Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-03-15
CHAPTER II.
BIiQhty to Rest BiIIets,

BIighty to Rest BiIIets.
The next morning the captain sent
for me and Informed me: "Empey, as
a recruiting sergeant you are a wash
out" and sent me to a training depot.
After arriving at this place, 1 was
hustled to the quartermaster stores
and received an awful shock. The
quartermaster sergeant spread a wa
terproof sheet on the ground and COM
menced throwing a miscellaneous as
sortment of straps, buckles and other
paraphernalia into it. I thought he
would never stop, but when the pile
reached to my knees he paused long
enough to say, Next, No. 5217, 'Arris,
b company" I 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 it
to barracks. l was rudely brought to
earth by the quarter" exclaiming,
Ere, you, 'op it; tyke it 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, I reached our
barracks Qarge car barns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue. It
was marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
mad completed the task, he showed me
now to adjust it on my person. Pretty
soon stood before him a 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 a wooden khaki
funic, under which was a blush gray
wooden shirt, minus a collar; beneath
this shirt a wooden belly band about
six inches wide, held in place by tie
strings Of white tape. On nv head
was heavy wooden trench cap, with
huge earlaps buttoned over the TOP.
linen the equipment: A canvas belt,
with ammunition pockets, and two
Wlde 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
oelt. On the right side of the belt
hung water bottle. covered with felt:
on the left side was my bayonet and
scaDDard, and intrenching tool handle.
this handle strapped to the bavonet
scabbard. In the rear was my in
trenching tool, carried in a canvas case.
1his TOOL was a combination pick and
space. 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 nv
mess tin or canteen in neat little
canvas case. My waterproof sheet.
looking like q jelly roll, was strained
on top OF the pack, with wooden stick
Tor cleaning the breach Of the rifle nro.
Jecting from each end. On a LANYARD
around my waist hung a huge lack
knl1e with can-opener attachment.
Inc pack contained my overcoat an
extra pair Of socks, change of under.
wear, hold all Containing knife. fork
spoon, comb, toothbrush. lather brnsh
shaving soap, and razor made of tin,
with Made in England" STAMPED on
the Dlade; when trying to shave with
tnls IT made you wish that YOU were
at war with Patagonia, so that Won
could have "hollow ground" slammed
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 Dox OF dublin, writing pad, indel-
IDLE pencil, envelopes, and paw hook
ana personal belongings, such as n
small mirror, q decent razor and
smear OF unanswered letters. and faps
In your haversack you carry YOUR iron
ratlons. meaning a tin of bully beef
Iour biscuits and can containing tea
sugar and Oxo cubes; a couple Of
plpes and pack of shag, tin of rife
OIL, and pull-through. Tommy gen.
eraily carries the oil with his ratiOns.
1t gives the cheese sort of sardine
taste.
Aod to this f1rst-aid pouch and q
long, ungainly rifle patterned after the
Dahlel Boone period, and you have an
4uea OF British soldier in Blighty.
BEFORE leaving for France, this rife
is taken from him and he is issued
with Lee-Enfleld short trench rife
and ration bag.
IN france he receives two gas bel.