The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-04-05


sorfment OF straps. buckles and-other
| psfHPhsTHsi.a into 1t. ! thought he
would never stop. but when the Tile
reached to my knees he paused loag
enough to say. "Next. No 6217 'Arris,
B 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. l 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 batmnn TO
'elp I'm carry it,
Struggling under the load, with fire.
quent pauses for rest. / reached our
barracks (large cur barns), and my
platoon leader came TO the rescue. II
was marvel to me how quickly he
assembled the equipment. After he
had completed the task. he showed me
how to adjust II 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 ard
heels Of which were re-enforced by
steel hslf-moons. My legs were ri
cnsed In wooden puttees. olive drah IA
color, with my trousers overlenpif
them at the top. Then a wooden khnl,'
tunic. under which was h'uish rrc'
wooden shirt. minus a collar; beneath
this shirt a wooden belly band rhon,
six inches wide, held In place by 10
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 stspenders,
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
belt. On the right side OF the belt
hung water bottle. covered with felt !;
on the left side was my bayonet and
scabbard. and intrenchlng tool handle.
this handle strapped to the bnyonet
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 ennvas
straps over the shoulders; suspended
on the bottom Of the pack was my
mess tin or canteen In neat little
canvas cnse. My waterproof sheet.
looking like a Jelly roll. was strapped
on top Of the pack. with wooden stick
for cleaning the breach OF the rifle pro-
jecting from each end. On lanyard
around my waist hung a huge jack
knife with a cAn-openey attachment
The pack contained my overcout, an
extra pair OF socks. change q under
wear. hold all containing knife. fork.
spoon. comb. toothbrush. lather brush.
shaving soap, and rnEor made Of tin.
with made in England" stamped on
tbs blade: when trying to shave with
this 1t made you wish that you were
at war with Patagonia. 50 that you
could hive hollow ground" stamped
shade in Germany then your house
wife, button-eleaning outfit. consisting |
Of a brass button sticx. two stiff
brushes. and box Of SOLDIERS
Friend paste; then shoe brush and
box Of dublin, writing pad, indel-
ible pencil. envelopes. nnd pny book.
and personal belongings, such rs
small mirror, a decent razor and al
sheaf Of unanswered letters. and flags.
In your haversack you carry your iron
rations, meaning tin Of bully beef,
four biscuits and a can containing ten.
sugar and Oxo cubes; couple OF
pipes and a pack Of sing. tin Of rife
oil. and a pull-through. Tommy gem
orally carries the oil with his rntions I;
II gives the cheese sort Of snrdine
taste.
Add to this a first-aid pouch and a
long. ungainly rife patterned after the
Daniel Boone period, and you have an
idea Of British soldier in Blighty.
Before leaving for France. this rife
Is taken from him and he is issued /
with Lee-Enfeld short trench rifle
and a ration bag.
In France he receives two gas he'll
NETS, a sheepskin coat rubber mack
intosh, steel helmet, two blankets, tear
shell goggles. bnlaclava helmet.
gloves and tin Of antifrostbite grease
which Is excellent for greasing the
boots. Add to this the weight Of his
rations, and can you blame Tommy for
growing at twenty-lkilo route march?
Having served as sergeant major in
the United States cavalry, tried TO
tell the English drill sergeants their
business. but It did not work. They
put me as batman In their
mess. Many greasy dish Of stew was
spilled over them
would sooner fight than be waiter.
so when the order came through from
calling for a draft of
250 re-enforcements for France. vol
unteered.
Then we went before the NJ. o.
(medical officer) for another physical
This was very brief. He
nsked our names and numbers and
said EFT" and we went out to fight.
We were put into troop trains and
aanf IN goufhamnfon whqra VIC do