Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-04-27
CHAPTER II.
sIIahty to Rest BllIets.


The next morning the captain sent
for me and informed me: "Empey, as
a recruiting sergeant you are wash
out" and sent me to training depot.
After arriving at this place, | was
hustled to the quartermaster stores
and received an awful shock. The
quartermaster sergeant spread wa
terproof sheet on the ground and COM
menced throwing 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,
3 company" / gazed in bewilderment
at the pile of junk In front of me, and
then my eyes wandered around looking
for the wagon which was to carry 1t
to barracks. was rudely brought to
earth by the quarter" exclaiming,
"'Ere, you, 'op 1t; tyke 1t AMY; blind
my eyes, 'es looking for is batman to
'elp I'm carry It,"
Struggling under the load, with fire.
quent pauses for rest, reached our
barracks Carge car barns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue. 1t
was a 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 I 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 wooden puttees, olive drab in
color, with my trousers overlapping
them at the top. Then wooden khaki
tunic, under which was blush gray
wooden shirt, minus collar; beneath
this shirt wooden belly band about
six inches wide, held in place by tie
strings of white tape. On my head
was a heavy wooden trench cap, with
huge earlaps buttoned over the top.
Then the equipment: A canvas belt,
with ammunition pockets, and two
wide canvas straps like suspenders,
called 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 water bottle. covered with felt
on the left side was my bayonet and
scabbard, and intrenching tool handle,
this handle strapped to the bayonet
scabbard. In the rear was my in
trenching tool, carried In canvas case.
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 neat little
canvas case. My waterproof sheet,
looking like Jelly roll, was strapped
on top of the pack with wooden stick
7 Cor cleaning the breach of the rifle pro-
jecting from each end. On a lanyard
around my waist hung a huge jack
gnife 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 on
the blade; when trying to shave with
this 1t made you wish that you were
at war with Patagonia, so that you
could have "hollow ground" stamped
"Made in Germanyo then your house
wife, button-cleaning outfit. consisting
Of a brass button stick, two stiff
brushes. and a box of Soldiers
Friend paste; then shoe brush and
box of dublin, a writing pad, indel-
ible pencil, envelopes, and pay book,
and personal belongings, such as a
small mirror, decent razor and q
sheaf of unanswered letters, and flags.
In your haversack you carry your iron
rations, meaning tin of bully beef,
four biscuits and can containing tea,
sugar and Oxo cubes; couple of
pipes and pack of shay, tin of rifle
oil, and pull-through. Tommy gen.
orally carries the oil with his rations
1t gives the cheese sort of sardine
taste.
Add to this first-aid pouch and q
long, ungainly rifle patterned after the
Daniel Boone period, and you have an
idea Of British soldier In Blighty
Before leaving for France, this rife
Is taken from him and he Is issued
with Lee-Enfeld short trench rifle
and ration bag.
In France he receives two gas he'll