The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion) Part 2

VI.--There were only very few charges of pa.s.s breaking.

VII.--There were very few claims for damage, and these on examination were more vindictive than real.

VIII.--It was not necessary to serve any billeting notices.

These are a few of the significant facts that mount up to bring honour to the rank and file of the 17th H.L.I.

The three troop-trains carrying the Battalion arrived at Whitchurch, Shropshire, on the morning of the 14th May, and the men marched some three miles south to the great hut-city on Prees Heath. This was the first War Station of the Brigade, where the 15th, 16th and 17th H.L.I.

joined the 11th (S.) Battalion Border Regiment (The Lonsdales). There the men found hut life very comfortable. The cleaning and tidying of their new abodes kept them busy, and was carried out with the cheery zest and whole-hearted enthusiasm so characteristic of the Seventeenth. Full advantage was taken of the adjacent Y.M.C.A.

establishment, which proved an admirable Inst.i.tution. The Concert Hall, Refreshment Tables, Reading and Billiard Rooms, were well patronised at all off-duty hours, and the men appreciated the cheerful kindness of the attendants, who were voluntary lady workers from the County houses.

Extended manuvres were impracticable in this well-fenced agricultural area, so the training embraced much route-marching, and barrack-square work, musketry, signalling, visual training, etc.

There were several trying marches in the scorching May-June weather, to Clive's native district, Moreton-Say and Market Drayton, to Wem and Hodnet, and to the beautiful scenery of Hawkstone Park, and Iscoyd Hall. Football, cricket, hockey, golf and cross-country running provided healthy recreation, while excursions to old-world "Sleepy Chester," to Shrewsbury and into Wales were popular week-ends.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A PEACEFUL BIVOUAC--SALISBURY PLAIN.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: RECRUITING MARCH AT CODFORD.

_To face page 22._]

In the third week of June, 1915, the 17th H.L.I. changed quarters from the flat stifling district of Prees-Heath to the breezy upland valley of Wensleydale, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. There is hardly a level acre in the district, but this was a welcome change. Many an enjoyable journey was made, in the intervals of Brigade Training, northward to lonely Swaledale, south to Coverdale, across the Valley of the Yore, to the prominent peak of Penhill, or to the beautiful Aysgarth Falls.

The Infantry Brigade, the 97th, had the 95th and the South Irish Horse as comrades for the training round Leyburn and Middleham, and Bellerby Moors; and some pleasant friendships were formed with the Warwickshire and Gloucestershire lads, and with the "foine foightin' bhoys" from Cork and Tipperary.

On the 27th of July tents were shifted to Totley Rifle Ranges in Derbyshire, where the preliminary Musketry Course was fired by the Battalion during the next fortnight, with most creditable results. The men made themselves great favourites in Totley and Dore, and at Sheffield, where they received a very hospitable welcome at all times, and especially on the occasion of a memorable route march through that city on 9th August. The Battalion was given an enthusiastic send-off at Dore and Beauchief Stations on 10th August, when entraining for Salisbury Plain, the scene of their next training ground.

When the Seventeenth steamed into the station at Codford St. Mary, on 11th August, and saw the occasional houses peeping through the tall trees, it was the thought that, after the bustle and stir of Totley, they had indeed become soldiers in earnest. The Camp Warden strengthened this belief with his a.s.surance that no unit stayed longer than six weeks in the Camp, and after that,--Southampton and France, for the testing and proof of all that had been learnt so eagerly. As it turned out, three months were spent at Codford--months of rigorous training, of long interesting divisional manuvres, and general hardening. The men learned to dig trenches quickly and well, for they had to spend nights in them; to march many miles without complaint, and fight at the end of the hardest day's march; to use Lewis guns, not as amateurs with a strange toy, but as men whose lives depended on their speed and ability. The mysteries of transport, and the value of a timetable were revealed.

Needless to say these days of field exercises were not lacking in some amusing incidents which seem to dog the footsteps of peace conditions manuvres and which act as very welcome episodes amid the hard work that such training involves. Towards the close of one of the periodical manuvres carried out by the Seventeenth under the critical eye of an Inspecting General a bugle had sounded and the manuvres ceased. Officers grouped together and men lay on their backs and talked. The General turned to one of the Battalion officers who were now beginning to a.s.semble round him, and said, "What was that call?" He often did such things as this to test knowledge of detail.

"The Stand Fast," said the officer to whom the question was addressed.

"Oh! come! come!" said the General, "Now, what was it?" he further questioned a Company Commander. No reply came. Then he turned to the Second in Command, "Now, Major, what was it? Tell him." "The Stand Fast, sir," said the Major. "Really," said the General, "you gentlemen must learn the elementary things in soldiering. Bugler, tell these gentlemen what that call was." "The Stand Fast, sir," replied the bugler. The General hurried on with the conference!

At Codford the Battalion had its first taste of army biscuit and bully-beef. From Monday to Thursday manuvres were held; on Friday, "clean up," and on Sat.u.r.day, after the Colonel's inspection, the luckier ones went to Bath and Bristol for the day, or to London or Bournemouth for the week-end. Friday was pay day--"Seven Shillings me lucky lad," and after pay-out, the reading of the Army Act or a Lecture on bayonet-fighting or tactics. Games flourished. The Battalion football team played and defeated Bath City, and met the other Battalions of the Division at Rugby Football, and invariably won. On the ranges with rifle and Lewis gun, the Battalion maintained its place as _the_ Battalion in the Division.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OFFICERS OF THE BATTALION AT MAR LODGE, TROON, 1915.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: VISIT OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TROON, 1915.

_To face page 25._]

At last word was received that the Battalion would cross to France on November 22nd. Only fifty per cent. got week-end leave--there was no time for more. Training was over. Few will forget the brave skirl of the pipes as the Battalion swung home in the morning from Yarnbury Castle, file after file silhouetted against the orange and gold of the rising sun. Always, when the wind blows fresh and sweet in the morning, those who are left of those happy times will think of Codford, the "jumping off place" of the Seventeenth for France.

The following message of G.o.d-speed and goodwill was received by the Battalion as part of the 32nd Division before setting out:--

"17TH SERVICE BATTALION HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY.

"BRIGADE ORDER NO. 1285, OF 19TH NOVEMBER, 1915.

"MESSAGE FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING.

"Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 32nd Division, on the eve of your departure for Active Service I send you my heartfelt good wishes.

"It is a bitter disappointment to me, owing to an unfortunate accident, I am unable to see the Division on Parade before it leaves England; but I can a.s.sure you that my thoughts are with you all.

"Your period of training has been long and arduous, but the time has now come for you to prove on the Field of Battle the results of your instruction.

"From the good accounts that I have received of the Division, I am confident that the high traditions of the British Army are safe in your hands, and that with your comrades now in the Field you will maintain the unceasing efforts necessary to bring the War to a victorious ending.

"Good-bye and G.o.d-speed."

To the above message the following reply was sent:--

"Please convey to His Majesty the heartfelt thanks of all ranks of the 32nd Division for His gracious message and their determination to justify His expectations.

"The Division deeply regrets the accident which has deprived it of the honour of a visit from His Majesty, and humbly offers its best wishes for His Majesty's speedy and complete recovery."

On Sunday, 21st November, 1915, the Battalion paraded in full strength, 1,032 all ranks, at their hutments, Codford. A minute and final inspection was made, and everything p.r.o.nounced to be in order. A memorable feature of this parade was the head-gear, Balmoral bonnets of the war service pattern being worn for the first time. Next morning the Battalion left Codford in three parties for Southampton, and without any delay embarked on two transports for Havre, the remainder of the Division going _via_ Boulogne. It was a perfect crossing, no wind, bright moonlight, with everyone in the best of spirits.

At 7 a.m. on the 23rd, the troops disembarked at the port of Havre and marched off at once to the Rest Camp, three miles away, great interest being displayed in the few German prisoners working on the docks. On arrival the Battalion found it was under canvas, no floor boards and plenty of mud--a first taste of real discomfort. Moreover the day was raw, with a suspicion of snow, and no one was sorry when it was announced that the Camp was being left first thing in the morning.

That evening a few of the Officers visited the town itself, and others went out on a first reconnaissance to discover the route to the station, and the Ration Depot.

The next day, after drawing two days' rations as well as "Iron Rations," the Battalion left for the "Front,"--"A," "B," and "C"

Companies going off at 1.15 p.m., and "D" Company following a few hours later.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BATTALION, TROON, APRIL, 1915.]

II.--ACTIVE SERVICE.

ON TREK.

_Arrival at Havre--March to the forward area--Bouzincourt and Millencourt--instructional tour of front line trenches--condition of trenches--first casualties--Molliens._

The Battalion arrived at the Port of Le Havre, disembarked in high spirits, and in the morning of 23rd November, 1915, part of the troops left the docks for a three mile trek to a rest camp; but soon the Battalion set out on its first journey "up the line" in cattle trucks.

Travelling through the night of the 24th, via Rouen and Amiens, the unit reached Pont Remy, some twelve miles east of Abbeville, in the early hours of the following day, and soon had commenced their first route march into the battle-ways of France, and, incidentally, at the first resting place, Mouflers, made cheerily light of what was their first experience of faulty billeting arrangements. One billet, for 150 men, at the Folie Auberge was uninhabitable, and the appearance of the billets in general was greeted with good-natured growls of amazement and disgust. The weather, however, was mild and sunny, and after about eight hours' work all the troops were more or less under cover. When every incident was an experience novel and suggestive, such minor discomforts did not trouble anyone seriously; but considered in retrospect it must be admitted that these, their first billets, were very poor for a village so far behind the line. If it was an unpromising beginning for the companies, it proved a delusion and a snare for headquarters, for they scored on this occasion in having at the Chateau the most comfortable billets they ever were fated to enjoy.

The next day was spent in resting, and on the 27th the march was continued along the magnificent Amiens Road, through Felixcourt and Belloy-sur-Somme to La Chaussee. This was a day of keen frost and bright sunshine, and headed by the band, the 17th stepped out through the various villages in the best of spirits. Following the same column was the 17th Northumberland Fusiliers and two A.S.C. Companies. That night the billets were good, everyone felt somehow in holiday mood, helped perhaps by the successful bargaining for eggs, chickens and wine, for to make purchases at all was even at that early date a matter for rejoicing. The pipers delighted with their playing the heart of Madame la Comptesse at her chateau at Turancourt where Brigade headquarters were stationed.

On the 28th, a bitterly cold day, the Battalion marched eleven miles via Coisy and Ranneville to Molliens-au-Bois, and there they stayed until the morning of December 1st, when they were joined by M.

Duchamps, interpreter. Molliens-au-Bois lies about eight miles north of Amiens, but the outstanding feature was that, from the high ground above there was got the first glimpse of the illuminations provided nightly by the Bosche, all along the battle front.

On 1st December they left at 8.15 a.m., in company with the 16th H.L.I., and on the way a Company of the 17th Northumberland Fusiliers joined the column, which now was moving into the front area.

During the afternoon of that day, the Officers and N.C.O.s of "A" and "B" Companies went from Bouzincourt into the front line trenches, just north of Albert, and were attached for instruction to the 7th Gordons and the 7th Black Watch of the 51st Division, and on the following day these two Companies joined their Officers in the front line for one night. The trenches were in a very bad condition after hard frost and heavy rain. Parts of the trenches were collapsing under the severe conditions and cases were reported from neighbouring units of men being drowned in the mud and water.

On the 3rd and 4th December "C" and "D" Companies from Millencourt went through a similar programme. On the 6th the front line only of Sectors F1 and F2 were taken over, and then on the 8th the whole Battalion took over Sector F1--some 2,000 yards of system from just north of La Boisselle towards Authuille (Blighty) Wood. The front line and communication trenches were knee deep in water and the trench shelters were poor. Rats galore and of enormous size added to the amenity of the district.