The Ordway new era., 1918-03-08
CHAPTER u.
eIIghty to Rest elIIets.

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eiighty to Rest eilIets.
The next morning the captain sent
for me and Informed me: ."Empey as
recruiting sergeant you are wash.
out" and sent me to a training depot.
After arriving at this place. was
hustled to the quartermaster stores
and received an awful shock. The
uuartermaster sergeant spread a wa
terproof sheet on the ground and COM
menced throwing a miscellaneous as
sortment of straps, buckles and other
paraphernalia into 1t. ! thought he
would never stop. but when the pile
reached to my knees he paused long
enough to say. "Next, No. 5217. 'Arris.
d company" gazed in bewilderment
Mt the pile of junk in front Of me, and
then my eyes wandered around looking
for the wagon which was to carry it
10 barracks. i was rudely brought to
earth by the quarter" exclaiming,
Ere, you, 'op it; tyke 1t aw'y; blind
my eyes. 'e's looking for is batman to
'elp i'm carry It,"
Struggling under the load. with fire.
quent pauses for rest, reached our
platoon leader came to the rescue. 1t
was marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
had completed the task. he showed me
how to adjust 1t 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 REINFORCED 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 a woolen khaki
tunic, under which was blush gray
woolen shirt. minus a collar; beneath
this shirt a woolen belly band about
six inches wide. held in place ty tie
strings Of white tape. On my head
was heavy woolen trench cap with
huge earlaps buttoned over this top.
Then the equipment: A canvas belt,
with ammunition pockets, and two
wide canvas straps like suspenders.
cnlled ID" 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 q water bottle. covered with felt !;
on the left side was my bayonet and
scabbard. and intrenching tool handle,
this handle strapped to the bayonet
scabbnrd. In the rear was my In
trenching tool. carried in canvas cnse.
This tool was a 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 wooden stick
for cleaning the breach of the rifle pro-
jecting from each end. On lanyard
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 or
the blade; when trying to shave with
this 1t made you wish that you were
ut war with Patagonia, so that yor
could have hollow 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 a shoe brush anf
box of dublin. a writing pad, indel
lble pencil. envelopes. and pay book
and personal belongings, such as {
small mirror, decent razor and {
sheaf of unanswt red letters, and fags
In your haversack you carry your iror
rations, meaning tin of bully beef
four biscuits and a can containing tea
sugar and Oxo cubes; couple oi
pipes and pack of shag. tin of riff,
,ll and pull-through. Tommy gen
srally carries the oil with his rations
4 gives the cheese a sort of sardin,
taste.
Add to this first-aid pouch and
ong. ungainly rifle patterned after tn,
Daniel Boone period, and you have al
dea Of British soldier in Blighty
Before leaving for France. this riff,
8 taken from him and he is issues
with q Lee-Enfield short trench rif,
md u ration bag.
In France he receives two gas hel