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THE
TRAIN SGT-MAJOR
The
author of this story submitted it for publication on condition of
anonymity.
It wasn't a memorable send off when we left for
Korea
. No cheering crowds, bands or banners. No press. Just a small number of
wives and a few children, perhaps twenty in all, who lived in PMQs to see
their loved ones off. As the movement of dependents had not been
permitted, the few married men in the unit had left their families in
their home towns or with their mothers.
For the trip to
Seattle
, the unit moved in two trains, two hours apart,
which arrived in turn at the siding on the outskirts of the camp an hour
before departure time. There were no vehicles or heavy equipment to
accompany us as it was planned to take over the support weapons and
vehicles from the unit we were to relieve in Korea so the only heavy
baggage was one kit bag per member which was transported from the H-huts
to the siding in trucks and a few wooden crates containing 'company
stores' such as a typewriter which was loaded by a work party in the two
baggage cars. The companies were marched from their barracks to the siding
wearing full-marching order: Large pack, small pack, ammo pouches,
canteen, ground sheet, bayonet, rifle and steel helmet, the latter secured
to the large pack. As it was winter, greatcoats were worn avoiding the
need to cram it
in the large pack which carried an extra pair of boots, socks, underwear,
shirts and other clothing.
My company was on the second train and I was one of those detailed for the
work party to load the kit bags in the baggage cars; I've always been
lucky that way. Things proceeded smoothly but by the time we had finished
loading the kitbags and found our seats on the train, removed our webbing
and our greatcoats, we were drenched in sweat. Along with others, I
removed my tunic and loosened my tie in an attempt to cool off. It was
then that the Train Sgt-Major made his first appearance. He was the CSM
for the other rifle company on the train and, no doubt because of
seniority, he had been appointed "Train Sgt-Major." One of the
company commanders was "OIC Train" and he and the other officers
occupied a separate rail car near the rear of
the train and we seldom saw any of them. The Sgt-Major immediately made
his presence and authority known. Not addressing us directly (for we were
but minions), he berated the Sgt in our car and told him in no uncertain
terms that everyone was to be properly dressed at all times with tunics on
and buttoned, ties properly secured and web belts worn! This hardly
endeared him to us and our first impression was hardly favourable. To make
things worse, he occupied the corner roomette in our car along with our
platoon Sgt so there was no getting away with anything. For the two-day
trip to Winnipeg, he occupied himself almost full-time preening and
marching solemnly down the aisle of the cars, immaculately dressed with
headgear and with his pace stick firmly stuck in his armpit berating
anyone who might have a button undone or a necktie loosened. At our
infrequent stops to change engines and their crews, usually a 20 minute
stop, no one was allowed off the train except the officers and the two
unit military policemen and, of course, the Train Sgt-Major! During these
stops, the Sgt-Major paraded up and down the station platform like a toy
soldier; it must be admitted that he presented a soldierly image but, to
judge the reaction of the locals who lounged about the platform, the
people of Marathon and other towns along our route were not overly
impressed and were prone to laugh outright.
-continued
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