IN CAMP

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 14

IN CAMP

TRADITIONS OF LAST WAR STILL HOLD OF SACRIFICE [Written by Krwi, for tbe ‘ Evening . Star.’] Two weeks of camp life have passed, and one would expect a settling down process to have taken place. Actually one night was sufficient to enable the .Reservists to regain the former camp atmosphere, and they slipped easily into the old-time routine. The unsettling clement has been in the constantly changing personnel. Men have gone sick and have had to be replaced; others have been recalled to their “ essential industries ” and reinforcements have taken their places. New guards have been found necessary for vital points, and these have necessitated more men. The “ family ” spirit, which pervaded the original camp has had to be broken up and reformed time and again, and already there is a sense of misfortune if one of “our chaps” is taken away to any other (and consequently inferior) guard. BOOTS ARE FRIENDS.

The foot troubles which caused so much temporary pain and inconvenience in the first week arc now almost forgotten. Most of the men have broken in the army boot, although the scars will remain for some time to show how stern was the struggle. Guard duty requires little serious marching, and this factor has aided the recovery of foot ailments. The boot is now regarded as a staunch friend, good for many a long mile in the future and protective from rough ground as well as wet weather.

Two “ diggers ” sauntering back from washing with towels around necks and sharing the weight of a bucket of water, exchange observations: “It’s amazing how the capacity' for' fun sticks.” “ Yes, you’d think that these chaps have grown too old for all that sort of thing-now. They seem to have regained or kept the high spirits that they had 20 odd years ago.” And so it seems; there are none of the youthful pranks common to Territorials in camp, but the sense of humour of older men is well developed, and a good yarn well told is thoroughly enjoyed. The fact is that, wherever'these men come from, and despite the fact that they are representative of the Black Watch, Irish Guards, Buffs, “Dinks,” and 4th Otago, as well as the Navy and other units, they have the common background of the war, and, where they cannot share the memory of the same “stunts.” they can add to one another’s knowledge of events.

The almost unnatural weather conditions have made the camp life ideal. Warm, sunny days followed by still fine nights, tend to break in the guard to its rather onerous duties by a gradual process which leaves little to be desired. NO COMPLAINTS. There has never yet been a complaint from this particular camp. The food is excellent, the quarters comfortable, and the duties, while they keep the men busy, are not in any way unreasonable. Polishing brass and keeping the living quarters clean and neat have simply been carried out as in the last war, except that the men had no need to be ordered to do so. The guard duty consists mainly in keeping innocent but inquisitive local residents from trespassing on forbidden ground. _ The possibility. of people of malign intent doing anything unpleasant may be remote, but, if such people exist, the certainty that vital points are closely guarded by troops of proved marksmanship should prove a deterrent to their anti-social activities. Even the guards oif duty have found, on occasion, that only the happy fact that they were able'to remember the necessary password in time saved them from unpleasant consequences in the night. Many and varied are the copies of conversation indulged in by the guards off duty. Politics are a fruitful source of argument, and every aspect of the Government policy. The difficulty seems to be for any man to complete a sentence without several interruptions, while the expression of a new idea or an unpopular one may mean complete loss of the ability to be heard owing to the deluge of words from other sources.

RAILWAY FARES. Stories of other guards quickly gc the rounds, despite the fact that ntaji< miles may separate the units. The question of leave was seriously discussed from all angles for the first week or so That matter satisfactorily settled, there came stories of the dealings of the Railway Department with at least one guard. It appeared that the. men merely “jumped” the trains and expected railway officials not to notice them. This was unsatisfactory from every point of view, and then, when leave.passes were issued, it was thought that the matter would be resolved by the men showing these passes. Ail went well for a time until the railways forwarded accounts for fares outstanding. As the men had not been paid since entering camp, the position was serious for some of them, but their credit was good and the railways agreed to wait until the debtors were more financial. So it appears that the men on active service are to pay their railway fares. The opinions of the men on the subject are better left out of print.

Seventeen days passed before the first pay day arrived. All things considered, this was not bad, as the early organisation of such a national effort as a war must have put a severe strain on almost every Government department even remotely concerned. However, when men with little to fall back on are kept over a fortnight for their- pay they begin to worry. All these moil are married and most, of them have families to support, and. for some, this delay meant considerable worry. Fortunately. the pay question is now another milestone passed on the wav to war, and a general relaxation of tension is noticeable. WAGE COMPARISONS. A further subject of debate among the soldiers was discussed long before the public began to write about it in the newspapers. It began this way: Two soldiers were patrolling a public road; a motor lorry was stopped in the usual course of duty; the driver was permitted to pass, and, as he let in his clutch, asked, “ Is it true that you fellows work for 7s a day?” On receiving an affirmative reply he looked amazed. “ Well, if you aren’t darn fools. Why the dickens don’t you come over to Public Works jobs and get £l2 a week?” He felt it unnecessary to wait for a reply. The next day two guards off dutv took a walk round one such job. At least 20 of the workmen in different parts of the works made similar remarks. “What fools you chaps are to join the army when' von con'd be earning big money here.”' And yet the ‘

same men had one in their small company who had the opportunity of being recalled from tbe army to work on this same job at 3s 4d to 3s. Cd an hour for a 12-hour-day and seven days a week. He bad served with tho New Zealand troops in the war, and could readily have considered that ho had served Iris country to the limit. Ho refused the offer and continued to work 24 hours a day seven days a week at 7s per diem, plus an allowance of 3s for his wife. Why? Were the Public Works men right? Are these men fools? Surely a sense of duty counts for something. But it does not seem to affect the financial position. Not that the men would make any complaint about their pay. They admit that the conditions obtaining in war time demand sacrifices, and are quite prepared .to accept array pay. The injustice lies in tbe inequality of remuneration for the service rendered. It would appear that these men who are employed on essential works are doing a much more important(national service than tbe soldiers who have been called up. Was there not some suggestion of a Labour battalion for Public Works men ? If this had been formed tho n a should have received the pay of a private soldier, their foremen that of an n.c.0., and so on. If the soldier is necessary (and it must, bo assumed that he is, or the Government would not be spending money on him), then his time must be as valuable as that of the essentia] labourer. The soldier is on duty for 24 hours of the day, even though his guard duty may occupy only eight or nine of those hours. In many cases he is accepting much less pay than_ he received in civil life. Cannot his fellow-workmen in the national cause make some sacrifice? These men are among those who roundly condemn the war profiteer, and yet they profiteer to the extent of 100 per cent, of their wages. And who can blame them if those wages are being offered ? But why should they be offered? “ Surely the public generally and tho men themselves will realise the inequality of sacrifice which is here so glaring,” is tho outcome of the soldiers’ discussions. Sela. GOOD SAMARITANS. People have been very good. Local residents open tbeir houses to the men, who do appreciate a fireside and a yarn after a day’s work. Others bring them additional supplies of milk, or arrive at opportune .moments with a cup of tea. Bathing facilities are very limited, a,nd tho generous offer of free and frequent baths from one householder has been greatly appreciated. The combined societies which take an interest in soldiers tactfully supplied smokes for the men just at the time when the money shortage was most acute. These things are deeply appreciated, and they help to make the somewhat monotonous life in the army a little brighter. “ It’s a great war,” they say, “ but for those who will have to go overseas it’s going to be hard and long. But what do soldiers know about it, anyway P