The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-26
| @iN7 BY
iGRTHuR GUY EnH|

III iFOuL, passing ofCi cain Sii'NAN>A'
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 water bottle, covered with felt;
on the left side was my bayonet and
scabbard, anG intrenching tool handle,
this handle str: pped to the bayOnet
scabbard. In the rear was my in
trenching tool, carried in 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. Ny waterproof sheet,
looking like jelly roll, was strapped
on top of the pack. with wooden stick
for cleaning the breach of the rifle pro-
iecting from each end. On lanyard
around my waist hung huge jack
knife with q 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 a razor made of tin,
with ssMade in England" stamped on
the blade; when trying to shave with
this it made you wish that you were
at war with Patagonia, so that you
could have 'thollow ground" stamped
"Made in Germany"); then your house
wife, button-cleaning outfit, consisting
Of a brass button stick, two stiff
brushes, and box Of SOLDIERS
Friend" paste; then shoe brush and
a box Of 6zbbin, writing pad, indel-
ible pencil, envelopes and pay book,
and personal belongings such as
small mirror, a decent razor and 8
sheaf of unanswered letters, and fags.
In your haversack you carry your iron
rations, meaning a tin Of bully beef,
four biscuits and a can containing tea,
sugar and Oxo cubes; couple OF
pipes and aepack Of shag, tin of rife
oil. and a pull-through. Tommy gen.
orally carries the oil with his rations;
It gives the cheese a sort of sardine
taste.
Add to this first-aid pouch and
long, ungainly rife patterned after the
Daniel Boone period, and you have an
idea of a British soldier in Rlighty.
Before leaving for France, this rifle
is taken from him and he is issued
with a Lee-Enfeld short trench rife
and ration bag.
In France he receives two gas he'll
NETS, a sheepskin coat, rubber mack
intosh, steel helmet, two blankets, tear
shell goggles, q balaclava helmet,
gloves and tin Of antifrostbite grease
which is excellent for greasing the
boots. Add to this the weight OF his
rations, and can you blame Tommy for
growing at twenty-kilo route march!
Having served as sergeant major in
the United States cavalry, tried to
tell the English drill sergeants their
business, but it did not work. They
Immediately put me as batman in their
mess. Many a greasy dish of stew was
accidentally spilled over them.
Iwould sooner fight than be a waiter,
so when the order came through from
Headquarters calling for draft OF
25O re-enforcements for France, vol
unteered.
Then we went before the NJ. o.
(medical oficer) for another physical
examination. This was very brief. He
asked our names and numbers and
said "Fit," and we went out to fight.
We were put into troop trains and
sent to southampton, where we de-
trained, and had our trench rifles IS
sued to us. Then in columns of twos
we went up the gangplank of little
steamer lying alongside the dock.
At the head of the gangplank there
was an old sergeant, who directed that
we line ourselves along both rails OF
the ship. Then he ordered us to take
life belts from the racks overhead and
put them on. have crossed the ocean
several times and knew was not sea-
sick, but when I buckled on that life
belt had a sensation Of sickness.
After we got out into the stream all
I could think of was that there were
million German submarines with tor.
pedo Oh each, across the warhead OF
which wss inscribed my name and ao-
dress.
a a