The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion) Part 10

1916-17 was a trying time in the life of the Reserve Battalion.

Training was concentrated to an unheard-of degree--a recruit being allowed nine short weeks before he found himself on Embarkation Leave.

Drafts were required by the dozen, both for the Western Front (for which the Somme and Beaumont Hamel Offensives were chiefly responsible) and for the Eastern Front. Then there was the trying coastguard work with its trench-digging excursions to Lunan Bay--work which probably helped to avert a danger not so remote as we then imagined.

"E" Company had a fair share of all these worries, and its able Commander, Captain F.D. Morton, was kept busy choosing drafts, arranging programmes, and working out tactical schemes.

Major W.H. Anderson, who afterwards became Lieut.-Colonel, and was awarded the V.C. after his lamented death, did much for the good of the Battalion; and the Soldiers' Home, run by Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs.

Auld, proved of great advantage to the men. This period marked the extinction of "E" Company, as representing the 17th. Draft after draft had robbed it of its original appearance, and when on 1st September, 1916, the 19th became the 78th Training Reserve Battalion, it lost all semblance of its former self, and may be said to have had an inglorious end to a short but useful life.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LIEUT.-COLONEL W. AULD, V.D.

_To face page 90._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The late Lt.-Col. WILLIAM HERBERT ANDERSON, V.C.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The late Sergt. J.Y. TURNBULL, V.C.

_To face page 91._]

IV.--HONOURS AND AWARDS.

Battalion Honour.

Extract from _The London Gazette_, dated 26/5/16.

The following is extracted from Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch, dated 19/5/16:--

"8.--While many other units have done excellent work during the period under review, the following have been brought to my notice for good work in carrying out or repelling local attacks and raids--

"17th (Service) Battalion Highland Light Infantry."

Victoria Cross.

Lieut.-Colonel W.H. Anderson, formerly Captain "C" Company. Gained while serving with 12th Battalion H.L.I.

15888 Sergeant J.Y. TURNBULL. _Gazette_ dated 25/12/16.

Since deceased.

The following is the extract from _The London Gazette_ of 3rd May, 1918, intimating the award of the Victoria Cross:--

"T. Maj. (A. Lt.-Col.) WILLIAM HERBERT ANDERSON, late H.L.I.

"For most conspicuous bravery, determination, and gallant leading of his command. The enemy attacked on the right of the Battalion frontage, and succeeded in penetrating the wood held by our men. Owing to successive lines of the enemy following on closely there was the gravest danger that the flank of the whole position would be turned. Grasping the seriousness of the situation, Colonel Anderson made his way across the open in full view of the enemy now holding the wood on the right, and after much effort succeeded in gathering the remainder of the two right companies. He personally led the counter attack, and drove the enemy from the wood, capturing 12 machine guns and 70 prisoners, and restoring the original line. His conduct in leading the charge was quite fearless, and his most splendid example was the means of rallying and inspiring the men during a most critical hour.

"Later on in the same day the enemy had penetrated to within 300 yards of the village, and were holding a timber yard in force.

Colonel Anderson re-organised his men after they had been driven in, and brought them forward to a position of readiness for a counter-attack. He led the attack in person, and throughout showed the utmost disregard for his own safety. The counter-attack drove the enemy from his position, but resulted in this very gallant officer losing his life. He died fighting within the enemy's lines, setting a magnificent example to all who were privileged to serve under him."

Among the first to join the 17th H.L.I. was Captain W.H.

Anderson, a man widely known and highly respected in Glasgow social and business circles. He was with the Battalion during most of its training at Gailes and Troon, and before embarking for Service in France was gazetted as Major in the 19th H.L.I.

He served with the same rank in the East Surreys till invalided home in March, 1917. On his return to France he was transferred to an H.L.I. Battalion, becoming Lieut.-Colonel, and shortly afterwards was killed in an attack at the head of his men of the 12th H.L.I. as recorded above.

Sergeant JAMES Y. TURNBULL, V.C.

It has been said of James Turnbull that he began to win his V.C.

at Troon. He was a born leader, and always a fearless champion of fairplay. He towered above the average man in strength of character as he did in stature, and he was always the same una.s.suming and genial "Jimmy." He was a fitting embodiment of the ideals of the Seventeenth. A big man for a big occasion--and the big occasion came along on the 1st of July, 1916.

The position of the Battalion was that of a wedge driven against the iron of impregnability, and the driving force suddenly withdrawn. At the thin end of the wedge Sergeant Turnbull, with a handful of men, performed prodigies of valour. From three sides enemy machine guns swept the position, snipers took deadly toll, and bombing attacks were constantly launched. Exposure meant almost certain death. The position was not only desperate; it was hopeless. Yet it was necessary to hold on till nightfall.

It was a _man's_ job, and Turnbull filled the bill. He shouldered the responsibility as only a strong man could; and he organised the defence. He had to take countless risks, and was always where the fighting was fiercest. He was the indomitable leader and inspiring example. Wounded, he carried on till his last risk was taken, and he met a soldier's death towards the end of that fateful summer day.

Of a band of heroes he was the beloved leader and super-hero.