THE RECRUIT

Nelson Evening Mail, 1 August 1916, Page 1

THE RECRUIT

HIS FIRST WEEK IN CAMF, A FASCINATING LIFE. A "former boy at the Evening Mail Office" writes from' Featherston camp:— As I have now been in camp seven -weeks, after a life of comfort for 44! years, I write to give recruits an idea of what to expect, and what not to expect. In the first place, let the recruit understand he is not coming to somethingw here nothing -is provided ior him. As soon as a (recruit enters Trenthaia he is provided with a comfortable wooden stretcher, a palliasse (which he fills with 'straw provided for the purpose), four warm blankets (bring your own pillow and you will have your own rewardi), two pairs Kaiapoi woollen: draws, two woollen singlets, two.'fiannel shirts, three pairs woollen socks, two pairs boots (•bring a- pair of shoes), pair denims and tunic, two towels, knife, fork, spoon, plate, and pannikin, a thick overcoat, and later a -uniform. It will thus .be seen that a recruit is kept warm. Then he has a comfortable wooden hut to sleep in and dine in, with • electric light. Then there is a first class hot and' cold water service, hot and cold showers, etc. Thus cleanliness, is providedl for. Now for the routine of the first week. He will get plenty of slow marching ((commonly called the goose-step), so that he will keep his pace down, but even this is done in easy stages,-and .no exerc'se is allowed to become monotonous. Fromi 8.10 to 10.15 there is physical exercise, but little of eacK and plenty, of spells; then smpke-oh and .morning tea. Another hour of exeroise then a< IS tmdnute lecture. At noon comes dinner; at 1.10 fall-in and various exerc : ses, even to frog-leap. The recruit is now fascinated, and looks- for.; the various movements. At 3 smoke-oh, tea, and then on to four, when all ranks parade before the Commandant. - Wednesdays and Saturdays there is .bathing parade, 'but only the feet ore washed'at this season of tlie . year. Should' ine weather be wet, the mein are exercised in the huts, and taught to manipulate the rifle and bayonet. We are through the first fortnight' without .being aware of it, and now have om shooting and marking practice. This is. of course, most, interesting .to the soldier, and with the excitement;an-' other fortnight {has vanished like <a dream, and he is now making (ready for Featherston. Having arrived ' here, everything is on a larger scale, -both aa .• regards camp, camp rout'ne, drill, ana -work generally. "Here everything .as done by signal and' whistle, and commands ?.re no longer heard. Dining in the huts is eliminated. and each, company d''nes in' a large dining hall, and each man cleans his own dishes. Route marches now .start, and the- recruit begins to get hardened off.' But even here everything is done by. gradual stages, and no one is over-taxed! with work. I think I have shown by the foregoing that no one need be.afraid of being overworked, for Tecruits are well-cared' for, and one hardly knows he is away f.rom> home. My advice to recruits 'is to bring a .good shaving outfit, a pair of shoes for night wear, and a p'llow. Do not overburden yourself with small articles, for everything one needs can be bought in camp at, a^-rea-sonable price.. I was unfortunate enough to get a full dose of influenza, and had to W into hospital with a tempera-tare of 103.-8. Here, too, everything possible is done for the recruit, and mo mother need' fear for the safety of her sow, for the hospital is most comfortable, and the diet is in accordance with the temperature of the patient. When the patient leaves he is given a which exempts him from all duties whilst he is convalescing. As for a-mtusemerits and attractions, picture shows, billiards, libraries, and every form of mental and physical recreation are at hand, and the variety is wide enough for the most fastid'ous. The food is particularly good, and there is plenty of it, but if more is wanted after 5 p.m., hot coffee, pies, eto., can be seou'Ted at the canteen, and even fish suroners. Thus the soldier has his; own little town, -his own luxuries, and 1 hecan make his life to suit his taste . -To-all---I say, come and join the happy throng. '