"I always get left holding the bag" - not quite as "pikant" as the original, but a common enough phrase, at least in AE.

"Schütze Arsch im letzten Glied" is new to me but

I'm having to carry the can, I always have to... e.g. is what one could say - in BE at least

to be the lowest of the low

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/...

A "Schütze Arsch im letzten Glied" is the "most nobody one of the nobodies (a makey-uppey of mine)". E.g. Privates Cowboy, Paula etc. in "Full Metal Jacket" were "Schützen Arsch ..." i.e. worth less than nothing in the eyes of the drill sergeant.

Hab ich in Irland gehört.

I think you mean "pEcking order", coookie.

How about "the last link in the food chain"?

http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Squaddie

Squaddie - a soldier. Commonly used mis-spelling of the word 'swaddy'. This derived from the days of the army in India when swaddies were irregular Indian troops used as 'cannon-fodder' and for fatigues.

at the fag end .... of xxx

Yes, it´s "pecking order". Typo.

Thank you, kat.

Ah, the guy who always gets the shitty end of the stick ...

I feel like gunner lemon.