Over The Top

g off, Mr. Lance-

degree below a Private. In the Corporal

lp him draw the next day's rations,

nce-Corporal and Private goes to the Quartermaster-Sergeant a

ber of men entitled to rations, so there is no chance of putting anything over on him. Many arguments take place between the "Quarter"

he billet. The Corporal was still smoking a fag. How I envied him. But when the issue commenced my envy died, and I realized that the first requisite of a non-commissioned

of the rations. Sitting on the floor, using a wooden box as a table, the issue commenc

out of the six being as flat as a pancake, the result of an Army Ser

, one apple, and

da onions, all

ese in the sha

ound tins

ul of r

or as Tommy calls t

of mustar

filled with meat, vegetables, and greasy water), had been turned over to the Company Cook

arter. Then in a slow, mystified voice he read out, "No. I Section, 19 men

e in a loaf for fifteen men, -- well to make it e

bread was dished out. Pretty soon from a far corner of the

a loaf of bread? Looks m

poral a

, somebody's got to get it, so shut up

poral starte

n men, three tins. Six in a tin, makes twelve

t like apple, while others who received plum were partial to app

onions, s

onion, and I said they make your breath smell, so guessed I

, pound

ing), and sliced the cheese, -- each slicing bringing forth a

, ounces

at the raisins were to be turned over to the cook for "duff" (plum pudding).

ts, tin

biscuits, and told everyone to help themselves, -- nobody re

r, tin

ne, ten in

er ru

ustard, bot

he pickles. On the next issue there were only eighteen names, as the

ause Tommy is suspicious when it c

asking them if they cannot get some M.P. (Member of Parliament) to have him

Occasionally when he is flush, he invests in a tin of pears or apricots. His pay is only a shilling a day, twenty-four c

Tommy dies of starvation. They consist of one tin of bully beef, four biscuits, a little tin which contains tea, sugar, and Oxo cubes (concentrated beef tablets). These are only to be used when the e

ed wagons), which supplies Tommy's wants while in the front line. They are constantly under shell fire. The rations are unloaded at the entrance to the communication trenches and are

Major sorts the ratio

e, tinned butter (sometimes seventeen men to a tin), jam, or marmalade, and occa

aking dessert. This is "trench pudding." It is made from broken biscuits, condensed milk, jam -- a little water add

uy them, ship them to the Tommies, who, immediately upon receipt of same throw them over the parapet. Sometimes

ke) consistency. He takes his bayonet and by means of the handle carries the mess up in the front trench to cool. After it has cooled off he tries t

tion issue Tommy uses another

or relatives. They write to the papers and their names are published. Girls and women in England answer them, and send out parcels of