The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-04-11
p II.
Bliehty to Rest 6inets.

@Z-
Blighty to Rest BiIIets.
The next morning the captain sent
for me and Informed me: "Empey, as
q recruiting sergeant you are a wash
out" and sent me to q training depot.
After arriving at this place, I 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 q 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. I was rudely brought to
earth by the quarter" exclaiming,
"'Ere, you, 'op it; tyke it aw'y; blind
my eyes, 'e's looking for lis batman to
'elr i'm carry it."
Struggling under the load, with fire.
quxnt pauses for rest, l reached our
barracks (large a barns), and my
platoon leader came to the rescue. It
Syas a marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
illd completed the task, he showed me
how to adjust it on my person. Pretty
soon I 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
tunic, 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 my head
was a heavy wooden trench cap, with
huge earlaps buttoned Eel 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 bell
hung a water bottle. covered with felt
on the left side was my bnyonet anG
scabbard, and intrenching tool handle
this handle strapped to the bayone'
scabbard. In the rear was my in
trenching tool, carried in a canvas case
This tool was a combination pick anG
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 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 c%an-opener attachment
The pack contained my overcoat, ar
extra pair Of socks, change of under
wear, hold all Containing knife, fork
spoon, comb, toothbrush, lather brush
shaving soap, and a razor made of tin
with "Made in England" stamped OF
the blade; when trying to shave witt
this it made you wish that you were
at war with Patagonia, SO that yo1
could have a "hollow ground" stamped
shade in Germany then your house
wife, button-cleaning outfit, consisting
Of a brass button stick, two stiff
brushes, and a box Of "Soldiers
a box Of dublin, a writing pad, indel
iDle pencil, envelopes, and pay book
and personal belongings, such as
small mirror, q decent razor and
sheaf Of unanswered letters, and fags
In your haversack you carry your irol
rations, meaning q tin Of bully beef
four biscuits and a can containing tea
sugar and Oxo cubes; a couple O.
pipes and a pack Of shag, a tin Of riff
oil, and a pull-through. Tommy gen
orally carries the oil with his rations
1t gives the cheese a sort Of sardine
taste.
Add to this a frst-aid pouch and 8
long, ungainly rifle patterned after the
Daniel Boone period, and you have al
Idea Of q British soldier in Blighty
Before leaving for France, this rifle
Is taken from him and he is ISSUED
with a Lee-Enfeld short trench rifle
md q ration bag.
In France he receives two gas bel