Routine of the Trench.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 42, 1 June 1917, Page 2

Routine of the Trench.

TOLD BY A SERGEANT-MAJOR

Many accounts of life in the tron-| dies have been published from time , to time, but as the writer has not yet seen one from the [mint of view j of a company sergeant-major, he ventures to attempt; to depict trench life as experienced by himself in tha capacity. Now be it known that the company sergeant-major is a most important man. He is responsible to his captain for the thoroughness m every detail of his company of over two hundred men ; he must ensure that the sergeants and corporals carry out their duties correctly and conscientiously ; while over the rank and file he must exercise military sternness tempered by a paternal solicitude for their well-being. The discipline of his company must be maintained at a high standard, but bullying must be as strictly guarded against as slackness. Altogether, his duties require a considerable amount of tact, energy, and patience. Let ns suppose, then, that the battalion, after a spell of some days in rest billets, are under orders to proceed to-night to the trenches. Inspection of feet, rifles, ammunition, emergency rations, and gas helmets have been held during the day, and now at dusk the troops march along, singing and smoking at the commencement of the march, but performing the last stage in silence. All lights are extinguished, for it is not advisable to take risks in the proximity of the gentle German. Presently we arrive at the head of the communication trench, and file down it man by man, stumbling and blundering along its narrow width with many -a muttered blessing ?. It’s a long lane .that has no turning, however, and eventually the front line is reached. The sergeant-major makes his way along until he arrives at the company headquarters of that section of trench which his company will occupy. Here he is at once busily engaged taking over tne trench stores from the sergeant-major of the outgoing company—no easy task in the dark—for on him falls the respon-i sibility that the entrenching tools, bombs, ammunition boxes, rockets, barbed wire, gas alarms, and various other items are actually as stated in the trench inventory. However, this task completed, he visits in turn each platoon of his which by now has taken over its a) letted portion of the line. Convinced that everything is Satisfactory and that each man knows what to do and where to go in case of attack, be reports “all correct” to the captain, and enters his own dug-out for a short rest and a smoke. But not to sleep, for all night long he is trudging up and down, interrogating the sentries as to the thoroughness of their instructions, or peering over the parapet as, the star lights flash through the darkness ; always alert and vigilant. Now the first faint light of dawn appears in the sky. The order ‘Stand to arms’ is quickly and quietly passed along the trench, and rapidly the slumberers emerge from their shelters and dug-outs and man the firing platforms. A tedious wait ensues—the sentries peer anxiously through the periscopes—stronger grows the light, until the German trenches stand grim and clear three hundred yards away. Presently, across yonder, two or three thin columns of smoke show faintly against the sky; it is all right—Fritz has lit his breakfast fires—we may do the same. And now to the dug-out, where the batman prepares with marvellous celerity hot tea and breakfast. This is soon disposed of, and the sergeant major settles down, thoroughly tired for such repose as he may snatch. Lucky is he if he gets two or three hours of uninterrupted sleep, for by now the telephone wires'are getting busy, and messages and inquiries follow each other in quick succession. By. the time the sun is well up he is again on the move —noting what improvements in the construction of the trench are necessary, and scrutinising sharply to see that all refuse and stale food have been removed to the holes dug for the purpose in rear of the trench. For strict attention to the rules of sanitation is absolutely imperative if fever is’ to be kept away. Slowly the day goes on, enlivened, perhaps, by a “strafe” in which the artillery of both sides take part. The only thing that can he done is to sit tight under cover as much as possible until the “concert” subsides. Then comes the duty of ascertaining what casualties have taken place, of getting the wounded removed by the stretcherhearers, and of collecting the identity discs and personal belongings of the dead, and arranging for their burial.

Darkness grows near, and again the "Stand to arms” is passed along ; once more the night routine is carried on-parties to fetch in food and water go hack to the "ration dump” behind the lines ; patrols reconnoitre carefully in "No Man’s Land" to ensure that the enemy are not creeping towards our position ; working parties arc busy repairing and improving the parapets and wire entanglements. The whole place is a hive of silent activity, lit now and again by the weird glare of the star lights from the German lines, which, however, reveal no movement to the enemy, for everyone drops to the ground and remains motionless till the light dies away. To do otherwise is to court trouble, for the machine-gun speaks quickly and accurately. Day follows night and night follows day until the tour of trench duty (usually four days and nights) is completed, and the troops, relieved by another regiment, march to their billots. The weary soldiers are

speedily settled down, and tne company sergeant-major, satisfied all the men are accommodated, seeks his own corner of the billet, and with a sigh of relief pulls bis boots off, rolls himself up in his vdanket and greatcoat, and prepares to make up the arroas of sleep due to him.