Citizen Army: Lying in Sheep Droppings Means a Uniform is Needed Badly, 1st July 1915

“THE CITIZEN ARMY.

“Sir, — The Citizen Army wants more co-operative work amongst the companies, and a better plan of drilling. I have only been called to one battalion drill in five months, a scratch affair on Easter Monday, but everyone appeared to enjoy it. In my company recruits, after two or three nights’ instruction, are indiscriminately mixed with the rest, making the drill tiresome all round. At first everybody wanted to be a section commander, but they try and avoid the responsibility now, because the haphazard grouping continually causes foolish mistakes. This could be remedied if gaps were filled in succeeding sections, instead of the latest formed being thrown in with numbers one, two, or three, and soon grouping indifferently at every parade. But the worst bungle is the uniform fiasco. In this connection our very amateur managers solved a problem before it had really presented itself. The army was supposed to be capable of sacrifices, and yet a large percentage in its early stages were assumed to be so poor that they could not afford a 25s. suit to save their ordinary clothes. No doubt the number of poor swelled considerably after such an extraordinary conclusion was arrived at. Twice weekly my company lie on ground covered with sheep droppings and very little grass. It is a wonder that headquarters has not thought of aprons yet. In my opinion the uniform was the only thing to bind each member to his company, and create respect for the movement, and it is most unfortunate that its purchase has been discouraged by misunderstanding or unpractical suggestions.—l am, sir, &c., V.”

'Nottingham Evening Post', 1st July 1915.

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