LIFE IN CAMP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2765, 8 May 1916, Page 6

LIFE IN CAMP

REFRESHMENTS AT SPELL-OH! Trentham Camp was early astir ona recent morning last week, two bodies of troops being due to transfer to other quarters. The larger of these was ' a draft from the 12th Infantry Reinforcements' which left camp early by special troop trains. H and J Companies of tho loth Reinforcements left; Trentham later in the morning for Fcatherston Camp, also proceeding by special train. These troops will firo their recruits' musketry course at Papawai.

The camp staffs of the n.c.o.'s and privates are fairly large, numbering 200. As time goes on and tho men become more adept at their work, they ara given increases in pay and in order to do this, they must be raised from privates to corporals, and from corporals to sergeants. In a pamp, somewhere in the British Empire, it happened that all but one man on the staff had been fnado a "non-com.," and this man approached the camp quartermaster with a request for promotion. Tho. quartermaster regarded him kindly and listened to his plea. i "Yes, lad, yes: I know.you're the last private," ho said. "But I ask you not to go on with this application. You see, I want to keep one private in the staff as a curio." Tea at "Spell-ohi" • Soldiers afc Treutbani speak highly of an innovation which was made in tho summer. It was the practice of men when on the rifle ranges, in the parade ground or engaged in work about the camp to drink cold water when thirsty at morning and afternoon spell-ho. In their heated state, this was not a wise proceeding. . It was therefore decided to have dixies of hot tea ready at these hours. These were carried to the troops by one- or more of their number and found much moro refreshing than water. The practice has been continued, and numbers of men have expressed the opinion that it has been the means of keeping them fit and free from stomach troubles. ; "Cold water is no good on a hot stomach, but hot tea is," are the worda in which one man summed .up the situ* ation and showed his appreciation. It may be added that the number of sick soldiers at Trentham has been very small for some time past.