The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1918-07-26
CHAPTER XXI.
About Turn.

IL
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
to leave. and that / was TO report TO
the orderly room in the morning for or
F.. ders. transportation and rations.
! nearly had fit, hustled about
packing up. filling my pack with SOU
venirs such as shell heads dud bombs,
nose caps. shrapnel balls, and a Prus-
sfnn guardsman's helmet. In fact, be-
fore l turned in that night, had every
thing ready to report at the orderly
room at nine the next morning.
was the envy of the whole section.
swanking around. telling OF the good
time was going to have. the places 1
would visit. and the real. old English
beer / intended to guzZle. Sort Of
rubbed 1t into them. because they all
do II, and now that it was my turn.
At nine 1 reported TO the captain re-
,efving my travel order and pass. He
lsked me how much money I wanted
b draw. 1 glibly answered. "rhree
hundred francs. sir he just as glibly
handed me one hundred.
Reporting Mt brigade headquarters,
With my pack weighing u ton. waited,
With forty others, for the adjutant to
inspect us. After an hours wait he
came out must have been sore because
ne wasn't going with us.
The quartermaster sergeant issued
as two days ratious, in little white
canvas ration bag, which we tied to
our belts.
Then two motor lorries came along
and we piled in, laughing, joking. and
N the best of spirits. We even loved
the Germans. we were feeling SO happy.
Our journey to seven days bliss in
Blighty had commenced.
The ride In the lOrry lasted about
two hours; by this time we were COW
cred with fine, white dust from the
road, but didn't mind, even il we were
nearly choking.
At the railroad station at r we
reported to an officer. who had a white
hand around his arm. which read '.R.
T. O." (Royal Transportation Ofiicer).
To us this officer was Santa Claus.
The sergeant In charge showed him
our orders; he glanced through them
and said: MAKE yourselves comfort
able on the platform and don't leave :
the train IS liable to be along in five
minuteS-Or five hours"
1t came In FIVE hours, a string of
eleven match boxes on big. high
wheels, drawn by q dinky little engine
with the con-" These match boxes
were cattle cars. on the sides Of which
was painted the old familiar sign.
''Hommes 20. Chevaux g."
The r. T. O. stuck us all into one
car. We didn't care; it was as good
as a Pullman to us.
Two days we spent on that train.
humping, stopping, jerking ahead, and
sometimes sliding back. At three sta
tons we stopped long enough to make
some tea, but were unable to wash. so
when we arrived at B, where we
were to embark for Blighty. we were
as black as TurcOs and. with our un-
shaven faces. we looked like lot Of
trainps. Though tired out, we were
happy.
We had packed up. preparatory to
aetraining. when a II. I. o. held up his
hand for us to stop where we were
aud came over. This is what he said:
.Eoys. Tn sorry. but orders have just
been received cancelling all leave. II
you had been three hours earlier you
would have gotten away. Just stay In
that train, as 1t is going back. RatiOns
will be issued to you for your return
journey to your respective stations.
Beastly rotten. know" Then he left.
A dead silence resulted. Then men
started to curse. threw their rifles ON
the floor OF the car: others said moth
ing. seemed to be stupe0ed, while some
had the tears running down their
cheeks. It was \ bitter disappointment
to all.
How we blinded at the engineer OF
that train; II was all his fault Geo We
reasoned) why hadn't he speeded ND Z
little or been on Time then we would
have gotten on before the order ar
rived1 Now Il was no Blighty Cor -
That return Journey was misery to
rs; Just can't describe II.
When we got hack to rest billers, We
found that our brigade was In the.
frenches <another agreeable surprisa1
on1 that IN stack was contemplated.
- Gnyenteen of fbe 1oEty-one VII never|
Get another chance % 90 On leave:
llhey Were hille1 - to stack. Jugt
0lnk 4f 1Dlok txo1n - been - HneI
49, = 60 ten y - = I'm - n1own