Chapter X: One Young Man Answers Questions

Sydney Baxter's American correspondent has sent me a letter which gives such an admirable picture of the day-to-day life of a Tommy at the front that it merits a separate chapter.

"I am glad that you like the idea of Questions and Answers.
I should never have thought of explaining some of the things
you mention had you not asked. Here goes:

"_Question No. 1._--How do you find time to write so much?
I've often wondered, as I should think you'd want to sleep
when out of the trenches.

"_A._--Well, for one thing, I am very fond of writing
letters. To me it's not a bore as it is to some. To me it's
a medium by which one can have a nice chat with one's chums
(both sexes), and looking at it in that way you can
understand. I write to you because I thoroughly enjoy the
little talks between us. So much for the inclination, which
has much to do with the time, as--where there's a will
there's a way. When in the trenches the sentry duty usually
runs two hours on, four hours off--all the way through. In
addition, we get five hours' work a day. Now the total hours
of duty are thirteen out of twenty-four: and as I only need
six hours' sleep, that leaves five hours for cooking,
eating, reading, or writing. I used to have a programme
somewhat like this: rest hours at night--sleep; rest hours
before 12 o'clock--sleep; and in the afternoon read or
write. Starting from 6 o'clock one evening it works out: 6
to 8 guard, 8 to 10 work, 10 to 12 sleep, 12 to 2 guard, 2
to 6 sleep, 6 to 8 guard, 8 to 10 breakfast and odd jobs, 10
to 2 work, 2 to 6 read and write, and afterwards tea. This
will give you a little idea. I have only two meals a day
whilst in trenches, and cocoa once in the night.

"By the way, when out on 'rest' we sleep up to midday the
first day, and as we go to bed at nine o'clock on the
following evenings we get plenty of sleep. The chief
advantage of 'rest' is the change of food and more exercise,
which the officers see we get. Whilst on 'rest,' it's drill,
etc., in the morning, sport in the afternoon, letters or
reading in the evening.

"_Q. No. 2._--Is a dug-out a hidden structure covered with
sand-bags where you only sleep, and are there such luxuries
as beds?

"_A._--I think I could write a small book on dug-outs, then
leave much unwritten. Let me describe two I have actually
been in. My first was on Hill 60. It was a little sand-bag
one that stood 3 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 5 feet long.
This was shared by eleven of us, who had to take it in turns
to sleep. This is the usual type of front-line dug-out. In
most cases they are large enough to squeeze all men off duty
into them, but of course shells and wet cause them to smash
up at times.

"Another dug-out I have been in was some 20 feet deep with
iron bars supporting the roof, and capable of holding one
hundred men. This was not in the trenches. It had sticks
some 3 feet high, with wire stretched right across, making
eight beds. However, I always prefer the ground; the wire
beds are narrow and not long enough for me. I'm over 6 feet.

"_Q. No. 3._--Do you stay in trenches forty-eight hours
without ever taking off your boots or resting, and how do
you get your food up, etc., if you are on duty all the time?

"_A._--When in the firing line a soldier never takes off his
boots, clothes, or equipment except for one thing, that is
to grease the feet with an anti-frostbite preparation. As
for rest, you can see that with one man in three on
look-out, you get a little rest, at least six hours, which I
found enough. When in a big attack you are of course
scrapping all the time.

"Rations are carried up by other men who are either on rest
or in reserve. As a matter of fact when on rest you are
seldom more than three miles away. The rations are carried
up in sacks by limbers as far as the transport can take
them--it varies according to the level of the ground and
activities. These limbers are met by ration parties who
carry two sacks each, right up to the trenches. Every sack
is marked 'D' for company, '15' for platoon, and so we
always get them. We carry an emergency ration of biscuits,
bully beef, and tea and sugar in case of accidents. I have
only once found it necessary to use mine.

"_Q. No. 4._--In the battles you have been in, did you come
face to face with the Huns, or just shoot at range?

"_A._--Yes, once when we were driving them back, and once
when they were advancing. Apart from that it has been
shooting when a head shows. The nearest I've been in a
trench to the Hun was 15 yards, but most of them range from
60 to 150 yards. You see we are a rifle regiment and so do
not do many charges, but occupy places for sniping, and
relieve the line regiment after it has charged, and by the
rifle fire keep the Hun from counter-attacking.

"_Q. No. 5._--How do you get posts--are carriers in danger?

"_A._--The letters are put in the ration sacks. The party
often get some killed or wounded.

"_Q. No. 6._--Do you get acquainted with French civilians,
and have you picked up any of their language?

"_A._--There are a few civilians in the deserted villages
near the firing line, and by dint of repetition and purchase
I have picked up a little, but I cannot possibly spell it.
You see we do not enter towns.

"_Q. No. 7._--When one series of trenches is built, how does
the enemy get a chance to build close to them?

"_A._--How? Why, under cover of darkness, either by putting
a line of men to form a screen and keep up firing with men
digging behind, or by digging a trench at right angles, and
making a T. The first method is mostly used as it is
quicker, but more casualties occur.

"_Q. No. 8._--Do you have any fear of air raids over the
trenches?

"_A._--No, because a trench is too small an object to be
likely to be hit by a bomb dropping from a height. The
flying men would very possibly hit their own people instead.
However they drop them on our rest billets. We get used to
the shells, and this is only another way of presenting them.

"_Q. No. 9._--What about gas?

"_A._--They very seldom use it now. Our helmets are so
efficient, they cannot do any harm in sending it over. They
might catch one or two who were slow in getting their
helmets on, but we have gongs to give warning."

One Young Man's Leave