"SOME" REST AT THE FRONT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 6 (Supplement)

"SOME" REST AT THE FRONT.

"I say, boys, we're going for a rest to-morrow. I guess it'sll be acceptable after sixteen days' trench work like we've bad."

So spoke Smiley, our optimist. He had only been out in France for a month, and he had just finished his first spell of trench life, and was eagerly looking forward to the promised six days' rest which was in store for us. Poor fellow! He had had no experience of "rest camps" as yet, and we did not fancy the job of breaking to him the sad news tliat far from having got past the worst part_of life with the Expeditionary Force, he had really only tasted the top layer so to speak. ''Rest camps" were an unknown quantity to him as yet, and I felt pity for him as I contemplated wliat the reality was, and what ho imagined it was going to be.

One glorious round of idle luxury and pampered attention, no parados, no rifle inspection, no anythings which go to make life liard and tedious. Such was Smiley's idea of a stay in a " rest camp"; yea, verily, I pitied him. That night we were relieved from our trenches, and commenced a. long, miserabb march hack to the "rest camp." Rain and cold winds about our ears, water and mud, and more mud, under our feet, shell holes in the road conveniently placed where we could not possibly avoid them, flares continuously going up, and causing snipers to snipe at us. Such were the conditions under which wo commenced our march to the "rest camp." Well, dead beat, hungry, thirsty, and muddy, we eventually arrived. Imagine «, specially big and specially wet Irish bog dotted with wooden huts in the last stage of decay, and here and there a decrepid incinerator slowly burning the camp refuse, and over ail a look of resigned 1 helplessness, and abandoned to desolation. Such was our "rest camp" as we saw it for the first time in the grey light of a downing day.

Four hours to get our rifles and equipment and uniforms cleaned, and to have a sleep, a wash, and what the c&ok called breakfast. Four hours, 1 say, and then we were out onparade minus rifles, equipment, and tunic, and busily engaged strafing Sweden and everything Swedish (especially drill.) Next a run for about two miles and then a rest for dinner. After dinner there was rifle exercise and rapid bolt moving for an hour or two.

Wxt ten—such as it was—then company drill, and then when we were feeling like overwashed starch collars, we were told we could go to bed. 1 had been sleeping about thro? hours when T was rudely awaiiencd, and told to fall in with a fatigue party t.> proceed on a s:ind-bag filling expedition, and when we came l>ack we were glared at for expecting to be allowed to make up for lost time.

The succeeding five days were a replica of tlij first, only more hard workwas attached, and each day a higher scramble for grub, until i began to contemplate seriously waylaying the ration party and pinching my share beforo it readied ilie lint I managed to survive without that. Of course wo had our light moments, but they iwero not so plentiful as we would have wished, and I think few of us were sorry when the order came to mow on again to the trenches.

f happened to be next to Smiley on (he march, and when I slyly mentioned "rest camps" In? glowered at me and muttered, "Blow rest "camps. I'm if Kid I'm going up to the trenches. There's a chance of a rest there any-

Poor ciitimist! Ife had been initialed, and tb.' initiation wa.s indeed hard. -A. A. M'Phcrson.