Chapter I: Preface

I am one of the million or more male residents of the United Kingdom, who a year ago had no special yearning towards military life, but who joined the army after war was declared. At Chelsea I found myself a unit of the 2nd London Irish Battalion, afterwards I was drilled into shape at the White City and training was concluded at St. Albans, where I was drafted into the 1st Battalion. In my spare time I wrote several articles dealing with the life of the soldier from the stage of raw "rooky" to that of finished fighter. These I now publish in book form, and trust that they may interest men who have joined the colours or who intend to take up the profession of arms and become members of the great brotherhood of fighters.

PATRICK MACGILL.

"The London Irish,"
British Expeditionary Force,
_March 25th_, 1915.

CONTENTS

PAGE
CHAPTER I

I ENLIST AND AM BILLETED 13

CHAPTER II

RATIONS AND SICK PARADE 23

CHAPTER III

PICKETS AND SPECIAL LEAVE 36

CHAPTER IV

OFFICERS AND RIFLES 48

CHAPTER V

THE COFFEE-SHOP AND WANKIN 60

CHAPTER VI

THE NIGHT SIDE OF SOLDIERING 71

CHAPTER VII

DIVISIONAL EXERCISE AND MIMIC WARFARE 85

CHAPTER VIII

THE GENERAL INSPECTION AND THE EVERLASTING WAITING 99

CHAPTER IX

READY TO GO--THE BATTALION MOVES 111