Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-03-28

pardpnernallu INTO IL. lHouSht ~
would never stop. but when the pill
reached to my knees he paused Ions
enough TO say, Next, No. 5217, 'Arris
B company" / gazed in bewildermen
at the pile of junk in front of me, ant
then my eyes wandered around looking
for the wagon which was to carry II
to barracks. | 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
'elp i'm carry it,"
Struggling under the load, with fire.
quent pauses for rest, l reached our
barracks Qarge car barns), and my
platoon leader came TO the rescue. 1t
was marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
had completed the task. he showed me
how to adjust it on my person. Pretty
soon / 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. Ny 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 a blush gray.
wooden shirt, minus a 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 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 a 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 a 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 a neat little |
canvas case. My waterproof sheet.
looking like a jelly roll, was strapped
on top of the pack, with wooden stick
for cleaning the breach of the rife pro-
jecting from each end. On a LANYARD
around my waist hung a huge jack
knife with a 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
his it made you wish that you were
at war with Patagonia, so that you
could have a 'hollow ground" stamped
Made in Germany') then your house
wife, buttOn-cleaning outfit, consisting
If a brass button stick, two stiff
brushes, and a box of Soldiers
'riend' paste; then a shoe brush and
| box of dublin, a writing pad indel-
BILE pencil, envelopes, and pay book,
md personal belongings. such as a
mall mirror, decent razor and a
heat of unanswered letters, and flags.
n your haversack you carry your iron
ations, meaning tin of bully beef,
our biscuits and can containing tea,
ugar and OxO cubes; couple of ,
ipes and pack of shay tin of rifle :
IL, and pull-through. Tommy gen
rally carries the oil with his rations;
gives the cheese a sort of sardine
iste.
Add to this a first-aid pouch and
ing, ungainly rifle patterned after the !,
aniel Boone period and you have an =
ea of British soldier in Blighty. :,
Before leaving for France, this rifle .
taken from him and he is issued =
it'll Lee-Enfield short trench rife
I'd ration bag. ,.
In France he receives two gas he'll =,
cts, q Sheepskin coat, rubber mack -
tosh, steel helmet, two blankets, tear >.
ell goggles, balaclava helmet, n,
owes and tin of antifrostbite grease 81
lich is excellent for greasing the -,
OTIS. Add to this the weight of his .;
tons, and can you blame Tommy for 9,
Dwling at twenty-kilo route march? n,
Having served as sergeant major in
> United States cavalry, / tried to oN
the English drill sergeants their W.
siness, but it did not work. They III
put me as batman in their be
SIS. Many greasy dish of stew was nj
'identally spilled over them.
would sooner fight than he a waiter, IT
when the order came through from ca
ldquarters calling for a draft of
re-enforcements for France, l vol az
eered.
hen we went before the NJ. 0. "c'
edical Officer) for another physical
mination. This was very brief. He of