CHAPTER XXVII_"Over the Top," by an American Soldier Who Went Together with Tommy's Dictionary of the Trenches

BLIGHTY

From this first-aid post, after inoculating me with anti-tetanus serum

to prevent lockjaw, I was put into an ambulance and sent to temporary

hospital behind the lines. To reach this hospital we had to go along a

road about five miles in length. This road was under shell fire, for

now and then a flare would light up the sky,--a tremendous

explosion,--and then the road seemed to tremble. We did not mind,

though no doubt some of us wished that a shell would hit us and end

our misery. Personally, I was not particular. It was nothing but bump,

jolt, rattle, and bang.

Several times the driver would turn around and give us a "Cheero,

mates, we'll soon be there--" fine fellows, those ambulance drivers,

a lot of them go West too.

We gradually drew out of the fire zone and pulled up in front of an

immense dugout. Stretcher-bearers carried me down a number of steps

and placed me on a white table in a brightly lighted room.

A Sergeant of the Royal Army Medical Corps removed my bandages and cut

off my tunic. Then the doctor, with his sleeves rolled up, took

charge. He winked at me and I winked back, and then he asked, "How do

you feel, smashed up a bit?"

I answered: "I'm all right, but I'd give a quid for a drink of Bass."

He nodded to the Sergeant who disappeared, and I'll be darned if he

didn't return with a glass of ale. I could only open my mouth about a

quarter of an inch, but I got away with every drop of that ale. It

tasted just like Blighty, and that is heaven to Tommy.

The doctor said something to an orderly, the only word I could catch

was "chloroform," then they put some kind of an arrangement over my

nose and mouth and it was me for dreamland.

When I opened my eyes I was lying on a stretcher, in a low wooden

building. Everywhere I looked I saw rows of Tommies on stretchers,

some dead to the world, and the rest with fags in their mouths.

The main topic of their conversation was Blighty. Nearly all had a

grin on their faces, except those who didn't have enough face left to

grin with. I grinned with my right eye, the other was band-aged.

Stretcher-bearers came in and began to carry the Tommies outside. You

could hear the chug of the engines in the waiting ambulances.

I was put into a Ford with three others and away we went for an

eighteen-mile ride. Keep out of a Ford when you are wounded; insist on

walking, it'll pay you.

I was on a bottom stretcher. The lad right across from me was smashed

up something horrible.

Right above me was a man from the Royal Irish Rifles, while across

from him was a Scotchman.

We had gone about three miles when I heard the death-rattle in the

throat of the man opposite. He had gone to rest across the Great

Divide. I think at the time I envied him.

The man of the Royal Irish Rifles had had his left foot blown off, the

jolting of the ambulance over the rough road had loosened up the

bandages on his foot, and had started it bleeding again.

His blood ran down the side of the stretcher and started dripping. I

was lying on my back, too weak to move, and the dripping of this blood

got me in my unbandaged right eye. I closed my eye and pretty soon

could not open the lid; the blood had congealed and closed it, as if

it were glued down.

An English girl dressed in khaki was driving the ambulance, while

beside her on the seat was a Corporal of the R.A.M.C. They kept up a

running conversation about Blighty which almost wrecked my nerves;

pretty soon from the stretcher above me, the Irishman became aware of

the fact that the bandage from his foot had become loose; it must have

pained him horribly, because he yelled in a loud voice:

"If you don't stop this bloody death wagon and fix this damned bandage

on my foot, I will get out and walk."

The girl on the seat turned around and in a sympathetic voice asked,

"Poor fellow, are you very badly wounded?"

The Irishman, at this question, let out a howl of indignation and

answered, "Am I very badly wounded, what bloody cheek; no, I'm not

wounded, I've only been kicked by a canary bird."

The ambulance immediately stopped, and the Corporal came to the rear

and fixed him up, and also washed out my right eye. I was too weak to

thank him, but it was a great relief. Then I must have become

unconscious, because when I regained my senses, the ambulance was at a

standstill, and my stretcher was being removed from it.

It was night, lanterns were flashing here and there, and I could see

stretcher-bearers hurrying to and fro. Then I was carried into a

hospital train.

The inside of this train looked like heaven to me, just pure white,

and we met our first Red Cross nurses; we thought they were angels.

And they were.

Nice little soft bunks and clean, white sheets.

A Red Cross nurse sat beside me during the whole ride which lasted

three hours. She was holding my wrist; I thought. I had made a hit,

and tried to tell her how I got wounded, but she would put her finger

to her lips and say, "Yes, I know, but you mustn't talk now, try to go

to sleep, it'll do you good, doctor's orders." Later on I learned that

she was taking my pulse every few minutes, as I was very weak from the

loss of blood and they expected me to snuff it, but I didn't.

{Photo: Cards Used by Red Cross Nurses to Notify Families of Wounded.}

From the train we went into ambulances for a short ride to the

hospital ship Panama. Another palace and more angels. I don't remember

the trip across the channel.

I opened my eyes; I was being carried on a stretcher through lanes of

people, some cheering, some waving flags, and others crying. The flags

were Union Jacks, I was in Southampton. Blighty at last. My stretcher

was strewn with flowers, cigarettes, and chocolates. Tears started to

run down my cheek from my good eye. I like a booby was crying, can you

beat it?

Then into another hospital train, a five-hour ride to Paignton,

another ambulance ride, and then I was carried into Munsey Ward of the

American Women's War Hospital and put into a real bed.

This real bed was too much for my unstrung nerves and I fainted.

When I came to, a pretty Red Cross nurse was bending over me, bathing

my forehead with cold water, then she left and the ward orderly placed

a screen around my bed, and gave me a much-needed bath and clean

pajamas. Then the screen was removed and a bowl of steaming soup was

given me. It tasted delicious.

Before finishing my soup the nurse came back to ask me my name and

number. She put this information down in a little book and then asked:

"Where do you come from?" I answered:

"From the big town behind the Statue of Liberty"; upon hearing this

she started jumping up and down, clapping her hands, and calling out

to three nurses across the ward:

"Come here, girls--at last we have got a real live Yankee with us."

They came over and besieged me with questions, until the doctor

arrived. Upon learning that I was an American he almost crushed my

hand in his grip of welcome. They also were Americans, and were glad

to see me.

The doctor very tenderly removed my bandages and told me, after

viewing my wounds, that he would have to take me to the operating

theater immediately. Personally I didn't care what was done with me.

In a few minutes, four orderlies who looked like undertakers dressed

in white, brought a stretcher to my bed and placing me on it carried

me out of the ward, across a courtyard to the operating room or

"pictures," as Tommy calls it.

I don't remember having the anesthetic applied.

{Photo: After the Trench Raid.}

When I came to I was again lying in a bed in Munsey Ward. One of the

nurses had draped a large American flag over the head of the bed, and

clasped in my hand was a smaller flag, and it made me feel good all

over to again see the "Stars and Stripes."

At that time I wondered when the boys in the trenches would see the

emblem of the "land of the free and the home of the brave" beside

them, doing its bit in this great war of civilization.

My wounds were very painful, and several times at night I would dream

that myriads of khaki clothed figures would pass my bed and each would

stop, bend over me, and whisper, "The best of luck, mate."

Soaked with perspiration I would awake with a cry, and the night nurse

would come over and hold my hand. This awakening got to be a habit

with me, until that particular nurse was transferred to another ward.

In three weeks' time, owing to the careful treatment received, I was

able to sit up and get my bearings. Our ward contained seventy-five

patients, ninety per cent of which were surgical cases. At the head of

each bed hung a temperature chart and diagnosis sheet. Across this

sheet would be written "G.S.W." or "S.W." the former meaning Gun Shot

Wound and the latter Shell Wound. The "S.W." predominated, especially

among the Royal Field Artillery and Royal Engineers.

About forty different regiments were represented and many arguments

ensued as to the respective fighting ability of each regiment. The

rivalry was wonderful. A Jock arguing with an Irishman, then a strong

Cockney accent would butt in in favor of a London Regiment. Before

long a Welshman, followed by a member of a Yorkshire regiment, and,

perhaps, a Canadian intrude themselves and the argument waxes loud and

furious. The patients in the beds start howling for them to settle

their dispute outside and the ward is in an uproar. The head sister

comes along and with a wave of the hand completely routs the doughty

warriors and again silence reigns supreme.

Wednesday and Sunday of each week were visiting days and were looked

forward to by the men, because they meant parcels containing fruit,

sweets, or fags. When a patient had a regular visitor, he was

generally kept well supplied with these delicacies. Great jealousy is

shown among the men as to their visitors and many word wars ensue

after the visitors leave.

When a man is sent to a convalescent home, he generally turns over his

steady visitor to the man in the next bed.

Most visitors have autograph albums and bore Tommy to death by asking

him to write the particulars of his wounding in same. Several Tommies

try to duck this unpleasant job by telling the visitor that he cannot

write, but this never phases the owner of the album; he or she,

generally she, offers to write it for him and Tommy is stung into

telling his experiences.

The questions asked Tommy by visitors would make a clever joke book to

a military man.

Some kindly looking old lady will stop at your bed and in a

sympathetic voice address you; "You poor boy, wounded by those

terrible Germans. You must be suffering frightful pain. A bullet did

you say? Well, tell me, I have always wanted to know, did it hurt

worse going in or coming out?"

Tommy generally replies that he did not stop to figure it out when he

was hit.

One very nice-looking, over-enthusiastic young thing, stopped at my

bed and asked, "What wounded you in the face?"

In a polite but bored tone I answered, "A rifle bullet."

With a look of disdain she passed to the next bed, first ejaculating,

"Oh! only a bullet? I thought it was a shell." Why she should think a

shell wound was more of a distinction beats me. I don't see a whole

lot of difference myself.

The American Women's War Hospital was a heaven for wounded men. They

were allowed every privilege possible conducive with the rules and

military discipline. The only fault was that the men's passes were

restricted. To get a pass required an act of Parliament. Tommy tried

many tricks to get out, but the Commandant, an old Boer War officer,

was wise to them all, and it took a new and clever ruse to make him

affix his signature to the coveted slip of paper.

As soon as it would get dark many a patient climbed over the wall and

went "on his own," regardless of many signs staring him in the face,

"Out of bounds for patients." Generally the nurses were looking the

other way when one of these night raids started. I hope this

information will get none of them into trouble, but I cannot resist

the temptation to let the Commandant know that occasionally we put it

over on him.

{Photo: A "Downhearted" Bunch from Munsey Ward, American Women's War

Hospital.}

One afternoon I received a note, through our underground channel, from

my female visitor, asking me to attend a party at her house that

night. I answered that she could expect me and to meet me at a certain

place on the road well known by all patients, and some visitors, as

"Over the wall." I told her I would be on hand at seven-thirty.

About seven-fifteen I sneaked my overcoat and cap out of the ward and

hid it in the bushes. Then I told the nurse, a particular friend of

mine, that I was going for a walk in the rose garden. She winked and I

knew that everything was all right on her end.

Going out of the ward, I slipped into the bushes and made for the

wall. It was dark as pitch and I was groping through the underbrush,

when suddenly I stepped into space and felt myself rushing downward, a

horrible bump, and blackness. When I came to, my wounded shoulder was

hurting horribly. I was lying against a circular wall of bricks,

dripping with moisture, and far away I could hear the trickling of

water. I had in the darkness fallen into an old disused well. But why

wasn't I wet? According to all rules I should have been drowned.

Perhaps I was and didn't know it.

As the shock of my sudden stop gradually wore off, it came to me that

I was lying on a ledge and that the least movement on my part would

precipitate me to the bottom of the well.

I struck a match. In its faint glare I saw that I was lying in a

circular hole about twelve feet deep,-the well had been filled in! The

dripping I had heard came from a water pipe over on my right.

With my wounded shoulder it was impossible to shinny up the pipe. I

could not yell for help, because the rescuer would want to know how

the accident happened, and I would be haled before the Commandant on

charges. I just had to grin and bear it with the forlorn hope that one

of the returning night raiders would pass and I could give him our

usual signal of "siss-s-s-s" which would bring him to the rescue.

Every half-hour I could hear the clock in the village strike, each

stroke bringing forth a muffled volley of curses on the man who had

dug the well.

After two hours, I heard two men talking in low voices. I recognized

Corporal Cook, an ardent "night raider." He heard my "siss-s-s-s" and

came to the edge of the hole. I explained my predicament and amid a

lot of impertinent remarks, which at the time I did not resent, I was

soon fished out.

Taking off our boots we sneaked into the ward. I was sitting on my bed

in the dark, just starting to undress, when the man next to me,

"Ginger" Phillips, whispered. "'Op it, Yank, 'ere comes the matron."

I immediately got under the covers and feigned sleep. The matron stood

talking in low tones to the night nurse and I fell asleep.

When I awoke in the morning the night sister, an American, was bending

over me. An awful sight met my eyes. The coverlet on the bed and the

sheets were a mass of mud and green slime. She was a good sport all

right and hustled to get clean clothes and sheets so that no one would

get wise, but "on her own" she gave me a good tongue lashing but did

not report me. One of the Canadians in the ward described her as being

"A Jake of a good fellow."

Next visiting day I had an awful time explaining to my visitor why I

had not met her at the appointed time and place.

And for a week every time I passed a patient he would call, "Well,

well, here's the Yank. Hope you are feeling well, old top."

The surgeon in our ward was an American, a Harvard Unit man, named

Frost. We nicknamed him "Jack Frost." He was loved by all. If a Tommy

was to be cut up he had no objection to undergoing the operation if

"Jack Frost" was to wield the knife. Their confidence in him was

pathetic. He was the best sport I have ever met.

One Saturday morning the Commandant and some "high up" officers were

inspecting the ward, when one of the patients who had been wounded in

the head by a bit of shrapnel, fell on the floor in a fit. They

brought him round, and then looked for the ward orderly to carry the

patient back to his bed at the other end of the ward. The orderly was

nowhere to be found--like our policemen, they never are when needed.

The officers were at a loss how to get Palmer into his bed. Dr. Frost

was fidgeting around in a nervous manner, when suddenly with a muffled

"damn" and a few other qualifying adjectives, he stooped down, and

took the man in his arms like a baby,--he was no feather either,--and

staggered down the ward with him, put him in bed, and undressed

him. A low murmur of approval came from the patients. Dr. Frost got

very red and as soon as he had finished undressing Palmer, hurriedly

left the ward.

The wound in my face had almost healed and I was a horrible-looking

sight--the left cheek twisted into a knot, the eye pulled down, and

my mouth pointing in a north by northwest direction. I was very

down-hearted and could imagine myself during the rest of my life being

shunned by all on account of the repulsive scar.

Dr. Frost arranged for me to go to the Cambridge Military Hospital at

Aldershot for a special operation to try and make the scar

presentable.

I arrived at the hospital and got an awful shock. The food was poor

and the discipline abnormally strict. No patient was allowed to sit on

his bed, and smoking was permitted only at certain designated hours.

The face specialist did nothing for me except to look at the wound. I

made application for a transfer back to Paignton, offering to pay my

transportation. This offer was accepted, and after two weeks' absence,

once again I arrived in Munsey Ward, all hope gone.

The next day after my return, Dr. Frost stopped at my bed and said:

"Well, Empey, if you want me to try and see what I can do with that

scar, I'll do it, but you are taking an awful chance."

I answered: "Well, Doctor, Steve Brodie took a chance; he hails from

New York and so do I."

Two days after the undertaker squad carried me to the operating room

or "pictures," as we called them because of the funny films we see

under ether, and the operation was performed. It was a wonderful piece

of surgery, and a marvelous success. From now on that doctor can have

my shirt.

More than once some poor soldier has been brought into the ward in a

dying condition, resulting from loss of blood and exhaustion caused by

his long journey from the trenches. After an examination the doctor

announces that the only thing that will save him is a transfusion of

blood. Where is the blood to come from? He does not have to wait long

for an answer,--several Tommies immediately volunteer their blood

for their mate. Three or four are accepted; a blood test is made, and

next day the transfusion takes place and there is another pale face in

the ward.

Whenever bone is needed for some special operation, there are always

men willing to give some,--a leg if necessary to save some mangled

mate from being crippled for life. More than one man will go through

life with another man's blood running through his veins, or a piece of

his rib or his shinbone in his own anatomy. Sometimes he never even

knows the name of his benefactor.

The spirit of sacrifice is wonderful.

For all the suffering caused this war is a blessing to England--it

has made new men of her sons; has welded all classes into one glorious

whole.

And I can't help saying that the doctors, sisters, and nurses in the

English hospitals, are angels on earth. I love them all and can never

repay the care and kindness shown to me. For the rest of my life the

Red Cross will be to me the symbol of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

After four months in the hospital, I went before an examining board

and was discharged from the service of his Britannic Majesty as

"physically unfit for further war service."

After my discharge I engaged passage on the American liner, New York,

and after a stormy trip across the Atlantic, one momentous day, in the

haze of early dawn I saw the Statue of Liberty looming over the port

rail, and I wondered if ever again I would go "over the top with the

best of luck and give them hell."

And even then, though it may seem strange, I was really sorry not to

be back in the trenches with my mates. War is not a pink tea but in a

worthwhile cause like ours, mud, rats, cooties, shells, wounds, or

death itself, are far outweighed by the deep sense of satisfaction

felt by the man who does his bit.

There is one thing which my experience taught me that might help the

boy who may have to go. It is this anticipation is far worse than

realization. In civil life a man stands in awe of the man above him,

wonders how he could ever fill his Job. When the time comes he rises

to the occasion, is up and at it, and is surprised to find how much

more easily than he anticipated he fills his responsibilities. It is

really so "out there."

He has nerve for the hardships; the interest of the work grips him; he

finds relief in the fun and comradeship of the trenches and wins that

best sort of happiness that comes with duty done.

"TOMMY'S DICTIONARY OF THE TRENCHES"

In this so-called dictionary I have tried to list most of the pet

terms and slangy definitions, which Tommy Atkins uses a thousand times

a day as he is serving in France. I have gathered them as I lived with

him in the trenches and rest billets, and later in the hospitals in

England where I met men from all parts of the line.

The definitions are not official, of course. Tommy is not a

sentimental sort of animal so some of his definitions are not exactly

complimentary, but he is not cynical and does not mean to offend

anyone higher up. It is just a sort of "ragging" or "kidding," as the

American would say, that helps him pass the time away.

SLANG TERMS, SAYINGS, PHRASES, ETC.

"About turn." A military command similar to "About face" or "To the

rear, march." Tommy's nickname for Hebuterne, a point on the British

line.

Adjutant. The name given to an officer who helps the Colonel do

nothing. He rides a horse and you see him at guard mounting and

battalion parade.

A.D.M.S. Assistant Director of Medical Service. Have never seen him

but he is supposed to help the D. M. S. and pass on cases where Tommy

is posted as "unfit for trench service."

Aerial Torpedo. A kind of trench mortar shell, guaranteed by the

makers to break up Fritz's supper of sausages and beer, even though

said supper is in a dugout thirty feet down. Sometimes it lives up to

its reputation.

Alarm. A signal given in the trenches that the enemy is about to

attack, frequently false. It is mainly used to break up Tommy's dreams

of home.

"All around traverse." A machine gun so placed that its fire can be

turned in any direction.

Allemand. A French term meaning "German." Tommy uses it because he

thinks it is a swear word.

Allotment. A certain sum Tommy allows to his family.

Allumettes. French term for what they sell to Tommy as matches, the

sulphurous fumes from which have been known to "gas" a whole platoon.

"Ammo." Rifle ammunition. Used to add weight to Tommy's belt. He

carries 120 rounds, at all times, except when he buries it under the

straw in his billet before going on a route march. In the trenches he

expends it in the direction of Berlin.

Ammo Depot. A place where ammunition is stored. It is especially

useful in making enemy airmen waste bombs trying to hit it.

Ammonal. A high explosive used in the Mills bomb. The Germans are more

able than Tommy to discourse on its effects.

"Any complaints." A useless question asked by an inspecting officer

when he makes the rounds of billets or Tommy's meals. A complaining

Tommy generally lands on the crime sheet. It is only recruits who

complain; the old men just sigh with disgust.

A.O.C. Army Ordnance Corps. A department which deals out supplies to

the troops. Its chief asset is the returning of requisitions because a

comma is misplaced.

A.P.M. Assistant Provost Marshal. An officer at the head of the

Military Police. His headquarters are generally out of reach of the

enemy's guns. His chief duties are to ride around in a motor car and

wear a red band around his cap.

"Apres la Guerre." "After the war." Tommy's definition of Heaven.

A.S.C. Army Service Corps, or Army Safety Corps as Tommy calls it. The

members of which bring up supplies to the rear of the line.

"Back 'o the line." Any place behind the firing line out of range of

enemy guns.

Baler. A scoop affair for baling out water from the trenches and

dugouts. As the trenches generally drain the surrounding landscape,

the sun has to be appealed to before the job is completed.

Bantams. Men under the standard army height of 5 ft. 3 in. They are in

a separate organization called "The Bantam Battalion," and although

undersized have the opinion that they can lick the whole German Army.

Barbed Wire. A lot of prickly wire entwined around stakes driven in

front of the trenches. This obstruction is supposed to prevent the

Germans from taking lodgings in your dugouts. It also affords the

enemy artillery rare sport trying to blow it up.

"Barndook." Tommy's nickname for his rifle. He uses it because it is

harder to say and spell than "rifle."

Barrage. Concentrated shell-fire on a sector of the German line. In

the early days of the war, when ammunition was defective, it often

landed on Tommy himself.

Barricade. An obstruction of sandbags to impede the enemy's traffic

into your trench. You build it up and he promptly knocks it down, so

what's the use.

"Bashed in." Smashed by a shell. Generally applied to a trench or

dugout.

Batman. A man who volunteers to clean a non-commissioned officer's

buttons but who never volunteers for a trench raid. He ranks nest to a

worm.

Bayonet. A sort of knife-like contrivance which fits on the end of

your rifle. The Government issues it to stab Germans with. Tommy uses

it to toast bread.

"Big Boys." Large guns, generally eight inch or above.

"Big Push." "The Battle of the Somme." He often calls it "The First of

July," the date on which it started.

"Big Stuff." Large shells, eight inch or over.

"Big Willie." Tommy's term for his personal friend, the Kaiser.

Billet. Sometimes a regular house but generally a stable where Tommy

sleeps while behind the lines. It is generally located near a large

manure pile. Most billets have numerous entrances-one for Tommy and

the rest for rain, rats, wind, and shells.

Billet Guard. Three men and a corporal who are posted to guard the

billets of soldiers. They do this until the orderly officer has made

his rounds at night, then they go to sleep.

Biscuit. A concoction of flour and water, baked until very hard. Its

original use was for building purposes, but Tommy is supposed to eat

it. Tommy is no coward but he balks at this. Biscuits make excellent

fuel, and give no smoke.

Bivouac. A term given by Tommy to a sort of tent made out of

waterproof sheets.

Blastine. A high explosive which promotes Kultur in the German lines,

Blighty. An East Indian term meaning "over the seas." Tommy has

adopted it as a synonym for home. He tries numerous ways of reaching

Blighty, but the "powers that be" are wise to all of his attempts, so

he generally fails.

"Blighty One." A wound serious enough to send Tommy to England.

B.M.G.C. Brigade Machine Gun Company, composed of Vickers machine

gunners. They always put their packs on a limber or small wagon while

route marching, which fact greatly arouses the Jealousy of Tommy.

"Body Snatcher." Tommy's term for a sniper.

Bomb. An infernal device filled with high explosive which you throw at

the Germans. Its chief delight is to explode before it leaves your

hand.

Bomb Store. A place where bombs are kept, built so the enemy cannot

locate them with his fire. For that matter, Tommy can't either when he

needs them.

Bombing Post. A sort of trench or sap running from your front line to

within a few yards of the enemy's trench. It is occupied by bomb

throwers who would like to sign an agreement with the Germans for

neither side to throw bombs.

Brag. A card game similar to poker at which every player quits a loser

and no one wins, that is, according to the statements of the several

players.

Brazier. A sheet iron pot punched full of holes in which a fire is

built. It is used to keep Tommy warm in his dugout until he becomes

unconscious from its smoke and fumes. He calls it a "fire bucket."

Brigade Guard. Several men who are detailed to guard Brigade

Headquarters. They don't go to sleep.

B.S.M. Battalion Sergeant-Major. The highest ranking non-commissioned

officer in the battalion. A constant dread to Tommy when he has

forgotten to polish his buttons or dubbin his boots.

Bully Beef. A kind of corned beef with tin round it. The unopened cans

make excellent walls for dugouts.

Burm. A narrow ledge cut along the walls of a trench to prevent earth

from caving in. "Burm" to Tommy is a cuss word, because he has to "go

over the top" at night to construct it.

"Busted." Term applied when a non-commissioned officer is reduced by

court-martial.

Button Stick. A contrivance made of brass ten inches long which slides

over the buttons and protects the tunic in cleaning.

"Called to the colors." A man on reserve who has been ordered to

report for service.

"Camel Corps." Tommy's nickname for the Infantry because they look

like overloaded camels, and probably because they also go eight days,

and longer, without a drink, that is, of the real stuff.

Candle. A piece of wick surrounded by wax or tallow used for lighting

purposes. One candle among six men is the general issue.

Canister. A German trench mortar shell filled with scraps of iron and

nails. Tommy really has a great contempt for this little token of

German affection and he uses the nails to hang his equipment on in the

dugouts.

Canteen. A mess tin issued to Tommy, who, after dinner, generally

forgets to wash it, and pinches his mates for tea in the evening.

"Carry on." Resume. Keep on with what you are doing. Go ahead.

"Carrying in." Machine gunners' term for taking guns, ammunition,

etc., into front-line trench.

Caterpillar. Is not a bug, but the name given to a powerful engine

used to haul the big guns over rough roads.

C.C.S. Casualty Clearing Station. A place where the doctors draw lots

to see if Tommy is badly wounded enough to be sent to Blighty.

Chalk Pit. A white spot on a painted landscape used at the Machine

Gunners' School to train would-be gunners in picking out distinctive

objects in landscapes and guessing ranges.

Challenge. A question, "Who goes there?" thrown at an unknown moving

object by a sentry in the darkness, who hopes that said moving object

will answer, "Friend."

Char. A black poisonous brew which Tommy calls tea.

"Chevaux-de-frise." Barbed-wire defenses against cavalry.

"Chucking his weight about." Self-important. Generally applied to a

newly promoted non-commissioned officer or a recruit airing his

knowledge.

Chum. An endearing word used by Tommy to his mate when he wants to

borrow something or have a favor done.

"Clicked it." Got killed; up against it; wounded.

"Clock." "Trench" for the face.

"Coal Box." The nickname for a high explosive German shell fired from

a 5.9 howitzer which emits a heavy black smoke and makes Tommy's hair

stand on end.

Coal Fatigue. A detail on which Tommy has to ride in a limber and fill

two sacks with coal. It takes him exactly four hours to do this. He

always misses morning parade, but manages to get back in time for

dinner.

"Cole." Tommy's nickname for a penny. It buys one glass of French

beer.

"Coming it." Trying to "put something over."

"Coming the add." Boasting; lying about something.

Communication Trench. A zigzag ditch leading from the rear to the

front-line trench, through which reinforcements, reliefs, ammunition,

and rations are brought up. Its real use is to teach Tommy how to

swear and how to wade through mud up to his knees.

Communique. An official report which is published daily by the

different warring governments for the purpose of kidding the public.

They don't kid Tommy.

Company Stores. The Quartermaster-Sergeant's headquarters where stores

are kept. A general hang-out for batmen, officers' servants, and

N.C.O.'s.

"Compray." Tommy's French for "Do you understand?" Universally used in

the trenches.

Conscript. A man who tried to wait until the war was over before

volunteering for the army, but was balked by the Government.

"Consolidate captured line." Digging in or preparing a captured

position for defence against a counter-attack.

Convalescence. Six weeks' rest allotted to a wounded Tommy. During

this time the Government is planning where they will send Tommy to be

wounded a second time.

C. of E. Church of England. This is stamped on Tommy's identification

disk. He has to attend church parade whether or not he wants to go to

Heaven.

Cook. A soldier detailed to spoil Tommy's rations. He is generally

picked because he was a blacksmith in civil life.

Cooties. Unwelcome inhabitants of Tommy's shirt.

Counter Attack. A disagreeable habit of the enemy which makes Tommy

realize that after capturing a position the hardest work is to hold

it.

Covering Party. A number of men detailed to lie down in front of a

working party while "out in front" to prevent surprise and capture by

German patrols. Tommy loves this job, I don't think!

Crater. A large circular hole in the ground made by the explosion of a

mine. According to Official Communiques, Tommy always occupies a

crater with great credit to himself. But sometimes the Germans get

there first.

"Cricket ball." The name given to a bomb the shape and size of a

cricket ball. Tommy does not use it to play cricket with.

Crime Sheet. A useless piece of paper on which is kept a record of

Tommy's misdemeanors.

"Crump." A name given by Tommy to a high explosive German shell which

when it bursts makes a "Crump" sort of noise.

C.S.M. Company Sergeant-Major, the head non-commissioned officer of a

company, whose chief duty is to wear a crown on his arm, a couple of

Boer War ribbons on his chest, and to put Tommy's name and number on

the crime sheet.

"Curtain fire." A term-applied by the artillery to a wall of shell

fire on the enemy communication trenches, to prevent the bringing up

of men and supplies, and also to keep our own front lines from

wavering. But somehow or other men and supplies manage to leak through

it.

"Cushy." Easy; comfortable; "pretty soft."

D.A.C. Divisional Ammunition Column. A collection of men, horses, and

limbers, which supplies ammunition for the line and keeps Tommy awake,

while in billets, with their infernal noise. They are like owls-always

working at night.

D.C.M. Distinguished Conduct Medal. A piece of bronze which a soldier

gets for being foolish.

D.C.P. Divisional Concert Party. An aggregation of would-be actors who

inflict their talents on Tommy at half a franc per head.

Defaulter. Not an absconding cashier, but a Tommy who has been

sentenced to extra pack drill for breathing while on parade or doing

some other little thing like that.

"Dekko." To look; a look at something.

Detonator. A contrivance in a bomb containing fulminate of mercury,

which, ignited by a fuse, explodes the charge.

"Deruffs." "Deuxosufs." Tommy's French for "two eggs."

"Dial." Another term of Tommy's for his map, or face.

"Digging in." Digging trenches and dugouts in a captured position.

Digging Party. A detail of men told off to dig trenches, graves, or

dugouts. Tommy is not particular as to what he has to dig; it's the

actual digging he objects to.

"Dinner up." Dinner is ready.

Divisional Band. Another devilish aggregation which wastes moat of its

time in practicing and polishing its instruments.

Dixie. An iron pot with two handles on it in which Tommy's meals are

cooked. Its real efficiency lies in the fact that when carrying it,

your puttees absorb all the black grease on its sides.

"Doing them in." Killing them. Cutting up a body of German troops.

Donkey. An army mule. An animal for which Tommy has the greatest

respect. He never pets or in any way becomes familiar with said mule.

Draft. A contingent of new men sent as reinforcements for the

trenches. Tommy takes special delight in scaring these men with tales

of his own experiences which he never had.

Draftman. A member of a draft who listens to and believes Tommy's

weird tales of trench warfare.

Dressing Station. A medical post where Tommy gets his wounds attended

to, if he is lucky enough to get wounded. He is "lucky," because a

wound means Blighty.

"Drill order." Rifle, belt, bayonet, and respirator.

Dry Canteen. An army store where Tommy may buy cigarettes, chocolate,

and tinned fruit, that is, if he has any money.

D.S.O. Distinguished Service Order. Another piece of metal issued to

officers for being brave. Tommy says it is mostly won in dugouts and

calls it a "Dugout Service Order."

Dubbin. A grease for boots.

Dud. A German shell or bomb which has not exploded on account of a

defective fuse. Tommy is a great souvenir collector so he gathers

these "duds." Sometimes when he tries to unscrew the nose-cap it

sticks. Then in his hurry to confiscate it before an officer appears

he doesn't hammer it just right-and the printer of the casualty list

has to use a little more type.

Dugout. A deep hole in the trenches dug by the Royal Engineer Corps;

supposed to be shell proof. It is, until a shell hits it. Rat and

Tommy find it an excellent habitation in which to contract rheumatism.

Dump. An uncovered spot where trench tools and supplies are placed. It

is uncovered so that these will become rusty and worthless from the

elements. This so that the contractors at home won't starve.

"Du pan." Tommy's French for bread.

Efficiency Pay. Extra pay allowed by the Government for long service.

Tommy is very efficient if he manages to get it from the Government.

Eighteen-Pounder. One of our guns which fires an eighteen pound shell,

used for destroying German barbed wire previous to an attack. If it

does its duty you bet Tommy is grateful to the eighteen-pounders.

Elephant Dugout. A large, safe, and roomy dugout, braced by heavy

steel ribs or girders.

Emplacement. A position made of earth or sandbags from which a machine

gun is fired. It is supposed to be invisible to the enemy. They

generally blow it up in the course of a couple of days, just by luck,

of course.

Entrenching Tool. A spade-like tool for digging hasty entrenchments.

It takes about a week to dig a decent hole with it, so "hasty" must

have another meaning.

"Equipment on." Put on equipment for drill or parade.

Escort. A guard of soldiers who conduct prisoners to different points.

Tommy is just as liable to be a prisoner as an escort.

"Estaminet." A French public house, or saloon, where muddy water is

sold for beer.

Fag. Cigarette. Something Tommy is always touching you for, "Fag

issue." Army issue of cigarettes, generally on Sunday.

Fatigue. Various kinds of work done by Tommy while he is "resting."

"Fed up." Disgusted; got enough of it--as the rich Mr. Hoggenheimer

used to say, "Sufficiency."

Field Dressing. Bandages issued to soldiers for first aid when

wounded. They use them for handkerchiefs and to clean their rifles.

Field Post Card. A card on which Tommy is allowed to tell his family

and friends that he is alive; if he is dead the War Office sends a

card, sometimes.

Field Punishment No. I. Official name for spread-eagling a man on a

limber wheel, two hours a day for twenty-one days. His rations consist

of bully beef, water, and biscuits. Tommy calls this punishment

"Crucifixion," especially if he has undergone it.

"Fifteen-pounder." Still another of ours; shell weighs fifteen pounds.

Used for killing rats on the German parapets.

"Finding the range." Ascertaining by instrument or by trial shots the

distance from an enemy objective.

"Fireworks." A night bombardment.

Fire Sector. A certain space of ground which a machine gun is supposed

to sweep with its fire. If the gun refuses to work, all of the enemy

who cross this space are technically dead, according to the General's

plans.

Firing Squad. Twelve men picked to shoot a soldier who has been

sentenced to death by court-martial. Tommy has no comment to make on

this.

Firing Step. A ledge in the front trench which enables Tommy to fire

"over the top." In rainy weather you have to be an acrobat to even

stand on it on account of the slippery mud.

Fire Trench. The front-line trench. Another name is for Hell.

"Five rounds rapid." Generally, just before daylight in the trenches,

the order "Five rounds rapid" is given. Each man puts his rifle and

head over the parapet and fires five shots as rapidly as possible in

the direction of the German trenches and then ducks. A sort of "Good

morning, have you used Fears Soap?"

"Five nine." A German shell 5.9 inches in diameter. It is their

standard shell. Tommy has no special love for this brand, but they are

like olives, all right when you get used to them.

"Flags." Tommy's nickname for a Signaler.

Flare. A rocket fired from a pistol which, at night, lights up the

ground in front of your trench.

Flare Pistol. A large pistol, which looks like a sawed-off shotgun,

from which flares are fired. When you need this pistol badly it has

generally been left in your dugout.

Flying Column. A flying column of troops that waits from one point of

the line to another. In case of need they usually arrive at the wrong

point.

Fokker. A type of German aeroplane which the Boche claims to be the

fastest in the world. Tommy believes this, because our airmen seldom

catch them.

"For It." On the crime sheet; up against a reprimand; on trial, in

trouble.

"Four by two." A piece of flannel four Inches by two issued by the Q.

M. Sergeant with which to "pull through."

"Four point five." Another of ours. The Germans don't like this one.

"Four point seven." One of our shells 4.7 inches in diameter. Tommy

likes this kind.

"Fritz." Tommy's name for a German. He loves a German like poison.

Front Line. The nearest trench to the enemy. No place for a

conscientious objector.

Frostbite. A quick road to Blighty, which Tommy used very often until

frostbite became a court-martial offence. Now he keeps his feet warm.

"Full pack." A soldier carrying all of his equipment.

Full Corporal. A N.C.O. who sports two stripes on his arm and has more

to say than the Colonel.

Fumigator. An infernal device at a hospital which cooks Tommy's

uniform and returns it to him two sizes too small.

"Funk Hole." Tommy's term for a dugout. A favorite spot for those of a

nervous disposition.

Fuse. A part of shell or bomb which burns in a set time and ignites

the detonator.

Gas. Poisonous fumes which the Germans send over to our trenches. When

the wind is favorable this gas is discharged into the air from huge

cylinders. The wind carries it over toward our lines. It appears like

a huge yellowish-green cloud rolling along the ground. The alarm is

sounded and Tommy promptly puts on his gas helmet and laughs at the

Boches.

Gas Gong. An empty shell case hung up in the trenches and in billets.

A sentry is posted near it, so that in case German poison gas comes

over, he can give the alarm by striking this gong with an iron bar. If

the sentry happens to be asleep we get "gassed."

"Gassed." A soldier who has been overcome from the fumes of German

poison gas, or the hot air of a comrade.

"Gassing." A term Tommy applies to "shooting the bull."

"Getting a sub." Touching an officer for money. To be taken out of

soldier's pay on the next pay-day.

"Getting the sparks." Bullets from a machine gun cutting enemy barbed

wire at night; when a bullet strikes wire it generally throws off a

bluish spark. Machine gunners use this method at night to "set" their

gun so that its fire will command the enemy's trench.

"Ginger." Nickname of a red-beaded soldier; courage; pep.

"Gippo." Bacon grease; soup.

G.M.P. Garrison Military Police. Soldiers detailed to patrol the roads

and regulate traffic behind the lines. Tommy's pet aversion.

G.O.C. General Officer Commanding. Tommy never sees him in the act of

"commanding," but has the opportunity of reading many an order signed

"G.O.C."

Goggles. An apparatus made of canvas and mica which is worn over the

eyes for protection from the gases of German "tear shells." The only

time Tommy cries is when he forgets his goggles or misses the mm

issue.

"Going in." Taking over trenches.

"Going out." Relieved from the trenches.

"Gone West." Killed; died.

"Gooseberries." A wooden frame in the shape of a cask wrapped round

with barbed wire. These gooseberries are thrown into the barbed-wire

entanglements to help make them impassable.

"Got the Crown." Promoted to Sergeant-Major.

Green Envelope. An envelope of a green color issued to Tommy once a

week. The contents will not be censored regimentally, but are liable

to censor at the base. On the outside of envelope appears the

following certificate, which Tommy must sign: "I certify on my honor

that the contents of this envelope refer to nothing but private and

family matters." After signing this certificate Tommy immediately

writes about everything but family and private matters.

Groom. A soldier who looks after an officer's horse and who robs said

horse of its hay. He makes his own bed comfortable with this hay.

Grousing. A scientific grumbling in which Tommy cusses everything in

general and offends no one.

G.S.W. Gunshot wound. When Tommy is wounded he does not care whether

it is a G.S.W. or a kick from a mule, just so he gets back to Blighty.

G.S. Wagon. A four-wheeled wagon driven by an A.S.C. driver. It

carries supplies, such as food, ammunition, trench tools, and timber

tor dugouts. When Tommy gets sore feet he is allowed to ride on this

wagon and fills the ears of the driver with tales of his wonderful

exploits. Occasionally one of these drivers believes him.

Gum Boots. Rubber boots issued to Tommy for wet trenches. They are

used to keep his feet dry; they do, when he is lucky enough to get a

pair.

"Gumming the game." Spoiling anything, interfering.

"Hair brush." Name of a bomb used in the earlier stages of the war. It

is shaped like a hair brush and is thrown by the handle. Tommy used to

throw them over to the Germans for their morning toilette.

"Hand grenade." A general term for a bomb which is thrown by hand.

Tommy looks upon all bombs with grave suspicion; from long experience

he has learned not to trust them, even if the detonator has been

removed.

"Hard tails." Mules.

Haversack. A canvas bag forming part of Tommy's equipment, carried on

the left side. Its original use was intended for the carrying of

emergency rations and small kit. It is generally filled with a

miscellaneous assortment of tobacco, pipes, bread crumbs, letters, and

a lot of useless souvenirs.

"Having a doss." Having a sleep.

"Hold-all." A small canvas roll in which you are supposed to carry

your razor, comb, knife, fork, spoon, mirror, soap, tooth brush, etc.

Tommy takes great care of the above, because it means extra pack drill

to come on parade unshaven.

"Holy Joe." Tommy's familiar but not necessarily irreverent same for

the Chaplain. He really has a great admiration for this officer, who

although not a fighting man, so often risks his life to save a wounded

Tommy.

"Housewife." A neat little package of needles, thread, extra

shoelaces, and buttons. When a button comes off Tommy's trousers,

instead of going to his housewife he looks around for a nail.

Hun. Another term for a German, mostly used by war correspondents.

"Hun pinching." Raiding German trenches for prisoners.

Identification Disk. A little fiber disk which is worn around the neck

by means of a string. On one side is stamped your name, rank,

regimental number, and regiment, while on the other side is stamped

your religion. If at any time Tommy is doubtful of his identity he

looks at his disk to reassure himself.

"I'm sorry." Tommy's apology. If he pokes your eye out with his

bayonet he says, "I'm sorry," and the matter is ended so far as he is

concerned.

"In front." Over the top; in front of the front-line trench, in No

Man's Land.

"In reserve." Troops occupying positions, billets, or dugouts,

immediately in rear of the front line, who in case of an attack will

support the firing line.

Intelligence Department. Secret service men who are supposed to catch

spies or be spies as the occasion demands.

Interpreter. A fat job with a "return ticket," held by a soldier who

thinks he can speak a couple of languages. He questions prisoners as

to the color of their grandmothers' eyes and why they joined the army.

Just imagine asking a German "why" he joined the army.

"Invalided." Sent to England on account of sickness.

Iron Rations. A tin of bully beef, two biscuits, and a tin containing

tea, sugar, and Oxo cubes. These are not supposed to be eaten until

you die of starvation.

Isolated Post. An advanced part of a trench or position where one or

two sentries are posted to guard against a surprise attack. While in

this post Tommy is constantly wondering what the Germans will do with

his body.

"It's good we have a Navy." One of Tommy's expressions when he is

disgusted with the army and its work.

"Jack Johnson." A seventeen-inch German shell. Probably called "Jack

Johnson" because the Germans thought that with it they could lick the

world.

Jackknife. A knife, issued to Tommy, which weighs a stone and won't

cut. Its only virtue is the fact that it has a tin-opener attachment

which won't open tins.

Jam. A horrible mess of fruit and sugar which Tommy spreads on his

bread. It all tastes the same no matter whether labelled "Strawberry"

or "Green Gage."

"Jam Tin." A crude sort of hand grenade which, in the early stages of

the war. Tommy used to manufacture out of jam tins, ammonal, and mud.

The manufacturer generally would receive a little wooden cross in

recognition of the fact that he died for King and Country.

Jock. Universal name for a Scotchman.

"Kicked the bucket." Died.

Kilo. Five eighths of a mile. Ten "kilos" generally means a trek of

fifteen miles.

"King's Shilling." Tommy's rate of pay per day, perhaps.

"Taking the King's Shilling" means enlisting.

"Kip." Tommy's term for "sleep." He also calls his bed his "kip." It

is on guard that Tommy most desires to kip.

Kit Bag. A part of Tommy's equipment in which he is supposed to pack

up his troubles and smile, according to the words of a popular song

(the composer was never in a trench).

Kitchener's Army. The volunteer army raised by Lord Kitchener, the

members of which signed for duration of war. They are commonly called

the "New Army" or "Kitchener's Mob." At first the Regulars and

Territorials looked down on them, but now accept them as welcome

mates.

Labor Battalion. An organization which is "too proud to fight." They

would sooner use a pick and shovel.

Lance-corporal. A N.C.O. one grade above a private who wears a

shoestring stripe on his arm and thinks the war should be run

according to his ideas.

"Lead." The leading pair of horses or mules on a limber. Their only

fault is that they won't lead (if they happen to be mules).

Leave Train. The train which takes Tommy to one of the seaports on the

Channel en route to Blighty when granted leave. The worst part of

going on leave is coming back.

Lee Enfield. Name of the rifle used by the British Army. Its caliber

is .303 and the magazine holds ten rounds. When dirty it has a tasty

habit of getting Tommy's name on the crime sheet.

"Legging it." Running away.

Lewis Gun. A rifle-like machine gun, air cooled, which only carries 47

rounds in its "pie-plate" magazine. Under fire when this magazine is

emptied you shout for "ammo" but perhaps No. 2, the ammo carrier, is

lying in the rear with a bullet through his napper. Then it's

"napoo-fini" (Tommy's French) for Mr. Lewis.

"Light Duty." What the doctor marks on the sick report opposite a

Tommy's name when he has doubts as to whether said Tommy is putting

one over on him. Usually Tommy is.

Light Railway. Two thin iron tracks on which small flat cars full of

ammunition and supplies are pushed. These railways afford Tommy great

sport in the loading, pushing, and unloading of cars.

Limber. A match box on two wheels which gives the Army mule a job. It

also carries officer's packs.

Liquid Fire. Another striking example of German "Kultur." According to

the Germans it is supposed to annihilate whole brigades, but Tommy

refuses to be annihilated.

Listening Post. Two or three men detailed to go out "in front" at

night, to lie on the ground and listen for any undue activity in the

German lines. They also listen for the digging of mines. It is nervous

work and when Tommy returns he generally writes for a bos of

"Phosperine Tablets," a widely advertised nerve tonic.

"Little Willie." Tommy's nickname for the German Crown. Prince. They

are not on speaking terms.

"Lloyd George's Pets." Munition workers in England.

"Lonely Soldier." A soldier who advertises himself as "lonely"

through the medium of some English newspaper. If he is clever and

diplomatic by this method he generally receives two or three parcels a

week, but he must be careful not to write to two girls living on the

same block or his parcel post mail will diminish.

"Lonely Stab." A girl who writes and sends parcels to Tommy. She got

his name from the "Lonely Soldier Column" of some newspaper.

Loophole. A disguised aperture in a trench through which to "snipe" at

Germans.

Lyddite. A high explosive used in shells. Has a habit of scattering

bits of anatomy over the landscape.

M.G.C. Machine Gun Corps. A collection of machine gunners who think

they are the deciding factor of the war, and that artillery is

unnecessary.

M.G. Machine Gunner. A man who, like an American policeman, is never

there when he is badly wanted.

Maconochie. A ration of meat, vegetables, and soapy water, contained

in a tin. Mr. Maconochie, the chemist who compounded this mess,

intends to commit "hari kari" before the boys return from the front.

He is wise.

"Mad Minute." Firing fifteen rounds from your rifle in sixty seconds.

A man is mad to attempt it, especially with a stiff bolt.

Mail Bag. A canvas bag which is used to bring the other fellow's mail

around.

Major. An officer in a Battalion who wears a crown on his uniform, is

in command of two companies, and corrects said companies in the second

position of "present arms." He also resides in a dugout.

Maneuvers. Useless evolutions of troops conceived by someone higher up

to show Tommy how brave his officers are and how battles should be

fought. The enemy never attend these maneuvers to prove they're right.

Mass Formation. A close order formation in which the Germans attack. It

gives them a sort of "Come on, I'm with you" feeling. They would "hold

hands" only for the fact that they have to carry their rifles. Tommy

takes great delight in "busting up" these gatherings.

Mate. A soldier with whom Tommy is especially "chummy." Generally

picked because this soldier receives a parcel from home every week.

Maxim. Type of machine gun which has been supplanted by the Vickers in

order to make Tommy unlearn what he has been taught about the Maxim.

M.T. Mechanical Transport. The members of which are ex-taxi drivers.

No wonder Tommy's rations melt away when the M. T. carries them.

M.O. Medical Officer. A doctor specially detailed to tell Tommy that

he is not sick.

"M. and D." What the doctor marks on the "sicker" or side report when

he thinks Tommy is faking sickness. It means medicine and duty.

Mentioned in Despatches. Recommended for bravery. Tommy would sooner

be recommended for leave.

"Mercy Kamerad." What Fritz says when he has had a bellyful of

fighting and wants to surrender. Of late this has been quite a popular

phrase with him, replacing the Hymn of Hate.

Mess Orderly. A soldier detailed daily to carry Tommy's meals to and

from the cook-house.

Mess Tin. An article of equipment used as a tea-kettle and dinner-set.

"Mike and George." K. C. M. G. (Knight Commander of the Order of St.

Michael and St. George). An award for bravery in the field.

Military Cross. A badge of honor dished out to officers for bravery.

Tommy insists they throw dice to see which is the bravest. The winner

gets the medal.

Military Medal. A piece of Junk issued to Tommy who has done something

that is not exactly brave but still is not cowardly. When it is

presented he takes it and goes back wondering why the Army picks on

him.

M. P. Military Police. Soldiers with whom it is unsafe to argue.

"Mills." Name of a bomb invented by Mills. The only bomb in which

Tommy has full confidence,--and he mistrusts even that.

Mine. An underground tunnel dug by sappers of the Royal Engineer

Corps. This tunnel leads from your trench to that of the enemy's. At

the end or head of the tunnel a great quantity of explosives are

stored which at a given time are exploded. It is Tommy's job to then

go "over the top" and occupy the crater caused by the explosion.

Mine Shaft. A shaft leading down to the "gallery" or tunnel of a mine.

Sometimes Tommy, as a reward, is given the Job of helping the R. E.'s

dig this shaft.

Minnenwerfer. A high-power trench mortar shell of the Germans, which

makes no noise coming through the air. It was invented by Professor

Kultur. Tommy does not know what is near until it bites him; after

that nothing worries him. Tommy nicknames them "Minnies."

Mouth Organ. An instrument with which a vindictive Tommy causes misery

to the rest of his platoon. Some authorities define it as a "musical

instrument."

Mud. A brownish, sticky substance found in the trenches after the

frequent rains. A true friend to Tommy, which sticks to him like glue,

even though at times Tommy resents this affection and roundly curses

said mud.

Mufti. The term Tommy gives to civilian clothes. Mufti looks good to

him now.

Nap. A card game of Tommy's in which the one who stays awake the

longest grabs the pot. If all the players fall asleep, the pot goes to

the "Wounded Soldiers' Fund."

"Napoo-Fini." Tommy's French for gone, through with, finished,

disappeared.

"Napper." Tommy's term for bead.

Neutral. Tommy says it means "afraid to fight."

Next of Kin. Nearest relative. A young and ambitious platoon officer

bothers his men two or three times a month taking a record of their

"next of kin," because he thinks that Tommy's grandmother may have

changed to his uncle.

"Night ops." Slang for night operations or maneuvers.

Nine-point-two. A howitzer which fires a shell 9.2 inches in diameter,

and knocks the tiles off the roof of Tommy's billet through the force

of its concussion.

No Man's Land. The space between the hostile trenches called "No Man's

Land" because no one owns it and no one wants to. In France you could

not give it away.

N.C.C. Non-Combatant Corps. Men who joined the Army under the

stipulation that the only thing they would fight for would be their

meals. They have no "King and Country."

N.C.O. Non-commissioned officer. A person hated more than the Germans.

Tommy says his stripes are issued out with the rations, and he ought

to know.

"No. 9." A pill the doctor gives you if you are suffering with corns

or barber's itch or any disease at all. If none are in stock, he gives

you a No. 6 and No. 3, or a No. 5 and No. 4, anything to make nine.

Nosecap. That part of a shell which unscrews and contains the device

and scale for setting the time fuse. Some Tommies are ardent souvenir

hunters. As soon as a shell bursts in the ground you will see them out

with picks and shovels digging in the shell hole for the nose cap. If

the shell bursts too near them they don't dig.

Observation Balloon. A captive balloon behind the lines which observes

the enemy. The enemy doesn't mind being observed, so takes no notice

of it. It gives someone a job hauling it down at night, so it has one

good point.

Observation Post. A position in the front line where an artillery

officer observes the fire of our guns. He keeps on observing until a

German shell observes him. After this there is generally a new officer

and a new observation post.

O. C. Officer commanding.

Officers' Mess. Where the officers eat the mess that the O. S. have

cooked.

O. S. Officers' servants. The lowest ranking private in the Army, who

feeds better than the officers he waits on.

"Oil Cans." Tommy's term for a German trench mortar shell which is an

old tin filled with explosive and junk that the Boches have no further

use for.

"One up." Tommy's term for a lance-corporal who wears one stripe. The

private always wonders why he was overlooked when promotions were in

order.

"On the mat." When Tommy is haled before his commanding officer to

explain why he has broken one of the seven million King's regulations

for the government of the Army. His "explanation" never gets him

anywhere unless it is on the wheel of a Umber.

"On your own." Another famous or infamous phrase which means Tommy is

allowed to do as he pleases. An officer generally puts Tommy "on his

own" when he gets Tommy into a dangerous position and sees no way to

extricate him.

Orderly-Corporal. A non-commissioned officer who takes the names of

the sick every morning and who keeps his own candle burning after he

has ordered "Lights out" at night.

Orderly-Officer. An officer who, for a week, goes around and asks if

there are "any complaints" and gives the name of the complaining

soldier to the Orderly-Sergeant for extra pack drill.

Orderly Room. The Captain's office where everything is disorderly.

Orderly-Sergeant. A sergeant who, for a week, is supposed to do the

work of the Orderly-Officer.

"Out of bounds." The official Army term meaning that Tommy is not

allowed to trespass where this sign is displayed. He never wished to

until the sign made its appearance.

"Out there." A term used in Blighty which means "in France."

Conscientious objectors object to going "out there."

"Over the Top." A famous phrase of the trenches. It is generally the

order for the men to charge the German lines. Nearly always it is

accompanied by the Jonah wish, "With the best o' luck and give them

hell."

Oxo. Concentrated beef cubes that a fond mother sends out to Tommy

because they are advertised as "British to the Backbone."

Packing. Asbestos wrapping around the barrel of a machine gun to keep

the water from leaking out of the barrel casing. Also slang for

rations.

Pack Drill. Punishment for a misdemeanor. Sometimes Tommy gets caught

when he fills his pack with straw to lighten it for this drill.

Parados. The rear wall of a trench which the Germans continually fill

with bits of shell and rifle bullets. Tommy doesn't mind how many they

put in the parados.

Parapet, The top part of a front trench which Tommy constantly builds

up and the Germans just as constantly knock down.

Patrol. A few soldiers detailed to go out in "No Man's Land," at night

and return without any information. Usually these patrols are

successful.

Pay Book. A little book in which is entered the amount of pay Tommy

draws. In the back of same there is also a space for his "will and

last testament"; this to remind Tommy that he is liable to be killed.

(As if he needed any reminder.)

Pay Parade. A formation at which Tommy lines up for pay. When his turn

comes the paying-officer asks, "How much?" and Tommy answers, "Fifteen

francs, sir." He gets five.

Periscope. A thing in the trenches which you look through. After

looking through it, you look over the top to really see something.

"Physical torture." The nickname for physical training. It is torture,

especially to a recruit.

Pick. A tool shaped like an anchor which is being constantly handed to

Tommy with the terse command, "get busy."

Pioneer. A soldier detailed in each company to keep the space around

the billets clean. He sleeps all day and only gets busy when an

officer comes round. He also sleeps at night.

"Pip squeak." Tommy's term for a small German shell which makes a

"pip" and then a "squeak," when it comes over.

Poilu. French term for their private soldier. Tommy would use it and

sometimes does, but each time he pronounces it differently, so no one

knows what he is talking about.

Pontoon. A card game, in America known as "Black Jack" or "Twenty

One." The banker is the only winner.

Provost-Sergeant. A sergeant detailed to oversee prisoners, their

work, etc. Each prisoner solemnly swears that when he gets out of

"dink" he is going to shoot this sergeant and when he does get out he

buys him a drink.

Pull Through. A stout cord with a weight on one end, and a loop on the

other for an oily rag. The weighted end is dropped through the bore of

the rifle and the rag on the other end is "pulled through."

Pump. A useless contrivance for emptying the trenches of water.

"Useless" because the trenches refuse to be emptied.

"Pushing up the Daisies." Tommy's term for a soldier who has been

killed and buried in France.

"Queer." Tommy's term for being sick. The doctor immediately informs

him that there is nothing queer about him, and Tommy doesn't know

whether to feel insulted or complimented.

Quid. Tommy's term for a pound or twenty shillings (about $4.80). He

is not on very good terms with this amount as you never see the two

together.

Q. M.-Sergeant. Quartermaster-Sergeant, or "Quarter" as he is called.

A non-commissioned officer in a company who wears three stripes and a

crown, and takes charge of the company stores, with the emphasis on

the "takes." In civil life he was a politician or burglar.

Range Finder. An instrument for ascertaining the distance between two

objects, using the instrument as one object. It is very accurate only

you get a different result each time you use it, says Tommy.

Rapid Fire. Means to stick year head "over the top" at night, aim at

the moon, and empty your magazine. It there is no moon, aim at the

spot where it should be.

Ration Bag. A small, very small bag for carrying rations. Sometimes it

is really useful for lugging souvenirs.

Rations. Various kinds of tasteless food issued by the Government to

Tommy, to kid him into thinking that he is living in luxury, while the

Germans are starving.

Ration Party. Men detailed to carry rations to the front line; pick

out a black, cold, and rainy night; put a fifty-pound box on your

shoulder; sling your rifle and carry one hundred twenty rounds of

ammunition. Then go through a communication trench, with the mud up to

your knees, down this trench for a half-mile, and then find your mates

swearing in seven different languages; duck a few shells and bullets,

and then ask Tommy for his definition of a "ration party." You will be

surprised to learn that it is the same as yours.

Rats. The main inhabitants of the trenches and dugouts. Very useful

for chewing up leather equipment and running over your face when

asleep. A British rat resembles a bull-dog, while a German one,

through a course of Kultur, resembles a dachshund.

"Red Cap." Tommy's nickname for a Staff Officer because he wears a

red band around his cap.

Red Tape. A useless sort of procedure. The main object of this is to

prolong the war and give a lot of fat jobs to Army politicians.

Regimental Number. Each soldier has a number whether or not he was a

convict in civil life. Tommy never forgets his number when he sees it

on "orders for leave."

R.P. Regimental Police. Men detailed in a Battalion to annoy Tommy and

to prevent him from doing what he most desires.

Reinforcements. A lot of new men sent out from England who think that

the war will be over a week after they enter the trenches.

Relaying. A term used by the artillery. After a gun is fired it is

"relayed" or aimed at something out of sight.

Respirator. A cloth helmet, chemically treated, with glass eye-holes,

which Tommy puts over his head as a protection against, poison gas.

This helmet never leaves Tommy's person, he even sleeps with it.

Rest. A period of time for rest allotted to Tommy upon being relieved

from the trenches. He uses this "rest" to mend roads, dig trenches,

and make himself generally useful while behind the lines.

Rest Billets. Shell shattered houses, generally barns, in which Tommy

"rests," when relieved from the firing line.

"Ricco." Term for a ricochet bullet. It makes a whining noise and

Tommy always ducks when a "ricco" passes him.

Rifle. A part of Tommy's armament. Its main use is to be cleaned.

Sometimes it is fired, when you are not using a pick or shovel. You

also "present arms by numbers" with it. This is a very fascinating

exercise to Tommy. Ask him.

Rifle Grenade. A bomb on the end of a rod. This rod is inserted into

the barrel of a specially designed rifle.

"R.I.P." In monk's highbrow, "Requiscat in pace," put on little

wooden crosses over soldier's graves. It means "Rest in peace," but

Tommy says like as not it means "Rest in pieces," especially if the

man under the cross has been sent West by a bomb or shell explosion.

"Road Dangerous, Use Trench." A familiar sign on roads immediately in

rear of the firing line. It is to warn soldiers that it is within

sight of Fritz. Tommy never believes these signs and swanks up the

road. Later on he tells the Red Cross nurse that the sign told the

truth.

"Roll of Honor." The name given to the published casualty lists of

the war. Tommy has no ambition for his name to appear on the "Roll of

Honor" unless it comes under the heading "Slightly Wounded."

R. C. Roman Catholic. One of the advantages of being a R.C. is that

"Church Parade" is not compulsory.

"Rooty." Tommy's nickname for bread.

Route March. A useless expenditure of leather and energy. These

marches teach Tommy to be kind to overloaded beasts of burden.

R.A.M.C. Royal Army Medical Corps. Tommy says it means "Rob All My

Comrades."

R.E.'s. Royal Engineers.

R.F.A.'s. Royal Field Artillery men.

R.F.C.'s. Royal Plying Corps.

Rum. A nectar of the gods issued in the early morning to Tommy.

Rum issue. A daily formation at which Tommy receives a spoonful of

rum; that is if any is left over from the Sergeant's Mess.

Runner. A soldier who is detailed or picked as an orderly for an

officer while in the trenches. His real job is to take messages under

fire, asking how many tins of jam are required for 1917.

S.A.A. Small Arms Ammunition. Small steel pellets which have a bad

habit of drilling holes in the anatomy of Tommy and Fritz.

Salvo. Battery firing four guns simultaneously.

Sandbag. A jute bag which is constantly being filled with earth. Its

main uses are to provide Tommy with material for a comfortable kip and

to strengthen parapets.

Sap. A small ditch, or trench, dug from the front line and leading out

into "No Man's Land" in the direction of the German trenches.

Sapper. A man who saps or digs mines. He thinks he is thirty-three

degrees above an ordinary soldier, while in fact he is generally

beneath him.

Sausage Balloon. See observation balloon.

S.B. Stretcher Bearer. The motive power of a stretcher. He is

generally looking the other way when a fourteen-stone Tommy gets hit.

Scaling ladder. Small wooden ladders used by Tommy for climbing out of

the front trench when he goes "over the top." When Tommy sees these

ladders being brought into the trench, he sits down and writes his

will in his little pay-book.

Sentry Go. Time on guard. It means "sentry come."

Sergeant's Mess. Where the sergeants eat. Nearly all of the rum has a

habit of disappearing into the Sergeant's Mess.

Seventy-fives. A very efficient field-gun of the French, which can

fire thirty shells per minute. The gun needs no relaying due to the

recoil which throws the him back to its original position. The gun

that knocked out "Jack Johnson," therefore called "Jess Willard."

"Sewed in a blanket." Term for a soldier who has been buried. His

remains are generally sewn in a blanket and the piece of blanket is

generally deducted from his pay that is due.

Shag. Cigarette tobacco which an American can never learn to use. Even

the mules object to the smell of it.

Shell. A device of the artillery which sometimes makes Tommy wish he

had been born in a neutral country.

Shell Hole. A hole in the ground caused by the explosion of a shell.

Tommy's favorite resting-place while under fire.

Shovel. A tool closely related to the pick family. In France the

"shovel" is mightier than the sword.

Shrapnel. A shell which bursts in the air and scatters small pieces of

metal over a large area. It is used to test the resisting power of

steel helmets.

"Sicker." Nickname for the sick report book. It is Tommy's ambition to

get on this "sicker" without feeling sick.

Side Parade. A formation at which the doctor informs sick, or would-be

sick Tommies that they are not sick.

Sixty-pounder. One of our shells which weighs sixty pounds

(officially). When Tommy handles them, their unofficial weight is

three hundred weight.

Slacker. An insect in England who is afraid to join the Army. There

are three things in this world that Tommy hates: a slacker, a German;

and a trench-rat; it's hard to tell which he hates worst.

"Slag Heap." A pile of rubbish, tin cans, etc.

Smoke Bomb. A shell which, in exploding, emits a dense white smoke,

hiding the operations of troops. When Tommy, in attacking a trench,

gets into this smoke, he imagines himself a magnet and thinks all the

machine guns and rifles are firing at him alone.

Smoke Helmet. See respirator.

Sniper. A good shot whose main occupation is picking off unwary

individuals of the enemy. In the long run a sniper usually gets

"sniped."

Snipe Hole. A hole in a steel plate through which snipers "snipe." It

is not fair for the enemy to shoot at these holes, but they do, and

often hit them, or at least the man behind them.

"Soldiers' Friend." Metal polish costing three ha' pence which Tommy

uses to polish his buttons. Tommy wonders why it is called "Soldiers'

Friend."

"Somewhere in France." A certain spot in France where Tommy has to

live in mud, hunt for "cooties," and duck shells and bullets. Tommy's

official address.

Souvenir. A begging word used by the French kiddies. When it is

addressed to Tommy it generally means, a penny, biscuits, bully beef,

or a tin of jam.

Spy. A suspicious person whom no one suspects until he is caught. Then

all say they knew he was a spy but had no chance to report it to the

proper authorities.

"Spud." Tommy's name for the solitary potato which gets into the stew.

It's a great mystery how that lonely little spud got into such bad

company.

Stand To. Order to mount the fire step. Given just as it begins to

grow dark.

Stand Down. Order given in the trenches at break of dawn to let the

men know their night watch is ended. It has a pleasant sound in

Tommy's ears.

Star Shell. See Flare.

Steel Helmet. A round hat made out of steel which is supposed to be

shrapnel proof. It is until a piece of shell goes through it, then

Tommy loses interest as to whether it is shrapnel proof or not. He

calls it a "tin hat."

Stew. A concoction of the cook's which contains bully beef, Maconochie

rations, water, a few lumps of fresh meat, and a potato. Occasionally

a little salt falls into it by mistake. Tommy is supposed to eat this

mess--he does--worse luck!

"Strafeing." Tommy's chief sport--shelling the Germans. Taken from

Fritz's own dictionary.

Stretcher. A contrivance on which dead and wounded are carried. The

only time Tommy gets a free ride in the trenches is while on a

stretcher. As a rule he does not appreciate this means of

transportation.

"Suicide Club." Nickname for bombers and machine gunners. (No

misnomer.)

Supper. Tommy's fourth meal, generally eaten just before "lights out."

It is composed of the remains of the day's rations. There are a lot of

Tommies who never eat supper. There is a reason.

S.W. Shell wound. What the doctor marks on your hospital chart when a

shell has removed your leg.

Swamping. Putting on airs; showing off. Generally accredited to

Yankees.

"Swinging the lead." Throwing the bull.

"Sweating on leave." Impatiently waiting for your name to appear in

orders for leave. If Tommy sweats very long he generally catches cold

and when leave comes he is too sick to go.

"Taking over." Going into a trench. Tommy "takes over," is "taken out"

and sometimes is "put under."

Taube. A type of German aeroplane whose special ambition is beating

the altitude record. It occasionally loses its way and flies over the

British lines and then stops flying.

Tea. A dark brown drug, which Tommy has to have at certain periods of

the day. Battles have been known to have been stopped to enable Tommy

to get his tea, or "char" as it is commonly called.

"Tear Shell." Trench name for the German lachrymose chemical shell

which makes the eyes smart. The only time Tommy is outwardly

sentimental.

Telephone. A little instrument with a wire attached to it. An

artillery observer whispers something into this instrument and

immediately one of your batteries behind the line opens up and drops a

few shells into your front trench. This keeps up until the observer

whispers, "Your range is too short." Then the shells drop nearer the

German lines.

"Terrier." Tommy's nickname for a Territorial or "Saturday-night

soldier." A regular despises a Territorial while a Territorial looks

down on "Kitchener's Mob." Kitchener's Mob has the utmost contempt for

both of them.

Territorial. A peace-time soldier with the same status as the American

militiaman. Before the war they were called "Saturday-Night Soldiers,"

but they soon proved themselves "every-night soldiers."

"The Old Man." Captain of a company. He is called "the old man,"

because generally his age is about twenty-eight.

"The Best o' Luck." The Jonah phrase of the trenches. Every time Tommy

goes over the top or on a trench raid his mates wish him the best o'

luck. It means that if you are lucky enough to come back, you

generally have an arm or leg missing.

"Thumbs up." Tommy's expression which means "everything is fine with

me." Very seldom used during an intense bombardment.

"Time ex." Expiration of term of enlistment. The only time Tommy is a

civilian in the trenches; but about ten minutes after he is a soldier

for duration of war.

"Tin Hat." Tommy's name for his steel helmet which is made out of a

metal about as hard as mush. The only advantage is that it is heavy

and greatly adds to the weight of Tommy's equipment. Its most popular

use is for carrying eggs.

T.N.T. A high explosive which the Army Ordnance Corps prescribes for

Fritz. Fritz prefers a No. 9 pill.

"Tommy Atkins." The name England gives to an English soldier, even if

his name is Willie Jones.

Tommy's Cooker. A spirit stove widely advertised as "A suitable gift

to the men in the trenches." Many are sent out to Tommy and most of

them are thrown away.

Tonite. The explosive contained in a rifle grenade. It looks like a

harmless reel of cotton before it explodes,--after it explodes the

spectator is missing.

"Toots Sweet." Tommy's Preach for "hurry up," "look smart." Generally

used in a French estaminet when Tommy only has a couple of minutes in

which to drink his beer.

"Top Hats at Home," Tommy's name for Parliament when his application

for leave has been turned down or when no strawberry jam arrives with

the rations.

Town Major. An officer stationed in a. French town or village who is

supposed to look after billets, upkeep of roads, and act as

interpreter.

Transport. An aggregation of mules, limbers, and rough riders, whose

duty is to keep the men in the trenches supplied with rations and

supplies. Sometimes a shell drops within two miles of them and Tommy

doesn't get his rations, etc.

Traverse. Sandbags piled in a trench so that the trench cannot be

traversed by Tommy. Sometimes it prevents enfilading fire by the

enemy.

Trench. A ditch full of water, rats, and soldiers. During his visit to

France, Tommy uses these ditches as residences. Now and again he

sticks his head "over the top" to take a look at the surrounding

scenery. If he is lucky he lives to tell his mates what he saw.

Trench Feet. A disease of the feet contracted in the trenches from

exposure to extreme cold and wet. Tommy's greatest ambition is to

contract this disease because it means "Blighty" for him.

Trench Fever. A malady contracted in the trenches; the symptoms are

high temperature, bodily pains, and homesickness. Mostly homesickness.

A bad case lands Tommy in "Blighty," a slight case lands him back in

the trenches, where he tries to get it worse than ever.

"Trenchitis." A combination of "fedupness" and homesickness,

experienced by Tommy in the trenches, especially when he receives a

letter from a friend in Blighty who is making a fortune working in a

munition plant.

Trench Mortar. A gun like a stove pipe which throws shells at the

German trenches. Tommy detests these mortars because when they take

positions near to him in the trenches, he knows that it is only a

matter of minutes before a German Shell with his name and number on it

will be knocking at his door.

Trench Pudding. A delectable mess of broken biscuits, condensed milk,

jam, and mud. Slightly flavored with smoke. Tommy prepares, cooks, and

eats this. Next day he has "trench fever."

Trench Raid. Several men detailed to go over the top at night and

shake hands with the Germans, and, if possible, persuade some of them

to be prisoners. At times the raiders would themselves get raided

because Fritz refused to shake and adopted nasty methods.

Turpenite. A deadly chemical shell invented by an enthusiastic war

correspondent suffering from brain storm. Companies and batteries were

supposed to die standing up from its effects, but they refused to do

this.

"Twelve in one." Means that twelve men are to share one loaf of bread.

When the slicing takes place the war in the dugout makes the European

argument look like thirty cents.

"Up against the wall." Tommy's term for a man who is to be shot by a

firing squad.

"Up the line." Term generally used in rest billets when Tommy talks

about the fire trench or fighting line. When orders are issued to go

"up the line" Tommy immediately goes "up in the air."

V.C. Victoria Cross, or "Very careless" as Tommy calls it. It is a

bronze medal won by Tommy for being very careless with his life.

Very-Lights. A star shell invented by Mr. Very. See Flare.

Vickers Gun. A machine gun improved on by a fellow named Vickers. His

intentions were good but his improvements, according to Tommy, were

"rotten."

Via Blanc. French white wine made from vinegar. They forgot the red

ink.

Vin Rouge. French red wine made from vinegar and red ink. Tommy pays

good money for it.

Waders. Rubber hip boots, used when the water in the trenches is up to

Tommy's neck.

Waiting Man. The cleanest man at guard mounting. He does not have to

walk post; is supposed to wait on the guard.

Washout. Tommy's idea of something that is worth nothing.

Water Bottle. A metal bottle for carrying water (when not used for

rum, beer, or wine).

Waterproof. A rubber sheet issued to Tommy to keep him dry. It does

when the sun is out.

Wave. A line of troops which goes "over the top" in a charge. The

waves are numbered according to their turn in going over, viz., "First

Wave," "Second Wave," etc. Tommy would sooner go over with the "Tenth

Wave."

Wet Canteen. A military saloon or pub where Tommy can get a "wet,"

Most campaigns and battles are planned and fought in these places.

"Whizz Bang." A small German shell which whizzes through the air and

explodes with a "bang." Their bark is worse than their bite.

"Wind up." Term generally applied to the Germans when they send up

several star shells at once because they are nervous and expect an

attack or night raid on their trenches.

"Windy." Tommy's name for a nervous soldier, coward.

"Wipers." Tommy's name for Ypres, sometimes he calls it "Yeeps." A

place up the line which Tommy likes to duck. It is even "hot" in the

winter time at "Wipers."

Wire. See barbed wire, but don't go "over the top" to look at it. It

isn't safe.

Wire Cutters. An instrument for cutting barbed wire, but mostly used

for driving nails.

Wiring Party. Another social affair for which Tommy receives

invitations. It consists of going "over the top" at night and

stretching barbed wire between stakes. A German machine gun generally

takes the place of an orchestra.

Woodbine. A cigarette made of paper and old hay. Tommy swears by a

Woodbine.

Wooden Cross. Two pieces of wood in the form of a cross placed at the

head of a Tommy's grave. Inscribed on it are his rank, name, number,

and regiment. Also date of death and last but not least, the letters

R. I. P.

Working Party. A sort of compulsory invitation affair for which Tommy

often is honored with an invitation. It consists of digging, filling

sandbags, and ducking shells and bullets.

"Zeppelin" A bag full of gas invented by a count full of gas. It is a

dirigible airship used by the Germans for killing babies and dropping

bombs in open fields. You never see them over the trenches, it is

safer to bombard civilians in cities. They use Iron Crosses for

ballast.

{Advertisement: FIRST CALL by Arthur Guy Empey.}

"Over the Top," by an American Soldier Who Went Together with Tommy's Dictionary of the Trenches · 第 27 / 27 章