THE AMATEUR ARMY
BY PATRICK MACGILL
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
CHILDREN OF THE DEAD END
THE RAT-PIT
RIFLEMAN PATRICK MACGILLTHE AMATEUR ARMY
BY
PATRICK MACGILL
AUTHOR OF
"CHILDREN OF THE DEAD END"
HERBERT JENKINS LIMITED
ARUNDEL PLACE HAYMARKET
LONDON S.W. MCMXV
PREFACE
I am one of the million or more maleresidents of the United Kingdom, who a year ago had no special yearningtowards military life, but who joined thearmy after war was declared. At Chelsea Ifound myself a unit of the 2nd London IrishBattalion, afterwards I was drilled into shapeat the White City and training was concludedat St. Albans, where I was drafted into the1st Battalion. In my spare time I wroteseveral articles dealing with the life of thesoldier from the stage of raw "rooky" tothat of finished fighter. These I now publishin book form, and trust that they may interestmen who have joined the colours or whointend to take up the profession of arms andbecome members of the great brotherhood of fighters.
"The London Irish,"
British Expeditionary Force,
March 25th, 1915.
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER I
I ENLIST AND AM BILLETED 13
CHAPTER II
RATIONS AND SICK PARADE 23
CHAPTER III
PICKETS AND SPECIAL LEAVE 36
CHAPTER IV
OFFICERS AND RIFLES 48
CHAPTER V
THE COFFEE-SHOP AND WANKIN 60
CHAPTER VI
THE NIGHT SIDE OF SOLDIERING 71
CHAPTER VII
DIVISIONAL EXERCISE AND MIMIC WARFARE 85
CHAPTER VIII
THE GENERAL INSPECTION AND THE EVERLASTING WAITING 99
CHAPTER IX
READY TO GO—THE BATTALION MOVES 111
THE AMATEUR ARMY
CHAPTER I
I Enlist and am Billeted
What the psychological processes werethat led to my enlisting in "Kitchener's Army" need not beinquired into. Few men could explainwhy they enlisted, and if they attemptedthey might only prove that they haddone as a politician said the electoratedoes, the right thing from the wrongmotive. There is a story told of an incidentthat occurred in Flanders, which showsclearly the view held in certain quarters.T