Our Battalion: Being Some Slight Impressions of His Majesty's Auxiliary Forces, in Camp and ElsewhereRaven-Hill, L. (Leonard)
History
Our Battalion: Being Some Slight Impressions of His Majesty's Auxiliary Forces, in Camp and Elsewhere
Raven-Hill, L. (Leonard)
Armies -- Caricatures and cartoons; Caricatures and cartoons -- Great Britain
Rather rough time getting back to camp. Thought at one time half my lot
were going to fall out, so went for 'em like anything. Called 'em a
"bally lot of school-girls out for a Sunday-school treat," which upset
them somewhat, so they bucked up and not one caved in, although we were
all pretty well "baked."
Awfully festive night. The Wildshires had a camp fire, nearly all the
Brigade turned out. Any amount of choruses. Had fearful "rag"
afterwards. Scotson got hold of a wheelbarrow, formed a machine-gun
detachment, and rushed the Southshires' lines. Awfully "pi" lot, and got
very sick. Whenever they started to object charged 'em with the "Maxim,"
and drove 'em to earth. When I got back found my tent struck and a note
on it begging me not to disturb the Colonel when pitching it. Got out my
blankets, rolled up in them, and slept outside.
* * * * *
_Saturday._--Find I'm stuck in charge of the baggage. Must see if I can
manage it without the usual row. Rather nice fellow is the A.S.C. in
charge of transport. Told him we'd got it all ready, and he needn't
worry. Shall just have time for my fellows to get breakfast and then
slip into it. Everything seems all serene, so I'll get a bite myself.
Oh, my Aunt Maria! I wish if they give a fellow a job to do they'd leave
him to do it. Found everybody pitching the stuff up into the wagons
anyhow. How ever it got sorted out, goodness knows. Had rather a row
with the A.S.C. chap; told him he was muddling everything up. Seemed to
think a Volunteer can't possibly know anything, but considering half my
men come from the railway, I'll back them against all comers for loading
a truck. Started at last, about half an hour late. More trouble at the
station; only two trucks there instead of the five indented for. My
stock of ornamental profanity barely sufficient for the occasion.
Finally managed somehow. Loaded up passenger coaches, horse boxes,
anything; but men awfully sulky. Thought they were going to curse the
Major when he wanted to know why everything wasn't done. Got rotted by
young Blenkinsop for mucking the show up. Major awfully good chap on
these occasions; told me it's absolutely unavoidable when we have to
manage to get a day's work done in about three hours. Told ripping good
jest against himself when _he_ was on baggage duty years ago. Must try
it again next year to see if I can do it differently. Only one or two
things gone wrong after all, by some miracle.
Home again. Feel rather tired. Jolly good camp, though. Hope next year's
will be as good.
[Illustration: Off Duty.]
[Illustration: Philosophies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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