The Robesonian., 1918-06-03

meEced throwing a miscellaneous as
sortment Of straps, buckles and other
paraphernalia into it. / thought he
would never stop, but when the pile
reached to my knees he paused long
enough to say, "Next, No. 52l7, '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, 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
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. My legs were in
cased in wOolen puttees, olive drab in |
color, with my trousers overlapping |
them at the top. Then a woolen khaki |
tunic, under which was a blush gray
woOlen shirt, minus a collar; beneath
this shirt woolen belly band about
six inches wide, held in place by tie
strings Of white tape. On my head
was heavy woolen 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 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 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.
| 10 oil cfr
on top Of the pack, with a wooden stick
for cleaning the breach of the rifle 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
J, with "Made in England stamped o1
q the blade; when trying to shave will
:; this it made you wish that you wer,
at war with Patagonia, so that 20,
: could have hollow ground" stampe,
"Made in Germany then your house
It wife, button-cleaning outfit, CONSISTING
t Of brass button stick, two stiff
e brushes, and q box Of "Soldiers
n Friend" paste; then a shoe brush AM
6 box Of dublin, writing pad, indel
It ible pencil, envelopes, and pay book
e and personal belongings, such as
= small mirror, decent razor and
IS sheaf of unanswered letters, and fags
d In your haversack you carry your irol
y rations, meaning tin of bully beet
<. four biscuits and a can containing tea
r. sugar and Oxo cubes; couple O
le pipes and a pack of shag, tin of riff
d oil, and pull-through. Tommy ger
III orally carries the Oil with his rations
Is it gives the cheese a sort of sardin
it taste.
le Add to this f1rst-aid pouch and
le long, ungainly rifle patterned after tn
se Daniel Boone period, and you have a
idea Of British soldier in Blighty
a Before leaving for France, this riff
~ is taken from him and he is issue
1e and ration bag.
d. In France he receives two gas he
id NETS, sheepskin coat, rubber macl
v intosh, steel helmet, two blankets, teal
is shell goggles, balaclava helme
ed gloves and tin Of antifrostbite greas
r. which is excellent for greasing th
ne boots. Add to this the weight of hi
he rations, and can you blame Tommy fo
growing at a twenty-kilo route march
d. Having served as sergeant major /
x the United States cavalry, 1 tried t
re tell the English drill sergeants the1
We business, but it did not work. The
n. Immediately put me as batman in thei
as mess. Many greasy dish of stew wa
to accidentally spilled over them.
rs. Iwould sooner fight than be waite
70 80 when the order came through frol
of headquarters calling for draft {
ne 25O re-enforcements for France, vo
ur unteered.
to Then we went before the M. {
(medical offcer) for another physics