The Sergeant's Mess.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 175, 19 May 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Sergeant's Mess.

THE "HALF-WAY HOUSE" TO THE OFFICERS'.

To the very embitious lvcruit the-. ultimate military Mecca is a commission, with thereby the right of admisson to "the promised land"—the officers' mess.

But to the young soldier whose martial aspirations are of a more modest character the sergeants' chevrons, with the accompanying privileges and comforts of the sergeants' mess, represent "a consummation devoutly to be wished" —and, incidentally, a consummation most devoutly to )>e worked for. To even the very ambitious Tommy the sergeants' mess is undoubtedly a desirable "half-way house" immediately to make for if the journey to the officer's me?..; cannot be completed witnout a halt.

Furthermore, even the happy-go-lucky lad who do;s not care a rap about promotion is quite alive to the fact flint the sergeants' mess is an institution to be re-pected. This fact is none too pleasantly home in upon him whenever it comes his turn to he a member of the small fatigue party which is generally detailed each day to rub and scrub and act as masculine charwomen in the building >n which the lucky ones of the triple chevrons dine and wine. Between an officers' and a sergeants' mess there is not a vast deal of difference—at any rate, not on the surface. In the former a little more luxurious atmosphere and fare prevails than in the latter, and a little keener regard is paid to the customs common to the wealthier class of society such as evening instead of mid-day dinner, etc., —hut on the whole the gu'f between them is not very wide. The sergeants endeavour to keep it as narrow as possible by wisely taking the officers' mess as the criterion for theirs as far as practicable.

It must not, he wever, be thought, by reason of that last remark, that sergeants' messes are the outcome of a snobbish desire on the part of sergeants to simulate their superiors.

As a matter of fact it is one of the demands of discipline that compels sergeants to sup together; that socially

separates them from their subordinates. The King's Regulations emphatically lay it down that whenever and wherever it is possible a sergeants' mess will invariably bu formed. AT THE FRONT. Even at the front every effort _K made to oliey that regulation. If circumstances will at all permit, little groups of sergeants generally congregate together—as do officers—for wining and dining; they improvise a rae ; s. But such a mess si, like the wining and dining, oftoner tlian not more imaginary than real—it is merely a euphemism. The only real mess observable is the churned-up mud and slush surrounding the dug-out or trench corner in which the good follows have chosen to squat. In that kind of a mess—one that brother Tommy also has a democrtic enjoyment of —they work their "epicurean" ways through the generally sumptuous "menu" of bully beef and biscuits, with, if their luck's in, some steaming hot tea holding premier and only—place on the •' wine" list. And that tea proves more palatable and acceptable there than probably the choicest product of the finest vineyard in Europe. Even the ration of rum which is issued to them is not more highly esteemed by soldiers on active service than is their tea—in the trendies, at any rate! When dining in the trenches the sergeants likewise the Tommies share with the officers a privilege which ordinarily is reserved for the. latter only —that of music with their meals. Unfortunately, though, it is then only the deadly and unpleasant music of screeching and bursting she'ls and humming bullets, not at all like the delightfully soothing selections which, in times of peace, the regimental bands discourse while officers dine.

But outside the actual danger zone at the front military life and customs become a little less crude and impromptu, and continue becoming less and lc-s so right down the line, until almost normal is reached at the bases. There, whenever a sergeants' mess is in existence, it varies but little from what it does at homo—except, of course, environment. AN EYE-LESS EDEN. The environment of a sergeants' mess at home is, as! have already indicated, a very comfortable one as a. rule. A well-furnished dining-room, one that would put to shame that of many a hotel, a reading-room that would compare with advantage with that of any first-class club, a billiard-room and a liquor bar that would do likewise, and an up-to-date kitchen that would charm the heart of any housewire, are the iMial comph'tuenl- of a sergeants' sanctuary. And it : s an Evo-los* Eden. Ft is controlled entirely by the sons of Mars. Not even the cook is of the feminine fraternity: lie is a. soldier Tommy.

Tlie hnu-okoeper i- ono or other oT tli.' sergeants, -elected by the CO.. who undi'i takes tho duty for a period of a few months at a time, lie is designated tiie caterer, and usually receives estra paymont for his services from the mi <•. fund, and is u!-o r.'li<'\ed of all military duties. I'nl. unlike sonic hou sekeepe l -. a sor-

•_eant;-' rues- caterer is not allowed all his own war. I! • is suhjeel io the or- (!'■!• of the Mess ( 'oinniit tee. Tlii; r:i|l!luittee consists of two memher-; (one inarritil, and not in the nc-s, and the other unmarried), with a sergeant )l'»* lvlov.- t!:e rank of as president. The committee instructs the caterer what to j unhase in the way of food, uies, spirits, lienor-, etc., and :i!-u from ivliom to purchase them. But

THK DOrBLK-liAUKKLLEI) LIE.

the committee even cannot choo6e trpurchase anything from a tradesman ol whom the CO. does not approve. CONTROL OF MESS MONEY.

Each mess also has a treasurer—the duty being taken quarterly in turns bythe senior members--and it is his dots to collect all mess subscriptions dm from members (these subscriptions ar*> deducted from the sergeants' pay nc> counts each month by their companyofficers). He also pays out any mum due bv the mess that do not exceed £1 Liabilities which exceed £'l in amount are paid personally by the sen ior major in the regiment, the officer usually charged with the immedia & supervision of the sergeants' mess and its funds. The mess committee, however, has the power to authorise all ordinary expenditure; for extraordinary expenditure—such say, as a new billiard table th? sanction of st'l the* member-; is necessary, and also the approval of the CO.

In normal times art ordinary meeting of all the mess members is held once a month—at which attendance is compulsory—and the regimental sergeantmajor, or, iu his absence, the next r-cn. ior in rank, presides. At this meeting all sorts of detail matters are discussea. Minutes of the proceedings are recorded and afterwards submitted to the CO.

Every warrant officer, and staff or other "-crgeant m a regiment, must become a member of the mess, with the exception of an unpaid lance-sergeant Married sergeants with their homes in barracks, or close to, do not, of course, become dining members. On tiivt becoming a member the ne>v ly-niade sergeant must pay an entrant- > fee of not more than three clays' pay. and on promotion the difference of three days' pay. A monthly subscription of not exceeding Is Cd has also to be paid by the unmarried members, and one not exceeding 9d by the married or detached members.

The unmarried or dining members, must furthermore pay an extra messing subscription. This must in no case exceed Is a day. Usually it is about 7d. SOCIAL AMENITIES.

When, as they often do in the piping times of peace, the sergeants indu'g' in social amenities—such as the giving

of a ball, etc., —the cost of .same is generally met by a levy on all members. But no expense, of this kind nmy be incurred unless at least two-thirds of the numbers are agreeable to it.

For liquors and billiards the sergeants must also pay. but, if the CO. is agreeable, the King's Regulations permit the wearers of the triple chevrons to make a wwkly settlement of their account; for these items —in otne: words, they are a 1 lowed weekly "strap"' or "tick." The caterer is responsiYa for collecting whatever they "chaU h 1" in this wav.

To i'ssist him in running the mess n caterer usually has four or five i ssistants —private-;, due of these is :, < oolv. another a scullery-maid (washing up the crockery, etc.), and the reiminG'r act as waiters. These Tommies get r \- tra pay from the mess funds, and ; 'so share the same superior grub whic 1 the sergeants enjoy. To assist them m their labours; th<y, as 1 mentioned at the commencement, usually <. * s t I he help of a small fatigue party of other Tommies every day for a few lours. The fatigr.? party though, gets no'h'.ig extra —but work, and the privilege of seeing how immeasureably better off the sergeants are than themseH-es. To the sensible Tommy who sees that —the one who prefers his tea in a cup and saucer, instead of a big clumsy mug, and likes his bread and butter cut thin rather than in slabs, and to eat his meals off a linen tablecloth rather than off bare boards or a ragged oilcloth—the sight is a stimulating one. He imeindiately registers a vow to become a sergeant, too, and that as quickly as nossible.

WHATLL YOl- HAVE, GENTLEMEN?

If he succeeds in bringing about his intention it will be one of the proudest moments of his martial life, when he, by right of rank, enters the portals of the mess for the first time. His comrades of the future will accord him an effusive welcome, and to reciprocate that welcome in the traditional and popular manner he should « isoly make it his immediate business to ask the question, "What will you have, gentlemen:-" of the assembled company. Except in the Roval Engineers, where corporals are permitted to become members of sergeants' messes, no Tommy who does not display at least three chevrons may receive or dispense hospitality in the Inly of holies of the soldiers whom Wellington described as the. backbone of the Army. In fact, unless upon fatigue, neither private nor corporal clare put his nose inside the door of the always jealously prized perserves. Therefore, when the third chevron removes a two-striped Tommy from the barrack-room to the sergeants' mess, from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, as it were, with all the privileges appertaining to the honour, lie has surely more than a little justification for feeling elated with himself, not only in the first flush of his new dignitv, but nHvays. Kvory Tommy knows that it is much bettor to •••'rub in" than "s'-rub in" 1 be sersreants" mess.