Infantryman’s Burden

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 20, 21 February 1940, Page 8 (Supplement)

Infantryman’s Burden

MUCH EQUIPMENT TO CARRY Alt hopes that tlr; modern infantryman would evolve into a lightlyequipped individual soldier wlm could jump in and out of mechanised vehicles have been dissipated by the Practical experience gained in France by the British Expeditionary Force, writes a military correspondent in Hie ••Manchester Gunrdian.”

Bad weather has proved Hod the infantryman is still a beast . f burden in the sense that lie must carry lrs own food lu the trendies and outposts, lie must dig bis own defence*, be must transport ms own ammunition. tools, hand grenades, greatcoals, and whatever is required for his own comfort.

In other spheres of war the ideal of •a light infantryman” might have keen attained, but it can never happen in the battlefields of Western Europe. In spite of this small handicap. the British infantryman of today is maintaining the grand tradition of liis arm. After intense train-

ing at home be is now going over-

seas as a master in the use of the Bren gun. the rifle, tlie bayonet, two end three-inch mortars, and the anlit nk rifle —a weapon which has already become the envy of all beholders.