but, at the time, its significance
did not strike pe. Next morning l
asked the sergeant major what it
meant. He n~onchalantly answered:
? That's some of the work of the R.
. A. NJ. G. (Royal Army Medical cOrps).
1t simply means that in case Of an at
Y tack, this billet will accommodate
fifty wounded who are able to sit up
u and take notice, or twenty stretcher
cases."
1t was not long after this that l was
o one of the 400 lying"
1 soon hit the hay and was fast
y asleep, even my friends the Coolies
$ failed to disturb me.
Inc utAl llOA nAhS At oDO0A 80
u O'Clock l was awakened by the lance
corporal Of our section, informing me
that I had been detailed as mess or
: derby. and to report to the cook and
give him a hand. I helped him make
the fire, carry water from IN old well,
and fry the bacon. Lids of dixies are
used to cook the bacon In. After
breakfast was cooked, I carried a dixie
of hot tea and the lid full of bacon to
our section, and told the corporal that
breakfast was ready. He looked at me
in contempt, and then shouted, Break.
fast up, come and get it," 1 immedi
ately got wise to the trench parlance
and never again informed that Break
fast was served"
1t didn't take long for the Tommie:
to answer this call. Half dressed
they lined up with their canteens anC
1 dished out the tea. Each Tommy
carried in his hand a thick slice o
bread which had peer issued with tn,
rations the night before. Then l hat
the pleasure Of seeing them dig int
the bacon with their dirty fingers. TIL
allowance was one slice per man. Tn
late ones received very small slices
As each Tommy got his share he i'm
mediately disappeared into the billie
Pretty soon about fifteen of them mad
a rush to the c~ookhouse, each carryin
a huge slice of bread. These slice
they dipped into the bacon greas
which was stewing over the fire. TIL
last man invariably lost out. l wa
the last man.
I After breakfast our section carrie
their equipment into a field adjoinin
the billet and got busy removing tn
trench mud therefrom, because at S:4
"a. M, they had to 4all in for ~inspectiO
and parade, and woe betide the ma
who was u~nshaven, or had mud on hi
uniform. Cleanliness Is next to godl
ness in the British army, and Old Pei
per must have been personally a
quainted with st. Peter.
Our drill consisted of close-ord'
formation. which lasted until moo
During this time we had two ten-mi
ute breaks for rest. and no sooner Il
word, Fall out for ten minutes W;
given than each Tommy got out a fl
and lighted it.
Fags are issued every Sunday NOR
ing, and you generally get betwe'
twenty and forty. The brand &c
. orally issued is the "Woodbine." Som
times we are lucky and get "Gol
flakes" players" or Red Hussar:
Occasionally an issue of Life Ray
comes along. Then the older Tommi
Immediately get busy on the recrui
EMWW -
"~Goldhakes." A recruit only has
be stuck once in this manner, and tn
he ceases to be a recruit. There is
reason. Tommy is a great cigarei
smoker. BE smokes under all con
tions, except when unconscious
when he is accommodating In No Ma