From The Halifax Courier, September 5th, 1914
NOW ON ACTIVE SERVICE.
Our correspondent with the local Territorials writes:- On
Wednesday, the Y.M.C.A. erected one of their tents here, much to the delight of
the Territorials, who are quick to realise the value of a place where they can
write a letter in comfort and spend a pleasant evening, singing songs or reading
magazines, etc. It might be mentioned here
that those who wish to help the Territorials can do so by helping the Y.M.C.A. We are still training strenuously, and many
men are suffering with their feet. Friday is a red-letter day here, being pay
day, but this time the usual charm was
taken away as most of the men had the larger portion of their money to return
for various things received in the way of small kit, such as shirts,
towels, socks, razors, etc., the razors bringing forth many skittish
remarks. Although grumbling is indulged
in by some, to hear the men singing in their various billets at nights gives
away the true state of their mind—it goes to show that whatever they are put
to, they can knock a bit of happiness out of it, like a true Britisher. The war news is followed with the very
greatest of interest here and whenever a big victory, occurs for the Allies the
strains of “Rule, Britannia” are sure to find their way from the lungs of the
men. All we are waiting for now is the
time to move. If it so happens that we
should get to the front we can then show that the men of Halifax and district
are ever ready to do their duty.
[I included this piece because of the account of the men having much of their week's money withheld to pay for kit. They were only paid 1 shilling per day anyway, so if 'the larger portion' was stopped, they would have very little left to spend (for instance on tobacco). The items listed sound like essential kit - I don't know why they weren't provided by the War Office. Possibly these stoppages were one reason why the provision of 'comforts' was so important.]
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