For the wealthier people, I would suggest that good things to send are silk shirts and drawers. It is possible to get the cooties out of these garments much easier than out of the thick woollies. There are many other things that may be sent, but I have mentioned the most important. The main thing to remember is not to run to bulk. And don’t forget that it takes a long time for stuff to get across.
Don’t overlook the letters—this especially if you are a mother, wife, or sweetheart. It is an easy thing to forget. You mustn’t. Out there life is chiefly squalor, filth, and stench. The boy gets disgusted and lonesome and homesick, even though he may write to the contrary. Write to him at least three times a week. Always write cheerfully, even although something may have happened that has plunged you into the depths of despair. If it is necessary to cover up something that would cause a soldier worry, cover it up. Even lie to him. It will be justified. Keep in mind the now famous war song, “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile.” Keep your own packed up and don’t send any over there for some soldier to worry over.
Just a few words to the men themselves who may go. Don’t take elaborate shaving tackle, just brush, razor, soap, and a small mirror. Most of the time you won’t need the mirror. You’ll use the periscope mirror in the trenches. Don’t load up on books and unnecessary clothing. Impress it upon your relatives that your stuff, tobacco and sweets, is to come along in small parcels and often and regularly. Let all your friends and relatives know your address and ask them to write often. Don’t hesitate to tell them all that a parcel now and again will be acceptable. Have more than one source of supply if possible.
When you get out there, hunt up the Y.M.C.A. huts. You will find good cheer, warmth, music, and above all a place to do your writing. Write home often. Your people are concerned about you all the time. Write at least once a week to the one nearest and dearest to you. I used to average ten letters a week to friends in Blighty and back here, and that was a lot more than I was allowed. I found a way. Most of you won’t be able to go over your allowance. But do go the limit.
Over there you will find a lot of attractive girls and women. Most any girl is attractive when you are just out of the misery of the trenches. Be careful of them. Remember the country has been full of soldiers for three years. Don’t make love too easily. One of the singers in the Divisional Follies recently revived the once popular music-hall song, “If You Can’t Be Good Be Careful.” It should appeal to the soldier as much as “Smile, smile, smile,” and is equally good advice. For the sake of those at home and for the sake of your own peace of mind come back from overseas clean.
After all it is possible to no more than give hints to the boys who are going. All of you will have to learn by experience. My parting word to you all is just, “The best of luck.”
Glossary of Army Slang
- All around traverse
-
A machine gun placed on a swivel to turn in any direction.
- Ammo
-
Ammunition. Usually for rifles, though occasionally used to indicate that for artillery.
- Argue the toss
-
Argue the point.
- Back of the line
-
Anywhere to the rear and out of the danger zone.
- Barbed wire
-
Ordinary barbed wire used for entanglements. A thicker and heavier military wire is sometimes used.
- Barrage
-
Shells dropped simultaneously and in a row so as to form a curtain of fire. Literal translation “a barrier.”
- Bashed
-
Smashed.
- Big boys
-
Big guns or the shells they send over.
- Big push
-
The battles of the Somme.
- Billets
-
The quarters of the soldier when back of the line. Any place from a pigpen to a palace.
- Bleeder
- Blighter
-
Cockney slang for fellow. Roughly corresponding to American “guy.”
- Blighty
-
England. East Indian derivation. The paradise looked forward to by all good soldiers—and all bad ones too.
- Blighty one
-
A wound that will take the soldier to Blighty.
- Bloody
-
The universal Cockney adjective. It is vaguely supposed to be highly obscene, though just why nobody seems to know.
- Blooming
-
A meaningless and greatly used adjective. Applied to anything and everything.
- Bomb
-
A hand grenade.
- Bully beef
-
Corned beef, high grade and good of the kind, if you like the kind. It sets hard on the chest.
- Carry on
-
To go ahead with the matter in hand.
- Char
-
Tea. East Indian derivation.
- Chat
-
Officers’ term for cootie; supposed to be more delicate.
- Click
-
Variously used. To die. To be killed. To kill. To draw some disagreeable job, as: I clicked a burial fatigue.
- Communication trench
-
A trench leading up to the front trench.
- Consolidate
-
To turn around and prepare for occupation a captured trench.
- Cootie
-
The common—the too common—body louse. Everybody has ’em.
- Crater
-
A round pit made by an underground explosion or by a shell.
- Cushy
-
Easy. Soft.
- Dixie
-
An oblong iron pot or box fitting into a field kitchen. Used for cooking anything and everything. Nobody seems to know why it is so called.
- Doggo
-
Still. Quiet. East Indian derivation.
- Doing in
-
Killing.
- Doss
-
Sleep.
- Duck walk
-
A slatted wooden walk in soft ground.
- Dud
-
An unexploded shell. A dangerous thing to fool with.
- Dugout
