Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-11
BARRACK ROOM HOME
OF BRITISH SOLDIER
Tommy Atkins's "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Existence interestingly Described
by English Writer.
PAY NIGHT is GREAT EVENT
Gambling in Army Is Strictly Pro-
hibitcd, but There Is No Telling
What Happens After Periodic
Visit OF Disbursing Officer.
ny LII. NJ. Forbes.

ny II. NJ. Forbes.
LONDON. January 1o;-There is
= WHO has not some one near ana dear
AT present tied 10 that highly inter
csting sphere. "a ONE in barracks" SO
that an unvarnishcd description OF
what the average British barrack
room is really like may interest not a
few. not only in Britain. but in Amer
AS a rule, the cots OF the fighting
men line the room on either side. above
equipment. Higher up are couple OF
shelves upon which he places his cx-
IRA suits Of khaki. putties and over
coat; while in a rack just behind his
his best friend. his rifle.
In one corner Of the room is gener-
ally to be seen the cupboard. in which
It's inmates keen their ''rooty"--brcad.
in other WORTHWHILE in another cor
the coalboN and the barrack stove. Kip
ing mas compared Alden TO "barracls
stove that a!n't been lit for years and
years" and the smile is not on the
whole an inapt one.
Near the door of the barrack room
there generally a bunk" provided
Tor the sergeant in charge: the wash
house in which the mysteries of the
minutes after revciilc. being generally
close at hand.
CONDUCT KIT INSPECTIONS
IN BARRACiI ROOMS
II Is IN inc barrack room that al!
kit inspections take place. and there
me troops are periodically examined by
the medical officer. Curiously enough.
soldier who has crossed bayonets
guns OF the bochc may make but
sorry show Mt an inspection OF kit.
TO show good Kit is really some
old soldier. are never TO be found on
me Same footing in this matter, and
orally more Kit with which 10 make a
display Is by no means the only rea-
son for this Like everything else. /,
requires time and experience to lay
out in apple-pie order the scrEcs.
pants, putties. shoes, ammunition
brush" razor. "housewifc.' coolic. pull,
which all go to complete the equip
ment of Il soldier of the line.
One OF the most eventful nights in
me barrack room is pay night. In
some battalions not solitary y. C. o.
is allowed TO be out of the company
lines after on this cventful evening.
though in others much less fuss is
made In the matter.
There can be little doubt. however.
that any disturbance in the lines is
much more likely 10 occur on pay night
than on any other Occasionally there
is regular stand-up light in bar
rack-room. sometimes the provost SER
Eeant having - be sent Cor before or
der ~ restored.
NO TELLING WHAT MAY
HAPPEN ON PAY NIGHT
Gambling. as most people know. Is
strictly prohibited in the lines; bu, on
pa" "y hhtSnt mere is, IS no saving what may
fully watched Nap" is the srea:
gambling game in The army Dust as
serN.cep' aud many promising career
has IL put an end TO. To some y. c. o. 3
pay night has proved omcthing like
a curse in another sense All forget
full OF tho handful OF picc they have
lifted for their weeks labor, they stroll
IN ne most innocent manner in the
world. only 10 be detected by the
,provost iiEc or ten minutes too late.
casionally get themselves into Il nasty
corner.
SOME TIMES ROOM
LOSES Forbidden LOOK
once in while the barrack room
entirely loses its usual chilly and for
bidding look, nags, colors and bunting
completely hiding from view the less
rosy OF its ordinary features Per
hans it's the wedding day OF the OH
Ger commanding the company, per-
maps 1t is the day when the company
football cup. perhaps it is Christmas
Day. On these occasions beer is
actually rermitted in the barrack room.
and as Tommy dearly loves TO enjoy
himself. the fun is never long in grow.
ingq fast and furious.
IhouEh the majority OF the battalion
and company parades are either held
on the barrack square, in the company
lines or in tho drill sheds certain
parades there are which are held in
OF inc scouting and signalling instruc-
ton is done indoors. and at the close
or or me company training-.often the
often as not half Of the commanding
oihcer's inspection is held Indoors
During THIS Junction the n. C. o.s and
Z. Q. sitting at the table in company
with the adjutant. the ohicers Of the
company under inspection being close
Of the British army when Women
SHARED sh me barrack rooms along with
sse sn one portion OF the room
from the other. Whatever exception
m rn,ert nave been taken to this rather
IT certainly had one desirable effect on
me men, that of immensely modifying
t tions language s;na Under these condi,
cooked the soldiers food and who
nursed them in sickness How stranre
ly altered are all these customs now
BARRACK ROOM IS
DINING-RoOM AS WELL
Except when the weather is particu-
iar!y me and the men take their food
IN the open, it is in the barrack room.
Tr course, That they sit down to table
visited by the orderly officer or oiticer
OF the day. and IL there are any com
plants IL Is TO him that they are made.
IhG orderly officer does not come
is anything to complain about at that
meal the orderly corporal has only
10 mention It to the company sergeant,
major on duty. Only once n dav are
the barrack rooms visited by the com
pany oiiicer, this being generally about
~ y. NJ, when they are carefully in
After hard field day n stronpo
SSPectacie does barrack room present
a me beds are all got ready by the re-
warriors been dismissed parade nnd
nad Il good square meal and a drop Of
Tea than they throw themselves down
t on .neir biscuits tas the army mat
speedily off 10 drea m Iand N'V ore