The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-03-23
CHAPTER u.
Bliohty to Rest BIIiets

Inc next morning the captuin sen
for me and informed me: "Empey. n,
recruiting sergeant you are a wash
cut" and sent me to a training depot
After arriving at this place, I was
hustled to the quartermaster stores
and received an awful shock. The
quaftcrmaster sergeant spread a wa.
terproOf sheet on the ground and com.
nenced throwing a miscellaneous as
surtment OF straps, buckles and other
paraphernalla into Il. I thought he
would never stop, but when the pile
reached to my knees he paused long
enough to say, Next. No. 5217. Arris,
Is 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 II
to 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
clip 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 n 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 n 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 or 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 a collar; beneath
this shirt q wooden belly band about
six inches wide, held I'm place by tic
strings Of white tape. On my head
was heavy wooden trench cap. with
huge earlnps buttoned over the top.
Then the equipment: A canvas belt.
with ammunition pockets, and two
wide canvas straps like suspenders,
called I'D" 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 bnyonet and
'cabbard, and intrenching tool handle
his handle strapped to the bayonet
scabbard. In the rear was my in
renching tool, carried I'm a canvas case.
This tool was combination pick and
spade. A canvas hnversack was
strapped to the left side Of the belt.
While on my back was the pack, also
n canvas, held In place by two canvas
traps over the shoulders; suspended
IN the bottom Of the pack was my
ness tin or canteen in neat little
anvas case. My waterproof sheet.
ooking like jelly roll. was strapped ,
n top of the pack. with wooden stick
or cleaning the breach of the rife pro-
Getting from each end. On lanyard
round my waist hung q huge jack
nife with can-opeuer attachment.
he pack contained my overcoat, an
xtra pair Of socks. change Of under
'ear, hold all Containing knife, fork.
pooh. comb, toothbrush. lather brush, {
having soap. and a rnzor made of tin, I
18th made In England stamped on
ne blade; when trying to shave with s
his 1t made you wish That you were o
war with Patagonia. no that you n
ould have hollow ground stamped Il
Made In Germany then your house o
life. button-cleaning outfit. consisting 8
brass button stick. two stiff
rushes, and a box Of soldiers q
riend" paste; then a shoe brush and q
box of dublin, a writing pad, indeI-
lie pencil. envelopes, and pay book,
nd personal belongings such as g
nall mirror, decent rszor and a Il
leaf of unanswered letters, md fags. g
your haversack you curry your iron
'tions. meaning a tin Of bully beef, Ia
'ur biscuits and q Can Continuing tea, f.
lgnr and Oxo cubes; q couple Of
pes and pack Of shay. a tir Of rife 50
]. and a pull-through. Tommy gen.
ally carries the oil with his nations lii
gives the cheese q sort az sardine ds
ste. bi
Add to this frst-aid pouch md bi
lg, ungainly rife patterned after the W,
'niel Boone period. and you have an ell
N of a British solder IN Blighty. tw
Before leaving for Rksnue. this rife
taken from him - - 10 issued La
tn a Lee-EnheaA shsrt trench rife wi
d ration bag. Mi
In France hs receives two gaa hal ra