H.R.& M.M.
MARSHALL
.!
t'o.oxv.t SR I. J. "¥AI.I,IE-GRIFFITH, BAR'I'..
Hon,»rarv Cc,lonel. 4th Bn. The King's On Sc«ttish l-lordercrs.
WAR
RECORD
4th Bn. King's Own
OF
Scottish Borderers
ND
Lothians and Border Horse
WITH HISTORY OF THE T.F. ASSOCIATIONS OF THE COUNTIES
OF ROXBURGH. BERWICK. AND SELKIRK
I:'DITED BY
SORLEY BROWN
(Lieuteaant, 4th Ba. K.O.S.B.)
PUBLISHED ON BEHALF OF THE T.F. ASSOCIATIONS BY
JOHN blcQUEEN & SON,
GALASHIELS.
1920.
o tb¢ fllemor?
of those members of the 4th Bn. King's Own Scottish
Borderers and Lothians and Border Horse who laid
clown their lires in the great war, 1914-1918.
19utce et decorum est pro ibaIriâ moff.
PREFACE.
IT was at an officers' conference held one evening in the year
1916, when the 4th 13n. K.O.S.13. was traversing the desert wastes
of Snai, that it was decided to coIIect material for the compilation of
a record of the part the 13attalion played in the Great War. Lieut.-
Colonel G. T. 13. Wilson, D.S.O., who was then in command of the
13attalon, was very anxious that this should be donc. Unfortunately
the severe fighting in which the 13attalion was subsequently engaged
]eft little time and opportunity for much progress to be ruade with
the Record, and, indeed, nothing further was donc in the matter until
last iear, when the members of the Territorial Force Associations of
the Counties of Roxburgh, 13erwick, and Selkirk, at the instigation
of Colonel Sir Richard Waldie-Griffith, decided that this little book,
embodying the war record of the 4th 13n. K.O.S.13. and the Lothians
and 13order Horse, together with a short history of the Territorial
Force Associations concerned, should be written and published. The
task of writing and editing the volume was entrusted to the present
wdter. In carrying out that task I have receved much valuable
assistance from many brother officers, non-commssioned officers, and
men. I desire especialli to thank Colonel Sir Rchard Waldie-Griffith
for much kindly advice and help. H]s love and concern for the
interests of the 13attalion cannot be over-estimated, and as its Honor-
ary Colonel he is regarded wth the deepest and warmest affection
by all who have had the honour to serve under his command.
I desire also to thank Captain J. R. Marshall, who is responsible
for the portion of the volume relating to the Lothians and 13order
Horse ; Lieut.-Colonel A. Haddon, O.B.E., for information about the
Territorial Force Associations; the Off%er in charge of Records,
Hamilton ; and Captain T. 13roomfield and others who were kind
enough to send me a large number of photographs, from which a
selection has been made.
Every effort has been made to make the record as complete as
possible. Mistakes may have crept in, and omissions will doubtless
be noted, but I trust that with all its imperfections the book wll
serve its purpose as a small reminder of the honourable part the
units concerned played in the Great War.
W. S. B.
CONTENTS.
PART I.----4TH BN. K.O.S.B. RECORD.
çHAPTER PAO
I. The Call to rms ............ Il
II. Gallipoli--The 2th of Juif ......... 17
III. Moreabout the 2th of Juif ......... 27
IV. Sunshine and Shadow ............ 40
V. The Last Week at Cape Helles ......... 48
VI. Memories of Lemnos ............ 59
VIL In Turkish Hands--A Prisoner of War's Story ... 65
"VIII. Cairo, Port Said, and Kantara ......... 73
IX. Romani, Rabah, Mohamidiya ......... 82
X. The Attack on Outpost Hill ......... 89
XI. The FMI of Gaza and the Battle of Mughar ... 103
XII. The Crossing of the River Aua ......... 111
XIII. On the Western Front ............ 121
XlV. The Armistice and After ......... 128
XV. Casualties, Awards, and Roll of Honour ...... 134
PART II.--LoTHIANS AND BORDER HORSE RECORD.
I. Mobilisation ............... 153
II. "A" Squadron ............ 158
III. Headquarters, "B" Squadron and Machine Gun Section 165
IV. Do. (continued) ............ 174
V. "D" Squadron ............ 184
VI. Casualties, Honours, and Awards ...... 191
PART III.--HISTOR' OF THE TERRITORIAL FORCE ASSOCIA-
TIONS OF THE COUNTIES OF ROXBURGH, BERWlCK AND
SELKIRK ...............
201
Part I.
4th K.O.S.B. Record.
CHAPTER I.
THE CALL TO ARMS.
The people of the Border country have good reason
to remember as a red-letter day the 5th of August, 1914,.
as on that memorable day the 4th Bn. K.O.S.B. was
mobilised, orders to mobilise having been received the
previous evening. There was naturally much excitement
and bustlc at the various detachment headquarters, as
the Battalion was thus for the first time placed on a war
footing. Having congregated at Galashiels, the troops
were billeted at the Battalion's headquarters in Paton
Street, and in other buildings throughout the town, and
after the necessary preliminaries had been arranged,
involving the delay of a few days, orders were received
that the Battalion was to more to Cambusbarron. By
August 11th mobilisation was complete, and, thanks to
the immediate enlistment of a good number of National
Reservists, the Battalion was brought up to full strength.
The Battalion was under the command of Lieut.-Colonel
J. McNeile, with Major A. Stevenson as second in com-
mand, Captain J. C. Lang as adjutant, and Lieutenant
E. H. Follis as quartermaster, while the medical Offlcer
was Captain D. R. Taylor, and the Rev. W. S. Matheson
was chaplain. As Major (afterwards Lieut.-Colonel)
Stevenson was medically rejected for active service, he
was subsequently succeeded as second in command by
Major W. E. A. Cochrane, Major Stevenson being posted
to the Reserve Battalion. Speculation became rire, and
Dame Rumour, always very influential in the Army, had
some of ber greatest triumphs. But doubt soon gave way
to certainty, and on August 12th the Battalion entrained
for Cambusbarron. The townspeople gave the Borderers
an enthusiastic send-off, and after a railway journey of
some hours--the first advance in "The Great Adventure"
--Stirling was reached. Few who took part in the subse-
quent match to Hayford Mi!l, where the Battalion was
12
quartered, will ever forget it, and many a time and oft
lhe depressing effect which the long straight Dumbarton
Road had that day was recalled when, by frequent passage
over it, our men got a better idea of the distance. But
at last a turn off the main road was ruade, and there,
.sheltering between the Touch Hills and the King's Park,
was the home of the Battalion for nine months. A large
mill, atone rime giving employment to some hundreds
of hands, which, in consequence of trade depression,
had a varied and chequered career, once more--in the
service of the military and as a billet for troops--became
a scene of lire and energy and bustle. The first thing
done was to get the " bouse in order," and several days
-of methodical work revolutionised the place from the
point of view of comort, though later in the year it
underwent further improvements which raised it into
high esteem as a comfortable billet.
Training commenced--the hard, rigorous, disciplined
training rendered necessary by circumstances. Of ail the
training areas, perhaps the most famous was " Shielbrae,"
where the civilian soldiers of the old Territorial Force,
reinforced by recruits whose patriotism brought them early
to the Colours, learned many of the arts of war. The
Battalion's first experience of " Shielbrae" was as the
oal of a route march, when the hilly road up took ail
aback, and the troops were relieved when, after a halt,
"' About turn " was ordered. Rigorous training, how-
ever, had a wonderul effect, and within a few days the
Battalion marched up that saine road in full marching
order, carried out strenuous training for some hours,
and marched liht-heartedly back to billets, none the
worse for their exertions. The beautiful policies of
Airthrey Castle, near Bridge of Allan, also afforded excel-
lent opportunities for training, route marching being
çombined with field practice, and valuable experience
was in this way gained. Later on, the old historic field
.o[ Bannockburn became the centre o[ many a hard-fought
tactical scheme, where brigades were involved rather
than battalions at the end of a hard and comprehensive"
scheme of training. Route marches were frequent, and
13
most of the country in the neighbourhood echoed to the
beat of tramping feet and the swing of a soldier's
chorus.
During the whole period rnuch experience was ained
by ail ranks of garrison duties, and in supplyin the
guards, picquets, and fatigue parties necessary to facilitate
operations in the busy rnilitary centre near which the
Battalion was stationed. The relations of the Battalion
with the villaers of Carnbusbarron and the burghers of
Stirling were noteworthy for their cordiality. On arrival,
few rnen knew any of the local inhabitants, but the latter,
by their kindness in keeping an open door to roups of
soldiers, won their way cornpletely to the hearts of the
rnen, who, at the sarne time, by their frankness and ood
conduct, did rnuch to earn for the Battalion a reputation
second to none in the district--a reputation which even
the period of the war did not dirninish.
During the period of occupation of the rnill at
Cambusbarron by the 1/4th K.O.S.B., the 4th (Reserve)
Battalion was forrned at the headquarters in Galashiels
under the command of Colonel Sir Richard Waldie
Griffith, with Major A. Stevenson as second in cornrnand,
Captain (now Major) W. J. Mabbott as adjutant, Major
J. Sanderson as quarterrnaster, and Major W. Doi as
rnedical officer. The mansion of Galahill was secured
as an officers' mess, and the recruits that flocked to the
Battalion were billeted at the headquarters in Paton
Street and the other parts of the town. Recruits carne
in in steady and increasin nurnbers--sturdy youths frorn
ail parts of the Borders--and trainin was carried out in
the Public Park, in Gala Policies, on Ladhope Moor,
and elsewhere in the district. Wonderful enthusiasrn
prevailed amon oflàcers and rnen, and the work of train-
in was reatly facilitated by the fine, brisk weather which
prevailed throuhout the auturnn and early winter.
Mernorable features of the trainin were the long route
marches that were undertaken by selected officers and
rnen for the purpose of stirnulating recruitin. The first
march was one " up Ettrick and down Yarrow "--a
distance of over 40 rniles--which was accornplished in
14
two October days. Some of the recruits who took part
in this march had less than two months' training, but
although they had practically no sleep overnight owing
to the presence of large numbers of rats in the barn
which was occupied as a billet, and an incident, in-
volvin the calling out of the guard, into the details
of which I need hOt enter here, ail completed
the journey back to headquarters. Marches were also
ruade throuh Roxburghshire and Berwickshire, and in
every town and village through which the Battalion passed
the troops were warmly and hospitably received by the
inhabitants. Training was carried out on a carefully
oranised plan. In the later stages several sham fights
took place, and one which the writer specially recalls was
that against several battalions of the Black Watch which
were stationed at Hawick. This fight took place on the
hills near Selkirk amid torrents of rain, and ail were
drenched to the skin. After being passed efficient the
first batch of recruits--thirty in number--were sent to
join the 1/4th K.O.S.B. Those men were the cream of
the reserve unit, and on theîr arrival at Cambusbarron
they were accorded a reat reception from ail ranks. It
hould be stated here that the 1/4th K.O.S.B. volunteered
almost to a man to go on forein service, but when the
medical test became more severe many were rejected as
unfit for active service. These were ultimately trans-
ferred to the reserve Battalion and were replaced by fit
volunteers, every effort being made to get the 1/4th
K.O.S.B. up to full strength once more. On Match 15th,
191S, the reserve Battalion was inspected at Galashiels by
Lieut.-General Sir R. Pole-Carew, K.C.B., C.V.O.,
Inspector of the Territorial Force, who said, in the course
of his address to the troops, " I do hOt think I have ever
seen a better Border battalion."
In April, 191S, the reserve Battalion, which by this
rime was over a thousand strong, proceeded to Barry for
musketry practice. After the musketry tests were com-
pleted orders were received that officers and men unfit
for active service, or who had hOt volunteered for active
8ervice, were to be formed into the 12th Provisional
15
Home Service Battalion. This was done, and the 12th
Provisional Battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Col.
A. Stevenson, with Major Mabbott as second in com-
mand, at once proceeded to Portobello, and subsequently
to North Ç)ueensferry, where the Battalion for twelve
months did valuable work in garrisoning the Forth
defences. The remainder of the 4th (Res.) K.O.S.B.
became known as the 2/4th K.O.S.B., and left Barry for
Rumbling Bridge, Major H. P. Cochrane being promoted
second in command, and Captain A. L. Dickson being
appointed adjutant. Here, amid beautiful scenery in the
valley of the Devon, more arduous training was carried
on. Meanwhile a third line unit known as the 3/4th
K.O.S.B. was formed at Galashiels, and from the third
line recruits after a spell of training were drafted to the
2/4th Battalion, which was very anxious to be made up
to full strength and proceed on service overseas. This
desire, however, was never gratified, though, after the
heavy losses sustained by the 1/4th K.O.S.B. at Gallipolî
on the 12th of July, most of the subalterns of the second
line Battalion were sent out to fill the gaps. After pro-
ceeding to Hawick in October, 1915, the Battalion was
amalgamated with the 2/5th K.O.S.B. (less a proportion
of officers and men who were returned to 3/4th Battalion),
which was subsequently stationed at Chelmsford and then
sent to the Curragh. The 3/4th K.O.S.B. at Galashiels,
however, continued to enlist recruits, and from this unit,
officers, N.C.O.'s and men were drafted at various times
to the 1/4th K.O.S.B. after it had gone overseas. The
third line was afterwards stationed at Stobs, Catterick
Bridge, Hawick, and Dunfermline, and from all those
places reinforcements were sent to the l/4th K.O.S.B.
and to other units of the regiment. At Galashiels the
3/4th K.O.S.B. (latterly re-named the 4th (Res.)
K.O.S.B.) was commanded by Major J. Sanderson; at
Stobs by Colonel Sir Richard Waldie Griffith, who ultl-
mately saw service in France; at Catterick Bridge and
Hawick by Lieut.-Colonel W. J. Millar, D.S.O., who
was in command of the 1/Sth K.O.S.B. at Gallipoli and
in the Sinai Peninsula; and at Dunfermline by Lieut.-
16
Colonel Millar, Major J. Sanderson (temporarily),
Lieut.-Colonel C. A. G. O. Murray, D.S.O., and Major
H. W. Locke, successively, the last named being in com-
mand when the unit was disembodied in mid-summer,
1919. When the 3/4th K.O.S.B. left Galashiels for Stobs
in 1916, the headquarters of the Battalion became known,
first, as the Administrative Centre, 4th K.O.S.B., and
afterwards as the 150 T.F. Depot, Captain A. T. Roberts,
Lieut. J. Ross, and Lieut. W. S. Brown being successively
in charge. At the depot practically ail the 4th K.O.S.B.
recruits were clothed and equipped before being de-
spatched to the reserve unit for training. The depot
was also recognised as the connecting link between the
T.F. Association, the Record Office at Hamilton, and
the Battalions at home and abroad. From the depot
hundreds of casualties admitted to hospitals in this
country from overseas received their rejoining instruc-
tions after discharge from hospital. The depot also per-
formed other useful functions. Time and again it was
the place of test for stranded soldiers, and the many
other duties carried out by the officer and staff in charge
included the settling up of difficulties of soldiers of all
regiments who had grie-ances to complain of, extending
leave in urgent cases, arranging military funerals, writing
letters on behalf of soldiers' dependants, assisting men
with advice on demobilisation, taking charge of stores
and documents, dealing with much correspondence and
other matters too numerous to mention.
î
17
CHAPTER II.
GALLIPOLI--THE 12TH OF JULY.
On January 21st, 1915, orders were received that the
1/4th K.O.S.B. had been selected to go on foreign
service. Several memorable " alarms " were /iven and
carried out, in one case at least to such an extent that
it was firmlv believed by ail ranks that the day of farewell
to Cambuslarron had arrived, but it turned out not to
be so, and when real orders did corne, the Battalion was
unfortunate in that an outbreak of measles prevented
its departure for France, and the 6th Bn. Scottish Rifles
was ordered abroad in place of the Borderers. At last,
on May 19th, the orders to more wei'e given, and the
Battalion marched through crowded streets to Stirling
railway station, to entrain for the purpose of following
the remainder of the South Scottish Brigade to the port
of embarkation, but for some reason unknown at the
time the orders were once ain cancelled, and seldom
bas a battalion looked or felt so disappointed as ours as
it marched back aain through Stirling to the old mill,
where two wretched days were spent. However, once
more orders to more came, and on May 21st riht
heartedly, but very cautiously, the troops marched to the
station and entrained for Liverpool, the send-off accorded
to them being enthusiastic and sincere. Amid cheers the
train departed, and on May 23rd the Battalion embarked
for Gallipoli on H.M.T.S. " Empress of Britain." On
the 8ame transport was ail that was left of the 1/Vth Royal
Scots, who but a few hours after our departure from
Stirling met with a serious accident en route at Gretna.
Also on board the " Empress of Britin " were the 4th
Bn. Royal Scots, the 8th Bn. Scottish Rifles, and Major-
General Eerton, Officer Commandin the 52nd Divi-
sion, and staff. Ail told, there would be 4500 troops on
18
the ship. The transport left Liverpool anaid scenes of
great enthusiasm, and thus did Cambusbarron prepare
the Border men for their strenuous work on the ill-fated
Gallipoli Peninsula, where so many fine lads offered the
supreme sacrifice for their King and Country, meeting
as if on manuvre at Cambusbarron ail the hardship,
horror, apd danger of war.
The sail proved a pleasant one except for the intense
heat, and on June 4th the Battalion disembarked and
entrained for Aboukir, where camp was pitched on the
sea shore. No transport was available, and the work of
carrying base baggage, anmaunition and stores over the
heavy sand proved no light task. On June 9th the
Battalion entrained for Alexandria, and left there two
clays later on board the "" Empress of Britain " for
Mudros Bay, off the coast of Lemnos, and while lying
at anchor the ship v«as bombed from a Turkish aeroplane.
Little time was lost, and on June 13th the Battalion was
r.acked into two small steamers and proceeded direct to
the Gallipoli Peninsula, situated about 60 mlles away.
The Battalion disembarked in the grey dawn of the
!ollowing morning at the south point of the Peninsula,
the famous '" River Clyde " being used as a gangway,
nd rn.qrched one and a half mlles to the bivouac of the
i55th Brigade. The Battalion received its baptism of
tire en ro«.te, but suffered no casualties. No intimation
of the arrival of the Battalion had been sent, and as tools
were totally insufficient in numbers, only one company
could be dug-in that day, the remainder occupying dug-
outs of the rest of the Brigade. Further, owing to the
lighters in which the Battalion landed on the Peninsula
h.a,ing orders to carry nothing but troops, most of the
Battalion's stores and equipment had to be left on the
ship. By June 15th, however, the Battalion was dug-in.
The dug-outs were in full view of the Turks, who shelled
our position frequently. Fairly good supplies of bully
beef, biscuits, and onions were issued as rations, two
onions per man being the allowance for the mid-day meal
for several weeks, but there was no means of purifying
the water, which was hot good. For several weeks the
19
Battalion was engaged on constant heavy fatigues, and by
June 18th the casualties were one officer (Captain, after-
wards Major, Jobson) wounded, and one man killed and
16 men wounded. On June 22nd the Battalion moved
up into the trenches for a spell of rive daysr While in
the trenches there were 14 more casualties, of whom three
were killed. Including sick, the total casualties at this
period were slightly over 50. On July llth, after having
short rcst, the Battalion moved up into the firing line
trenches, preparatory to an attack, orders having been
received to attck three lines of Turkish trenches at 7.35
the following morning, the instructions being to pass
over the first and second line and occupy and consolidate
the third line. The Battalion was selected to lead the
attack, and all took part in it with the exception of the
junior captin and junior subaltern and twenty men of
each of the four companies, who were sent back to form
part of the Divisional Reserve. A great bombardment
by our rtillery on the Turkish trenches at 6.55 on
the morning of the fatal 12th--a gloriously fine summer
daywsignified that the battle had begun, and the Bat-
talion eageriy awaited the order to advance. At 7.35
.m. the range of our artillery was lengthened, and the
Battalion moved to the attack, passed over the first and
.second trenches, and continued advancing with the object
of occupying the third trench. Not a man faltered, and
it bas been well and truly said that no finer charge was
ever ruade on any field of battle. After advancing a dis-
tance of some 400 to 500 yards, Colonel McNeile, who
was at the frent leading the Battalion, said to Major
Cochrane:--"We are too far forward, we must get
back." The fact is that the Battalion got within the zone
of our own artillery tire. Major Cochrane replied:--" I'll
stop the men and get them back," and this he endeavoured
"to do. No third trench was seen during the advance
or when going back. Csualties were hOt very heavy
during the advance, but when retiring the Battalion had
to pass through the zone of tire of our own artillery, also
che tire from the enemy's artillery and machine gun and
l'ifle tire, and this circumstance caused very heavy losses.
20
The Battalion, or what remnained of it, then occupied part
of the second Turkish trench, which was consolidated.
I give herewith an account of the charge written for this
record by Captain (afterwards Maior) W. T. Forrest,
who was subsequently killed in Palestine. Captain
Forrest writes :--
"" It is with sadness one takes up the pen to put on
record the deeds of the Battalion on and around the 12th
of .luly, 1915, when so mnany good officers, N.C.O.'s, and
men laid down their lives. However, it is their iust due
that these deeds should be put on record, so that future
generations may know what Border mnen were able and
willing to do in the interests of King and Country.
"" The Battalion was ordered to take its place in the
firing line on the afternoon of the llth. Careful pre-
parations were ruade for the attack next morning. 'A'
Coy. was on the right, resting on an old Turkish tele-
graph line; 'B' Coy. was next on the left, with two
platoons of ' D ' Coy. ; ' C ' Coy. was in second wave on
the right; while 'D' Coy., less two platoons, was in
second wave on the left. The orders were simple, viz.:
--' Carry the first two trenches but do hOt occupy themn,
the objective being the third Turkish trench.' Right
gallantly did the Battalion carry out its mission. At a
given signal, when the artillery increased the range by
300 yards, every oflïcer, N.C.O., and man went over the
parapet except a few who had already been killed or
wounded by the Turkish counter bomnbardmnent. The
first trench was reached with comnparatively few casualties,
as was the second, some prisoners being sent back from
both. The Battalion kept steadily on until it was seen
that there was no third trench to take and occupy. They
were through the Turkish defences, but were much too
smnall a body to relmain out in the open.
"' The commanding oflïcer, second in col.nl.nand, and
adjutant, held a consultation, and orders were issued to
get back and occupy the second trench, vhich had been
passed over, and it was during this time that so l.nany
casualties occurred. The front which had been broken
was narrow, and the Turkish machine guns on the right
21
and left were by this time in position to enfilade the re-
turning men. The survivors round their sister battalion,
the 1/5th K.O.S.B., in possession, busy consolidating.
Every available man turned his hand to this most
necessary work, and by nightfall the new firing line was
firmly established, with machine guns in position.
"' During the attack ten per cent. of the officers and
men who had been kept as Divisional Reserve in the
support lines had been anxiously waiting for news, and
towards evening permission was asked to take food and
water up to the new firing line. One officer and twenty
men made up the party, which was loaded up with empty
tin biscuit boxes full of water, bully beef, and jam.
Words can hardly describe the journey from the dump to
the firing line. The time of starting would be about 7
p.m. Progress was painfully slow. Every few minutes
there was a halt to allow wounded, walking or on
stretchers, to pass. Ration and ammunition parties were
frequently met, and although the distance to the original
firing line was only about two toiles, the party did hOt
arrive there until one o'clock the following morning.
There one might almost say the real difficulties started, as
the road to the first Turkish trench was in the making.
The term ' road' in this case fs rather misleading, as it
consisted of a zig-zag sap hOt more than 24 inches wide,
varying in depth from 2 to 5 feet. In this narrow sap a
fatigue party of about 40 men was working, and the
difficul.y experienced in getting a party loaded up with
food and water along such a trench can be readily
imagined. Practically the whole rime machine-gun and
rifle tire was being kept up by the Turks, making it quite
an exciting job. The sap itself was about 200 yards long,
at the et:d of which it was round there were still some
forty yards of open ground to cross. This was covered
at a smart jog trot, and ail dropped safely into what had
been a Turkish trench the night before. The hour was
3 a.m. It was still dark, and nothing could be seen at
first, but never will any man of that party forger the scene
zs dawn slowly broke in the east behind the trenches still
held by the Turks. The officer of the party was at once
22
ordered to take charee of a part of the firine line whicb
was very short of officers, while the remainder of the
party was split up, and each tried to find the Battalion.
Alas ! it was soon apparent that the rumour which had been
filterine throueh during the previous day must be true,
as only here and there could an occasional 4th K.O.S.B.
man be round, and at no place were there more than two
toeether. All units of the 1SSth Brigade were fearfully
mixed up. The only thine that could be dorie was to
issue the food and water for the benefit of ail and sundry,
and sorely were the food and water, especially the latter,
needed. One thine will never be foreotten by the writer.
If word came alone for ' water for the wounded,' a water
bottle would pass throueh a hundred hands, and be the
man ever so thirsty hOt a sien of hesitation could be seen
in passine the water alone.
" About the hour when it is difficult to say whether
it is still dark or daylieht, word was received that the
Turks were eoing to counter attack. 'Stand to' was
passed alone the line, but it was quite unnecessary, as
every man had been on his fire-step an hour before, and
when dawn broke there was revealed one of the straneest
scenes ever witnessed by the writer. Suddenly, about
100 Turks appeared [rom behind a small ridee. They
were chargine in a half-left direction, and they simply
disappeared when our machine euns and rifles opened
tire. Not a man of them got back. After that there was
a lull, and then bayonets were aeain seen movine along
the Turkish trench. The Turks evidently had a com-
munication trench somewhere near the barricade, and
havine filled up the trench, they once more came on.
Never was there a more haltine, hesitatine advance. They
proceeded about ten yards and stopped. Then they
moved forward a few more haltine, hesitatine steps, each
with one of his hands held in front of his eyes. Appar-
ently this exasperated one of their officers, as he was seen
to take his rifle and club a man behind, which one can
only imaeine roused another man to make some remark,
as the officer in question immediately turned round and
shot him.
23
"' This was the signal for a general retreat of the
Turks, and every gun and rifle opened tire. One would
naturally ask why we hadn't been firing ail the time. The
only explanation seems to be that the Turks, by holding
their hands in front of their eyes, gave the impression that
they intended to surrender. Certainly the word was
passed from mouth to mouth--' Don't tire; they are
going to surrender.' How many got back on this occasion
it is difficult to say, but certainly hot many. That
finished the Turkish counter attacks.
" As the sun rose higher a curious feature was
observed. Apparently the Turks thought we were going
to attack again, for suddenly about twenty bayonets were
pushed above the level of, and in the direction of, the
barricade. Our men accordingly did the saine, and there
the bayonets remained for about ten minutes, with the
sun shining on the polished steel, but after being satis-
fied that nothing further was going to happen, the enemy
gradually withdrew their bayonets."
The following a¢count of the charge is given by Cor-
poral T. Richardson, No. 14 Platoon, D Coy.:--
" On the morning of the attack, Nos. 13 and 14
Platoons were on the extreme left of the Battalion--the
right of No. 14 resting on the head of the communication
trench. At the head of this communication trench a
bombing sap ran out a few yards towards the first Turkish
trench, and was held by a party of our bombers. Directly
opposite the centre of No. 13 Platoon a Turkish com-
munication trench could be seen running into their firing
line, and the junction was screened by a small tree. The
first Turkish trench appeared to be about 50 yards from
our firing line. Our orders were that on getting over
the parapet No. 13 Platoon on reaching the tree was to
do a left wheel, take and hold the near end of the com-
munication trench, while No. 14 was to right incline and
hold the top end next the second Turkish trench. This
second Turkish trench appeared to be about 250 yards
behind the first trench. No. 13 Platoon had a straight
run forward, while No. 14 had to do a wheel right
round.
24
" On getting the order to go, we ail scrambled over
the parapet, and on running a few yards round ourselves
in dead ground. We doubled forward, and on reachin
the crest of the ridge, were met by very heavy arti}lery
tire, and we had many casualties. It was here that Lieut.
Henderson fell, shot through the head. We went on to
the first enemy trench, and jumped over it and ruade for
the second trench. By this rime we had got so far to
the right that we never saw the communication trench,
and practically the who}e of No. 14 Platoon went straight
on, as well as a number of No. 13. On reaching the
second trench, some jumped in, while others lay on the
parapet and fired into the trench. A number of Turks
were showing fight, and were firing their rifles through
the loop-ho}es. I saw a great naany dead and wounded
Turks lying in this trench.
" Just at this time Captain Lang, the adjutant, came
over to this part of the line, and, telling us to aet over
the trench, pointed in a ha}f-right direction, where,
about 150 yards away, we could see the parapet of what
looked like another trench. Accordingly, we doubled
across in that direction, and on getting up to this third
trench we round it to be untenanted and on}y a couple
of Ieet deep. However, it afforded us some cover, and
in we scrambled---the order immediately coming alon
for every man to fil} his two sand bas and bui}d up the
parapet. The ground was like flint, and we could make
little headway with our entrenching too}s.
" To the }eft from where I round myse}f, this shal}ow
trench ran up towards a wood, and stopped about 100
yards short of it. To the riaht the trench ran in the
direction of another wood. In both these woods a
number of men were running about, but whether friend
or foe I did hot know. There seemed to be a great deal
of rifle and machine gun tire coming in our direction
from this wood on the right, and we felt our present posi-
tion by no means comfortable. In front of us, however,
there appeared to be no enemy at ail. We were lying
absolutely packed in this trench, and after about half-
an-hour, during which rime we suffered numerous casual-
25
lies, word was passed along for the men on the left to
-extend towards the wood. As I was pretty well on the
left, I got out and doubled across the open until I came
to a very comfortable-looking shell-hole, into which I
very contentedly iumped. Very shortly after reaching
this haven I heard shouts of ' Retire ! Retire ! ' and on
looking over towards the shallow dummy trench I saw
our men getting up and retiring on the second Turkish
trench, so I scrambled out and got into another shell-
hole iust in the rear of the dummy trench, along with an
.officer of the 5th K.O.S.B. Whilst lying in this hole I
saw Lieut. Patrick and about eight men corne out of the
wood on the left and double across to the dummy trench.
They ran past in front of our shell-hole, and I shouted
out, but nobody seemed to hear. Two of the party" got
hit before they reached the trench--one of them a man
named Anderson from Jedburgh, who belonged to 'A'
Coy., was hit in the arm iust as he was passing, and
he fell right into our shell-hole. I bandaged the wound,
and while doing so a Turk came running over from thc
.direction of the wood and gave himself up. I searched
him to see if he had any arms. This Turk himself took
Anderson back to the second trench.
" By this time everybody appeared to have retired
rom the dummy trench, so the 5th K.O.S.B. officer and
myself agreed to make a dash back. I got back safely,
crawling most of the way, as a shell burst very close iust
.as I was leaving, and I round I had lost the power of one
of my legs. When I got back to the second Turkish
trench I round only three other men of our Battalion
beside me---Brown, Fletcher, and McGhie. The test of
the trench appeared to be manned by R.S.F. and 5th
K.O.S.B. men.
'" We spent all that afternoon building up the
parapet, which had been practically blown away. Atone
part the foot of the trench was level with the ground
in front. We also cleared the trench as far as possible
by getting the dead over the parapet. They were nearly
.ail Turks. The words were continually coming along
:,the firing line ail afternoon--' Turks massing in front,'
or ' Turks massing on right,' etc., but nothing ever came
in the way of a counter attack. We could see the enemy
running about on the ridge beyond the dummy trench,
and they offered us splendid targets. When darkness
began to corne down the order was passed along for every
man to ' Stand to the parapet ail night.' "
27
CHAPTER III.
MORE ABOUT THE 12TH OF JULY.
The following graphic account is supplied by af}
officer of the Battalion who was attached to the Divisional
Reserve on the 12th of July, 1915. He writes:--
"' Early in the afternoon of the 11th orders came in
from Brigade Headquarters that ten per cent. o: the Bat-
talion were to go back to the Eski Line as DivisionaI
Reserve. The junior captain and junior subaltern from
each company were detailed for this duty, along with
about eighty men, chosen mostly :rom the sick and those.
temporarily unfit. No appea[s were [istened to, so about
four o'clock, after an 'au revoir' and 'good luck' to
those remaining, we struggled along'Parsons Road"
and trudged down " Oxford Street ' to the Eski Line to
a point just in front of the Backhouse Post, where every-
one turned in for the night--all of us very sore and dis-
appointed men.
"' At daybreak on the 12th we were startled by a
terrific bombardment from batteries with which we
appeared to be surrounded, and almost at the same
moment a heavy rifle tire could be heard on out left--
somewhere in the direction of the Krithia Nullah.
Orders came in shortly afterwards that the reserves were
to move out o: the Eski Line to a position on the left
of the smal[ Nullah, just behind Backhouse Post. There
we settled down to anxious[y await news o: the Batta[ion.
"" Shortly after eight o'clock the first of the wounded
commenced to corne down, an ear[y arrival being
Captain C. E. Macdonald, who had been shot through
the hand. Most of these men had been wounded whilst
getting out of the trench, or very shortly after leavin
it, and little information could be got from them as to
28
how the attack had gone. From that time onwards a
constant stream of ' walking cases' passed us en route
for the dressing stations on the opposite side of the
Nullah. Ail these men were given a much-needed drink
by some artillery men who had their headquarters near
the Nullah. Practically no information could be got
about the Battalion except that the men of the batteries
supporting our attack informed us that they were length-
ening and shortening their range alternately, whatever
that meant. Right up until 9 o'clock the artillery kept
up an incessant bombardment. Then their tire began
to gradually diminish until about 1 p.m., when another
deafening bombardment began. Some of out officers at
this time climbed up on to the ridge on our left, and
irom a French artillery observation station watched the
attack of the 157th Brigade on out Battalion's immediate
left. The tin discs on the back of each man could be
plainly seen, glittering in the sun. At first the attack
appeared to rail back a little, then go right ahead again.
The position of out own Battalion could hot be seen
from this ridge owing to the rising ground. During the
morning our position behind the Eski Line had been
treated to occasional salvos from the Turkish artillery,
but our casualties were slight--one man killed and six
wounded. We had now been reinforced b ail the avail-
able men sent up from the Rest Camp as well as some
wounded men who had corne in from the front. About
a score of these men were obviously unfit for further
service, and a chit from the Medical Officer o a neigh-
bouring unit enabled us to send them back to the Rest
Camp.
"" About four o'clock in the afternoon an order came
in from Divisional Headquarters ordering an officer and
ail available men from the Battalion Reserve to report
at Brigade Headquarters, which were then situated in
' Oxford Road ' between ' Piccadilly Circus ' and ' Par-
sons Road.' I,ieut. Fairgrieve was detailed to collect
the men and report accordingly. It took this party,
consisting of 49 all ranks, over an hour to reach the
Brigade Headquarters owing to the continuous cry,
29
'Clear trench for stretchers.' The scenes outside the
dressing stations in the Nullah leading to 'Oxford
Street ' were beyond description. Around each station
were rows upon rows of stretchers--each containing what
had been or, rather, what remained of a human being.
The slightly wounded were waiting in long queues for
treatment. What impressed one was the absolute
deathly silence which prevailed over each station--not
a word or a groan to be heard. We could find none of
out own men among these cases, which probably had ail
corne in from the later attack of the 157th Brigade. On
arrival ai Brigade Headquarters about 7 o'clock the
Brigadier gave orders for the party to be issued with picks
and shovels, and sent for Major Spence of the Royal
Engineers. Brigade Headquarters could give us no news
of the Battalion, as ail communication seemed to have
been cut.
" Major Spence gave orders that we were to proceed
to ' Parsons Road' and there carry on diging at two
saps from that trench up to the first Turkish trench,
which we then heard for the first rime had been captured.
The saps had been started shortly after the attack, but
both working parties had been annihilated by enemy
shrapnel, which was decidedly cheering news for us!
On arrival at the head of ' Oxford Street ' we were told
that one sap was along to the riht and the other to the
left. Out party was then split into two, the one lot going
to the left sap, where it was round that Sergt.-Major Pirie
of the Fusiliers had already a party at work, and the
other to the right. Neither sap had proceeded more
than 30 or 40 yards, and at no place was either sap deeper
than a couple of feet. The orders were that the sap must
be cut throuh belote daylight, otherwise no food or
water could be got up to the men in front. Leavin
hall out party under Sergeant-Maior Pirie, Lieut. Fair-
rieve commenced work on the right sap. At that time
the sap went straight forward for 40 or 50 yards, then
struck sharply off to the right. After some hours of
strenuous toil, Lieut. Fairgriexe ot forward into the
Turkish trench and was told by an R.E. officer there that
30
Pirie's party were through, having had a much shorter
.road to cut. With the aid of this officer the correct line
of our sap was marked out and the work carried on with
everish haste.
" Flares of ail kinds were lighting the whole place
every few minutes, and work had to proceed with the
greatest caution, as a machine gun was at once turned on
our party. As each tiare went up every man ' c]apped,'
and owing to the fact that the ground was absolutely
strewn with corpses we were not spotted. During the
night our Machine Gun Officer passed us with some of
his section, carrying ammunition, and, shortly after, some
of our signallers, bent on repairing wires. We then
knew that our men were in front.
" By this time every man was becoming absolutely
exhausted with the incessant digging, and whenever a
man's spell of picking or shovelling was over he was prac-
tically asleep before he sat down. This necessitated a
constant awakening. On being awakened each man
sprang up and bravely buckled to. Every credit is due
to these men for the work donc that night, as no man
had tasted food since the previous day at dinner.
'" Between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning (13th
July) we heard a sudden crackle of heavy rifle tire in the
trenches in front. This proved to be a small counter
attack by the Turks, so we downed tools and seized our
rifles. Our artillery, however, appeared to bave the
matter in hand and the attack fizzled out. So once again
we resumed our work and carr|ed on until about an hour
before daylight.
" At 4 o'clock, just as the first streaks of dawn
were appearing over the Narrows, we were once more
tartled by a heavy burst of firing and loud cries of
'Allah ! Allah !' t:rom the advancing Turks. This
proved to be a more formidable attack, and Lieut.-
Colonel Pollok McCaI1, who had charge of 'Parsons
Road,' ordered our party, along with some Scots Fusi-
liers, to get over the parapet and make for a part of
the trench to our left front, from which reinforce signais
laad been sent up. The intervening space was eovered
uccessfully witb.out a casualty. After jumping into the
trench we looked round to see if we had corne in among
our own men, and there saw one of our Machine Gun
Sections under Sergeant Jardine. The trench was literally
filled with dead and wounded from lractically every unit
in the S2nd Division. Whilst looklng for more of our
men, Lieut. Fairgrieve ran into Captain Forrest, who
had come up with food and water the previous night,
and was now endeavouring to find some of our men.
" To our left the trench appeared to be the firing
line, and at the spot where we were to serve as a second
line, a Turkish communication trench ran up from the
centre to the second captured Turkish trench. On pro-
ceeding up the communication trench Lieut. A. Galloway
was round with a handful of our men at the left end of
the second captured trench, just at the head of the com-
munication trench. He and his men were absolutely
exhausted, and could give us no information as to where
the rest of the Battalion were.
"" On returning to the first trench we round that
Captain Forrest, who had taken charge, was endeavour-
ing to clear the trench and build up the parapet, which
had been blown to pieces by shell tire, and the trench
itself resembled a shambles. We set to work to bury the
dead, and get the wounded out. One of the first to be
buried was Lieut. J. B. Innes of our Battalion. Just
about this time our Machine Gun officer, Lieut. W. K.
Innes, appeared--shot through the neck--and he had to
be sent off to the dressing station.
"" At 9 o'clock word came in from the Engineers that
we were to carry on with the digging, as in some parts
the saps we had dug during the night were still very
shallow. Our men by this rime had got well scattered,
and it was wlth difficulty that about twenty men were
collected and digging resumed from the deep end of the
sap. We carried on until relieved by a party of Fusiliers
about mid-day, when we 'handed over' and filed
back to our dump at Brown House with orders from
Captain Forrest to bring up the Battalion rations to the
firing line that night. Finding out there that the rations
32
v¢ould not be up until 8 p.m. we went right on to our
old position at Backhouse Post. On the road down
Lieut. Fair8rieve was called in to Divisional Head-
quarters to report to General E8erton as to the where-
abouts of the Battalion, and why Colonel McNeile or
the Adjurant hadn't 8ot in touch with Brigade Head-
quarters. Lieut. FairSrieve replied that, so far as he
could discover, both the Colonel and the Adjutant had
been killed.
" On reachin8 Backhouse Post we turned in for a
much needed rest, before settin8 off to carry up the
rations. By 8 o'clock we were back at Brown House,
the party consisting of one officer and 19 men. There
each man saddled himself with as much bully beef,
biscuits, water, and firewood as he could possibly carry,
and we started off for the firing line about 9 p.m. On
entering 'Oxford Street' we got hopelessly entangled
with two battalions of the Royal Naval Division, who
were proceeding up ail communication trenches in the
vicinity to consolidate the ground taken by our Battalion
the day before, and to take that fatal 'third' trench.
With the greatest difficulty we wriggled and struggled
through and ultimately reached our forward dump in
Parsons Road' at the top of ' Regent Street' at 2.30
a.m. Sergt. Jardine took over the stores, and C.Q.M.S.
Macpherson returned with the ration party to Backhouse
Post."
In the couse of a letter written to a friend on the day
previous to the attack on the 12th, Colonel McNeile,
writing of the losses in the Division which had already
occurred, said--
"'. . . . We are to take the front part in an
attack shortly, but I hope it will not prove so costly."
The gallant Colonel's hope that better luck would
favour the Borderers, however, was not realised, as the
casuality lists compiled on July 16th up to that date
showed how severely the 1/4th K.O.S.B. had suffered.
The casualties in killed, wounded, and missing were as
follows:--Officers killed--5; wounded--6; missingl7;
total--18. Other ranks killed--57; woundedl203;
33
missing--275; giving a grand total of 553 or more than
hall of the original strength of the Battalion when it left
Cambusbarron but a few weeks previously.
The names of the oflàcers reported killed were--
Surgeon-Major D. R. Taylor, Captain A. Wallace, Lieut.
T. M. Alexander, Lieut. ,1. B. Innes, and Second-Lieut.
A. H. M. Henderson.
The names of the officers reported missing were--
Lieut.-Colonel J. McNeile, Capt. and Adjt. J. C. Lang,
Major J. Herbertson, Capt. H. Sanderson, Lieut. A.
Bulman, and Second-Lieuts. P. Woodhead and J. B.
Patrick.
The names of those wounded were--Captain M.
Jobson (previously recorded), Capt. C. E. Macdonald,
Lieut. J. Harrison, and Second-Lieuts. J. Elder, R. P.
Smith, and W. K. Innes.
Of the 275 of the rank and file reported missing, only
13 were subsequently reported as prisoners of war. At
first it was thought that the number of those taken as
prisoners by the Turks would materially increase, but as
rime went on the fervent hope in many stricken hearts
that more of our men were not "" missing " but prisoners
became blasted, and there is now no doubt whatever that
with the exception of 13 ail those reported missing were
killed in action.
The names of the 13 Border men taken as prisoners
were--Sgt. A. R. Wood (Stow); Private C. Burgess
[Galashiels); Private A. Wark (Hawick); Private W.
Martin (Duns); Private H. C. Turnbull (Earlston);
Private F. D. Wallis (Selkirk) ; Private R. Renilson (Jed-
burgh); Private A. Graham (Edinburgh); Private J.
Thomson (Kelso); Private A. Nixon (Hawick); Private
W. Shanks (Kelso); Private R. Thomson (Hawick);
and Private M. Davidson (Hawick).
As indicated, by far the greater number of casualties
occurred on the 12th of July, but considerable casualties
were suffered on the 13th during the Turkish counter
attacks, wbich the Borderers repulsed, killing a great
many Turks with their raking machine gun tire. In the
repulse of the Turks, Sergt. Jardine, who was the N.C.O.
34
in charge of one of the Machine Gun Sections, played a
prominent part, and his gun mowed the enemy down in
big numbers.
During the attack on the 12th, the Borderers--both
officers and men--were brave to a fault, never faltering
or wavering. The first and second waves in the attack
went over the parapet practically simultaneously.
Colonel McNeile and the Adjutant led the second wave,
and the survivors of the charge never tire of telling what
a magnificent example the brave Colonel, who had
endeared himself to all ranks, was to his comrades that
day, when according to one who took part in the charge,
" our big guns were shifting about six or eight cartloads
of earth off the hill at a time, and bullets fell like tain
uporl calm water.'" Yet of those who survived nobody
can say what became of the Colonel and the Adjutant.
They were well forv«ard in the charge, and it fs surmised
that they were killed while on their way back to the
second trench from the dummy one. How they met their
death, however, fs not known--and probably never will
be known--but it fs certain that the manner in which
they fell was heroic.
When ail were so brave and wore Fearlessness like
a shroud, it may seem invidious to make any distinctions,
but special note may be ruade of the gallantry of Captain
Wallace, whose stirring cry, '" Corne away, Borderers!
don't be beaten! " inspired the eager men he led, and
who, although badly wounded and with blood streaming
down his face, continued to advance until he was
wounded a second time, on this occasion fatally. Pipe-
Major Bertram spoke to him as be lay dying, and his
last words were--" I'm done for." Lieut. J. B. Innes,
too, although mortally wounded, continued to cheer on
his men until he died from loss of blood. Poor Innes
got one of his arms blown to bits by a shell, and after
getting his cousin, Lieut. W. K. Innes, to cut it off, asked
for a cigarette. Surgeon-Major Taylor worked unceas-
ingly among the wounded during the attack, with shells
bursting ail around him, and he met death instantaneously
v«hile bandaging a wounded man atone of the dressing
35
stations. A special word of praise is due to the Bat-
talion's stretcher-bearers for their great work on the 12th,
Drummer D. Dick being especially prominent in bring-
ing the wounded to safety under heavy shell tire, while
splendid service in getting up ammunition, water, and
food to the firing line was also performed by Regimental
Sergt.-Major G. Murray, who later on was awarded the
D.C.M. in recognition of his services on that memorable
day.
As already indicated, the Borderers' objective was a
third Turkish trench, which however proved to be a
.dummy, and there is now little doubt that the aerial
reconnaissance was faulty in that this dummy was reported
as a trench. In any case, the 1/4th K.O.S.B. attained
their objective, and had the third or dummy trench been
a trench in the real meaning of the word, there is no
doubt that they would bave held it at ail costs. The
theory has been advanced that the dummy trench was
hOt the third trench tbat our men were meant to take
and hold, but this theory is considered untenable in view
-of the fact that no other trench was seen by any of our
officers or men after they had advanced beyond the
second Turkish trench.
According to General Sir Ian Hamilton, the 4th
K.O.S.B. " pressed on too eagerly and came under the
]eu de barrage of the French artillery," and in view of
what General Sir Ian Hamilton says, it is interesting to
quote the following extract from his dispatch dated llth
December, 1915, relative to the action of 12th and 13th
.July :--
" The action of July 12th and 13th was meant to be
a sequel to the action of the 28th June. That advance
had driven back the Turkish right on to their second
main system of defence just south of Krithia. But on
my centre and right the enemy still held their forward
.system of trenches, and it was my intention on the 12th
.July to seize the remaining trenches of this foremost
system from the sea at the mouth of the Kereves Dere
to the main Sedd-el-Bahr--Krithia road, along a front
,of some 2000 yards.
36
"On our right the attack was to be entrusted to the
French Corps; on the right centre to the 52nd (Lowland)
Division. On the 52nd Division's front the operation
was planned to take place in two phases; our right was
to attack in the morning, our left in the afternoon.
Diversions by the 29th Division on the left of the
southern section and at Anzac were to take place on the
saine day so as to prevent the enemy's reserves from
reinforcing the real point of attack.
"' At 7.35 a.m., after a heavy bombardment, the
troops, French and Scottish, dashed out of their trenches
and at once captured two lines of enemy trenches. Push-
ing forward with fine elan, the 1st Division of the French
Corps completed the task assigned to it by carrying the
whole of the Turkish forward system of works, namely,
the line of trenches skirting the lower part of the Kereves
Dere. Further to the left the 2nd French Division and
out 155th Brigade maintained the two lines of trenches
they had gained. But on the left of the 155th Brigade
the 4th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers pressed
on too eagerly. They hOt only carried the third line of
trenches, but charged on up the hill and beyond the
third line, then advanced indeed until they came under
the fcu de barrage of the French artillery. Nothing
could live under so cruel a cross tire from friend and
foe, so the King's Own Scottish Borderers were forced
to fall back, with heavy losses, to the second line of
enemy trenches which they had captured in their first
rush.
" During this fighting, telephone wires from forward
positions were cut by enemy's shell tire, and here and
there in the elaborate network of trenches numbers of
Turks were desperately resisting to the last. Thus though
the second line of captured trenches continued to be held
as a whole, much confused fighting ensued; there were
retirements in parts of the line, reserves were rapidly
being used up, and generally the situation was anxious
and uncertain. But the best way of clearing it up seemed
to be to deliver the second phase of the attack by the
157th Brigade just as it had originally been arranged.
Accordingly, after a preliminary bombardment, the 157th
Brigade rushed forward under heavy machine-gun and
rifle tire, and splendidly carried the whole of the enemy
trenches allotted to their objective. Here, then, out line
had advanced some 400 yards, while the 155th Brigade
and the 2nd French Division had advanced between 200
and 300 yards. At 6 p.m. the 52nd Division was ordered
to make the line good; it seemed to be fairly in our
grasp.
"' Ail night long, determined counter-attacks, one
after another, were repulsed by the French and the 155th
Brigade, but about 7.30 a.m. the right of the 157th
Brigade gave way before a party of bombers, and our
grip upon the enemy began to weaken.
"I therefore decided that three battalions of the
Royal Naval Division should reinforce a fresh attack to
be naade that afternoon, 13th July, on such portions of
our original objectives as remained in the enemy's hands.
This second attack was a success. The 1st French
Division ptlshed their right down to the mouth of the
Kereves Dere; the 2nd French Division attacked the
trenches they had failed to take on the preceding day;
the Nelson Battalion, on the left of the Royal Naval
Division attack, valiantly advanced and ruade good, well
supported by the artillery of the French. The Ports-
mouth Battalion, pressing on too far, fell into precisely
the saine error at precisely the saine spot as did the 4th
King's Own Scottish Borderers on the 12th, an over-
impetuosity which cost them heavy losses.
" The 1/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers, commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel J. B. Pollok-McCall; the 1/7th Royal
Scots, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel W. C. Peebles; the
l/5th King's Own Scottish Borderers, commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel W. J. Millar; and the 1/6th Highland
Light Infantry, commanded by Major J. Anderson, are
mentioned as having specially distinguished themselves
in this engagement.
" Generally, the upshot of the attack was this. On
out right and on the French left two lines had been
captured, but in neither case was the third, or last, line
38
of the system in their hands. Elsewhere a fine feat of
arms had been accomplished, and a solid and endurin
advance had been achieved, 8ivin8 us far the best sited
line for defence with much the best field for machine-Sun
and rifle tire we had hitherto obtained upon the
peninsula.
" A machine 8un and 200 prisoners were captured by
the French; the British took a machine 8un and 329
prisoners. The casualties in the French Corps were hOt
heavy, though it is with sorrow that I have to report the
mortal wound of General Masnou, commandin the
1st Division. Our own casualties were a little over 3000;
those of the enemy about 5000."
On July 14th the 1/4th Kin's Own Scottish Borderers
were still in the trenches, but they were thorouhly
exhausted with the heavy fihtin on the two previous
days, and on the 15th the remnant of the Battalion
returned to the Rest Camp for the purpose of bein
reoranised, Major Cochrane takin over temporary
command of the Battalion, and Captain Forrest becom-
in Adjutant. Major Cochrane and Lieut. A. Galloway,
it may be mentioned, were the only officers of the
Battalion who came throuh the chare on the 12th
unscathed. For the next week or two the Battalion.was
mainly enaed in furnishin fatigue parties for the pur-
pose of removin stores at W. Beach and entrenchin
work. The Battalion was never back in that part of the
line which it occupied on the 12th, and as no further
advance was ruade there, the bodies of the vast majority
of our men who were killed on that terrible day could
not be athered in and buried. Ail efforts to collect the
dead proved fruitless. The fev that tried it were killed,
and definite orders had to be issued that no further
attempts should be ruade.
The big battle over, lire on the Peninsula became
more serene, althouh the Battalion was reatly reduced
in numbers, and it was with difficulty that sufficient men
could be round for the various duties allotted to the
unit. Major Cochrane continued in command for several
weeks, after which Major C. A. H. Maclean from 52nd
Divisional Headquarters had command for a short period
prior to the arriva| in September of Lieut.-Colonel
G. T. B. Wi|son, A. and S. Highlanders, who had beer
appointed to the command of the Battalion.
4O
CHAPTER IV.
SUNSHINE AND SHADOW.
During Auust, September, and October, conditions
at Gallipoli were more pleasant. The enemy appeared
to be short of shells, and sent comparatively few over
each day. The Battalion took its turn in the firin line,
reserve trenches, and rest camp. As a ru!e, the spell
in the firin line lasted for a period of ten to twelve
days. While in the firin line considerable snipin and
bombin went on, but we had very few casualties in
killed and wounded, althouh dysentery and jaundice
gradually depleted the ranks. Several fresh officers
arrived from the 2/4th K.O.S.B., but no drafts of
N.C.O.'s and men came with them, and, as a matter of
fact, it was December before any reinforcements in other
ranks were received from home, and even then the two
drafts which came out only totalled about thirty in
number. As revealin how weak the Battalion was in
numbers at this time, it may be mentioned that on Sep-
tember 13th the total strenth of the Battalion was 230
of ail ranks. This meant that only about 150 rifles were
available for duty in the trenches.
Officers and men were constantly obliged to " go
sick," and they were either sent off to Lemnos or taken
elsewhere on hospital shps. There must have been com-
paratively few officers and men on the Peninsula who
were not afflicted sooner or later with dysentery, and
once a man took this vile trouble he experienced the
greatest difficulty in ettin cured of it. That dysentery
and ]aundice were so prevalent was not to be wondered
at, as the Peninsula was, more or less, one vast cemetery,
and the drînkin water was bad. It is ratifyin to
report, however, that from Auust onwards there was
considerable improvement in the rations. For a lon
4t
lime bread was an unknown luxury, but after the field
bakery was established fresh bread was îssued to the troops
rive or six days per week. Breakfast consisted of tea,
bacon and bread; dinner of stew or bully heef; and tea,
of tea, bread or biscuits, and iam (always plum and apple
and apricot!). As the weather grew colder, soup was
ruade for supper for the men who manned the firing line.
In the early days on the Peninsula each man when in
the trenches was obliged to cook his own meals, but after
Ihe field kitchens had been established hehind the lines
the rations were cooked there and hrought up to the
trenches by the orderlies detailed for the purpose by
the respective companies. The parcels which began to
arrive from home also helped to solve the food problem,
and in view of the tremendous difficulfies that had to he
contended with, it was extraordinary that the mail service
to Gallipoli was as good as it was. The news that a
mail had corne in always heartened everyone. When a
mail did arrive there were always twenty or thirty parcels
containing food for one of out officers, who had evidently
a very attentive wife, and, as a consequence, on several
<)ccasions the officers' mess was well replenished. When
in the rest camp the Battalion was frequently smartened
up by platoon drill, fille exercises, and marches to the
sea at "W" and "Y " beaches for a bathe. Open-air
concerts were also held at the rest camp, and on occasion
the Divisional Band would play selections of music.
There is no doubt that the terrible losses sustained on
the 12th of July took the heart somewhat out of the
Battalion for a time, but the officers and men were much
cheered by a visit one day from Major-GeneraI Sir F. J.
Davies, the new 8th Army Corps commander, who bas
a close Border connection. The General spoke to almost
every officer and man in the Battalion, and his kind,
.cheery words did much to put a new spirit into the men.
What specially struck one about the campaign at Galli-
poli, and, indeed, the whole campaign in the East, was
the relationship which existed between the Generals,
officers and men of the rank and file. The true spirit
of a noble form of brotherhood manifested itself on ail
42
sides, revealing to ail what a fine and wonderful thing
comradeship is. As miht be expected, this spirit helped
to lighten the severe trials of our men, and they cheerily
carried out the many and various tasks allotted to them.
During September the Battalion, when in the trenches,
was employed pretty constantly on the Clunes Vennel
extension, which was completed by our men on September
24th, and arrisoned for the first time. Early in October
the Battalion took over a new part of the line which
had not been occupied by the unit before. This was at
the Vineyard, and the ground held included three bomb-
ing stations. During the night of October 12th we suc-
cessfully pushed forward the North-East Bombing Station
15 yards, and ground which had been No Man's Land
was occupied. Owing to the fact that the operations
were carried out very quietly, the Turks were taken by
surprise, and their bombing station, which vas now but
15 yards from ours, was treated to a salvo of bombs at
daybreak. On this successfully-executed enterprise the
Battalion was congratulated by Brigadier-General Pollok
McCall.
Early in November the Battalion was strengthened
in numbers by having attached to it a squadron of Glasgow
Yeomanry under the command of Major Wardle, with
Captain Glen Coats as second in command. On the
afternoon of November 15th the 156th Brigade of our
Division attacked and captured the Turkish trenches in
front of " Hope Street." Two mines were exploded, and
a Turkish counter-attack was frustrated by a very heavy
bombardment from our uns. That night a very severe
thunderstorm broke over the Peninsula, and that the bad
weather spell was at hand seemed apparent when another
very heavy thunderstorm occurred the following night.
As a result, most of the troops got thoroughly wet, and
discomfort in the trenches was very great, while the whole
of the Battalion's kit in the rest camp was under two or
three feet of water. The storm was succeeded by very
changeable weather--warm and bitterly cold spells in
turn--until November 26th, when there commenced that
awful three days' storm which hastened on the evacuation.
43
The morning of the 26th broke warm and somewhat
mild, but just as darkness was beginning to gather around,
a great thunderstorm, followed by heavy rain, broke with
fury. Flashes of lightning lit up the whole surroundings,
and from the trenches we occupied one could see great
tongues of tire stabbing Achi Baba. It was a weird and
truly wonderful sight, the bodies of the unburied dead
in No Man's Land bcing seen momentarily quite dis-
tinctly. The storm lasted until 9.30 p.m., al:ter which
tain fell steadily. On the following day rain fell in tor-
rents for some hours. Heavy streams of water rushed
down the gullies, and the trenches became flooded, and
in some places were rendered impassable. But the most
terrible day of all was November 28th, on which day
snow fell and a bitterly cold north wind blew with the
strength of a blizzard. It was impossible to keep warm,
and we were glad when at 1 p.m. that day we were
relieved. The Battalion moved to the new test camp
near the Krithia Road, and the corrugated iron shelters
and dug-outs which had been built there, and which
provided a fair measure of comfort, were in the nature
of a heaven-sent blessing, especially as for four nights
bitterly cold frosty weather prevailed, although by day
the sun shone brightly and enabled wet clothing tobe
dried. By December 3rd the weather was much warmer-
--something like a warm May day in this country. On
the following day the Battalion was inspected in the test
camp by General Sir W. R. Birdwood, the " Soul of
Anzac." On December 5th the Battalion moved up the
line for a further spell in the trenches, and on this
occasion suffered several casualties in wounded. From
now onwards the Turkish shell tire greatly increased, and
conditions in " Argyll Street," " Wigan Road," and else-
where were by no means pleasant. That the Turks had
now got more shells was evident on December 13th, when
many 5-inch howitzer and high-explosive shells fell in
close proximity to the Battalion's headquarters in "' St
Vincent Street." In endeavouring to locate the position
of the Turkish batteries an artillery observation officer
and bombardier were killed instantaneously by a shell
44
which ianded in one of our first support lines, while a
shell which landed in the firing line wounded rive gunners
who had been sending up aerial torpedoes, or " flying
pigs," as out men termed them. As the Turks kept up
their bombardment day after day it was presumed that
they were firing shells which had been captured from
-the Serbians. On December 19th (the date of the evacua-
tion at Anzac and Suvla) an attack was launched by the
157th Brigade on trenches to out left, and in order to
cover the advance out Battalion ruade a demonstration
by cheering and showing fixed bayonets above the para-
pets. This caused the Turks to retaliate with very intense
rifle and shell tire, which continued for some hours. On
December 21st the Battalion Was relicved, and reached
the test camp, where we remained over Christmas. On
Christmas Eve a special service was held at the 52nd
Divisional Band's headquarters. Suitable hymns were
sung, and a solo was contributed by Captain G. Dun of
our Battalion. While the service was being held, several
shells were fired by the Turks, and ianded in close prox-
imity to the band's headquarters. Later in the evening
the junior officers of the 1/4th K.O.S.B. held their Christ-
mas dinner in a spacious dug-out covered with corrugated
iron. Those present were:--Captain R. R. M. Lumgair,
v«ho presided; Lieuts. A. Galloway, 3. G. Brown, J. M.
Watson, 3. S. Allan, H. L. Armstrong, W. M. Mercer,
3. A. G. Cairns, 3. Wood, 3. M. P. Adam, and W. S.
Brown. Of the eleven mentioned only rive have survived
the war. An excellent repast was enjoyed, a number of
toasts were given and honoured, songs were sung, and
the company was visited by Lieut.-Colonel Wilson, who
wished everyone the best of luck. The singing of " Auld
Lang Syne " and the National Anthem brought a memor-
able function to a close.
On the iollowing day the Battalion moved up to the
trenches for the last rime and occupied the firing line.
On the 27th the Turks started to heavily bombard the
trenches on our immediate right with high explosive
shells, which did considerable damage, and we had one
ofiïcer (Captain G. Dun) and three meta wounded by
45
shrapnel. On the 29th the 1/gth and 1/5th R.S.F. of
out Brigade carried out a successful attack and occupied
the remainder of trench G 11 A, taking 27 prisoners.
, mine was exploded and the enemy surprised. Our
Battalion sent a grenade party to the 1/gth R.S.F., a
grenade party to 1/Sth R.S.F., one ofcer and twenty
men to carry grenades, and one ofcer and twenty men
to support the 1/Sth K.O.S.B. During this operation
our Battalion suffered no casualties, but in the evening,
when ail was comparatively quiet, Lieut. Cairns, while
laying wire in front of our firing line, was killed, being
shot through the heart, and one man was wounded while
on sentry duty on the parapet. Later in the night news
was received that the 52nd Division would be relieved
shortly by the llth Division. Next day we had three
more men wounded, and on the last day of the year the
Battalion's cookhouse was wiped out by Turkish shell
tire, Sergt. Master-Cook Glennie and two men being
badly wounded.
The present writer remembers well those two last
davs of Decernber, 1915. On the 30th Captain Lumgair's
Company moved out of the firing line to one of the
reserve trenches ('" Wigan Road "). During the whole
of the afternoon we were heavily shelled, sorne of the
shells blowing in our parapet. About 10 p.m. the ofcers
of our cornpany got orders to send their spare kits to
the rest camp, and our orderlies were detailed for that
purpose. Those kits were not seen again until ,lanuary
9th, when rnost of us round them intact at Mudros.
The night of December 30th was probably the most
nerve-tr)ing of ail the nights we spent on Gallipoli--the
night during which our troops in the firing line did not
tire a shot between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. the
following morning. The sudden total cessation of tire
on the part of hundreds of sentries along our whole line
must bave seemed strange to the Turks. The Turkish
sentries kept on firing occasional shots as usual, but as
the night wore on their rifles spoke at longer intervals,
and towards rnldnight scarcely a sound disturbed the
still air.
46
One of our guns, stationed not far behind " Wigan
Road," kept firing for short periods at long intervals.
It was always the saine gun that spoke, but the Turkish
artillery ruade scarcely any effort to reply toit, and the
monotonous sound it ruade only served to render the
.silence Inore acute. Only too ready to fall asleep on
other nights when the noise of rifle and shell tire always
prevai!ed, I round it impossible on this particular night
fo let sleep steal away over Iny eyelids, and there were
many other tired soldiers near me who were in the saine
state. And so we lay more or less awake the whole
night through.
The night seeined as if it would never end. In the
almost intense stillness the senses became exceptionally
cute, and one had the feeling that something was going
to happen. As it was, nothing happened. Unable to
sleep, I lay and smoked, and several times I went out
of the dug-out into the trenches and looked around.
q'he darkness shrouded everything, anti the silence of the
reat night had clearly cast a curious spell upon the
imagination. I was looking up at the stars above me
v«hen suddenly a man lying on the fire-step of the parapet
said in a low voice, which almost startled me--" Do you
think 3ohnny Turk will corne over ?"
The uncanny silence somehow was closely identified
with that question, for every one of us knew that our
ruse was a deliberately-laid scheme to try and induce the
Turks to attack. But the Turks did not leave their
trenches. They might have thought we were leaving the
Peninsula. If they did think so, why did they not shell
the beaches as they did a few nights later ? I rather sus-
pect that they were afraid of being drawn into a trap.
Anyhow, they ruade no effort anywhere to attack us,
neither did they go in for any rapid tire, which was
.strange, considering that on numerous previous nights,
when there was no cause for anxiety, they so frequently
went in for " rapid " that we became ainused.
The night slowly passed, the grey dawn appeared on
-the horizon, and day gradually declared itself. If the
Turks still had any doubt about our being in the trenches,
47
they must have got a rude awakening at 12.30 p.m. that
day (December 31st), for, at a given signa], every man
in the firing line fired rive rounds rapid, and out artillery
treated the enemy to a heavy bombardment lasting only
fifteen minutes. The " sttmt " was known as the "' Fare-
well to Gallipo|i Stunt." The Turks were evidently
taken by surprise, and must have feared that we were
going to assault their lines, for their artil|ery kept up a
continuous reply ail the a[ternoon, and ruade things very
lively, several of out men narrowly escaping death or
serious injury from shells which landed in " Wigan
Road.".
It was understood that out Battalion was to be
relieved at 7 o'clock that evening, but it was past e|even
ere we got away, and owing to the frightful condition
of the trenches and saps, it took us over three hours to
reach the test camp. When we were being re|ieved in the
dark by an English regiment I heard someone say softly--
" These [ellows bave got rations [or seven days, and
they're to fight the rearguard action." Seven days'
rations! And as for the rearguard action, it could only
mean one thing. At last I thought I knew the whole
truth. The intimation that " the 8th Army Corps will
shortly be relieved by the 9th Army Corps " was all a
" blind," and, indeed, there was a pretty general feeling
that more than a relief was intended. And as those
strong men arrayed in battle order and wearing overeoats
filed into the trenches I [elt that they had a tough iob
on hand. We saw the New Year " in" during a halt
in " C " Avenue, which was one maze of artillery wires,
and greetings were duly exchanged. I don't think any
of us will ever forget that last awful walk down "C "
Avenue, and it was a great relief to be at the rest camp
again, where we turned in for some well-earned sleep.
48
CHAPTER V.
THE LAST WEEK AT CAPE HELLES.
The last week at Gallipoli was one of the most
memorable of ail the weeks we spent there. We now felt
certain we were going to evacuate, although our Colonel
was first of ail told that our army was to bang on to Helles
at ail costs, as the Navy wanted it as a submarine base.
This, of course, the Colonel did not believe, and when he
confided to some of us that Helles was to be evacuated,
and got a promise that the 1/4th K.O.S.B. would be
allowed to wait till the end, the cup of joy was overflow-
ing. But there was much to do before we could get away.
Stores and ammunition and mules, etc., had to be taken
off, and at the various beaches there was much bustle.
On January 2nd things were very lively at " W " beach,
as the Turks shelled it incessantly, and Major Wardle of
the Glasgow Yeomanry, attached to our Battalion, who
was acting as M.L.O. there, was killed by a high explosive
shell. On the intimation of this casualty, one of our
officers--Lieut. A. Galloway--was sent down to take over
Major Wardle's duties. The Turks continued to shell
the beach all that night. They had the range to a nicety.
Most of the shells appeared to corne from the direction
of Achi Baba, and it was surprising that the casualties
among the fatigue parties who were loading the lighters
were not much greater than they were. At " W " Beach
there was a look-out man at the top of the cliff, and when-
ever he saw the flash of the Turkish guns a warning bell
was rung, which gave our men a few seconds in which to
run for any shelter they could obtain. A faint boom in
the distance, the shout of '" look out ! " and then the
crash of a shell on the beach--this pretty accurately
describes the happenings at " W " Beach. The duties of
the M.L.O. and his assistants were most nerve-trying in
the circumstances. Great difficulty was experienced in
getting the stubborn and nervous mules off. Sometimes
after being collected for embarkation a shell would corne
over, burst in amongst them, killing some, and causing
49
a general stampede among the others. And then the
work would re-commence, and the saine thing would
happen time and again. On the whole, however, it was
vonderful how many of those valuable mules, which, in
the hands of their dark-skinned drivers, performed such
serviceable work on the Peninsula, were saved. By day
and night the work went on; guns, ammunition, kits, and
stores of ail descriptions were got away, and a word of
praise is due to the fatigue parties for the heroic manner
in which they carried out their arduous and very trying
duties.
For some unknown reason there was practically no
Turkish shelling during the night of January 3rd, but
during the following day and night the shellin re-com-
menced. On January 5th the strength of the Battalion
and Glasow Yeomanry (attached) on the Peninsula was
reduced to 147 ail ranks--the balance of the Battalion
(about 80 ail ranks) having left on the night of January
2nd, after performing fatigue duties at " W " Beach. On
January 6th the Turks were much quieter, but some of
their taubes came over and dropped bombs on the rest
camp from a low altitude. During these last few days
the rest camp became more and more deserted, as troops
had been leaving quietly every night, getting away with-
out mishap in cold, raw weather. In consequence, the
greatest precautions were taken to give the rest camp its
usual appearance, as the Turks were watching us narrowly,
judging from the activity of their taubes, for which we
kept a sharp look-out, and I think it was at this period
that one of the most clear-sighted of the officers of our
Battalion spotted " three Turkish airships," which were
ultimately discovered to be three flocks of wheeling
starlings! Officers and men were ordered to move about
as much as possible, and dummy figures were erected
here and there to deceive the enemy. One of the chier
employments at this time was the destroying of waterproof
sheets, blankets, and sand bas, and burying tins of bully
beef. The dismantling of our padre's du-out was in
itself an arduous task. After cutting through one lyer
of waterproof sheets a layer of blankets was discovered,
5O
then another layer of waterproof sheets, and finally the
'ooden roof and rafters! We feit glad, however, that
out good padre at any rate had fared well, especiaily
as first-class dug-outs were rare on the Peninsula. And
so the days and nights went by, and anxious days and
nights they were. Some of us got iittle sleep at night, and
as we lay awake we couid hear horses and waggons and
,uns rattling down the Krithia Road towards the beach.
During the forenoon and part of the afternoon of
January 7th the writer was at "W " Beach along with
Lieut. Mercer, and fifty fatigue men from out Battalion.
On the way down we noticed that the Y.M.C.A tent at
the top of the cliff had been wrecked by a shell, and a
Red Cross waggon, aiso sadly wrecked, lay at the side of
the road close by a great shell hole, and elsewhere a
number of horses lay dead. No sooner had we arrived
at the beach than three sheils came over in quick succes-
sion. The first fell into the sea, just missing by a yard
or so a lighter which was loaded with scores of boxes of
ammunition, and one shuddered to think what might
bave happened had the lighter been struck. As it was,
a great cloud of water was sent up by the shell, and a
man in the lighter was drenched to the skin but unhurt.
The second and third sheils burst on the beach close to
our party, but we sustained no casualties. One observed
that the sea was becoming toucher, and it looked as if
a speii of bad weather was again to be shortly upon us.
In the distance two nurses could be seen rowing in a
small boat in the vicinity of a hospital ship. We loaded
iighters for several hours, and Lieut. Mercer and myself
having been shown through the big magazine in the cliff
which was to be blown up some 36 hours later, we started
out for the rest camp, which we reached without mishap.
In the afternoon, to the left of Krithia, the Turks
ruade a determined attack, but were repulsed with heavy
casualties, out naval guns pourin shells into their lines.
Had that attack not been repulsed our " game " would
assuredly bave been up, as our troops on the Peninsula
were by now comparatively few, and there were no ser-
viceable uns left. By 6 p.m. peace reined, and our
Red Cross wallons brouht our wounded down the
Krithia Road. In the evening we partook o[ our last
meal on the Peninsula--tea, bread and cbeese and jam--
and at 9.45 p.m. what remained o[ the Battalion and the
(]lasgow Yeomanry (147 all ranks) was formed up on
the road. It was a fine dark night and favourable for
our departure. There were mixed feelins at oin. We
were leavin a place ained by the most manificent
heroism of the first troops landed, hun on to by the
ailantry and determination of a handful of sick and
wearied men, hun on to in the end aainst increasin
masses of Turks and heavy uns--released by the evacua-
tion of Suvla and Anzac--and we were leavin our dead
there, our old comrades for whom the unfailin liht
was spent and donc, and worst of ail, was not the evacua-
tion a slur on (]reat Britain ? On the other hand, the
alternative was to have remained on with a rapidly
mountin roll of casualties, but in any case higher powers
had decided, and that was sufficient for us.
The roll call havin been taken, and ail havin been
reported " present and correct," we set o1 noiselessly
on our march to "W" Beach. At the top of the clil
the Battalion was halted, and all lay down while the
Adjutant went ahead to find out exactly where we were
to o. As we lay there several shells fired from the
Turkish batteries at Achi Baba, and from our oid friend
"' Annie " at Kum Kalessi on the Asiatic coast, burst
close to us, but caused no casualties. After waitin about
half-an-hour the Adjutant returned breathless with orders
that we were to move down to the beach, where we
round over a thousand troops of other reiments had
already arrived. Here we were oblied to lie low aain,
as the pier by which we were to cross on to the steamer
wbich had been drawn close in had broken down and
the enineers were repairin it with ail speed. We lay
huddled close toether on the beach. The suspense was
reat and the minutes seemed like hours. All was quiet,
and every few minutes a faint boom could be heard in
the distance. This was the signal that a sheil had been
fired, and then with a whistlin sound it would corne over
52
and burst on the beach or fall into the sea close to the
pier. About one in every two shells landed short on
the cliff above us and failed to explode, but had the
Turks kept up a constant bombardment we must have
suffered considerable casualties. As it was, by rare good
fortune, the shells did no harm.
At last, about 1.30 a.m., January 8th, word came to
"" move," and forming up in single file we marched on
to the steamer. It was an unforgettable journey across
creaking planks of wood and over the deck of a hall
submerged boat. There was no need to order the troops
to keep close together while going over the gangway to
the small transport, which was named the "' Prince
Abbas." Once on board the Navy took us in charge.
Darkness shrouded everything. The men disappeared
mysteriously in one direction and the ocers in another.
I remember a naval man grasping me bv the hand and
ushering me into a large saloon where warnth came from
a glowing tire, and a waiter was busy taking orders for
light refreshments. It seemed as if we had corne away
from hell into Paradise. Very tîred, we lay down on
the floor, and the transport moving off between 2 and
3 a.m., we arrived a few hours later at Mudros harbour,
where we disembarked and marched round to our camp
at Mudros West, several toiles distant.
The final evacuation of the Peninsula took place on
the night of January 8th-9th. One of the last to leave
,vas Lieut. A. Galloway of our Battalion, who had been
engaged on duties at "W "' Beach. After everyone had
been taken of the magazine at Lancashire Landing blew
up, the explosion being terrific, and the Turks sent over
a hurricare of shrapnel. As the demolition operations
had been so successfully carried through, there was little
left that the Turks could make use of. Did they know we
were going away ? That has so far remained an unsolved
question. It is said that one day the Turks threw into
one of our bombing stations a piece of paper containing
the following words--" We know you are going; good
luck ! good Englishmen," but I have not been able to
get any confirmation of the story. I ara pretty certain,
53
however, that they were heartily glad over our departure,
as with the help of our Navy we ail along ruade them
very uncomfortable.
And now, after seven months of great hardship, the
Battalion--200 ail ranks, a fifth of the original strength
as it landed on the Peninsula--was at Lemnos, where it
was possible to sleep at night without hearing death moan
and sing.
In November, 1915, by a remarkable indiscretion, the
announcement was ruade in the House of Lords that Sir
Charles Munro had advised the abandonment of the
Dardanelles expedition, thus giving the enemy due
warning of our intentions, and in view of this fact the
complete success of the evacuation without casualties
becomes ail the more remarkable. In his dispatch of
March 6th, 1916, Sir Charles Munro says:--"A series
of four arguments, irrefutable in their conclusions, con-
vinced me that complete evacuation was the only wise
course to pursue:--
" (a) It was obvious that the Turks could hold us in
front with a small force and prosecute their
designs on Baghdad or Egypt, or both.
"" (b) An advance on the position we held could not
be regarded as a reasonable military operation
to expect.
" (c) Even had we been able to make an advance in
the Peninsula out position would not have been
ameliorated to any marked degrce, and an
advance on Constantinople was quite out of
the question.
" (d) Since we could not hope to achieve any purpose
by remaining on the Peninsula, the appalling
cost to the nation involved in consequence of
embarking on an overseas expedition with no
base available for the rapid transit of stores,
supplies and personnel, ruade it urgent that we
should divert the troops locked up upon the
Peninsula to a more useful theatre."
The " more useful theatre " was Egypt and Palestine,
and a more useful theatre it eventually proved to be.
54
Mr Sideney A. Moseley, described as '" Official Cor-
respondent with the Mediterranean Forces," on the
other hand, in his book entitled " The Truth about the
Dardanelles," says our army at Gallipoli was within a
few toiles of decisive victory, that just when the enemy's
morale was broken we decided to evacuate, and that
the evacuation was a great blunder !
Mr John Masefield, the poet, who was enaged on
Red Cross work out East, however, has given us a
valuable, competent, and eminently readable book on
Gallipoli. Mr Masefield, who has a very fine descriptive
style, gives a clear, reasonable, and comprehensive
account of the whole Dardanelles campaign, and, unlike
the over bold Mr Moseley, refrains from criticism, and
confines himself mainly to a thorough explanation of the
tremendous difficulties our troops had to face from the
first, a picturesque account of the battles they fought, and
the unequalled courage and devotion that were revealed
by our men. Of the first and memorable landing Mr
Masefield says :--
"" No army in history has ruade a more heroic
attack; no army in history bas been set such a task;
no other body of men in any modern war has been
cailed upon to land over mined and wired waters
under the cross tire of machine guns. Our men
achieved a feat without parallel in war, and no other
troops in the world (not even the Japanese or
Ghazis in the hope of heaven) would have ruade
good these beaches on the 25th of April."
High praise, but well-merited, and of our newly trained
troops who helped to make the landing, Mr Masefield
says:--" They were the finest body of young men ever
brought together in modern times " ; and Mr Masefield
writes of them so splendidly and with such a fine feeling
of sympathy that his book may fittingly be regarded as
a memoriai of every man who laid down his lire at
Gallipoli. Here is a typical passage :--
" Up in the trenches the rifles ruade the irregular
snaps of fire-crackers, sometimes almost ceasing,
then running along a section in a rattle, then quicken-
55
in down the line and drawin the enemy, then
pausing and slowly ceasing and beginning again.
From time to time, with a whistle and a wailing,
some Asian shell came over and dropped, and seemed
to multiply, and gathered to herself the shriek of
ail the devils of hell, and burst like a devil, and filled
a great space with blackness, and dust, and falling
fragments. Then another and another came, almost
in the saine place, till the gunners had had enough.
Then the dust settled, the ruin was ruade good, and
ail went on as belote, men carrying and toiling and
singing, bullets piping, and the files settling and
swarming on whaever was obscene in what the shell
had scattered.
Everywhere in these positions there was gaiety
and courage and devoted brotherhood, but there was
also another thing, which brooded over ail, and
struck right home to the heart. It was a tragical
feeling, a taint or flavour in the mind, such as men
often feel in hospitals when men are dying, the sense
that Death was at work there, that Death wandered
up and down there and fed on lire."
The foregoing displays Mr Masefield's power, and
there is nobody who was on the Peninsula who, reading
the above passage, will hot testify to its wonderful
accuracy of description, lIr Masefield deals with the
awful storm which broke over the Peninsula on 26th,
27th, and 28th November, to which I have already
alluded, when we experienced SHOW, frost, and violent
rain swept by full gales of wind, when every gulley was
a raging torrent, and every trench a river, and men were
up to their waists in water, when many men at Suvla were
frozen to death, and sufferings were endured that could
not well have been greater. "" In one trench, when the
flood rose, a pony, a mule, a pig, and two dead Turks
were washed over a barricade together." During this
terrible storm the " incomparable " 29th Division lost
two-thirds of its strength. " In the three sectors over
two hundred men were dead, over ten thousand were
unfit or further service, and hot less than thirty thousand
56
others were sickened and ruade old by it." Mr Masefield
says that the Turk loss was much more serious than ours,
the Turkish equipment being only good for summer, and
many of the Turks having neither overcoat nor blanket.
The effect of that blizzard, however, was to remove the
curse of dysentery, whose daily toll of victims for some
months was nearly a thousand, and to hasten on the
evacuation.
And the evacuation was so brilliantly carried out
that many people put the matter beyond understanding
and say--" You must have bribed the Turks to let you
o." These people exist, for the writer has met them
and talked to them--people who, on the whole, would
appear to be 'ather sorry that our casualties during the
evacuation were not substantial. The probability is that
had we had a few thousand casualties in the course of the
withdrawal the public mind would not be so suspicious,
and the uncharitable would hot be with us. Seriously,
could anything be sillier than the story that we bribed
the Turks to let us go ? Everything points to the fact
that at Anzac and Suvla, where the first evacuation was
carried out, the enemy mistook the preparations that
were being ruade for preparations for the landing of fresh
troops; and " by ruse and skill, and the use of the dark,
favoured by fine weather, the work was done almost
without loss, and as far as one could judge, unsuspected."
A full moon was shining when out troops left Anzac
and Suvla on the niht of 19th-20th December, but they
were unmolested, and as the rearguard of honour--two
thousand of those that had landed in the first charge
moved down to the lihters, " one of their number saw
a solitary Turk, black aainst the sky, hard at work upon
his trench. That was the last enemy to be seen from
Anzac."
It is possible that the attacks which out troops ruade
at Helles on December 19th and 29th deceived the Turks
and ruade them think that Helles was being held at ail
costs, and that we were determined to push on. The
Turks seemed to have a reatly increased quantity of
shells, and the xvriter can substantiate Mr Masefield when
57
he says that the " Turks' shell tire increased and became
very heavy." Mr Masefield says he does hot know the
answer to the following question:--" Een if the Turks
were deceived at Anzac and Suvla, they must have
known that you were leaving Cape Helles. Why did
they hot attack you when you were embarking there ? "
Mr Masefield, however, adds that "" it is possible that
they did hot know that we were leaving. It is possible,
on the other hand, that they were deceived again by our
ruses. It is, however, certain that they watched us far
more narrowly at Cape Helles after the Anzac evacuation.
Still, when the time came, the burning of our stores
after out men had embarked seemed to be the first
warning that the Turks had that we were going."
Mr Masefield makes no mention of the attempt on
the part of the Turks to cut off out troops to the left
of Krithia on the afternoon of January 7th. It was, as
I have already pointed out, " touch and go," and their
.shell tire was very great that afternoon ; but out troops
opposed the attack with great gallantry, showed the Turks
that we could still hold them, and inflicted heavy losses
upon them. As for the evacuation of Helles itself, I
myself hold to the view that the Turks most probably
knew we were going, but that they did hot know the
night on which we would depart. At it was, every
Britisher was off the Peninsula by three o'clock in the
morning of January 9th. Supposing that on that last
night the Turks knew we were leaving our trenches and
were embarking, they would certainly have met with
reat difficulties in making an attack. They would have
been suspicious of mines, and in the inky darkness the
barbed wire everywhere would have held them up and
.given us time to escape. But one thing the present
writer feels absolutely certain of is this--the Turks were
heartily glad to see the last of us.
Members of the Australian forces hold the opinion
that a '" few more men would have done the whole
trick," and I myself talked on the Peninsula to a very
optimistic officer who gave it as his opinion that the
Turks were short of ammunition during September and
$8
October, and that with proper reinforcements we could
have swept over Achi Baba had we ruade an advance
then ; but he wisely added--" Of course, that is only my
opinion, and it may not go for much." It was always
difflcult to find out the Turkish strength in men and
munitions. I remember one day looking through a
periscope at a Turkish trench which we bombed fre-
quently at night. Somehow, I had an idea that the
trench was not manned, that the Turks had with-
drawn from it, and fellow-officers were of the saine
opinion as myself on that point. Some days later
an attack was ruade on this trench, and the officers and
men who ruade the charge soon discovered that the Turk
was there in force, and our casualties were very much
heavier than we expected them to be. I relate this little
incident as showing how easy it was to be batBed. But
there are some things about the Gallipoli campaign
concernin which there can be no possible doubt, and
these are, viz., that after the overthrow of the Serbians
the Turks had any quantity of shells, that the natural
difficulties aainst us from the start were tremendous,
that the bad weather spells when they did corne were
terrible in the extreme, and that to bave wintered longer
on the Peninsula would have meant courting grave-
disaster. We came off the Peninsula not a day too soon,
for the weather was again breaking on January 9th, and
at Lemnos a few days later there was a repetition of the
sort of thing which had occurred towards the end of
November, and which, had we remained on the
Peninsula, must have resulted in a big addition to the
already heavy casualty list. And the experience was
that even worse weather spells always occurred in
February and March--a fact doubtless noted by those.
responsible for the evacuation.
The losses sustained by the 1/4th K.O.S.B. in killed,
wounded, missing, and sick at Gallipoli were between
750 and 800.
59
CHAPTER VI.
MEMORIES OF LEMNOS.
AT LEMNOS.
On this lone isle, whose rugged rocks affright
The cautious pilot, ten revolving years
Great Pean's son, unwonted erst to tears,
Wept o'er his wound : afike each rolling light
Of heaven he watched, and blamed its lingering fl]ght :
By day the sea-mew, screaming round his cave,
Drove slumber from hls eyes : the chiding wave
And savage howlings chased his dreams by night.
Hope still was his : in each low breeze that sighed
Through his rude grot he heard a confing oar,
In each white cloud a coming sail he spied ;
Nor seldom listened to the fancied roar
Of Oeta's torrents, or the hoarser tide
That parts famed Trachis from the Euboic shore.
T/tomas usselL
Few who were with the l/4th K.O.S.B. on Gallipolî
escaped acquaintance with Lemnos--" escaped," for to
most Lemnos was not a pleasant place. To many the '
name recalls memories only of dysentery, jaundice, or
rheumatism, in understafed hospitals, or perpetual
[atlgues and indiferent food in the details' camp. But
some few there were also who were privileged to sec
Lemnos at its best, and [ound it not merely a stony,
barren, fly-infested refuse heap of dirty Greeks, but a
place of beauty under a rising or setting sun, with rugged
hills, sheltered, wooded valleys, picturesque windmills,
and rambling, red-roofed villages. And if the Greek
men were not always pleasant to look upon, yet the
daughters could demonstrate that the classic tales of
Greek beauty were not entirely mythical.
Before the war, Lenmos, Imbros, and some others
of the Agean islands were subjects of debate between
Greece and Turkey, but at the beginning of the Gallipolî
campaign they came to be practically French and British
property. They were used as intermediate bases for
Gallipoli, the fairly extensive plains round the bays being
crowded with reinforcement and rest camps, hospitals,
A.S.C. stores, R.E. dumps, and the thousand and one
necessary adjuncts of a large fighting force.
Imbros was known to few--to too few--of the 1/4th
K.O.S.B. During August and September, 1915, small
parties of men were sent there for training and rest.
There, ten days' bathing, concerts, exercise, good food,
and freedom from shell-fire, in most cases, put a very
dif[erent complexion upon lire. Luxuries at exorbitant
prices were bought eagerly from the Greek canteens,
and devoured at a rate that would have amazed
the careful housewife at home. Even the army doctors
were shocked to elicit from nen that they had eaten
a couple of pounds of grapes at a sitting, and v,'ere
surprised at the resulting discomfort. Those who may
deem such behaviour foolish and childish do not know
what it was to live in the Gallipoli trenches. The desire
for luxuries was natural, and satisfying the desire did, on
the whole, but little barre. The great pity was that more
of the Battalion did hOt get a chance of such a respite
from the horrors of the Peninsula.
But very much better known than Imbros to the
Battalion as a whole was Lemnos, where, as we have
seen, the Battalion canne after the evacuation of Gallipoli.
And even those whose experience there in hospital and
details' camp had been, to say the least, unpleasant, were
glad enough to see once more its hiil-girt harbour and
-stone-strewn clay. We were encamped on the slope of a
bill beneath the village of Sarpi--a hOt unpleasant camp
on the shore of a shallow bay. There, for a day or two,
the men were rested. The southern exposure of the
camp gave us the full benefit of a gratefully warm sun.
and those whose nerves were jaded were gradually
restored to equanimity. The nights were cold, but
blankets were plentiful, and sleep was easy. Before
boredom could set in parades v, ere begun as of yore at
Cambusbarron, and we soon began to approach the
discipline and smartness once achieved under Colonel
6!
McNeile's command. It was not to be expected that we
would at once regain out old marching form; but though
marching was difficult after trench lire, and over country
where roads were few and of the poorest quality, yet
it was one of the most pleasant forms of parade we had.
Usually we passed through one or more of the several
scattered villages, whose narrow, cobbled streets, vine-
clad walls, red-roofed houses, and lack of sanitation were
especially noticeable. The largest and most beautifu!
village of ail on the island was Castro, situated some six
or seven toiles from Sarpi camp, and those who had the
good fortune to go there could testify to the fine wine
which was to be had at a pretty little inn. Several of
our of-ficers also ruade the acquaintance of the charming
little mountain village of Thermos, where at the " hotel,"
the delight of a natural hot spring bath, followed by
a good meal, was much enjoyed. In the tour which
the writer ruade of several of these villages, one, which
I specially remember, was practicaly built on rocks. The
houses seemed to have been literally dumped down any-
where, and most of them had the windows shuttered or
half-shuttered, as if the sun's rays were something to be
shunned and avoided. The shutters, doors, and outward
woodwork generally were nearly ail painted light blue,
while the walls were white, and seen from a distance,
the village, with the sun shining upon it, looked quite
charming. One entered the village by an iron gate in
the centre of a whitened stone wall, which enclosed part
of the village. The first house I saw appeared to be of
the better type. Adioining it was a large orchard, which,
I was informed, became a wonderful bloom of flowers
in summer, but which looked bare and desolate. Close
by were about a dozen children playing at some gaine.
They were pleasant and tidy, and did not beg for money
as the Maltese children do. Many of the bouses had
become temporary shops in view of the near presence of
so many soldiers, and ail appeared to be doing a large
amount of business. The fruit sold consisted chiefly of
figs and small but very julcy oranges. The former 4d per
per lb., and the latter were about 6d per dozen, and some-
rimes much cheaper. Brown bread and eggs could also
be bought, but the bread did hOt look appetising, and,
in point of fact, had a bitter taste. Generally speaking,
the village appeared strangely llfeless. Nearly ail the
dwelling bouses seemed at first to be untenanted until
you caught sight of a face peering at you from behind
one of the half-shuttered windows. The only building of
note was a Greek church, the inside of which was very
fine. At the top end of the village I came to a well,
congregated round which were several veiled women,
some engaged in drawing water, others in knitting. A
little further on, and overlooking the village, were about
a score of windmills, which were used for grinding flour.
A pretty strong breeze was blowing, and several of them
were working. I tried to keep up a conversation with
an old peasant who was adjusting the salis of one of
the mills, but it was no good. Near by was a high peak,
nestling at the top of which was a small building, which
appeared to be a chapel, and climbing up over the rocks
until my legs ached, I eventually reached the summit,
and felt a rare pleasure in being able to have a good view
of a part of the island which Sappho loved so well.
Returning through the village, I met a merchant riding
on a mule, who had corne from Castro, and from him I
purchased some delicious cigarettes. The Greeks seemed
to be inveterate smokers, as one rarely met a Greek
who did not bave a cigarette between his lips.
Whether by intent or happy chance, during the
Battalion's route marches the halts were usually called
just outside a village, and Greeks--men, boys, and
donkeys--launched themselves upon us with ample stores
of chocolate and tangerine oranges. Of ail things bought
on Lemnos, surely these oranges were the cheapest and
best that ever round their way into the all-absorbing
interior of the British soldier. No amount of them
seemed to do any barre, and as delicious thirst-quenchers
they will hOt readily be forgotten by those who know
what a military thirst can be. But let it hOt be imagined
that, fresh from a trying campaign, we had to spend ail
our time on parades and route marches. Except for
63
defaulters, our afternoons were free. Thursdays were
holidays, and on Sundays there were only church parades.
There were good football pitches on fiat, firm sand, and
halls were unearthed from somewhere. There was good
rugby talent from both the Borders and the West of
Scotland in the combined units of out own Battalion and
the Glasgow Yeomanry, but for some reason it was round
difficult to arrange a match. Still, it was like embracing
a bit of the old country to have a rugby ball in one's
arms again, and to see our old Scottish full-back punting
in his own old style was as refreshing to those who
watched as it manifestly was to Captain Forrest himself.
So we spent our time--healthfully, usefully, plea-
santly. Those who had been in hospital on the island now
also had a chance of additional little pleasures in repay-
ing a small part of the kindnesses received at the hands
of the hospital sisters. The light blue of the Canadian
uniforms, and the duller grey of the English, soon gave
evidence of their natural attractiveness. Perhaps in the
private diaries of some of the officers one might find
mention of afternoon tea parties, picnics, and even
dances--but, after ail, private diaries are private, and
should be reserved at least for posthumous publication !
But lire at Lemnos was hOt a time mainly of " beer
and skittles." We had hOt been long in Sarpi camp
before an unpleasant experience was given us of an
fEgean storm. For close on forty hours the tain poured
and a cold gale blew. Tents were blown down and had
to be put up, and even the marquees had to have a
rescue party constantly in attendance. But satisfaction
was felt that the storm had corne when the Battalion was
on Lemnos rather than when in the trenches. After an
interval of some years, the memories of the cold and
discomfort are slightly dulled, but one remembers, chiefly
as humorous incidents, such scenes as a man finding a
rivulet flowing through his bed, or an officer in a pair
of gum-boots and hall a suit of pyjamas pulling a fallen
tent over two valise-ensconced companions. The storm
ultimately passed, and gradually out clothes were dried,
and the old routine again held sway.
64
Then on January 27th, 1916, the first hall of the Bat-
talion, followed a few days later by the other half, set
sail on H.M.T. "" Nestor," and after a pleasant, unevent-
ful voyage, arrived at Alexandria. From Alexandria we
were taken immediately by train to Abbassia, a suburb
of Cairo, near Heliopolis, and the Egyptian phase of our
military history was begun.
65
CHAPTER VII.
IN TURKISH HANDS--A PRISONER OF WAR'S
STORY.
As has been related in a previous chapter, ode
N.C.O. and twelve men of our Battalion were taken
prisoners by the Turks on July 12th, 1915. The N.C.O.
in question was Scrgt. A. R. Wood, Stow, who was sub-
sequently irterred for the most part in Angora, Asia
Miror, and who died on his way home, previous to the
Armistice, at Smyrra, on or about 26th October, 1918,
in the Austriar Hospital, from malaria and dysentery.
Of the other twelve prisorers, the followirg died in
captivity:--Pte. W. Martin, Pte. H. C. Turrbull, and
Pte. J. Thomson. Sergt. Wood kept a diary of his
experiences while a prisoner of war, and it is interesting
to quote the followirg extracts therefrom as showing how
our men fared in the hands of the Turks. Sergt. Wood
records :--
" We were captured in the morring of the 12th,
about ode and a hall hours after the charge, and taken
to a dressing station or hut for the purpose of having
our wounds dressed. I was cut below the left eye, on
the left ear, had a small piece of shraprel in my right
jaw, and had a bullet wourd in my left side. We were
robbed of our possessions and received bread and water
from our guards. Our position was immediately behind
the firing line in a gully. Towards evering a British
bombardment commenced, terrible in its intersity, but
unfortunately the shells burst on the opposite side and
did little damage. We remained where we were until
a gun, enfilading us from the sea, sent a shell into the
gully dOt far from us. A few Turks were killed and
wounded, there was gereral confusion, and the roof of
our dug-out collapsed and we were covered with dirt.
Our guard said 'Iday' and hurried us off to another
dug-out round the corner. Here we met six others of
our Battalior, who had been captured at a different
66
point. We were ail wounded except one, and looked
very miserable. For a time the din of battle was awful,
and from my corner I could see the Turks were retiring.
A big sereant came along looking for shirkers and
spotted one of our guards, and ordered him off to the
firing line, and then brought his rifle to his shoulder as
if to shoot us. We thought our end had come, but
another of our guards rushed in front of us and I heard
the words 'commander' and ' Engleish,' whereat the
big sereant moved off.
" We stayed there ail night and next day, the 13th,
and towards dark were taken away. I shall never forget
that painful match. The smell of dead bodies was
horrible, and the groans of the wounded pierced the air.
We must bave walked for two hours when a halt was
called, and we climbed a steep gully to an ofiîcer's but,
where Pte. Wark was interrogated. After another hour's
walk we arrived at headquarters, and were brought before
a very aristocratic German General, who passed round
t tray of sweets and intimated to us that we were not
now enemies. Out wounds were again dressed, and we
retired for the night after having a cup of sweet hot
water and bread. We enjoyed a fine sleep on boards,
with out boots for pillows.
" We were up early next morning, and this time we
drove in carts to another dressing station, where out
v«ounds were properly washed, etc. A Turkish officer
asked me to play the piccolo; I did so, and he was
delighted. Afterwards we had some lice to eat and sweet
water to drink, and were about to retire for the night
when a message arrived and we were again carted off,
this rime to a field hospital. There out clothes were
taken from us and put in a bag--one each--and we were
given sleepin suits, had out wounds dressed and were
put to bed--our first bed since leaving home. We were
treated well here, and the doctors were very nice. In
the morning we got boiled lice and bread, and durin
the day bread and water, while the evening meal con-
sisted of mutton, boiled lice, a bowl of raisins in sweet
water, and bread. Cigarettes in plenty were also pro-
67
vided. During our stay here we were visited by many
noted officers, had our photographs taken by a German
journalist and by cinema photographers. After ten days'
rest we again took to the carts, and after a long journey,
going through Maidos, which was in ruins, we arrived at
a hospital ship. The ship sailed on the evening of July
23rd, and after a fine voyage through the Sea of Marmora,
passing on the way many interesting places, we got our
first view of Constantinople. It was beautiful. The
minarets looked fine as the sun struck on them, and the
waters of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus were a
deep blue, but our ship turned to the right and we dis-
embarked at Kadi-Kieu. From there we drove in rickety
carts to the School of Medicine Hospital, where we
stripped and had a hot Turkish bath, put our feet into
slippers, and went to bed again. We were the first
British prisoners to arrive at this hospital, and we were
treated very well. The Turkish doctors, who were of a
curious disposition, were constantly in attendance for the
first few days.
" On July 25th we were called upon by Mr Philips
of the American Embassy, who took ail particulars
relating to us and said he would acquaint the British
-Government. A week later he again called and gave
us e.qch 30 piastres. We were also vlsited by two
American ladies. We had a pleasant conversation, and
Miss Stewart, asking permission, promised to send me
a violin, but when it came the head Pasha objected, and,
.of course, we were disappointed. However, the ladies
sent us four pots of strawberry jam, three cakes, a big
bouquet of flowers, and some nice books, ail of which
were much appreciated. The mea|s at this hospital
were :--
8.30 a.nl.--Cup of tea and bread.
10 a.m.--Cup of warm milk.
1 p.m.--Mutton and bread and bowl of soup.
6 p.m.--Soup and bread.
" There were two Frenchmen in the room next to
<tors; one of them, Henri Planquet, had corne from
New York, where he had been for ten years, and he
68
was able to interpret for us. The French language was
spoken by ail the doctors. Our room was at the top of
the building, and two windows opened out on to a small
balcony. Here we had a splendid view of the Sea of
Marmora and the Bosphorus. The oflïcers promised to
allow us to visit the picture houses once a week, but the
promise was hot kept. It appeared that some of the
higher ofiî.cials had heard a story about the British iii-
treating Turkish prisoners at Alexandria--which, need-
less to say, was untrue---and in consequence they decided
that we should have similar treatment meted out to us.
Accordingly we were ordcred to move at once, and our
old torn, dirty, and blood-stained clothes were given
back to us. My boots, the only decent things 1 managed
to bring with me to hospital, were hot forthcoming, and,
instead, I was given an old torn pair without laces, and
bcing too small in size they pinched my toes terribly.
That a!ternoon, August 26th, we drove to Haidir Pasha
Pier (Captain Coxon of the 5th Norfolks was with us,
and his entire clothing consisted of a shirt, short pants,
and a pair of old boots). Here we met some wounded
prisoners, mostly Englishmen, who were captured about
the beginning of August. The boat came in, and we got
aboard and sailed across the Bosphorus to Stamboul.
We then drove to a big hospital in Pera. Our treatment
at this hospital was very bad. There were hot enough
beds for the number of patients, and some of us had to
lie on boards for a few nights with nothing on but a
thin sleeping suit. I was nine or ten days there and did
hOt bave a blanket ail that time. On September 5th I
was discharged from this place, and felt very thankful.
Twelve of us were marched through the streets of
Constantinople for about two mlles, and a sorry spectacle
we were, the majority of us being without headgear,
while some were minus boots and puttees and our clothes
were torn, but the onlookers did not seem disturbed,
as most of them were in a worse condition than we
were. We arrived that evening at what we called the
' dungeon.' It was a sort of civil and military prison,
and all classes of men xvere herded together here. Most
69
prominent were Armenians, Arabs, Bulgars, and Greeks.
If our last place was bad, this was certainly not mucb
better. The place was simply moving with lice, and it
was difficult to snatch an hour's sleep. It was here that
we started the 'caravana' system of taking our food.
Each man was given a wooden spoon, and we all sat
around a big copper dish (from 9 to 12 men to a dish)
taking a sup therefrom in rotation. At first, this method
of eating was revolting, but we soon got accustomed to
it. For the first three weeks we were closely confined to
the dungeon, but later we were allowed into a small yard
for exercise morning and evening. There was a small
canteen where we could buy cheese, fruit, etc. About
this rime we had another visit from Mr Philips (those
of us who had no clothes, etc., had new suits supplied by
the Turkish Government, but immediately Mr Philips
had gone they were taken from us). He left us the sure
of £68. There were four sergeants and about 98 men,
and the money was distributed among ail. The room
in whicb we were confined would have given comfortable
sleeping accommodation for 40 men, but that number
was far exceeded, and when the number reached 120 the
atmosphere of the place became unbearable, and we were
relieved when the day came for our departure to Angora.
Before leaving we were each supplied with blankets (one
between two men), soap, a tooth brush, flannel shirt and
pants, a towel, cigarettes, a pipe, and insect powder--
these being gifts from the Americans.
" It was on September 24th that we left the
dungeon,' and, marching to the pier, ot aboard a small
steamer and once again crossed the Bosphorus. Arrived
again at Kadi-Kieu, we boarded a train for Angora. We
travelled at a slow pace all day, and having had no food
since the previous night, we felt very hungry. At 11 p.m.
that night we received a half-loaf and a piece of cheese,
which we devoured ravenously. Next day we were able
to buy bread, grapes, tomatoes, etc., as we stopped at
the small stations. Grapes could be bought at ld per
1 Ibs., tomatoes were 10 or 12 for 2d, and bread was
ld per loaf of 1 lbs. We arrived at Angora at about
7O
11 p.m. on September 26th. I paid particular attention
to the nature of the country we had passed through. In
many places the scenery was magnificent, especially up
in the wooded and mountainous parts, where there were
many caves occupied by wandering Arabs. These caves
were in precarious positions in the cliffs, and seemed
to me to be unapproachable. We fell in two-deep at the
station and marched to the School of Agriculture, from
which place we had a fine view of Angora and the sur-
rounding district. Here we had food, and the sun was
high in the heavens before we rose next morning. Ismila
Effendi, our commander, proved to be a genial old
gentleman, and we got on very well with him. On
October 4th I received my first letter from home.
On October 13th we played a gaine of football with a
local team of Greeks, Armenians, and Tartars. They
showed a good knowledge of the game, and played very
well. On the following day we left Angora, and after
many ' idays ' and ' chabuks ' we arrived at our destina-
tion, Kungheri, on October 17th. Here we were very
well off, as we could buy goods in the town and do our
own cooking, but our money soon vanished, and many
men resorted to the selling of blankets, boots, etc., in
order that they mîght bave a tasty bite occasionally.
We were alloved up town every Sunday (not a Turkish
Sunday, which is our Friday), and did some good business
there. After a few weeks the weather became cooler,
and one day there was a fall of snow about an inch deep,
which made us think of home. In November a few bales
of welcome clothes arrived. On December 22nd
a Turkish officer from Constantinople arrived and in-
spected the barracks. Several complaints were lodged,
the chier being the holding-up of parcels, and he promised
to look into the matter. On December 23rd Pte. Wark
and I ruade our Christmas pudding, containing bread,
crumbs, flour, eggs, raisins, nutmeg, honey, suet, etc.
On Christmas morning the sun shone brightly, and every-
body was early astir and down to the gully to cook the
turkeys, etc. In the afternoon we had a football match,
Army v. Navy, and the Army won by 5 goals to 1. After
71
the match we had our Christmas dinner, and then a con-
cert at night, at which we were assisted by several Turkish
musicians."
In January, 1916, Sergt. Wood records in his diary
that he and his fellow-prisoners were sent back to Angora,
and from Angora to Bozanti-Bilemedik, by way of Eski-
Shekir and Konia. He was much struck by the beauty
of Bozanti, which is surrounded by wooded mountains.
Here the prisoners were lïanded over to a German firm
who were contractors for a long range of tunnels, etc.
Wages were paid, Sergt. Wood recording, under the date
of March 1st, 1916. that he received " 116 piastres as
wa,es, he getting 20 pastres per day and the others 12
piastres. From now onwards parcels appeared to arrive
frequently, and the prisoners were allowed to spend
money freely in Konia and other towns. He states, how-
ever, that on November 3rd the party was sent back to
Angora, and then proceeded to Mamuck. The treatment
of our men at Mamuck was bad, and on January 21st,
1917, they returned to Angora. He mentions that he
was inoculated on various occasions against dysentery,
enteric, and choiera, there being an outbreak of choiera
in August, 1917. On Decerober 25th of that year the
men enjoyed their third Christmas dinner in captivity,
the menu consisting of " roast leg of mutton, potatoes
and vegetables, and plum pudding, the latter ruade of
rusks, flour, raisins, prunes, dates, suet, nutmeg, cinna-
mon, marmalade, and syrup." He also states that the
Christmas festivities passed ot well, " our best Christmas
in Turkey so far." He secured a violin, and during 1918
played in the orchestra atone of the cinemas, and at
other concerts. He records on July 29th that he is " just
recovering from an attack of Spanish fever," and that two
days later he has a relapse and is confined to bed. On
September 25th he records that he is suffering from
malaria, and a few days later he is taking quinine for
ague. On October 3rd he passes a board of doctors for
repatriation, and the last entry in his diary is :--" October
6th, 1918--I corne out of hospital and prepare for journey
to Smyrna."
72
Poor fellow! The strain of over three years' captivity
in an uncongenial climate, coupled with recurring attacks
of malaria and other troubles, proved too much for him,
and he died three weeks later at Smyrna, being interred
in the College grounds there with others of his country-
men. To the other prisoners of the Battalion who were
with him in Turkey he proved a loyal, brave, and helpful
friend.
73
CHAPTER VIII.
CAIRO, PORT SAID, AND KANTARA.
When we arrived at Polygon Camp, near Heliopolis,
,on February 1st, 1916, we round reinforcements of two
officers and 94 other ranks awaiting us. A huge letter
and parcel mail had also arrived, and a fatigue party was
.at once put on to sort out and distribute the many
hundreds of letters and parcels. The mail had brought
several hales of oilskin coats, sent out to the Battalion
by the Galashiels Soldiers' Comforts Fund Committee for
the use of our men at Gallipoli, but owing to the evacua-
tion they unfortunately did hot arrive in rime tobe of use
in the trenches. However, had we remaincd on Gallipoli
these coats would bave been invaluable, but now that
we were in Egypt they were hot required. Soon we were
training and re-equipping again. Lieut.-Colonel Wilson's
indomitable energy had us hard at it during the forenoon
---the men in squads of old and new hands (the former
emulating the latter in smartness), and " the young
officers " amuscdly grousing under the R.S.M. It seemed
strange to those who were fresh from hard training at
home that they should bave to continue it out here, and
ït seemed no less strange to those who had been through
Gallipoli that they should have to return to the days of
the babyhood of their soldiering; but without doubt it
was in great part due to the strictness of that training
that the Battalion so soon regained its high standard of
.smartness and discipline. And who that was there will
.ever forger the throatiness of communication drill or the
trying defights of " ceremonial " "a But here, as on
Lemnos, our afternoons were generally free, and we had
-two whole-day holidays per week. Cairo is an expensive
place to see, and the piastre is a coin that is all too
soluble; but we had not been able to spend much on
'Gallipoli, and bank balances were high and the pay-books
74
could " stand " a good deal. Great, therefore, was the
joy of spending, and neither the excuse nor the oppor-
tunity was lackine In the streets, in the cafés, in
Shepheard's or the Continental, one met friends long
thought killed on Gallipoli or lost in the far corners of
the Empire.
At Polygon Camp the officers were under canvas,
and the men were billeted in laree, well-ventilated huts.
The weather was beauti[ul--warm durine the day-time
and chilly at night--and proved a pleasant change to the
sort of weather we had experienced at Gallipoli. Indeed,
it v, as quite a joy to be in Egvpt, and with money to,
spend we did ourselves v, ell. Heliopolis, a modern,.
clean, residential suburb of Cairo, charmed everyone. It
is a sort of desert pleasure city, some 6000 acres o[ desert
having been converted into splendid roads, avenues,
parks, hotels, etc., and some of its buildins are maeni-
ficent, the Moorish style of architecture beine promi-
nently displayed. Here were golf links, polo and cricket
grounds, and tennis courts, and a race course. Heliopolis,
indeed, is rapidly coming into its own as a health resort,
as in few other parts of Eeypt is the air of the desert so
pure and fine. To all of us the place seemed to teem
with every kind of luxury. Close to our camp were the
Abbassia Barracks, the headquarters of the dusky warriors
of the Eyptian Army. Like ourselves, the Eeyptians
did several hours' drill every day, and very smart and.
keen they were. When a " fall out" v«as eiven, our
men mixed with them, and a fine spirit of comradeship
manifested itself amone the black and white men. The-
Eyptian camp was a model of cleanliness.
We were much struck by the beauty of the buildines-
of Heliopolis, the famed Heliopolis Palace Hotel having
been taken over as a hospital by the military, and here
the patients had a splendid time. A huge white buildine,
at niht it looked especially beautiful under the dark
blue, cloudless dome overhead. Cairo could be reacheà
in ten minutes by electric railway and tramway, and we
all round Cairo extremely wonderful, most of us visiting.
the mosques, the c;,tadel, the tombs of the Caliphs, the
75
Zoo, and the bazaars. But, after ail, gay and animated
and amazing Cairo, with its weird and hidden sins, was
not Egypt. It was fine to sit in the tranquil shades of
the beautiful gardens with which Cairo abounds, and
smoke delicious cigarettes, but finer still to venture
that dream-world a few mlles from the city, and there
watch the calm evening gathering around where the
strange, lonely Sphinx, with serious gaze and big pouting,
lips, broods supreme. In the case of the Pyramids, special
trips were organised throughout the Division, and strings
of specially chartered trains conveyed loads of cheerful,
singing Scotsmen through parts of Old Cairo, across
Roda Bridge, and along the fine, tree-sheltered Pyramids
Road. An idea of the impression which a visit to the
Pyramids ruade upon the writer may be gained from the
following sonnet, by one of England's most accomplished:
poets :--
I gaze across the Nile ; flamelike and red
The sun goes dovn, and ail the western sky
Is drowned in sombre crimson ; wearily
A great bird flaps along with wings of lead,
Black on the rose-red river. Over my head
"Fhe sky is hard green bronze, beneath me lie
The sleeping ships ; there is no sound or sigh
Of the wind's breath,--the stillness of the dead.
Over the palm tree's top I see the peaks
Of the tall Pyramids ; and though my eyes
Are barred from it, I know that on the sand
Crouches a thing of stone that in some wise
Broods on my heart ; and from the darkening land
Creeps fear and to my soul in whisper speaks.
Unfortunately, our stay at Heliopolis proved ail toc,
short, as on February 17th the Battalion left by train for
Port Said, where we encamped next day on a none too
pleasant site close by the railway station. Here, for a
brief spell, we had a quiet time, one of the chief occupa-
tions being bathing in the sea. By repute, Port Said is
a filthy place, but we did not find it so. I recollect that
one of the main streets was lined on both sides by tall
trees, and it was a great luxury to sit in the shade of
76
their thick foliage, drink tea and iced minerai waters on
the verandah of the Exchange Hotel, and listen to the
birds piping loudly and sweetly. Near the harbour was
situated the 31st General Hospital, of which many of
our officers and men had, sooner or later, very pleasant
recollections. This was one of the best equipped, best
managed, and best staffed hospitals in the East, and I
feel certain that officers and men of the Battalion who
were invalided to this hospital will unanimously join with
me in paying tribute to the kind band of doctors, sisters,
and nurses for the manner in which they treated the
many patients under their care. It seemed to me
especially that there had been got together at this hospital
the finest and most painstaking staff that could possibly
be conceived. Here, in addition to the wounded,
thousands of cases of dysentery, sunstroke, typhoid, and
other revers were treated skilfully by a frequently over-
v«orked staff. We had hOt been long at Port Said when
an Egyptian, whom we christened '" Moses," appeared
in our lines. He was a dark-skinned man of average
height, with a pleasant and honest-looking face, attired
in a long black coat, and wore a red Fez cap on his head.
He introduced himself to our quartermaster, and offered
to act as agent in the purchase of goods for the officers"
and sergeants' messes. His services were at once enlisted,
and if ever the Battalion had a friend it had one in this
man. He did much for us during our stay in Port Said,
and after the Battalion left for the Sinai Peninsula it was
mainly through " Moses " that we were for some months
kept supplied with those little extras that made lire in the
desert wastes a little more congenial. '" Moses " supplied
us with everything from soda water and tinned fruit to
fly-papers and fishing-rods, was honest to a fault, and
proved a most valuable acquisition to the Battalion.
It was on February 26th that orders were received
that the Battalion was to proceed to Kantara on the Suez
Canal, and on this day the squadron of Glasgow Yeo-
manry which joined us prior to the evacuation of Cape
Helles ceased to bc attached to the Battalion, and resumed
duties as Divisional Cavalry to the 52nd Division. On
77
the intimation of this new move there was great bustle
and excitement in camp, and the packing up and taking
down and the innumerable other jobs which had to be
attended to were the cause of a very early reveille next
morning. However, we did hOt entrain until 2.30 p.m.
The troop train consisted of first class trucks, the
best at the disposal of the Egyptian State Railway, and
cheers were given as we started out along the Suez Canal,
on a nev pilgrimage, the distance, duration, and mono-
tony of which had only been exceeded by the Israelites
themselves.
A run of a few hours at a slow pace duly brought
us to Kantara, and after considerable delay and a good
deal of confusion the Battallon arrived at the camp which
was to prove our base for quite a rime. February
27th, 1916, then, may be taken as the date on which the
Battalion started on a long and weary year of wandering
through the waterless desert wastes of Sinai. Two days
later C and D Companies left for Hill 108, while the
officers and men remaining in camp were obliged to
undertake a new kind of duty and one which in many
ways was experimental, far from easy, but at all timeg
amusing. This was caused by the 31st Division departing
for another front and leaving ail their transport behind.
The Battalion took over the whole horse transport of a
complete brigade, consisting of some 200 horses and
mules, countless G.S. waggons, water carts, field kitchens,
etc., etc. Captain John M. Dun was in charge of thc
whole show, and his assistants were Lieuts. Alston,
Grieve, J. G. Brown, Harvie, Elder, and Fair, who,
with a troop of thirty men each, had the time of their
lives, and this in more ways than one. Bearing in mind
that with a single exception these officers had no previous
experience of this kind of work, and that the knowledge
of the men was quite on a par with that of their seniors,
the position of affairs which prevailed during the next
ten days can be better imagined than described. The
going down to water three times a day, mules running
amok (with no one daring enough to catch them), the
surreptitious purloining of one another's mules to make
78
,ood deficiencies, the very early reveille and the conse-
quent early retiral at nibts, and tbe dozen and one other
eatures wbich constituted this novel, fatiuin, yet withal
enjoyable fortniht, on innumerable occasions provided
ample subject matter for humour and jokes.
After the transport had been apportioned over the
other urits of the Briade, a programme of steady train-
in and route marchin over the sort sand was inauu-
rated, but in tbe course of a few days a more was ruade to
Hill 40, and later--on St Patrick's Day--anotber chane
took place, this rime to Turk Top, where the Battalion
vas united aain. This spot, or, rather, this sand dune,
vill doubtless for ail rime remain pre-eminent in the
history of the Battalion. Tbe day after our arrival we
encountered the worst sandstorm experienced durin/
1916; diin was out of the question, and fortunately,
so also was drill of any kind. Here at Turk Top was
tarted the diin of a series of redoubts with which ail
ranks were to become very familiar, and between shovel-
tin sand and steady drill, lire was inclined to vere on
che monotonous. But the rimes chane swiftly, and
Easter Sunday let us hear tbe sound of the uns aain.
That was tbe day on which tbe " Dueidar stunt " took
place. It had been the duty of the orderly officer, in
addition to his multifarious duties about camp, to patrol
fo an intermediate post beld by us between Turk Top
and Hill 70. Throuhout the previous niht nothin of
moment had occurred, but no sooner had the orderly
officer of that day ot into bed than the noise of rifle
tire could be heard. So up he had to/et aain and make
a still lon6er patrol in order to keep our own redoubts
linked up, and see that our part of the line was clear.
Information as to what had transpired soon came to hand
--the Turks had attacked our post at Dueidar, a palm
rove eiht mlles away, held by the 5th Fusiliers, and
had been beaten off with fairly severe casualties. On the
:afternoon of that day our Battalion pushed forward to
Hill 70, which had been partially vacated by the 4th
R.S.F., in a gallant endeavour to assist their sister Bat-
talion at Dueidar. In and around " 70 " there was a
79
hum of bustle and excitement, and this was not lessened
when we had to " stand to " on account of the imngined
approach of the Turks. But Dame Rumour, as she has
done on many occasions, played us false--the Turks had
had enough, and a few camels tearing along by themselves
with " Gippos " in hot pursuit was the sole reason of
the commotion. The day after the battle one of our
platoons was sent up to the scer:.e of the fight to bring
back some prisoners, and the same night another party
was sent to escort a convoy of a hundred thousand rounds
of ammunition. This latter undertaking was a some-
what eerie ]ob, as a few Turkish snipers were said tobe
still on the loose. However, this story was groundless,
as nothin was either seen or heard of the snipers, and
the convoy, after a hard two hours' march, rcached
Dueidar safely. On the saine morning that the Turks
attacked Dueidar, squadrons of the Gloucester and
Warwickshire Yeomanry were greatly outnumbered at
Katia and suffered a reverse and considerable casualties,
and at night remnants of horsemen galloped into our
camp at Hill 70 with exciting stories of the fight. By
this rime, however, the Australian Light Horse and the
New Zealand Mounted Rifles had corne up, and they
went in hot pursuit of the retreatin Turks. The
Colonials also encamped at Hill 70, and during the next
few days more normal conditions were resumed, and our
Battalion raised a strong Rugby team to play the Welling-
ton Light Horse, a strenuous and exciting game endin
in a win for the Colonials by 6 points to nil. Now that
the Turks were known tobe about, outpost duty seemed
more important than ever, and visitin patrol at niht
to the various scattered posts near Hill 70 became a trifle
more excitin. With the advent of the month of May
the sun became appreciably hotter, and the intense heat
began to tell on some of our men, while the fly nuisance
became more pronounced. With an eye of torrid brass
the sun stared callously on everythin, and from 10.30
a.m. till 3.30 p.m. ail work had to be suspended. The
sun made one's tenta stiflin place, and caused one's
back and shoulders to ache. There is, fortunately, always
80
night as well as day, and a sigh of relief seemed to rise
from the endless sands when the sun went down--a shrine
of death and tranquil beauty. The blush of rose at the
going down of the sun was always a sight to satisfy the
weary and sorely tried eyes, but often one craved for
the " shady sadness of avale, far sunken from the healthy
breath of morn." Here and there on the illimitable
desert were stunted shrubs and bushes and pretty flowers,
and down by the canal palm trees grew straight and tall,
but one missed what Keats, in his wonderful peom,
" Hyperion," calls
"Those green-robed senators of mighty woods,
Tall oaks, branch-charmed by the earnest stars,
That dream, and so dream all night without a stir."
There was little to see, with the exception of barren-
ness and the wilderness, the violet-pink sky of dawn, the
bright glare of noontide, and the unforgettable and tender
loveliness of sunset. Night always came down suddenly,
like a great mountain shadow. Much more quickly than
in Scotland, day receded into the unknown, and one
missed the long, lingering summer twilights which in
one's own country hold the imagination with so subtle
a spell. The nights were calm, cool, and serene, and
their great beauty captivated the heart, the spell being
broken only by the weird chanting of the Egyptians in
the Labour Corps camp, the call of the jackal and the
chirp of the cricket. The stunted shrubs and bushes
seemed to hide the wraiths of the warring peoples who
thousands of years ago had traversed those uncanny and
grey desert wastes. One felt conscious of a sense of far-
off things amid this dust of dead worlds. Fear crept
among the shadows, and a strange, haunting spirit
brooded over all. Far-off the head-light of a ship pass-
ing through the Suez Canal could be seen moving slowly;
the sacred mountain on which Moses received the tables
of the Ten Commandments gored the sky somewhere in
the long distance; those vast tracts of desert stretching
away to the plateau of Judea were as waterless as they
were in ages past; the stars that hung like golden spiders
81
in the heavens above, and " ever stirred to some strane
breath," were those that shone in the days o[ lon-dead
empires and peoples; 0 stars that were! 0 stars that
are! 0 rime that was! 0 rime that is!
When the moon shone it flooded the land with olden
liht, and it did one ood to o into the desert and let
the mind shake off the thouht o[ conflict, and
"Dream as if there were no wars, nor wounds nor scars,
And all the world were hOt a new-digged grave."
82
CHAPTER IX.
ROMANI, RABAH, MOHAMIDIYA.
The Battalion had by now been reinforced by Major
3obson and two officers and 115 men from the 3/4th Bn.
K.O.S.B., and by twenty N.C.O.'s and men from the
3rd Bn. K.O.S.B. These reinforcements were much
needed, as the Battalion had a reat deal of diing to
do. On May 15th, 1916, the shade temperature was as
hih as 115 dearees, and on the 16th it was 114 derees,
and officers and men ot an idea of what intense heat
was like. At Hill 70 the question of the water supply
became more important, and an officer in charge of water
was appointed. The Battalion's water was brouht up
daily in fantasses by camels from Kantara. The water
was then emptied into lare tanks, from which the supply
was drawn for cooking and washin8 purposes, and from
which the officers and men filled their bottles once daily.
The issue worked out at the rate of about three-quarters
of a allon per man per day for ail purposes, but later
the issue per man was reduced to half-a-allon. As miht
be expected, the water had to be used most sparinly,
and this was constantly impressed on all ranks. Although
worn out with the day's toil and heat the men always
]umped up with alacrity when the time came for water-
bottle parade. Water-bottles were usually filled at 6 p.m.,
but by 10 a.m. next day fifty per cent. of the bottles were
empty. The water we got in the Sinai Peninsula was
not bad, but it had the effect of makin one thirsty, and
if one took a drink one always wanted to go on drinkin.
A good deal of soda water was consumed, but it could
only be had in limited quantities from Port Said, and
occasionally a barrel of beer ruade its appearance in the
canteen. The Eyptian labourers, who ruade the roads
and laid the railway, were reat drinkers of water, and,
83
as a fact, could not, or would not, work unless they ot
all the water they wanted. The writer was for a time in
charge of many tanks, containing in ail several thousands
of gallons of water, and I often experienced trouble with
the natives, who always drank their supply and wanted
more. The engineer said to me--" If you don't give
these men ail the water they want they won't work in
this heat. So long as they bave water they will work
hard all day." One black man, I remember, came to
the tanks for water from a point six mlles of[ twice every
day to get the supply for himself and several of his com-
panions. Two huge biscuit tins for holding the water,
one at each end, were tied with cord to a stout pole,
which lay across his shoulders. And every day he walked
twenty-four miles--making two of the journeys of six
mlles each with several gallons of water! I used to feel
sorry for that poor soul, as it must have been a big task
to carry that burden with the temperature at over 100
degrees in the shade. One day one of the tins was leak-
ing, and after he had filled both tins and set out on his
return journey, I saw the water running out of one of
them. He had not noticed this, but a soldier stopped
him, ruade the tin water-tight, and he continued on his
way. Needless to say, there was always a sentry guardin
the water tanks and carts both night and day, and he
certainly required to be very vigilant.
On May 18th the Battalion went down to Kantara
again to rest and re-equip. A little training was carried
on, but the chier item in the day's proceedings, apart
from the somewhat heavy station fatigues, was a bathe
in the canal. Here let it be clearly stated that the bathin
which the Battalion enjoyed was not merely a matter
of pleasure, but, owing to the reat scarcity of water,
frequently an urgent necessity. After a few days' stay
at Kantara we moved again--this rime to pastures new
(there are few pastures despite the fact that the Israelites
called the desert their pasture land)--and went up to
Romani, 25 mlles east, which was at that time Railhead.
A fine new camp was pitched, and here we experienced
our first serious visit of enemy aircraft since landing in
84
Egypt. On Sunday, June llth, a taube came over, but
the airman reserved his bombs till he was flying over
Kantara. Little damage was done, but the incident was
in itself important, as marking the commencement of a
continual, though irregular, series of visits. Reference
has been ruade to the fact that our position was 25 mlles
advanced east of Kantara, and having regard to the
strategical situation and what had happened at Dueidar,
the various units of the 155th Brigade " stood to " in
turns, one battalion usually at a time.
On Thursday, June 1Sth, the Brigade ruade a start
on what were in future known as '" mobile column
stunts." Early on the morning of that day the Brigade
marched out for a three days' " show," but for reasons
which can be better imagined than explained, the column
arrived back the saine night very tired and very hungry.
An interesting sight to ail of us was that of twelve of our
own aeroplanes which passed over our camp on 18th
June, and, if reports speak correctly, they did very
material damage at EI Arish on that day.
The evening of Tuesday, 20th June, will long be
remembered as the night of "' Nimmo's Storm." The
said officer was acting Adjutant at the rime, and in
view of information which had corne in, he caused
a message to be sent round to the effect that a
terrible storm was approaching, personally telling the
officers, with the result that a few moments later
the noise of hammers reminded one forcibly of the
work in a shipyard. But ail the hammering and
securing of tents went for nothing, as the storm did
not touch our area at ail. Wednesday, June 28th,
witnessed an exciting air fight right over our camp, the
British airman chasing Fritz away with machine gun tire,
but, unfortunately to the great chagrin of the onlookers,
the strong sun interfered, and both planes were soon
lost to view.
The tenth of July, by which rime the strength of the
Battalion was 25 officers and 459 other ranks, saw the
start of a course of musketry ata specially constructed
30 yards range. The course consisted of seven practices,
85
and as prizes were tobe awarded for the best scores,
there was a good deai of enthusiasm displayed. In a
way, too, the idea was novel, as this was the first occasion
on which the men had had any practice since leaving
Gailipoli. The heat at this period was very great, and
while not so great as was experienced in the last days
of May, the thermometer registered 109 degrees to 112
degrees in the shade.
July 20th was an outstanding day, and provided a
weicome break in what some termed a dry and dreary
monotony, as orders were received for the Battalion to
be ready to move out on 15 minutes' notice. On the
previous day a report had been received that the Turks
were concentrating at Bir-el-Abd, 25 toiles east of
Romani, and on this day (20th), after waiting on all day
for something to happen, " A " Company under Captain
Forrest was sent out to a new post to dig themselves in.
There they passed a hard but uneventful night, but down
at Battalion Headquarters matters were lively. The
reason for this was that a sensational message had been
received to the effect that an attack was imminent, and in
consequence " B," " C," and " D " Companies moved
out and took up a defensive position. If ail stories are
true, there was a fait spark of comedy despite the
apparent seriousness of the situation, but that side of the
matter, though probably the more interesting to some
who took part, had perhaps better be omitted from this
review. The Turks, however, were still 25 mlles off, so
all the commotion was for nothing. Four days iater
"'A " Company, having done a good deal of work at
Itmaler (afterwards known as Redoubt No. 23), changed
over to a nexv part of the redoubt line and started on
a new work, but owing to the strain of the past few days,
digging and wiring by day, watching and patrolling by
night, the men were well nigh exhausted, and the
Egyptian Labour Corps was sent up to do the sandbag-
ging. By this time the Australians on their horses were
practically in touch with the Turkish patrols, and this
provided ample scope for the prophets, particularly as
to how " the zlth " would be affecte&
86
The Battalion now moved forward and created a new
camp just beside Katib Gannet, a prominent sand hill
on the outpost line, and while only one company was
actually holding a redoubt, by this time known as 22A,
practically the whole Battalion was engaged holding
various other posts. As an indication of what was likely
to happen, it may be mentioned here that on July 25th
four enemy aeroplanes came over, one of which dropped
a message asking us to fly larger red cross flags over our
hospitals, and in the early morning of the saine day the
Australians had a scrap with the enemy. This was the
start of the fighting. Three days later, the 28th, the
Turks pushed back our patrols and came forward to
within a toile of Katia, a large oasis between 7 and 8
mlles east of Gannet. "" A " Company was now relieved
in 22A Redoubt by " C " Company, and the change over
was weleomed by both, although it did seem hard lines
that "'A " should require to vacate the post just when
there seemed a likely chance of having a brush with the
enemy. Colonel Wilson, however, was of the opinion
that the ofiïcers and men must have a rest after their
eleven days' arduous labours. Immediately on reaching
camp two taubes appeared and started to bomb the camp,
and in consequence excitement was rampant. For-
tunately our good luck continued and there were no
casualties to record in our own unit. By August 1st the
Battalion's strength had been increased to 33 oflïcers and
540 other ranks.
On August 3rd heavy firing could be heard in the
distance, and this we were later informed was our
monitors bombarding EI Arish. There were now many
aeroplane conflicts, and it was evident that the Turks
were coming nearer. At 8.30 p.m. on August 3rd the
Battalion, or rather the reserve of it ("A '" Coy. and
details), the remainder being at various posts, was
hurriedly ordered to move out, and in the early hours
of the next day, August 4th, the firing started ail along
the redoubt line. Two platoons were ordered to line a
ridge in front of our rear position previously prepared.
Immediately at dawn heavy shelling and rifle tire became
87
the order of the day, and the dropping of bombs by
enemy aircraft did hot make the situation less lively.
Matters quietened down a little about 8.30 a.m., and
several of out platoons were sent forward on to ridges
to give support to Nos. 4 and 5 redoubts, the holders
of which were having a bad time. So also was 22A
redoubt under Capt P. L. P. Laing ("C "' Coy.), but
this redoubt, almost on the bend of the line, received
comparatively few shells although receiving a fait share
of rifle tire from the enemy on Wellington Ridge. With
the approach of night the firing died down very consider-
ably, and, but for an occasional shot, one would bave
been inclined to believe that the events of the previous
24 hours had been a dream. Subsequent events recalled
Napoleon's famous dictum--" order, counter-order, dis-
order." On the same night word was brought by a very
excited and agitated messenger that the Turks had got
through the wire between Nos. 6 and 7 redoubts, and
immediately the reserve of the Battalion under Colonel
Wilson rushed forward, fixing bayonets on the run, and
occupied a line of rifle pits pre-arran8ed for any such
contingency. At this point mention must be ruade of the
reconnaissance performed by Captain Forrest, which,
together with his good work on Gallipoli, resulted in
his being awarded the Military Cross at a later date.
Special note also falls to be made of the excellent defence
put up by " C " Company at 22A redoubt under Captain
Laing, who, in consideration of his fine work in this
engagement, was subsequently awarded the Order of the
Nile.
The stillness which prevailed subsequently indicated
an alteration of tactics on the part of the enemy, and
when morning came (August 5th) the enemy was retir-
ing. Next day the whole of the 155th Brigade marched
to Rabah (an oasis near Katia), and those who took part
in that match are agreed that it was easily the hardest trek
they had experienced in the desert so far. "'A " Com-
pany escorted the Brigade Machine Gun Company, and
marched one hour and 40 minutes without a halt, while
the remainder of the Battalion had to contend with as
88
great a hardship in lying for three hours beneath a broil-
ing sun owing to the artillery which they had to escort
being late in starting out. Few were the officers and men
who were hOt apparently " done to the world " when
Rabah was reached, but a cup of tea, the safety-valve of
the British Army in Egypt, worked wonders, and though
leg-weary and sore, everyone was soon cheerful again.
Then the sentries having been posted, officers and men,
except " those who work while others sleep," forgetting
the responsibilites of the day and regardless of the proba-
bilities of the morrow, lay down to snatch a few well-
earned hours of rest.
The Battalion remained at Rabah until August 14th,
when it left for Romani, and on the following day the
whole Battalion was inoculated against choiera. On
August 26th the Battalion returned to Rabah and
took over outpost duties. However, on September 11th
the 52nd Division was relieved by the 42nd Division, and
the Battalion marched from Rabah to Mohamidiya and
encamped there. On September 12th Colonel Wilson
relinquished the command of the Battalion, and as Major
Jobson left two days later to take over the command of
the 52nd Division Rest Camp at Port Said, Captain
Forrest took over temporary command. To the end of
September a progressive training programme was in
operation.
Lieut.-Colonel Wilson calling for three cheers for the King after reading out His
Majesty's congratulatory inesmge on the Battle of Romani.
Capt. J. Dickson, the late Capt. W. F. Cochrane, the late Lieut. R. B. Anderson,
and the late Lieut. A. Ainslie.
LT.-COlo J, ]kt. Il, SA,x'rES, M.C.
LT.-CoL. R. DASHWOOD-TA.XDY.
The Latc MAIOR \. T. I"ORRESr, M.C.
...... r r r 1 .... ,. LT.-('OL. G. T. B. VIL3ON,
89
CHAPTER X.
THE ATTACK ON OUTPOST HILL.
Early in October, 1916, the Battalion was placed on
a mobile column footing, and all stores which could hOt
be carried were returned to Romani, which, in view of
the approaching move eastwards, became the dump of
the 1,5,Sth Brigade. On October 12th the Battalion
moved to El Afein. This proved a very trying match,
especially as the absence of any breeze during the first
three hours ruade the journey very exhausting, but only
one man fell out. Next day the Battalion moved out
for Bir-el-Abd, and on the day following "B " and
"C " Companies took over the outpost line there.
During the next few days the Battalion was engaged
mainly on strengthening defences and finding observation
posts. A number of enemy taubes came over out lines,
but the bombs which were dropped caused no casualties.
On October 21st Lieut.-Colonel J. M. B. Sanders,
M.C., Leinster Regiment, vas appointed to the command
of the Battalion. On October 27th the Battalion
marched to Salmana, and on November 7th a draft of
155 N.C.O.'s and men arrived, the mobile column
trength now totalling 750 ail ranks. During November
nothing of importance occurred, the Battalion being
mainly engaged on outpost duties. The weather at this
time was very changeable--sometimes very cold and
:sometimes very warm. On December 1st the Battalion
ruade a more further east, and on the following day
arrived at EI Mazar. On December 22nd the Battalion,
having rested the previous day at EI Madaan, moved to
EI Brittia, acting as rearguard to the 52nd Division. It
may be mentioned that it was from EI Madaan that we
caught our first glimpse of the sea since leaving
Mohamidiya, and in the distance, about 20 toiles away,
could be seen the spire of the Mosc/ue in EI Arish and
Nebi Yesir's Tomb, on a knoll by the sea coast. On the
9O
following day the Battalion arrived on the outskirts of
EI Arish, and a day later marched through the village,
the defences of which had just been evacuated by the
Turks, who were being pursued by our mounted troops.
Christmas Day round the Battalion resting and digging
new trenches. EI Arish was the first town encountered
by the Battalion in a journey of over a hundred toiles
since leaving Port Said in February. The Battalion's
stay at and around EI Arish was ruade as pleasant as
possible. Here boxing contests took place, and unique
Soccer and Rugby gaines were played, with the players
floundering up to the knees in sand! On several occa-
sions the Australians provided the opposition to out
Rugby fifteen.
The month of January, 1917, saw the Battalion
engaged chiefly on beach fatigues and route marches.
At the beginnin of the month very bad weather pre-
vailed, rain and sand storms causing considerable dis-
comfort. As an example of the strange climatic condi-
tions which prevailed, it may be mentioned that in places
the hurricane would form hills of sand one day, and
when we awoke next morning we would discover that
during the niht the hills had mysteriously disappeared.
Platoon training and night operations occupied the-
month of February, the strength of the Battalion having
now been ruade up by several drafts to over 800 ail
ranks. On February 27th the Battalion moved from
EI Arish to El Burj, and arrived there without suffering
casualties. On March 7th the Battalion moved to Sheik
Zowaiid and took up its position on the outpost line,
and from the 20th to the 24th the Battalion was hard
at work on the trenches. It may be added that during
this period a day's respire was enjoyed by a percentage
of our troops, who attended a big race meeting at Rafa,
known as " the Desert Column Spring Meeting," in
connection with xhich no fewer than twenty silver cups
were awarded as prizes, o Our Battalion was represented
in the races by Lieut. C. Fair, who rode the transport
officer's horse, and came in fifth in a field of twenty.
There were in ail ten events, concluding with a highly
91
amusin mule race, known as the " Jerusalem Scurry.'"
On March 25th the Battalion moved with the rest of the
155th Briade to Khan Yunus, and on the followin day
continued its march to In Seirat. As the battle for Gaza
was in proress, thins became much more lively. On
March 28th the divisions in front of us were withdrawn
at dawn, and passed throuh our lines, and we were
ordered to di-in on the ridée in front of Dir el Biela,
our outpost line bein about hall a mi!e distant from the
Wadi Ghuzee and about four mlles from Gaza. That
day "A " Coy. was sent out to save what abandoned
stores were still lyin out in front, and the company ot
about 500 camel loads of all sorts of materials, and,
needless to say, the men had a complete refit of blankets,
etc., out of the spoil. The last day of the month saw the
Battalion in reserve, the 155th Briade havin moved to
the outpost line coverin6, EI Breij. On the first of April
the Briade made a reconnaissance in force and ot close
to Gaza, and parties were in the Wadi Ghuzee, diing
wells and makin roads. Next day the Turks tried to
et into the Wadi, but were driven back by our artillery
tire.
On April 4th the outpost line was taken over by
the Battalion from the 1/Sth K.O.S.B., one company
bein stationed at Red House. Recollection of this
ruined red-tiled bouse will doubtless be brouht home
to many readers by the followin very fine poem which
has appeared over the si6nature of Robert R. Thomson
in " Chambers's Journal "'--
THE RED-HousE GARDEN.
O'er ridge and plain calm hung the mist of dust,
Save where it soared anaidst the whirlwind gust.
The distance trembled 'neath the noonday glare ;
Hot airs hung stagnant in the wadi, where
The transport toiled along.
Above, along the banks, tho, garden slept,
With yellow-flowering cactus hedge, where crept
Grey lizards, rattling through the fleshy leaves
And bushes, ail entangled with the reeves
Of blue convolvulvus.
92
Aweary of the constant, thundering guns,
I turned old Sandy up the path that runs
Toward the red-tiled house, which ruined lies,
Verandah wrecked, roof gaping to the skies,
A heap of masonry.
I led him through a gap, and carefully
We picked out way between an almond-tree
And snipers' post by sandbagged, loopholed hedge,
With cartridges still littered on its ledge,
Where nigh there lay some graves.
I saw the broken water-wheels, the wells,
The fruit-trees green, though riven by the shells,
Citrons and oranges with whitest flowers,
Vines, olives, fig-trees, with their richest dowers,
And limes and towering palms.
The tamarisk and cedar gave their shade,
Whilst in the open places melons strayed.
And yet the garden in its beauty lay
A waste o'ergrown with weeds--I turned away:
Despair was even here.
I wondered why should ail this slaughter be ;
And then I saw a dark pomegranate-tree,
Aglow witb crimson blooms. Some petals fell
Like showers of drops of blood that seemed to tell
Of wounds, mad pain, and death.
It seemed as if the very trees did bleed ;
But when I closer looked, then I took heed
That whence the flowers had fallen always hung,
Unripe and small because they were so young,
The round pomegranate fruit.
E'en then the fruit swelled with the luscious seeds
That satisfy the thirsty traveller's needs--
I saw the promise, when this war should cease,
Of ail this weary land refreshed by peace,
And rich with seeds of life.
This land from tyrmmy we yet should free ;
Not useless then would ail this slaughter be.
A random shrapnel's smoke came drifting by ;
But hopefully I turned, and horse and I
Walked on toward the sea.
By April 15th all preparations had been ruade for
the advance to Kurd Hill, and on the following day the
Battalion crossed the Wadi Ghuzee and entrenched in
two lines facing nerth-east. Durin/ the mornin6 of the
93
16th the Battalion was heavily shelled, and, on the 18th,
enemy howitzers kept up a heavy bombardment ail day.
Thirteen of our men were buried by one explosion, but
ail were safely excavated. On the 19th, at 3 a.m., orders
for the atmck were received. The preliminary bombard-
ment, with help from the Navy, was timed to start at
5.30 a.m., and the infantry were to advance at 7.30 a.m.
The l!4th K.O.S. Borderers were ordered to follow the
1/5th K.O.S.B. along the eastern slopes of Kurd Hill--
Lees Hill ridge at 800 yards distance. At 7.15 the Bat-
talion was in position in lines of hall companies at four
paces extension and 250 yards distance. The order of
battle was " A,'" " B,'" "' D," and "' C " Companies
(less two pltoons), the latter being cscort to the artil-
lery, and the Battalion strength was 25 officers and 572
other ranks, ailocated as follows:--Battalion Head-
quarters--I,ieut.-Colonel J. M. B. Sanders, M.C., Com-
manding Otficer: Major W. T. Forrest, M.C., Second
in Command; Captain J. M. Watson, Adjutant; Lieut.
W. N. Alston, Signalling Officer; Lieut. G. J. Brown,
Acting Quartermaster; Lieut. J. S. Allan, Intelligence
Officer; and Captain J. Howitt, Medical Officer. Other
ranks--49.
"" A " Coy.--Captain R. R. M. Lumgair, O.C. Com-
pany; Lieut. J. Elder; Second Lieuts. J. M. Pollok, T.
Broomfield, and J. M. Macpherson. Other ranks--158.
"" B " Coy.--Captain T. T. Muir, O.C. Coy. ; Second
Lieuts. R. S. Alexander, W. R. Ovens, J. C. Moore, and
J. J. S. Thomson. C)ther ranks--131.
"'D " Coy.--Ce.ptain W. F. Cochrane, O.C. Coy. ;
Lieut. R. B. Andcrson; Second I,ieuts. A. Ainslie, J.
Dickson, and D. Burns. Other ranks--151.
"C " Coy. (less two platoons)--Captain D. Craig,
O.C. Coy.; Second Lieuts. G. D. Sempill, L. D.
Robertson, and W. Robertson. Other ranks--83.
At 9.30 a.m. the Battalion advanced to Queen's Hill,
and at 11 a.m. "'A" and "B" Coys., under Major
Forrest, were ordered to proceed to and attack Outpost
Hill, vhich the Turks had retaken, and "D " Coy. was
subsequently sent forward to support "A " and "B "
94
H IL L
Plan showlng advance of 16/4/17 and 19/4/17
95
Companies in this attack. By half-pst twelve ail three
Companies were involved in the attack, which had been
partially stccessfll. By 12.50 p.m. our men had taken
the east half of the Outpost Hill redotbt and trenches
to the north-east and south-west. The redoubt and
trenches were full, and many men of our Battalion were
lying in the open unable to get into them. One runner
out of a dozcn nanged to get through with a message
to Battalion Headctarters from Lieut. Anderson stating
that our men were holding the redoubt, but were surfer-
ïng muïh from maïhine-gun tire, and as a result of this
message artillery support was asked for. Later in the
afternoon the remainder of "C " Company managed to
get to ti:e redoubt with several thousands of rounds of
ammunition. The redoubt, however, had to be evacu-
ated at dusk owing to a Turkish enveloping movement;
and of the original garrison in the redoubt, numbering
100 ail ranks, only three oftîcers (two of whom were
suffering from shell-shock) and 30 N.C.O.'s and men,
came oat. At 6.30 p.m. the 155th Brigade was relieved
by the 157th Brigade, and the surviving garrison of the
redoubt, along with "' C " (reserve) Company, proceeded
to bivouacs on Kurd Hill after ail possible wounded had
been brought in. How terribly the Battalion had
suffered in the assault on the redoubt may be judged
from the casualties, which amounted to 15 oflïcers and
310 other ranks killed, wounded, and missing. The
oflïcers killed were:--Major W. T. Forrest, Captain
W. F. Cochrane, Captain R. R. M. Lumgair, Lieut.
R. B. Anderson, and Second Lieuts. A. Ainslie and
J. C. Moore. The oflïcers wounded were:--Captain
T. T. Muir, Lieut. J. Elder, and Second Lieuts. J. M.
Macpherson, W. R. Ovens, R. S. Alexander, D. Burns,
J. M. Pollok, T. Broomfield, and J. Dickson--the last
rive mentioned ail suffering from shell-shock. Out of 16
oflïcers who took part in the fighting in and around the
redoubt, only one came through unscathed, namely,
Second Lieut. J. J. S. Thomson of '" B " Company. Of
the casualties in other ranks, between g0 and 50 were
reported killed and missing.
I give herewith an account of the attack written by"
Second Lieut. (now Captain) T. Broomfield. He
writes :--
"" The Battalion, together with the remainder of the
Lowland Division, had been lying in the vicinity of Sheik
Zowaiid, a few hours' march south of Rafa and the
frontier line of Palestine, when orders were received to
move forward. The mounted troops and 53rd (Welsh)
Division, together with the 54th Division, were believed
to be moving north of Rafa, and the 52nd Division
advanced on March 25th to support them. Few of the
men will forget the crossing of the frontier. The
Divisional Pipe Band played 'Blue Bonnets Over the
Border' as we passed. After marching ail forenoon on
the 25th, we had a rest beyond Rafa for a few hours,
another in the early hours of the morning of the 26th,
and then we were on the road again before dawn. When
daylight came the Battalion round itself amongst cactus
hedges and orange groves in the village of Khan Yunus,
near Beila, in a thick mist. Everywhere there were
signs of activity, and huge dumps of shells and rations
abounded. By this time we all knew (from rumour)
that the attack in front was held up owing to fog. How-
ever, the guns soon started well in front. Just before
mid-day we halted about three mlles south of the Wadi
Ghuzee, and, crawling to the ridge, we saw practically
the whole battle area. Things seemed to be going
very well for a while, and rumour had it that the mounted
troops were round Gaza; then we could see our mer
retiring and shells bursting amongst the stretcher-bearers
of the 53rd Division and the retiring troops. Shortly
after this we hcard our attack had failed. On this occa-
sion our Division was not called upon except to cover
the retreat and help to bring in stores, etc., left by the
retiring Divisions. During the next few days we dug-in
about hall-a-toile south of the Wadi Ghuzee, from which
place we could see the Turks doing likewise on Ali
Muntar and other parts of the line. With the exception
of a reconnaissance in force, nothing important took place
for a fortnight or so; then we could see that another
97
attack was coming off. Every night the Battalion scouts
patrolled the E1 Sire ridge for about four mlles in order
to select suitable ground to advance over, and on these
occasions used to go over the ground held by the Kurdish
lancers in the day-time. These lancers used to shake
their lances and snipe at us at hopeless ranges by day,
but at night they withdrew behind the Turkish trenches.
On the night of April 16th-17th the advance started, and
at dawn the Turk found us looking at his positions on
Outpost Hill and Mansura Ridge from Kurd Hill. As
soon as we were seen at dawn we were heavily shelled.
This continued for a day or two, and then on the morning
of April 19th the Brigade moved out to the attack, the
line of advance being the line of the EI Sire ridge, with
Ali Muntar standing out distinctly in the north, and
evidently strongly held. The 5th R.S.F. were respon-
sible for the left flank, which was open, and our Battalion
moved out to support the 5th K.O.S.B., who, to judge
from the noise, were meeting with considerable opposi-
tion beyond Queen's Hill, between Kurd Hill and Out-
post Hill. In a short rime we got the order to reinforce,
and after doubling about 1500 yards or so we met scat-
tered parties of the other battalions of our Brigade and
passed many wounded. In a wadi about 400 yards or
so from Outpost Hill the remainder of the Brigade
seemed to be held up. It was here, under heavy artillery
and rifle tire, that Major Forrest got on the top of the
"wadi and coolly walked about preparing the men for an
assault on the redoubt. When ail was ready he valiantly
led the charge, and a body of about fifty Turks leaped
from a ravine and bolted away in a half-left direction,
and these we drove into the hedges on the left slopes of
Outpost Hill.
"" From that rime I was separated from the other
officers of our Battalion, and had only about ten men
of various units with whom to look after the left flank.
-On several occasions bodies of Turks were seen massing
in the woods, but these we managed to disperse with the
help of a very plucky gunner and the coolness of one of
rny sergeants--Sergeant A. Murray--who continued to
98
carry arnrnunition to the Lewis gun after ail the others
had been killed or wounded. Just before nightfall a
staff officer frorn our Division crawled out to our position
with an orderly frorn our Battalion who was killed shortly
afterwards. The orderly told me that Captain Lurngair,
Captain Cochrane, and Lieutenants Anderson, Ainslie,
and other officers were killed, and that rnany had been
wounded. We were now under direct tire frorn a nurnber
of machine guns, rifles, minenwerfers, and a battery of
artillery. Nearly every man had been killed or wounded,
and, in spite of the additional danger of being rushed
by the Turks, we were thankful as darkness fell when a
few men crawled down a ditch to us and helped to hold
the left of the hillside. Lieut. Foote of the R.S.F. arrived
in our ditch with Lewis guns, and also Maior Crornbie
of the 5th K.O.S.B., who took over cornrnand until we
were relieved b) the A. & S. Highlanders about mid-
night.
"" After a difficult march over open ground our rnixed
party (about 15 rnen of diferent battalions), with the
two officers aforernentioned, reached our Battalion Head-
quarters on Kurd Hill. Here I round no other ocers
back except those attached to Battalion H.Q., so I was
ordered out to hold an outpost line till rnorning, and
was joined b kieutenant Mercer when he arrived. Next
morning, as I was suffering from contusion, a wound on
one of rn) heels, and shock, I was sent to hospital, where
I got a good rest until reioining the Battalion in June.
It was onl) after getting to hospital that I reall) knew
how heav) our casualties had been. In rn) opinion the
heavy percentage of casualties arnong officers of our Bat-
talion was due to the prolonged fighting at close quarters,
where an) officer who seerned to be directing things at
ail could easily be seen and shot at close range. The
rnost outstanding case of gallantr) in the action--and there
were rnany such cases--was that of Major Forrest, who
undoubtedly rallied the larger part of the Brigade and
led the assault, when, through disorganisation caused b.v
heav casualties, the troops were held up."
99
Further accounts by other officers and men who took
part in this bloody battle confirm the view that it was
every whit as tierce and terrible as the engagement on
the 12th of July, 1915, at Gallipoli. The redoubt was
a network of trenches, and the Turks had their machine
guns in and around the redoubt in such positions that
every movement on the part of our men was met with
murderous tire. An interesting account o[ the attack on
the redoubt is herewit-h given by Lieutenant J. M. Pollok,
who writes :--
"I shall never forget the scene around me durin
the attack on the redoubt, so gallantly led by Major
Forrest. The tire from the enemy's machine guns was
terrific, spelling certain death to nearly ail who were in
the open. About 20 yards from the redoubt I obtained
shelter in a shell-hole for a few minutes, and while lyin
there I saw Captain Cochrane rush forward and bend
over the body of Captain I.umgair, who was lyin
wounded between the barbed wire and the redoubt
trench. He appeared to be just on the point of liftin
Captain Lumgair up, when a man near me said--' Look
at Captain Cochrane; he'll be killed as sure as rate,' and
these words had scarcely been spoken before I saw Captain
Cochrane stager and rail to the round. I eventually
rushed forward with the Lewis gun team and ot into
the redoubt. The Turks were holdin one hall of the
circle of the redoubt. Some were within bombin dis-
tance, while others were not a hundred yards away, and
they were causin reat havoc with machine gun and
rifle tire, especially from the slope of the hill overlookin
the redoubt. Our losses were very heavy, and, as we
were badly in need of rein[orcements, urgent messages
asking for same were repeatedly sent back by runners
and by slightly-wounded men. Shortly afterwards
Captain Muir sent me a written message statin that he
had been badly wounded, and asking for the assistance
of an officer at his part of the line. I was on the point
of seeing what I could do to render assistance to Captain
Muir, when a body of Turks made a determined rush
on our part of the redoubt. We repulsed this attack and
100
chased thc Turks back into their part of the line, which
we held for ,q.bout seven hours by means of hand grenades
and Lewis guns. We also captured a few prisoners, but
eventually the Turk, who greatly outnumbered us, forced
Lieutenant Dickson and myself and the iew men who
remained to retire up the trench which encircled the
redoubt, and where out men were holding out under
Lieut. Anderson. This would be about 6.30 p.m. Lieut.
Anderson had passed a verbal message to Lieut. Dickson
ordering us to hold on until dark and then retire, and
the latter officer was in the act of passing on the message
to me when news came along that Lieut. Anderson had
at that moment been killed instantaneously, having been
shot through the heart.
"" When darkness came we realised that it was im-
possible to hold the redoubt in the absence of reinforce-
ments, which were sorely needed, and we therefore
decided to retire across the open. The trench we were
in was very shallow, and only by lying down was it
possible to obtain cover from the hail of bullets which
passed over the trench. The men left the trench by ones
and twos, and aiter Lieut. Dickson had gone I was just
about to follow him when I heard a man shouting for
help. Going along the trench to discover what was
wrong, I round one of out men pinned under the dead
body of a comrade who had allen on the top of him. I
managed to extricate the man with the help of another
soldier. These men left, and I was about to follow them
when I recognised the voice of Major Forrest, who was
calling for water. I crawled along the trench to where
he was lying and gave him ail the water that remained
in my bottle. Although I could hOt see him owing to
the darkness, he had evidently been very badly wounded,
and I propped him up on the side of the trench for the
purpose of endeavouring to carry him back, but I realised
that the task was hopeless, as his condition was such that
he could hOt be moved. The Turks had evidently seen
my movements, and they fired at me from a range of hot
more than twenty yards. I was quite alone at that rime,
and as it-was my duty to avoid being taken prisoner I felt
101
obliged to leave the trench, especially as the Turks were
practically upon me. How I escaped being killed on
getting out of the trench was a miracle, as I was fired
upon repeatedly, but through shock and a slight wound
I partially lost the power of my legs, and it was very
late at night belote I was assisted back to the spot
where the remainder of the Battalion were resting. I was
utterly exhausted, and had tasted no food since 6 a.m.
that day."
Mention also falls to be rnade of the desperate efforts
on the part of Lieut. Ovens and Sergeant Waugh to bring
Captain Lumgair to safety. Sergeant Waugh had lifted
the wounded officer up, when unfortunately the latter
was wounded a second rime, on this occasion fatally.
On April 24th the following special Order of the
Day by Major-General W. E. B. Smith, C.B., C.A.G.,
S2nd Division, was issued:--
24th April, 1917.
The G.O.C. desires to place on record his keen
appreciation of the conduct of the entire Division
during the recent operations.
The steadiness, courage, and devotion to duty
by ail ranks, under very trying conditions, afford
proof of a very high standard of discipline and
morale. The careful organisation and successful
execution of the operation which resulted in the
capture of the enemy's advanced position reflect the
very greatest credit on ail concerned. The gallantry
and doggcd determination of the 155th Brigade in
its attack on Outpost Hill and the capture and re-
capture of the Redoubt were worthy of the highest
traditions of the British Army. The G.O.C. deeply
deplores the loss of those gallant comrades and
valuable soldiers, who, through devotion to duty,
lost their lives during the operations.
(Sgd.) C. A. H. MCLE,N, Lt.-Col.,
A.A. and Ç).M.G., 52nd Division.
102
Brigadier-General J. A. Pollok McCall, commanding
the 155th Brigade, in the course of a letter to Lieut.
Colonel Haddon, Hawik, wrote:--" The charge of a
party composed of all units of the Brigade, so gallantly
led by Major Forrest, M.C., was an inspiring sight.
Under a terrible tire of artillery, machine-guns, and riflcs,
they retook the redoubt from which we had been momen-
tarily driven out by concentrated artillery tire."
103
CHAPTER XI.
THE FALL OF GAZA AND THE BATTLE OF
MUGHAR.
The loss of so many officers in the engagement of
19th April, 1917, was such that when the Battalion was
re-organised two days later only two officers per company
were available. During the next few nights the Battalion
was kept busily employed digging the trenches which
formed the new line of defence, including the Slag Heap
Redoubt, on the completion of which the Battallon was
warmly compllmented by the G.O.C. 15Sth Brigade. On
the night of May 13th notice was received of an expected
Turkish attack, and extra patrols and listening posts were
put out, but the night passed quietly. On May 17th
Major R. M. Paton, Sth R.S.F., arrived and took over
the command of the Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Sanders
having been invalided to hospital. On May 20th the
trenches were very much filled up with blown sand, due
Io a strong windstorm of the previous 24 hours. On this
day the Turks were much more exposed than usual, and
considerable sniping and Lewis gun firing was engaged
in by us. Every day, more or less, to the end of the
month the Turks did a certain amount of shelling, but
to little purpose.
During the first few days of June lire in the trenches
was very quiet, especially as at night, owing to the moon,
successful patrolling of the enemy's lines could not be
carried out. On June 8th Lieut.-Colonel Sanders arrived
back from hospital and took over the command of the
Battalion from Major Paton. From June 26th to the
30th the Battalion did special training in the assault and
consolidation of trenches, and the operations of a scheme
carried out on the latter date were observed by the
G.O.C. 52nd Division, who expressed himself as highly
104
pleased with the manner in which the operations were
performed. The month of July was a quiet period for
the Battalion. On July 23rd the Battalion took over the
Goliath Ridge system of redoubts. This defence system
consisted of rive redoubts, and as a result of a hard
week's work by the Battalion the redoubts were greatly
strenthened and improved. During Auust the strength
of the Battalion was increased by the arrival of several
fresh officers and men, and on September 15th the Bat-
talion secured a new C.O. in Lieut.-Colonel R.
Dashwood-Tandy, Lieut.-Colonel Sanders having again
been taken to hospital. On September 22nd the Battalion
moved up to the firin line and support line trenches.
On the night of the 27th the enemy opened a lively
bombardment of our front line trenches for about hall
an-hour, but very little damage was done. Shortly after
dark that night a thunderstorm broke over us, followed
by a heavy downpour of rain--practically the first rain
we had had since leaving El Arish in January. During
the next few days our guns were very active, bombardîng
the Turkish trenches, sometimes continuously for twenty-
four hours, but very little enemy shelling was experienced
in our sector.
The morning of November 1st saw our artillery tire
increase in intensity, and under cover of a terrific bomb-
bardment the 156th Briade attacked and captured
Umbrella Hill. The enemy's batteries replied along out
whole line, the bombardments exceeding by far any that
we had experienced on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Next
day our batteries heavily bombarded the enemy's line
from the El Arish redoubt to the sea, supported by
machine 8un tire, and the attacking forces moved out
from our line and took up attacking formation in the
rear of the barrage. At 3.30 a.m. the attack was launched
along the whole front. The enemy artillery continued
to bombard our front and support trenches, but out
casualties were only two men wounded, and by 10.30 p.m.
the artillery had quietened down, and the situation
became normal. On the following day (November 3)
it was learned that the 54th Division had captured two
105
lines of enemy trenches on a front extending from
Umbrella Hill to Sheikh Hasan, and that the line was
fairly well consolidated. By November 5th the whole
of the defensive system at Gaza was in British hands.
Early on November 7th the enemy were reported tobe
evacuating Gaza. On the morning of the 8th the Bat-
talion moved of[ up the coast to a point due west of
Burberah. The Battalion came under heavy artillery
tire, and deployed and nloved up the hills to the east
in support of the 1/Sth K.O.S.B. The Battalion con-
tinued to advance slowly ail day as Brigade Reserve, the
objective being north of the village of Herbieh. In the
course of the afternoon the enemy delivered a determined
counter-attack, but it was driven of[. " A," " B," and
"D " Companies took up outpost positions with the
1/Sth K.O.S.B. on our right, and the 1/Sth R.S.F. on
our left, and " C " Company as Brigade Reserve. Out
casualties on the 8th were one officer (Lieut. and Act.-
Qr.-Mr. G. J. Brown) seriously wounded.
Next day the Battalion moved to a position one toile
north-east of Herbieh village, and on November llth,
the Battalion, passing Burberah, arrived at EI Mejel with
the rest of the Brigade, and took up its position on the
outpost line. On the 12th, the Battalion did a march
of 15 toiles to a position on the main road east of Khurbet
Lezra, after a halt on the way at Esdud. On November
13th, the Battalion left its outpost position, and marched
1500 yards in artiIlery formation on a two company
frontage with two companies in support, "A " and
"D " Companies, commanded by Captains Fairgrieve
and Allan respectively, being in front, and "B " and
" C," commandcd by Major Locke and Captain Laing
respectively, in support. On the high ground 2500 yards
due south of Yebnah, the formation was changed to
widely extended lines of platoons, and the Battalion
rnoved forward in eight waves towards its objective--the
village of Mughar. At 10.30 a.m. the enemy opened
very heavy machine gun tire, and sent over much high
explosive and shrapnel, but in spite of this the Battalion
advanced to within 400 yards of the village, taking up,
106
positions in the Wadi Jamus, and Wadi Shellel el Ghor
near an old well, and behind Khurbet Hebra. The
Battalion was reinforced on the right by the 1/Sth
K.O.S.B. Every possible man was required for the
ttack, and by 2 p.m. the Headquartcrs' staffs of the 4th
and 5th Battalions K.O.S.B. had moved up to the firing
line. At 3.45 p.m. the attack was launched. The Bat-
alion advanced by rushes, gallantly led by Colonel
Tandy, while the 6th Mounted Brigade charged on our
ieft fl.qnk through heavy machine gun tire, and reached
-the high ground north of the village. The attack was
entirely successful, thanks to the wonderful spirit and
dash of our men. It was a case of " all in," Brigadier-
'General Pollok-McCall being well to the fore with a
rifle and bayonet, and by 4.zl5 p.m. the village was cap-
tured and consolidated, and the cavalry continued to
pursue the enemy, who were in full retreat. In the
course of the advance a valuable piece of work was per-
formed by L.-Cpl. A. Ramsay, who, with his Lewis gun,
was successful in silencing a troublesome Turkish machine
.gun which was causing many casualties amongst our men.
After this gun was silenced, Captain Laing, R.-S.-M.
Murray, L.-Cpl. Ramsay, and three privates went up the
hill-side and captured about forty Turks, including one
officer. These Turks, who were hiding in a quarry, had
thrown away their rifles and ammunition and surrendered
in a body.
Parties from our Battalion were thereafter detailed
to hunt for snipers who were still hiding in the village.
Our Battalion took altogether over 300 prisoners and
handed them over to the cavalry. In the evening the
Battalion was re-organised and took up its position on
the outpost line for the night.
While the 4th and 5th K.O.S. Borderers had been
busy capturing the village of Mughar, the Royal Scots
Fusiliers of our Brigade had worked their way into Katrah
by a series of flank attacks, and as the captures at Katrah
included a Turkish infantry battalion, two field guns,
:and twenty-six machine guns, the 155th Brigade had good
-reason to feel proud of its achievements.
107
The casualties of the 1/lth K.O.S.B. in this engage-
ment were:--Officers killed, 3--Captain and Adit. J. M.
Watson, Second kieut. L. D. Robertson and Second
Lieut. J. Wood, while Captain A. P. Nimmo died of
"ounds shortly afterwards at E1 Arish.
Officers wounded, 9--Major R. W. Sharpe, Captain
A. Fairgrieve, Captain J. S. Allan, Lieut. G. D. Sempill,
and Second Lieuts. R. Bell, A. W. Harvie, B. D. Leslie,
H. M. Ross, and R. Graham.
Other ranks killed numbered 30; missing, 1;
wounded, 138---giving total casualties in officers and men
as 182.
The following account of the battle of Mughar is
given by Captain J. S. Allan, who was wounded in the
engagement. He writes:--
" It was in the afternoon of November 12th that the
Battalion, after a very heavy anc trying march, arrived
zt the historie small town of Esdud, where we had some
ood and ruade any necessary change of footgear. Colonel
Tandy callcd the Offlcers together and explained that a
night's march would be necessary, as it was desirable
to get forward to the retiring enemy and try to eut them
off. The N.C.O.'s and men were then informed of the
schemc, after which the order was given to discard packs,
and take nothing except 'battle order.' At this time--
away inland--another brigade could be seen in conflict
with the Turks, and cavalry were pushing forward along
the coastal sector. Darkness had set in before we com-
menced our march. I shall never forget that march.
The congestion of traffic in the narrow streets of the
village--if one could call them streets--was very great,
and it was a long time before we got clear of the town,
but eventually we got into the open. It was a dreary
march, no one being allowed to speak except in a whisper.
At about midnight we arrived at our rendezvous, where
the Battalion was formed into a semi-circle and the com-
panies began to dig in with entrenching tools. There
was no chance of any sleep, as we had no blankets and
he cold was intense, while everyone had to 'stand to'
'before daybreak. When dawn came (November 13th)
108
we round ourselves on the reverse side of a raduall}-
slopin hill, with no enemy to be seen. A hurried rneal
was prepared, after which the Battalion ot ready for
another more, and I may add here that reat credit is
due to the Battalion's transport, under Lieut. J. B.
Stewart, for thc manner in which it kept the unit sup-
plied while on the move from Gaza. The Battalion was
formed into artillery formation and marched nearly to
the top of the hill, where our objective--the village of
E1 Muhar--was pointed out. The Cornpanies were then
split up into smaller artillery formations, and the advance
was made towards the village, which stood on a ridée of
hills.
" ' D ' Company was the extreme left Company, and
had to advance till the left of the Company line came to
a small clump of trees where there was a small buildin,
and there await orders for the final attack. By this time
the Battalion was in extended order. It was a beautiful,
peaceful, sunny mornin. On the surroundin hillsides
sheep and oats could be seen razin and birds were
whistlin. Everythin appeared so calm, and it was diffi-
cult to believe we were about tobe enaed in battle.
Keepin the village as our objective, we drew nearer,
when ]t was possible to discern the enemy feverishly
diin in' in front of the village and alon the top
of the rides on either side. On approachin to between
1200 and 1.500 yards' distance from the village, machine
un, rifle, and artillery tire were opened upon us--a
sudden and dramatic chane bein wrouht upon the
perfect calm of the mornin. The enemy tire was fallin
short, and ail alon the line in front dust was risin.
On we went in short, successive dashes throuh the
barrage to our allotted position. "B' Company had
corne up this time and taken up its position alon with
'D' Company. A ood many casualties had already
occurred, Sereant Crai bein amon the first to be
killed whilst allantly leadin his Lewis un section. We
were subjected to enemy tire durin the whole of the
day, and it was almost impossible to secure cover by
diin in' owin to the hard, rocky nature of the.
109
ground. During this period there was opportunity for
reconnaissance, and Captain A. P. Nimmo went away to
the left flank to reconnoitre, but could not get in touch
with anyone. When coming back he was woundcd in
one of his fingers, but nevertheless continued on duty.
A message giving information regarding the enemy posi-
tions was gallantly taken back across the open by Lieut.
D. Burns, and splendid work was also done during the
day by Lieuts. Ross, Wilson, and Wood.
"" Between 3.30 and 4 p.m. our cavalry, consisting
chiefly of Dorset and Somerset Yeomanry, appeared on
our left flank, and were getting into position to charge
and take the hill on the left of the village. It was an
inspiring sight to see the lines of horsemen coming across
the open at top speed. Meanwhile our Battalion kept
up a heavy supporting tire. On the cavalry charged.
They had to cross a deep gully at the foot of the hill,
but this obstacle was overcome, and they were soon to
be observed tearing up the hill, where they captured the
position and took many prisoners. It was in this mag-
nificent charge that Capain Neil Primrose lost his life.
" At this point Lieut. Burns arrived with a message
from Battalion Headquarters ordering us to continue the
advance (along with the l/5th K.O.S.B.) and take the
village, and accordingly word was passed along the line
to that effect. The troops advanced steadily in lines
across the deep gully already referred to, charged through
the gardens on the slopes of the bill, and, in spite of
stubborn resistance on the part of the enemy, captured
the village, taking numerous prisoners in doing so. The
cavalry gave us good supporting tire from the hill on
the left flank, while our artillery also rendered us valu-
able support. After crossing the gully a party of us
doubled forward to a cactus hedge at the foot of one of
the village gardens, and opened tire on the Turks, who
were ensconced at the top of the garden, and it was at
this time that Lieut. Wood was killed. Captain Nimmo
was again wounded, this rime very badly. Lieut.
Graham was wounded in the leg, and while lying on the
ground was again wounded in the shoulder. Lieut. Ross
110
was also wounded in the lea, and I was wounded in the
arm--all these casualties occurring in quick succession
as the result of rifle or machine gun tire. At this rime
Private Fox of 'D' Company fell mortally wounded,
and whilst endeavouring to bandage his wound he spoke
to me with his last breath--one of the many touchin
incidents that occurred amidst the roar of battle, and
one that I shall never forget. It was indeed a memorable
charge. Our men without exception were splendid.
The enemy did not yield the village without puttin up
a stiff fight, but by 5 p.m. the victory was complete.
Very soon the sun sank behind the hills and the dark
mantle of night crept down upon the battlefield, shroud-
in the aony and the misery."
111
CHAPTER XII.
THE CROSSING OF THE RIVER AUJA.
On November 18th the Battalion moved with the
Brigade to EI Ramleh and next day occupied Annabeh
without opposition. On the 20th the Battalion arrived
at Berfilya. The surrounding country was very hilly and
rocky, and parties from our Battalion were employed on
repairing the roads, which were in a very bad state owing
to a very heavy downpour of rain which lasted four
hours. As the downpour was accompanied by a con-
siderable drop in the temperature, our men, who had
neither overcoats nor blankets, suffered considerably,
especially as but a few hours previous to the rainfall they
had been sweltering in intense heat. On the 22nd the
Battalion joined the rest of the Brigade at Beit Likia and
encamped for the night. On the 23rd, while moving into
the Wadi Amir, north-east of Biddu, the Battalion came
under heavy shell tire, two other ranks being killed and
eighteen wounded. On the 24th the 5th K.O.S.B. and
5th R.S.F., with our Battalion in support, were ordered
to attack and capture EI Jib, the old Gibeon of Biblical
faine, which was strongly held by the enemy, this action
taking place over the saine ground on which the rive
kings were defeated. We were very heavily shelled and
there was also very heavy machine gun tire from the
front and left flank, and little headway could be ruade.
Our troops reached an orchard about 400 yards from the
village when orders to retire were received and the action
was accordingly broken off, the Battalion returning to the
camping area about one and a half mlles south-west of
EI Kubeibeh. In this abortive attack on EI Jib Second-
Lieut. A. N. Wilson and two other ranks were killed and
twenty other ranks wounded.
On November 28th the Battalion moved through
Beit Sira and came under very heavy machine gun tire
from the ridges in front of Suffa. The Battalion conse-
quently deployed for action, taking up its position arnong
the rocks and ridges. The Turks held a cornrnanding
position, and before our rnen could deploy a nurnber of
casualties occurred. Ail day we fought with the Turks,
who were evidently trying to get astride the Rarnleh-
Kubeibeh track, which, had they succeeded, would bave
been a trernendous handicap to our forces in the hills.
However, thanks rnainly to the good work of our artillery,
the Turks rnust have lost very heavily. In fact, a later
report given by a captured Turkish officer stated that the
Turkish forces were very seriously depleted by this fight.
"'C '" Cornpany at the beginning of the attack held a
cornrnanding ridge frorn which position the Lewis gunners
put several enerny machine guns out of action ata range
of frorn 500 to 700 yards, Pte. (afterwards Corpl.) Angus
doing great work in this connection. This ridge was
ultirnately vacated, when "C " Company was ordered
back to lie in support to the Battalion. It was about this
lime that Maior Locke was badly wounded in the hip,
and Captain (now Maior) P. L. P. Laing took his place
as second in cornrnand of the Battalion. Orders were
received to prolong the line on the left of the 1/7th Royal
Scots, and by 8 p.rn. the Battalion was reported in position
for the night.
This surprise attack by the Turks was of a very deter-
rnined character, and in repulsing the enerny we had one
officer (Lieut. W. M. Mercer) and seven rnen killed,
while Major H. W. Locke and twenty other ranks were
wounded. Next day the enerny subjected us to very heavy
machine gun tire, and while engaged on reconnaissance
work Captain I,aing had his horse shot, but on the 30th
ail was quiet in our part of the line, and havlng been
relieved, the Battalion encarnped for the night south-west
of Beit Sira.
On Decernber 2nd the Battalion, having passed the
night near Anwas, rnoved to Rarnleh, and spent several
days there resting and equipping. It is a noteworthy fact
that in all the marching frorn Mughar, through the hills,
round Jerusalern and back to Rarnleh, not a man of the
Battalion fell out from fatigue, although in rnany cases
1 '4th Bn. K.).$.B. entering Beit Likia the day bef,,re the action there.
Nte tramp-like appeal'ance of men after the long advance.
The lqattali,m resting at Beit Anan after the action at EI Jib, near Jerua|em.
113
the men's boots were hanging in pieces, some having their
boots tied round with string to keep the soles on. Out
medical officer considered this an extraordinary feat of
endurance. On December 6th the Battalion relieved the
7th Australian Light Horse in position north-east of Jaffa,
in the vicinity of the Almond Grove. At night tain fell
heavily and ail next day, making things very uncomfort-
able for out men. Fortunately, by the llth the weather
had cleared and the sun shone brightly once more.
While in this part of the line the enemy subjected us to
considerable shelling, but out casualties were light and
ail ranks were in good heart over the good news of the
surrender of Jerusalem and of General Allenby's official
entry into the city on the llth. On the 14th, following
a heavy bombardment by out artillery, the enemy
retaliated with heavy shell tire, but our casualties were
nil. On the 19th Lieut.-Colonel Tandy, Captain L. P.
Cathels, Second Lieut. D. Burns, and 200 other ranks
from the Battalion proceeded to Jaffa as Brigade repre-
sentatives in connection with the presentation of medals
as follows :--
Captain A. P. Nimmo, M.C. (died of wounds).
Captain A. Fairgrieve, M.C. (in hospital wounded).
Second Lieut. D. A. R. Cuthbert, M.C.
C.S.M.T.G. Potter, D.C.M.
Lce.-Cpl. A. Ramsay, M.M.
Pte. A. Angus, M.M.
Pte. T. Fairbairn, M.M.
Pte. A. McEwan, M.M. (in hospital wounded).
On December 19th the weather was very stormy, and
on the 20th tain fell heavily ail day. At 5.30 p.m. on that
date the Battalion moved off to a position near some
caves in reserve to out Briade, who were to attack and
capture Kerbet Hadrah on the other side of the river
Auja. The final touches to the preparations for the sur-
prise passage of the river Auja--an event which was to
mark the final advance of the 52nd Division in Palestine
--were now being ruade. Experiments with model rafts
were carried out on a reservoir near Jaffa, and repre-
ooo
lalan showing approximate positions of 52nd (Lowland) Division at crossing of
the river Auja, December, 1917.
115
tentatives from the various units attended there to make
themselves familiar with the method of using the rafts,
and the night of December 20th saw the Battalion engaged
in carrying pontoons and coracles to the river. These
had been ruade and concealed in orange groves. The
orange groves were a feature of the Jaffa district, and
previous to the war were mainly owned by Germans. As
the crop lasts for several months, from November
onwards, our men had an unlimited supply of beautiful
ripe oranges, very much superior in quality to those sold
in the home market. In ordinary times 20 of these
oranges could be obtained in Jaffa for 2-d.
The coracles were capable of carrying twenty men
apiece. The crossing of the river was, however, fraught
with difficulties, as the Auja was much swollen by the
recent heavy rains and was flowing swiftly, while the banks
of the river were little better than mud swamps, and few
fords could be found. On the high ground beyond, over-
looking the open stretch of country through which the
river flowed, the enemy was strongly entrenched, but as
the weather was so bad and as the river was more or less
in spate, he evidently had no knowledge of our intentions
until about midnight, when he opened a sharp bombard-
ment on the orange grove, greatly impeding the carrying
of the rafts. Even without the shelling, the carrying of
rafts was a difficult matter. The wood was soaked by tain
and was in consequence very heavy, and twenty men at
least were required to lift each raft. The lanes leading
to the river bank were just wide enough to permit a raft
to be carried down, while the cactus hedges and the dark-
ness of the night added to the difficulty of the task. Ail
night, however, our Battalion worked hard on fatigues,
giving every assistance to the engineers. The canvas rafts
were lashed together to forma bridge, and over this
bridge the artillery and most of the infantry crossed,
making as little noise as possible. Other infantry crossed
in the coracles and a few--greatly daring--waded across
breast deep at possible fords. The Turks were taken by
urprise, and post after post was rushed at the point of
the bayonet without a shot being fired.
116
The 155th Brigade (less 1/4th K.O.S.B.) were among
the troops which successfully crossed the Auja on the
night of the 20th, and they duly attained their objective
--the capture of Kerbet Hadrah. Our Battalion, how-
ever, having been engaged in carrying pontoons, etc., did
hOt cross until the morning of the 21st, when it took over
the line at Kerbet Hadrah. "" The successful crossing of
the Nahr el Auja," says General Sir Emund Allenby in
his dispatch dated September 18, 1918, "' reflected great
credit on the 52nd (Lowland) Division. It involved con-
siderable preparation, the details of which were thought
out with care and precision. The sodden state of the
ground, and, on the night of the crossing, the swollen
state of the river, added to the difficulties, yet by dawn
the whole of the infantry had crossed. The fact that the
enemy were taken by surprise and that all resistance was
overcome with the bayonet without a shot being fired,
bears testimony to the discipline of this Division. Eleven
officers, including two battalion commanders, and 305
other ranks, and ten machine guns were captured in this
operation."
After taking over the line we were on the 21st sub-
jected to very heavy shelling all day, but only two
casualties resulted. On the 22nd the Battalion moved off
in artillery formation vith the rest of the Brigade to
capture three objectives, namely, Khurbet-es-Sualimiyeh,
to be taken by the 5th R.S.F. ; Tel el Mukhmar, the 4th
K.O.S.B.'s main objective; and Khurbet Wabsah, to be
taken by the 4th K.O.S.B. and Zlth and 5th R.S.F. The
5th K.O.S.B. acted as right flank guard. AI1 objectives
were carried with little or no opposition, the Turks evac-
uating one position after another in quick succession, and
the Battalion took up its position north-west of Tel el
Mukhmar. The wet weather still continued, and
throughout Christmas Day the rain fell in torrents,
making ail of us very miserable, but fortunately by next
morning the weather had considerably improved. From
December 26th to the end of the month the Battalion
was busily engaged in digging and wiring the new line,
good progress being ruade.
117
On January 1st, 1918, rain fell heavily again, and next
morning one of our posts at Boche Wood was attacked by
a large enemy patrol, which was driven off. This proved
tobe the Battalion's first encounter with a German bat-
talion, namely, the 701st Infantry Regiment. We took a
few prisoners and suffered in this skirmish three casualties.
As a result of the tain which continued to rail the river
Auja was in heavy flood on January 7th, and as on that
day out transport and ration party under the direction of
Lieut. J. B. Stewart had to cross the river twice waist deep,
great credit is due to the drivers for their work on that
occasion. One driver of another unit was drowned. To
the end of January nothing of importance occurred, and
though out artillery was very active, the enemy's was, on
the whole, very quiet. On January 30th the Battalion
moved to Sarona and occupied billets in the houses there,
which were exceedingly comfortable, though the sudden
change from sleeping in the open to sleeping indoors
caused almost everyone to surfer from colds. The
change, however, was greatly appreciated by all ranks
after the trying experiences they had undergone. At
Sarona during the first fortnight of February the Battalion
was mainly engaged in a scbeme of training and musketry
practice. On the 14th the Battalion relieved the 1/Tth
H.L.I as right reserve battalion on the left sector of the
52nd Division's line. While in this sector nothing of
importance occurred until the night of the 26th, when one
of out patrols, under Lieut. H. O. ,]ones, was suddenly
engaged by the enemy and came under heavy rifle and
machine gun tire. Out patrol withdrew, two of out men
being wounded and two being taken prisoners. The 1st
of Match saw the Battalion in position east of Jelil, and
except on the 10th, when the enemy heavily bombarded
the Battalion area for an bout, a very quiet rime was
spent. On Match 15th the Battalion moved to the
reserve area at Arsuf, north of Jelil. Arsuf is a tiny
village on the coast, and marked the furthest point in
Palestine reached by the Battalion. Towards the end of
the month route marches were frequent, and the general
118
impression among ail ranks now was that the Battalion,
having finished its work in Palestine, was being hardened-
up for srrenuous duties in another theatre of war. Ort
March 29th the Battalion was relieved by the 25th Rifles
(Punjabis), and returned to Sarona, where next day we
received a draft of rive new oflîcers, and owing to the
recent losses they were indeed sorely needed. At Sarona
we enjoyed two days' rest prior to going to France with
our Division. The 4th K.O.S. Borderers had as a bat-
talion played a great part in the conquest of Palestine,
as a summary o[ its advance bears witness. Ail the way
from Kantara the Battalion had been with the 52nd
Division in the great and triumphant advance. The
extent of the ground covered may be judged by a rough
survey of the route, viz.:--From Kantara to Romani, 25
toiles, over very sort sand; from Romani to EI Arish,
about 75 miles, also over very sort sand and in very trying
weather; from EI Arish to Gaza, a distance of 50 toiles,
with the going rather better; from Gaza to Ramleh the
Battalion had to fight its way over a distance of practically
50 miles, as it did not go by any means as the crow flies;
from Ramleh to the outskirts of Jerusalem, a further 20
miles, hall of this distance being stiff mountain climbing;
then followed a 20 mlles' trek back to Ramleh with
fightlng on the way. The next move from Ramleh to the
banks of the river Auja was 14 miles, and, finally, the
advance to Arsuf, 8 miles--making the total distance
covered by the Battalion in the advance fully 260 miles--
a truly splendid achievement. The hardships suffered by
the Battalion had been very great and the casualties
severe, but it was not quite ail work and no play with
our oflîcers and men, and some good stories could be
told about the lighter side of things. When the Battalion
was stationed at Kantara a certain amount of fishing was
done in the canal, the fish caught being mullet, which in
appearance were not unlike grayling. The natives caught
most of their fish by means of a net, which, on being
thrown from the hand, spread out like a fan over a con-
siderable area of water, and, after being allowed to sink,
119
g'as drawn in. The method of fishing was such as was
employed in the East in the earliest rimes, and as there
was always a great demand for the captured fish the native
fishermen did good business.
In Lieut. Ainslie, a very gallant officer who was killed
on April 19th, 1917, the Battalion possessed a keen
entomologist, who, in the course of his iourney through
the desert, ruade a most wonderful collection of butterflies,
moths, beetles, etc. If bird and insect lire was interest-
ing on the Gallipoli Peninsula, where thrushes, crows,
wagtails, hawks, magpies, wild duck, quails, sand martins,
vultures, and many other kinds of birds were to be seen,
it was certainly equally interesting in Egypt and Palestine.
Around Gaza, for instance, scorpions and centipedes
were very numerous, several of out men being badly
bitten and stung by them. Quail were also very
numerous belote the barley was cut or trampled down
at Gaza, and several of out officers went quail shooting.
In the sea at Arsuf we used to get a fait supply of
fish by bombing and then plunging in naked and catching
the fish as they floated about stunned by the explosions.
A matter of interest after the crossing of the Auja was the
extraordinary flights of migratory starlings. Every even-
ing they would fly over--columns of them--with here
and there a hawk diving at them. As a method of
defence the starlings would ail flock together and rise
almost in a solid pillar to meet the hawk, and seldom, if
ever, did he conquer. The men used to turn out of their
bivouacs and watch these strange aerial contests until
darkness fell. And here are a few good stories. While
lying in the line near Arsuf we used to get good fox-hunt-
ing. On one occasion the horsemen (R.S.F.) rode right
through the posts into No Man's Land. This incident
was very humorously referred to by a maior of the R.S.F.
in the course of an article in the Army paper, " The
Palestine News." An extract from the article runs thus"
--" Fox was raised in Jelil covert, and after skirting
Tandy's earths (out dug-outs) led the field through heavy
wire on to ground which is at present under dispute
between Tandy and his neighbour Abdul."
220
On one occasion when the Battalion was crosslng the
desert during a very hot and trying match one of our
men was heard to say--" Wull-ie, they can say what they
like, but l'll bate Napoleon didnae mairch twenty-five
mlles a day up here in an iron waiskit." He had evi-
dently got confused between Napoleon and King Richard,
both of whom had covered the ground we were going
over, and the padre was constantly telling the men about
this and that Napoleon had done over 25 mlles a day.
For a long rime we got no jam--just marmalade day
after day, and the Army Service Corps' excuse was that
a ship load of jam had been submarined, but that the
rnarmalade ship had got through. It was at the time of
this shortage of jam that one of out officers overheard one
of out men say--" If Kitchener had been in a marmalade
boat he wudnae bave been droon'd."
On another occasion a man, after taking a pull at
his water bottle, was heard to say--" Jock, there must
hae been an awfu' lot o" fishers oot in the swect water
canal; a' can taste their waders." It may be mentioned
that ail our water was pumped up the desert from the
sweet water canal at Kantara, and often the water tasted
of rubber piping and chloride of lime.
The da 3, after crossing the River Auja. Note the oranges,
which were very plentlful.
i l-
After a fex¢ nfilutes rain near Sheik Ballutah, January, 1918.
121
CHAPTER XIII.
ON THE WESTERN FRONT.
On April 4th, 1918, the Battalion moved to Ludd
ttation, entrained there, and arrived at Kantara at 2
o'clock the following morning--the iourney taking 14
hours. Twelve hours later the Battalion entrained for
Alexandria, and next morning embarked on the s.s.
" Malwa,'" Colonel Tandy being appointed O.C. Troops,
and Captaln and Adiutant W. N. Alston ship's Adiutant.
The transport lay in the harbour for several days, and
did hot sali until April llth. Marseilles was reacbed on
the morning of the 17th, and the Battalion disembarked
and marched to Musso Camp. On the 19th the Battalion
again entrained, arrived at Noyelles on the 22nd, and by
that afternoon got settled down in the pretty village of
Favieres, where comfortable billets were obtained. Here
q week was spent in equipping and training, and on the
29th a more was ruade to Aire, where the French Cavalry
Barracks were occupied by out men.
At Aire hard training w.as begun, but by May 7th
the Battalion was on the more once more, and late that
night arrived at Neuville St Vaast. On the following
day the Battalion proceeded to Vimy Ridge and relieved
lhe 6th Battalion Black Watch in the trenches, "'C '"
qnd "D " Coys. going into the line, wlth "A " and
" B " Coys. in support. The Battalion had hOt been long
în the trenches before casualties occurred, three men
being wounded by shrapnel. At this time out artillery
was very active, and on the llth we got an idea of what
German shell tire was like, out front line that day being
very heavily shelled for fully an boue The Battalion
occupied the line until the night of May 15th, when it was
relieved, and returned to Neuville St Vaast, where a few
days were spent in bathing, cleaning, resting, and train-
ing until the 19th, when we moved to Ottawa Camp at
Mont St Eloi. Here lectures on various matters were
iven and musketry practice and specialist training
engaed in. On the 24th the Battalion moved up to the
reserve sector of the line aain, and relieved the 1]6th
H.L.I., and three days later we had out first experience
of enemy as shells, but suffered no casualties. On June
2ad the Battalion relieved the 4th R.S.F. in the line, and
on this occasion we had a pretty rough rime of it. The
enemy discharged as, and subjected out line to very
heavy shellin---much heavier than anything we had ex-
perienced at Gallipoli. On June 10th three of our
of:ficers and two platoons raided the enemy front line,
which was fotmd to be unoccupied, the party returning
without suffering casualties. Next day the Battalion was
relieved, and returned to Pendu Camp, Mont St Eloi,
where we remained until the 20th, when we relieved the
çth A. and S. H. in the support line. While in the
support line much work was done in repairing and erect-
ing wire at niht in front of out areas. On June 28th
the Battalion took over new positions in the centre of the
line. Nothing of much importance occurred until the
night of July 5th, when, the vind being favourable, 540
cylinders were projected at 11 p.m. on Arleux Loop,
which caused the enemy to put up numerous flares, and
rires were observed to have broken out at various parts
of his line. Two nihts later, about midniht, enemy
shellin set the artillery dump in the area of our Battalion
Headquarters on tire, but, thanks to the personnel of
Headquarters, the tire was extinuished in thirty minutes.
On July 8th we were relieved and proceeded to Fraser
Camp, Mont St Eloi, in motor lorries, and here we
remained until the 17th, when we took over the support
line trenches in Brown Line, the trenches bein very
muddy owin to heavy rain, and considerable rime had
to be spent in clearin the water out of them.
Subsequently, after a respite at Camblain 1' Abbe, the
Battalion proceeded to the trenches in the Willerval area,
where we relieved the S0th Canadian Regiment, the
boundaries bein " Western Road " and " Tired Alley."
While in this part of the line some excitin work was
123
experienced by our niht patrols. On the niht of August
6th the enemy put down a barrage on the " B " Company
area, and a Boche raiding party oi: two officers and about
40 other ranks attempted to rush out post at the iunction
of " Plumer Road " and " Tired Alley." They were,
repulsed, [eavin,6 one officer and Jour men killed and two.
prisoners. We had ei,6ht N.C.O.'s and men wounded,.
while Serst. Coonie, who had done splendid work with
the Battalion at Gallipoli and elsewhere, was taken
prisoner. Il I remember rightly, this was the N.C.O.
who, when the Battalion was vacatin8 the Gallipoli
trenchcs for good on the last night of the year 1915, was
heard to say--"A've seen naething wrang wi' the lire oot
here. It's a damned sight better lire than the barrack
square dreel that ye're ,6aun tae noo, mate! Mark ma-
words ! "
Two days later the Battalion area at Willerval was
shelled with mustard gas shells, but we suffered no
casualties, and afler a few days at Thelus, Roclincourt,
and Mont St Eloi, the Battalion marched to Caucourt.
After a short rest the Battalion proceeded south through
Habarq and Gouy-en-Artois to Bretoncourt, where we
arrived on AuSust 23rd. During the next two days we
knew that things were happenin,6, as a tremendous
"' racket " was goin8 on up the line. We could see the.
gunners limbering-up for the advance across the Arras
railway at Fichewx. Shells were burstin,6 on the ridges
around Henin, but gradually the artillery tire lifted to
the ridSes behind Henin and on to Henin Hill. Out
turn to move duly came, and about 3 p.m. on August 26th
the Battalion moved out in artillery formation to attack
the switch of the Hindenburg Line, "A" and "B"
Coys. leading. After entering the line the Battalion
bombed its way south-east up the slopes of Henin Hill,
which was apparently now held only by machine gunners.
The German heavy artillery worried us considerably, but
did hOt manage to ,6et many direct bits on the trenches
along which we proceeded. After reachin,6 the dried-up
bed of the Coieul river our men pushed their way up the
bill. The attack was a very fine one, right across the
124
open, and was well led. Having got so far with fairly
light casualties, the Battalion got a rough rime from
trench mortars farther up the bill. Towards dark the
Canadians joined hands with us after having carried out
a successful sweeping movement on our left. Evidently
Henin Hill had been reported as clear of the enemy by
now, but such was hot the case. Fortunately, the attack
at dawn next day by the 157th Brigade pushed the
Germans right off the hill, otherwise the position might
bave been serious. This attack by the 157th Brigade was
pretty tough work, as could be seen later from the number
of dead lying about at ail the barricades in the trenches.
During this engagement one oflïcer (Second Lieut. 3. A.
Walker, R.S.F., attached) was killed, but the casualties
amongst other ranks of our Battalion were light. On
August 28th the Battalion was relieved, and after two days
rest at Mercatel marched to Bullecourt and took over
trenches there from the London Scottish, Major P. L. P.
Laing taking over temporary command of the Battalion
from Lieut.-Colonel Tandy, who that day left the Bat-
talion, much to the regret of ail ranks.
Late on the following afternoon (September lst) the
Battalion formed up in Bullecourt trench ready for the
attack. The massing for the attack was spotted by the
enemy's artillery, and, as a result, our trench was heavily
shelled, Second-Lieut. Brown and four other ranks being
wounded during the shelling. At 5.55 p.m. our barrage
opened on Tank Avenue, and the Battalion immediately
went over the parapet, " B " and " C " Companies lead-
ing, with " D " Company as " moppers-up " and '" A "
Company in reserve. The Battalion crossed Tank
Avenue, and while doing so our right flank experienced
heavy machine gun tire, which was so severe that the
advance was held up, and as darkness came on, the troops
were withdrawn from in front of Tank Avenue, which
was then manned and the trench consolidated. While
the work of consolidation was being carried out, the
enemy put over sneezing and mustard gas. During the
advance Lieut. E. C. R. Hamilton-Johnston, O.C. " B '"
Company (attached from 2nd Bat. K.O.S.B.), was killed,
125
and the following officers were wounded :--Second-Lieuts.
.1. D. Pollok, G. Manby, .]. Bryson, T. Burrell, Munro,
Grey, and Cassidy, the two last-named being attached
from the H.L.I. The casualties among the rank and file
were :--Killed, 21; missing, 2; wounded, 104; giving total
casualties among officers and men as 138.
The Battalion remained in Tank Avenue ail night,
and next day was organised into two companies, "A "
and "B" becoming "X" Company, and "C " and
" D .... Y " Company. On September 3rd the Battalion
marched via Sunken Road to the Hindenburg Line, and
a patrol was sent to clear the village of Queant. On the
7th the Battalion le[t the trenches, and, crossing the
Hirondelle railway, marched via Noreuil, Longatte, and
Ecoust to near Croisselles, where it was re-organised into
t:our companies. On the 9th Lieut.-Colonel E. C. Hill-
Whitson took over the command of the Battalion, and
a spell of training was carried on until September 15th,
when the Battalion moved forward to Moeuvres, where
more heavy fighting was experienced. The march was
considerably delayed owing to bombing by enemy air-
craft. During the night we relieved the 2/5th Lancs., and
had a very unpleasant rime, as the enemy was sending
over much gas, and this, of course, necessitated the wear-
ing of gas masks. There was no fixed line, and posts had
to be established in and around the ruins of the village.
The Battalion we relieved had no very clear idea of
where the Germans were. On the right ot: "A" Coy.
was the Guards Brigade, and opposite us were the
Prussian Guards. The enemy seemed to have massed a
fair quantity of artillery in front of us (to bar the way
to Cambrai, it was said). One very rough spot was the
roadside near the broken bridge over the Canal du Nord.
This point was swept by the enemy's machine guns at
about 100 yards range, and as the road had to be fre-
quently crossed, the discom[ort can be readily imagined.
The trenches we occupied gave little protection, and we
sustained a number of casualties through sniping. At
night bright moonlight prevailed, ahd it was difficult to
keep out of sight of the enemy. About 6 p.m. on the
126
night of September 17th the Germans attacked after a
heavy barrage and forced our two left companies to retire,
but the two companies on the right held their positions
and repulsed the enemy. During this attack by the
Germans Captain A. W. Harvie and Second.-Lieut J.
Dickson were wounded.
Further fierce fighting took place on the night of
September 19th, when our Brigade attacked Moeuvres,
""A " Company being in reserve to the l/4th R.S.F.,
while " B " and "" C," which had been formed into one
Company under Captain Sempill, furnished carrying
parties ail night to the l/4th R.S.F. "'D '" Company
assisted the 1/Sth R.S.F. The attack was successful, and
the village was captured, but during the night the enemy
.recaptured Moeuvres. At 5 o'clock next morning "" A '"
Company ruade a determined attack and reached the
canal, but met with such opposition that they were pushed
back, and latterly assisted the l/4th R.S.F. to hold the
position which had been taken up. That night our
Brigade was relieved by the 156th Brigade, but on the
night of September 23rd-24th our Battalion returned to
che trenches and relieved the l/7th Royal Scots. During
the next few days severe fighting was engaged in. Twice
the Germans rushed and captured one of our positions,
and twice we drove them back, ultimately getting the
position re-established. Moeuvres was finally captured
on September 27th, and on the last day of the month the
Battalion was ready for a rest, and marched to Grain-
.court on the way to Cambrai, but our troubles were hOt
.yet over, as after leaving Graincourt on October 1st the
road along which the column marched was heavily
-helled, and bombs were dropped by enemy aeroplane,
while very heavy artillery and machine gun tire was
experienced as the Battalion was taking up its position
near Paris Copse. At 5.45 p.m. that day our barrage
opened preparatory to an attack by the 1/4th and l/5th
R.S.F. of our Brigade, "A " Company under Lieut. N.
Kennedy reinforcing the l/Sth R.S.F. Early next morn-
ing (October 2nd) "" A "' Company commenced an attack
on a strong enemy position, but it broke down under
127
heavy barrage tire. Our men, however, ultimately
reached their objective, but were withdrawn, and the
original line was established. During this attack Lieut.
G. Fair was killed. Towards evenin one of our aero-
planes ruade a forced landing near " D " Company area,
and drexv very heavy enemy shell tire, during which
Second-Lieut. Doughty was wounded.
On the afternoon of October 3rd orders vere received
for two Companies to launch an attack on one of the
enemy's positions, and " B " and "" D " Companies were
detailed for this operation. Careful preparations were
ruade after dusk had set in, and "'B" Company, with
"'D " Company in support, went forward at 11 p.m.,
and in spite of heavy machine gun tire and shelling, the
objective was attained, but our casualties were severe,
Second-Lieut. Kirkwood being among the killed. Next
day the Battalion was relieved by the l/6th H.L.I., and
marched to billets in Cantaing.
On October 7th the Battalion arrived at Vraucourt
and entrained for Ligny, and for some days carried out
training and re-equipping at Ambrines. On the 13th
Lieut.-Colonel Hill-Whitson left the Battalion, and once
again Major Laing took over temporary command. Sub-
sequent movements of the Battalion were to Bully Grenay
from Tinques station by train, from Bully Grenay to
Lievin, thence to Montigny, and from Montigny to billets
in Cite de la Basse Nayelles. On October 24th the Bat-
talion marched to Raches, and remained there until the
28th, on which date it marched via Orchîes to Landas,
the Corps Commander inspecting the Battalion en route.
At Landas, on October 31st, the fighting strength of the
Battalion consisted of 25 officers and 431 other ranks.
128
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ARMISTICE AND AFTER.
The Battalion remained at Landas until November
5th, on which date a move was ruade to Rumegies, and
on the following day Lieut.-Colonel A. W. Angus, D.S.O.,
assumed command of the Battalion. On the 9th we left
Rumegies and marched to L'Ecarlatc, and on the follow-
ing day continued our march to Sirlaut. The Franco-
Belgian frontier was crossed at Bon Secours. At Herchies
on the llth orders were received for our Brigade to
advance to the railway line east of Jurbise, and the Bat-
talion had formed up and was ready to move off when
a message was received from Brigade Headquarters stating
that hostilities would cease at 11 a.m. that day. The
news, which secmed too good to be true, was communi-
cated to the troops by Major Laing. "' I'll bet its a
damned lie," whispered one of our men to one of his
comrades. As soon as the message had been read out
the men threw their steel helmets in the air and gave
vent to their jubilant feelings by cheering loudly, as in
the hearts of all there was a feeling of thankfulness unutter-
able. The pipe band was immediately ordered out and
played appropriate music through the village of Herchies,
the villagers joining in the rejoicings. Thereafter the
Battalion marched to Jurbise and occupied billets there.
Never was a march undertaken by the Battalion with
lighter heart, for the armistice practically meant that the
grim business on which we had been engaged was at an
end. Next day the Battalion enjoyed a complete rest
from ail duties, and on the 14th the Battalion was
inspected and addrcssed by Brigadier-General G. H.
Harrison, D.S.O., and on the following day, on the
129
occasion of the entry of British troops into Mons, the
Battalion was represented by a detachment under Captain
J. Dickson.
Occasion was now taken to start a system of recrea-
tional training, and durina the rernainder of the month
classes in English, French, and Gerrnan were beaun,
lectures on topics of interest were delivered, after-war
problems were discussed, a recreation room was opened,
and sports were held every afternoon. A good Rugby
team was got together, and the first match against the
410th Coy. Royal Engineers ended in an easy victory for
the Battalion fifteen by 34 points to nil. It may be men-
tioned that many of our rnen were attached to the Royal
Engineers for instruction in their trades, and in this way
much time was put to good use. During December a
very pleasant time was spent at Jurbise, and our Rugby
fifteen, capably tutored by Colonel Angus, rnade a name
for itself. Five more matches were played, and in all
we were victorious, not a point being scored against us.
We defeated the ll4th Royal Scots by 42 points to nil;
the 17th Northurnberland Fusiliers by 19 points to nil,
and the same unit in the return match by 35 points to
nil; the New Zealand Mounted Rifles by 3 points to nil;
and the XXII. Corps Headquarters by 22 points to nil.
Christmas Day was observed as a holiday, and we did
ourselves as well as possible. In the afternoon an inter-
esting gaine of '" Soccer " was played between tearns
representin the officers and the N.C.O.'s, a well-contested
match ending in a draw. It is of interest to note that on
the last day of the year the strength of the Battalion was
32 oPficers and 674 other ranks, and on January 1st, 1919,
the first batch of men left the unit for demobilisation.
Thereafter demobilisation was carried on daily, and with
demobilisation, ceremonial parades, lectures, battalion
and educational training, and sport to occupy the attention
of the officers and men, the time was not long in passing.
An interesting function took place on January 17th, when
at a Divisional ceremonial parade on Masieres drill-
ground, M.C. and D.C.M. ribbons were presented by
the Corps Commander. During February and March
130
demobilisation of the Battallon, excepting the Cadre, was
completcd. On March 22nd the Cadre moved from
,lurbise to billets in Soignies, and remained there until
May 31st, when the Cadre entrained for Antwerp, which
was reached late that night. The Cadre remained in
Antwerp until June 5th, on which date the Battalion rem-
nant of three officers (Capt. and Adjt. W. Graham, Capt.
and Qurtermaster J. A. Thomson, and Lieut. 13. Mont-
gomery), and 36 other ranks embarked on H.M.T.
"'Sicilian.'" Tilbury was reached on the morning of the
7th, and that night the Cadre left London for Galashiels.
News that the Cadre would arrive at Galashiels early in
the morning of the 8th was only received at the Depot
at 7.30 the previous evening, but various means were
adopted to spread the news, and there was a great crowd
at the station in the morning to welcome the Cadre home.
The Galashicls Town's Band and the Galashiels Ex-
Soldiers' Pipe Band were in attendance, and after the
Cdre had marched up Channel Street and down Bank
Street with the King's and Regimental Colours, carried
by Lieut. Montgomery and Sergeant Jef[rey respectively,
a halt was made at the Corn Mill Square, where a hearty
welcome was extended by Provost Watson. Captain
Graham replied on behalf of the Cadre, and thereafter
the Cadre proceeded to the Depot in Paton Street. The
officers and men were billeted in hotels until .lune 10th,
when the party proceeded to Georgetown for dispersal.
The unit was finally disembodied by the end of the month,
and Mjor P. L. P. Laing, who had been appointed to
the temporary command of the 4th K.O.S.B., assisted by
the officer in charge of the Depot, took over the regi-
mental stores and documents.
It may be mentioned that after the Battalion left Alex-
andria for Gallipoli in .lune, 1915, Band-Sergeant T.
McDonald, 1/4th K.O.S.B., along with four other ranks
--Pte. A. Melrose, Pte. (afterwards C.Q.M.-Sgt.) G.
Watson, and Ptes. W. Douglas and Cockburn--were left
in charge of the Battalion baggage, kits, etc., at Alex-
andria. A similar number of men was also left by the
other battalions in the 52nd Division. Many different
131
duties were carried out by these details. Garrison guards
were round, and when not on guard the men were em-
ployed at the docks loading up water and food supplies
for the Division on the Peninsula. An idea of the work
involved may be gained from the fact that as many as
5000 petrol tins had to be filled with water every day,
sealed, and put on boats for transport to the front. Later
more men began to arrive at the base, and from the
New Zealand and Australian troops Lieut. and Band-
toaster Woods, Otago Section, New Zealand Mounted
Rifles, assisted by Bandmaster McDonald, was able to
form a band. Bandmaster Woods and his men, however,
left for Gallipoli towards the end of August, 1915, and
it was some time before a Band could be got together
again. However, Colonel Payne, the Base Commandant,
got in touch with Bandmaster McDonald, and from the
low category men at the base--the 52nd and 42nd Divisions
being well represented--on October 1st, 1915, the pains-
taking 4th K.O.S.B. Bandmaster re-formed, and took over
the conductorship of the Band. From that date until
March llth, 1919, Bandmaster McDonald conducted the
Band, which had a splendid record during that period.
About this time application was ruade to the Offlcer
Commanding the 1/4th K.O.S.B. for the use of the
Battalion instruments, which were lying at the base, for
the Band, which was named the Alexandria Base Band.
The application was readily granted, and on October 1st,
1915, the first programme was played with the Battalion's
instruments, and by June 10th, 1917, no fewer than 668
performances had been recorded. On January 1st, 1917,
orders came out that the Band would be a recognised unit
of its own from that date, and from that time onwards
the Band was named the Alexandria District Military
Band, and when this change was made a new set of instru-
ments replaced those of the 4th K.O.S.B., which were
re-packed, stored, and eventually forwarded to Galashiels.
Bandmaster McDonald continued to conduct the Band
until March llth, 1919, by which date the number of per-
formances given had increased to 1404, Bandmaster
NlcDonald having the proud distinction of being the only
132
member of the Band who took part in all these perform-
ances. Belote leaving Alexandria he received the follow-
ing appreciative letter from Brigadier-General R. C.
Boyle :m
Headquarters,
Alexandria District,
11th Match, 1919.
Sergt. T. McDonald,
4th K.O.S.B.,
Alexandria.
I understand you are shortly returning to Scotland
on demobilisation. Since May, 1915, when you
arrived in Egypt, you have as Bandmaster of the
Mustapha Band, and afterwards the Alexandria Dis-
trict Band, given me great satisfaction. Your work
bas been of the greatest value to the troops under my
command. The Band under your conductorship has
given great pleasure both to soldiers and to the
civilian population, and I ara glad to record my
appreciation of the work you have done.
I would add that owing to continuous changes
in the personnel of the Band, due to military exigen-
cies, your task has been a particularly diflïcult one.
It is due to your skill as a trainer of instrumentalists
that the Band under your direction has been kept up
to a high standard ail the rime.
R. C. BOVLE,
Brigadier-General,
G.O.C. Alexandria District.
From the foregoing chapters it will be noted that the
Battalion served with distinction at Gallipoli, and in
Egypt, Palestine, and France. It took part in many im-
portant battles, including the action of the 12th of July,
1915, at Gallipoli, the battles of Romani, Gaza, Mughar,
EI Jib in Palestine, and the engagements at Henin Hill,
Bullecourt, Moeuvres, and Cambrai in France. From
mobilisation to disembodiment no fewer than six officers
had been appointed to the command of the Battalion,
riz.:--Lieut.-Colonel J. McNeile, Lieut.-Colonel G. T.
B. Wilson, D.S.O., Lieut.-Colonel J. M. B. Sanders,
M.C., Lieut.-Colonel R. Dashwood-Tandy, Lieut.-Colonel
E. C. Hill-Whitson, and Lieut.-Colonel A. W. Angus,
D.S.O. ; while officers who had temporary command of
the Battalion at various times were Major W. E. A.
Cochrane, Major C. A. H. Maclean, Major W. T. Forrest,
M.C., Major M. Jobson, Major P. L. P. Laing, Major
R. M. Paton, Major R. W. Sharpe, Captain W. F.
Cochrane, Captain L. P. Cathels, and Captain J. Dickson.
Of these latter officers, Major Forrest and Major Laing
had command for the longest periods.
134
CHAPTER XV.
I/4TH K.O.S.B. CASUALTIES.
The numbers of casuaities sustained by the Battalion
while on active service were as foilows, the figures includ-
ing 4th K.O.S.B. oflïcers and men who were kiiled and
wounded while serving with other units:--
Killed, Missing, Died of Wounds
and Sickness. Wounded.
Officers. Other Ranks. Oflïcers. Other Ranks.
44 606 52 ° 1019
Total Casualties in ail ranks--|721.
AWARDS.
The following officers, warrant officers, non-com-
missioned officers, and men of the Battalion won awards:
Lt.-Colonel G. T. B. Wilson ... D.S.O. and Order of St Stanislau
with Sword.
Major G. Dun ......... O.B.E. and Order of the Nile (4th
class).
,, W.T. Forrest ...... Military Cross.
P. L. P. Laing ...... Order of the Nile (4th Class).
Captain A. P. Nimmo ...... Military Cross.
,, A. Fairgrieve ...... do.
,, W.N. Alston ...... do.
,, A.W. Harvie ...... do.
,, H. O'C. Jones ...... do.
,, D. Bums ...... do.
,, N. 1). Kennedy ... do.
Co
Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant D. A. R. Cuthbert
,, J. Munro ...
,, J.D. Pollok ...
,, E. Dinning ...
,, J. McFadzean ...
H. K. Srnith, R.A.M.C. (att.) Military Cross.
J. J. S. Thomson (att. 155th L.T.M. Battery) Military Cross.
C. C. Usher (art. 5th Bn. Warwick Regt.) Military Cross.
E. A. Cochrane (art. 5th Bn. Wavick Regt.) Croce de
Guerre (Italian Decoration).
Military Cross.
do.
do.
do.
Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Couronne
and Coix de Guerre (Belgian).
535 Regtl. Sgt.-Major Murray, G., Military Cross, Distinguished
Conduct Medal and Medaille
Militaire.
35
Coy. Sgt.-Maior Potter, T. G., Distinguished Conduct Medal.
8337
200,864 ,, Ellio¢ H., do.
200,202 Sergeant Waugh, J., do.
6550 L.-Corporal Dick, D., do.
200,450 Private Currie, W., do.
201,871 ,, Shaw, A., do.
200,075 Coy. Sgt.-Ma]or Roberts, £1., Military Medal.
201,434 ,, Soulsby, T., do.
31,763 ,, Foley, D. J, do.
200,216 Sergeant Jeffrey, G., do.
200,036 ,, Scott, C., do.
200,404 ,, Dobson, J., do.
200,019 ,,, Murphy, A., do.
200,505 ,, Robson, G., do.
200,107 Corporal Bell, T., do.
200,767 ,, Gibb, A., do.
200,397 L.-Corporal Ramsay, A., do.
200,407 ,, Melrose, A., do.
201,318 ,, Falconer, M., do.
200,980 ,, Nairn, A., do.
200,414 Private Stenhouse, T., do.
200,804 ,, Rule, A., do.
200,286 ,, Nairn, A., do.
209,952 ,, Thomson, R.W., do.
30,597 ,, Ferguson, H., do.
200,604 ,, Angus, A., do.
201,199 ,, Fairbaim, T., do.
200,690 ,, McÈwan, A., do.
200,996 ,, Wilson, T., do.
200,117 ,, Deans, R.W., do.
200,529 ,, Whitehead, C., do.
203,562 ,, Sanderson, C., do.
200,152 ,, Caverhill, J., do.
201,180 ,, Scott, J., do.
200,539 ,, Scott, R., do.
31,828 ,, Langan, W., do.
42,271 ,, White, E., do.
30, 504 ,, Crichton, D., do.
200,791 ,, Little, E.C., do.
15,523 » Egan, P., do.
200,291 ,, Burns, J., do.
200,534 ,, Somerville, I-, do.
241,584 ,, Kerr, J'., do.
200,118 ,, Robson, B., do.
241,618 ,, Johnston, G., do.
82,949 ,, Dickson, A., do.
200,751 ,, Heron, J., do.
241,193 » Richardson, S., (att. 155th L.T.M. Bty.) Military Medal.
136
201,562 Coy. Sergt.-Major Wood, J. W., Meritorious Service MedaL
200,194 Coy. Q.M. Sergt. Dick, P., do.
200,488 Watson, G., do.
MENTIONS IN DISPATCHES.
Lt.-Colonel G. T. B. Wilson, D.S.O.
Major W. T. Forrest, M.C ....
,, P.L.P. Laing ......
,, Major G. Dun, O.B.E ....
Captain T. T. Muir ......
2nd Lieutenant L. D. Robertson ...
Captain H. O'C. Jones, M.C ....
Lieutenant and Q.M.E.H. Follis
,, C.C. Usher, M.C ....
December, 1915
December, 1915, and June, 1917
December, 1915
June, 1917, and June, 1919
June, 1917
June, 1917
July, 1917
July, 1917
-- 1918
,, E.A. Cochrane, Croce de Guerre -- 1918
Major H. S. Dickson ....... 1919
Captain J. M. Dun ....... 1919
535 Regtl. Sergt.-Major Murray, G., M.C., D.C.M., Decr., 1915
6550 L.-Corporal Dick, D., D.C.M.
200,565 Sergeant Elliot, T. R ....
200,202 ,, Waugh, J., D.C.M.
200,441 Corporal Lindsay, J ....
200,952 Private Thomson, R. W., M.M.
200,216 Sergeant Jeffrey, G., M.M ....
December, 1915
June, 1917
June, 1917
June, 1917
June, 1917
April, 1918
SUMMARY OF AWARDS
MENTIONS.
Order of the British Empire ......
Distinguished Service Order ......
Militaxy Cross--Officers ......
Warrant Officer ...
Distinguished Conduct Medal ......
Military Medal ............
Meritorious Service Medal ......
Order of St Stanislau with Sword ...
Order of the Nile (4th class) ......
Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Couronne ...
Croix de Guerre (Belgian) ......
Croce de Guerre (Italian) ......
Medialle Militaire .........
Mentions in Despatches--Officers ...
Other Ranks
Total ...
AND
.- 1
137
THE ROLL OF HONOUR.
The undernoted list includes ail officers and other
ranks of the 4th Bn. K.O.S.B. who were serving with their
unit at the time they became casualties. The roll also
includes those officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the 4th Bat-
talion who were killed while attached for duty to other
battalions of the same regiment.
2nd Lieut. A. Ainslie,
Lieut. T. M. Alexander,
,, R.B. Anderson,
,, H.L. Armstrong,
,, A. Bulman,
2nd Lieut. J. A. G. Cairns,
l,ieut. G. G. Carmichael,
Major H. P. Cochrane,
ç'apt. W. F. Cochrane,
2nd Lieut. R. H. Connochie,
,, S.E. Ditchfield,
l. A. Dowens,
l.ieut. G. Fait,
2nd Lieut. C. G. Fart,
Major V. T. Forrest,
Lieut. C. Gardiner,
2nd Lieut. A. H. M. Henderson,
Major J. Herbertson,
2nd Lieut. J. S. Hogarth,
Lieut. J. B. Innes,
Major McG. Jobson,
2nd Lieut. W. L. Kirkwood,
Çapt. and Adjt. J. C. Lang,
2nd Lieut. R. Logan,
Çapt. R. R. M. Lumgair,
2nd Lieut. A. McCall,
J. W. Macintyre,
Lt.-Co. J. McNeile,
2nd Lieut. J. Mayall,
Lieut. W. M. Mcrcer,
2nd Lieut. J. C. Moore,
Lieut. A. P. Nimmo,
2nd Lieut. J. ]3. t'atrick,
Lieut. L. D. Robertson,
Capt. H. Sanderson,
lfieut. A. H. Scott,
2nd Lieut. G. Sutherland,
OFFICERS.
Killed in action 19-4-17
,, 12-7-15
,, 1%4-17
25-4 18
Missing. Death accepted 12-7-15
Killed in action 29-12-15
Missing. Death accepted 1-8-18
'Killed in action 20-9-17
,, 19-4-17
,, 31-7-7
" 17-1-18
Died of wounds 1-10-18
25-3-18
Killed in action 19-4-17
Missing. Death accepted 25-4-18
Killed in action 12-7-15
Missing. Death accepted
Killed in action 25-3-17
12-7-15
Died o'wounds 3-5-18
Killed in action 4-10-18
Missing. Death accepted 12-7-15
Killed in action 20-10-18
19-4-17
Died oïwounds 23-8-17
Died of heart failure 30-3-17
Missing. Death accepted 12-7-15
Died of wounds 13-11-18
Killed in action 28-11-17
19-4-17
Died o['wounds 17-11-17
Missing. I)eath accepted 12-7-15
Killed in action 13-11-17
Missing. Death accepted 12-7-15
3-5-17
Killed in action 9-4-1
138
Surg.-Mai. D. R. Taylor, R.A.M.C., Killed in action
Lieut. W. Thomson, Died of wounds
Capt. A. Wallace, Killed in action
2nd Lieut. J. M. Watson, ,,
C. C. Watt, ,,
Lieut. J. Wood,
,, P. Woodhead, Missing.
Death accepted
12-7-15
26-8-18
12-7-15
13-11-17
9-5-17
13-11-17
12-7-15
OTHER RANKS.
843 Private Fairgrieve, J.,
6694 ,, Dick, J.,
7126 ,, Kinghorn, W.,
6498 ,, Murray, J.,
7106 ,, Lindores, A.,
4462 I " Cowe, R.,
4451 /Cpl. Ford, J.,
6901 Private Crombie, J. S.,
564 A/Cpl. Stevenson, T.,
4339 Private Fairbaim, W.,
6794 ,, Edgar, J.,
7357 ,, Sword, A.,
7372 ,, Morley, S.,
6478 ,, Stewart, W.,
6484 ,, Brydone, A.,
6485 ,, Reid, A.,
6491 ,, Dalgleish, A.,
6494 Ballantyne, J.,
6464 A]'gt. Waite, J.,
6466 Private Gall, A.,
6685 L]Cpl. Poustie, J.,
6558 Private Weir, R.,
6559 ,, Hall, F.,
6561 ,, Laing, R.,
6586 L/Cpl. Johnstone, W..
6610 Private M'Culloch, C.,
6500 ,, Tait, J.,
6508 ,, Imrie, H.,
6511 ,, Hardie, J.,
6725 L/Cpl. Hume, G.,
6703 Cpl. Sanderson, T.,
6717 L/Cpl. Brown, H.,
6719 Private Paterson, R.,
6720 Cpl. Hogg, W.,
6646 Private Pringle, G.,
6658 ,, Amos, J.,
6666 ,, Cockbum, G.,
6668 Cpl. Yuile, C.,
6675 L/Cpl. Reid, A.,
Died of wounds 18-6-1
,, 20-6-15
,, 21-6-1:5
22-6-15
Killed in action 24-6-15
Died of wounds 28-6-1:5
1-7-15
Missing. Presumed dead 10-7-15
,, 12-7-15
139
6397 Private Greve, 1.,
6389 ,, Scott, W.,
6380 L/Sgt. Waddell, A.,
6137 IJCpl. Redpath, R.,
6026 Sgt. Miller, D.,
4550 Private Spalding, G.,
4518 ,, Thomson, G.,
4519 ,, Tovnsley, M.,
4539 ,, Hardie, J.,
6737 ,, Walls, W.,
6727 ,, Thomson, T.,
6732 ,, Currie, J.,
785 ,, Bunyan, A.,
818 ,, Law, J.,
4485 ,, tLutherford, A.,
781 ,, Polwarth, T.,
782 ,, Gilbolm, J.,
784 ,, Stewart, W.,
7573 L]Cpl. Ludski, N.,
7480 Private Aderson, G.,
7466 ,, Jamieson, D.,
6861 ,, Clark, T.,
6864 ,, Oag, D.,
6867 ,, Whitelaw, D.
6874 ,, I }algliesh, J.,
6880 Bennet, W.,
6881 L/Cpl. Waldie, W.,
6890 Private Smith, G,,
6892 ,, Cranston, W.,
6830 ,, Keddie, C.,
6839 ,, Luira, T.,
7654 ,, t/eattie, J.,
7724 ,, Ritchie, D.,
7007 ,, Snowden, J.,
7030 ,, I)eans, J.,
7036 Rutherford, W.,
7046 L/Cpl. Rathie, W.,
6983 Private Tyson, J.,
6988 ,, Coughlin, J.,
6981 ,, Shit.l, J.,
6997 ,, 1Lutherford, XV.,
7000 ,, Sanderson, T.,
7062 ,, Smellie, J.,
6844 ,, Haig, W.,
7217 ,, Docherty, J.,
7227 ,, Leitch, J.,
7090 ,, Youllg, G.,
7095 ,, Clelland, W.,
140
6911
6920
7344
7359
7362
7367
7108
7139
7142
7148
7165
7169
7172
7189
7265
7270
7275
7285
%574
6125
6589
6599
6613
'6519
6722
6723
6619
6645
6652
6171
-4545
811
779
7553
7555
.6897
-6898
7668
7058
7060
.6854
7192
7197
7077
7078
.6902
6904
5912
Private Riddle, R., Missing. Presumed dead 12-7-15
,, Young, R., ,,
,, Hope, T., ,, ,,
,, Te|fer, J., ,, ,,
,, ]3rown, P.C., ,, ,,
,, Galbraith, J., ,, ,,
,, Pievey, G.J., ,, ,,
,, Allen, D., ,, ,,
,, ]3est, A., ,, ,,
,, Cairns, A., ,, ,,
,, Mather, J.H., ,, ,,
,, Queenan, J., ,, ,,
,, Robertson, J., » ,,
,, Yeomans, R. ]3., ,, ,,
» Purves, A., ,, ,,
,, Scott, A., ,, ,,
,, Richley, W., ,, ,,
,, l)avie, J., ,, ,,
Paton, W., Died of wounds ,,
Sgt. Whyte, J., ,,
Private Fox, J., Killed in action ,,
,, Knox, A., ,, .
,, Walker W., ,, ,,
,, Hill, W., ,, ,,
A/Cpl. Rae, J., ,, ,,
Private Currie, J., ,, ,,
,, Davidson, A., ,, ,,
,, Walker, W., ,, ,,
,, Henderson, ., » ,,
Sgt. Scott, J., ,, ,,
Private Webb, W., ,, ,,
,, Wilson, A., ,, ,,
,, Kerr, J., ,, ,,
,, Buglass, W., ....
,, Sanderson, W., ....
,, Barbour, G., ....
,, Cameron, R., ,, ,,
,, Mack, A., ,, ,,
,, Johnstone, G., ,, ,,
,, Miller, W., ,, ,,
. ]3rown, tk.
,, ]3allantyne, G., ,, ,,
,, Callender, F., ,, ,,
,, Lorimer, A., ,, ,,
,, Oliver, P., ,, ,,
,, Andison, J., ,,
,, Handyside, R., ,, ,,
,, Riddle, W., ,, ,,
141
6916
6924
7345
7368
7112
7314
7246
6779
7239
844
917
4274
6816
6815
7404
7439
7433
7519
491
480
523
339
629
7288
7291
7300
7301
7304
7305
73O6
7310
7321
7328
7247
7252
7259
6766
6767
6772
6775
6777
7232
7235
7242
6748
6425
6423
4371
Private Weatherstone, J., Killed in action 12-7-15.
,, Rutherford, G., ....
,, Wright, J ......
,, Kinnon, J., ....
A/Cpl. Lawson, T., ,, ,,
Private Beatson, W., ....
Private Forster, J., ,, ,,
,, Davidson, R., ....
,, Nairn, W. .....
,, Richardson, J., ....
,, Cunningham, E., ....
A/Sgt. Walker, J., ....
Private Halley, J ......
,, Douglas, J., ....
Combe, W., Died of wounds ,,
Private Hardie, J., Missing. Presumed dead ,,.
,, Thomson, A., ....
,, Telfer, A., ....
,, Chalmers, W., ....
,, Aikman, A ......
,, Paterson, J., ,, ,,
L/Cpl. Martin, A., ....
Private Hollands, G., ....
,, Sanderson, J., ,, ,,
,, Anderson, J., ,, ,,
,, Hunter, W., ....
Cessford, A., ,, ,,
Sgt. Aikman, W., ,, »
142
4376 Private Harper, D.,
-4380 ,, Haig, A.,
-4387 ,, Watt, C.,
4403 ,, Marshall, H.,
857 ,, Haig, R.,
858 ,, Gray, A.,
830 ,, Wright, T.,
822 ,, Handry, A.,
-4414 Cpl. Galbraith, J.,
4436 Private White, J.,
4446 ,, Hunter, W.,
757 ,, Mackenzie, J.,
760 ,, Davidson, G.,
897 ,, Scott, W.,
899 ,, Cranston, A.,
900 ,, Dickson, R.,
884 A/L/Cpl. Heggie, A.,
885 Private Laidlaw, T.,
892 ,, Halliday, R.,
895 ,, Knox, J.,
4203 ,, Wilson, R.,
4354 ,, Scott, W.,
918 Cpl. Caldwell, A.,
922 Private Whi[lans, R.,
4020 A/Sgt. ]ohnston, W.,
4032 A/C.S.M. Wood, J.,
570 Sgt. Thomson, W.,
573 Private Blain, ].,
574 ,, Storrie, J.,
580 Sgt. McPherson, J.,
598 Private Messer, A.,
.617 L/Sgt. Oliver,
623 Private Fait, A.,
643 ,, Reid, W.,
633 ,, Myles, J.,
656 ,, Thomson, W. T.,
657 ,, Murray, ].,
659 ,, Heskeith, G.,
-879 Cpl. Fraser, G.,
883 Private Farmer, T.,
306 ,, Street, C.,
106 ,, Hogarth, A.,
53 Sgt. Middlemas, A.,
-546 Private Wallace, B.,
553 ,, Hunter, J.,
-554 ,, Darling, W.,
745 ,, Kennedy, J.,
oE49 ,, Rae, J.,
Missing.
143
6826 Private Cairns, W.
6762 ,, Smail, A.,
6818 ,, Cunningham, A.,
6819 ,, Smith, W.,
6781 ,, Paterson, W.,
6798 ,, Hogg, J.,
6790 ,, Angus, H.,
6802 ,, McTavish, F.,
6807 ,, Romanes, T.,
6835 ,, Eckford, R.,
6467 ,, Delaney, D.,
6471 ,, Stevenson, ].,
6473 ,, ]ohnstone, A.,
6532 L/Cpl. Russell,
6529 Private Cowan, W.,
6542 ,, Chisholm, R.,
6475 ,, Wood, K.,
6439 ,, Roden, H.,
6452 C.S.M. Watson, D.,
6457 Private Millet, J.,
6454 ,, Henderson, A.,
7402 ,, Turnbull, T.,
7387 ,, Elmslie, W.,
7378 ,, Shearlaw, A.,
7443 ,, Schoolar, W. H.,
7438 ,, Hendry, ].,
7432 ,, Wilson, ].,
7464 ,, Boyd, G. W.,
7461 ,, Rutherford, T.,
7459 ,, Jeffrey, W.,
7449 L/Cpl. Ballantyne, J.
7447 Private Minto, P.,
7430 ,, Swanston, P.,
7425 ,, Mason, R.,
7416 ,, Thomson, T.,
7415 ,, Rae, W.,
7407 ,, Grieve, W.,
7617 ,, Ingles, G.,
7619 ,, Anderson, F.,
7622 ,, Buckham, A.,
7542 ,, Gladson, W.,
7736 ,, Douglas, T.,
7580 ,, Sligh, R.,
7582 ,, Anderson, A.,
7583 , Barnett, W.,
7601 ,, Darling, J.,
674 ,, Storrie, A.,
670 ,, Hogg, W.,
Missing.
Presumed dead 12-7-15
144
697 Private Stewart, D., Missing. Presumed dead 12-7-1,
699 ,, Barrett, W., ....
708 ,, Thomson, C ..... ,
726 ,, Kerr, J., ,, ,,
566 ,, Wait, J.S., ,, ,,
492 ,, Vhittaker, T., ,, ,,
494 L/Cpl. Anderson, C.T., ,, ,,
496 Private Rodger, W. .... ,
540 ,, Stavert, R., ,, ,,
545 Cpl. Neil, W., ,, ,,
477 Priv:tte Hall, C., ,, ,,
515 ,, Rose, J., ,, ,,
516 ,, Scott, M., ,, ,,
527 Cpl. Murray, J., ,, ,,
448 Private Jackson, H., ,, ,,
446 ,, Drummond, A., ,, ,,
557 ,, Waldie, J., ,, ,,
488 ,, Scott, W., ,, ,,
4499 ,, Waddell, R.., ,, ,,
4452 ,, Hope, W., ,, ,,
4459 L/Cpl. Robertson, A., ,, ,,
6744 Private Taylor, W.,
6761 ,, Shiels, W., Died of disease 13--15
4388 L/Cpl. Frater, J., Killed in action ,,
658 Private Riddell, A., Died of wounds ,,
4501 ,, Wilson, J., ,, ,,
7376 ,, Swan, A., ,, ,,
7475 ,, Smith, J., ,, ,,
7655 ,, ]3ennett, T.,
7168 ,, Purves, T.J., Killed in action 14--15
7460 ,, Kyle, J., ,, ,,
4396 ,, Smerdon, C.J., Died of wounds
6768 ,, Turnbull, W., ,, 15--15
4127 Sgt. Wilson, J., Killed in action
6591 Private Donaldson, W., Died of wounds 17--15
7249 ,, Brunton, J., ,, ,,
7241 ,, Scott, G., ,,
1113 ,, McVittie, T., Killed in action 18-'-15
7394 ,, ]3rodie, C., Died of wounds ,,
7448 ,, Aitken, J., ,, 19-7-15
777 ,, Edmunds, R., ,, 20-7-15
778 ,, Lunham, T., ,, 24-7-15
4389 L/Cpl. Hume, R., ,, 25-7-15
6833 Private Wright, J., ,, 26-7-15
7627 ,, Jackson, G., Died of disease 29-7-15
7739 ,, Holywell, H., ,, 8-8-15
7229 ,, Middlemiss, J. F., Killed in action 4-9-15
6742 ,, Redpath, A., Killed accidentally 5-9-15
145
662 Private Tumbull, R.,
7150 ,, Dumma, R.,
6780 ,, Matthews, W.,
1727 ,, Thorn, J.,
4408 ,, Crow, R.,
7076 ,, Kerr, J.,
555 ,, Fortune,
871 ,, Gray, A.,
6433 Bugler Currie, W.,
6550 L/Cpl. Dick, D.,
4227 Private Boulton, E.,
7631 ,, Martin, A.,
6474 ,, Smail, A.,
4435 ,, White, G.,
729 A/L/Cpl. Wood, F.,
825 Private Brannon, A.,
7397 , Nicol, T.,
6726 ,, Wallis, W.,
4448 ,, Turnbull, H.,
4411 ,, Martin, W.,
203,178 ,, Hislop, A.,
562 L/Sgt. Thompson, T.,
200,831 Private Thornson, J.,
8411 ,, Thomson, ]. T.,
201,688 ,, McManus, A.,
201,051 ,, Mein, R.,
200,150 ,, Dickson, ].,
201,223 ,, Turnbull, J.,
201,157 ,, Bell, W.,
200,822 ,, Lough, R.,
201,541 ,, Frier, R.,
200,919 ,, Douglas, G.,
201,124 ,, Elliot, W.,
201,221 ,, Geazie, A.,
240,222 ,, Dolan, M.,
200,254 L/Cpl. Dougal, G.,
200,766 Private Coulter, R.,
201,1361 L/Cpl. Callender, W.,
200,28.5 Private Ford, J.,
200,941 ,, Murray, J.,
200,758 ,, White, R.,
241,656 Sgt. McAllister, T.,
201,307 Private Galbraith, W.,
200,672 ,, Hope, G.,
201,807 ,, Jolly, E.,
240,967 ,, McNae, J.,
Died of disease
Killed in action
Died of disease
Killed in action
Killed accidentally
Died of disease
Died of wounds
Died of disease
Lost at sea
Died of disease while a
Prisoner of War at
Angora
Died of disease
Accidentally killed
Died of disease
Died of wounds
Missing. Presumed dead
Killed in action
Missing. Presumed dead
Killed in action
9-9-15
1%%15
11-10-15
14-10-15
17-10-15
19-10-15
20-10-15
27-10-15
29-10-15
10-11-15
25-11-15
4-12-15
17-12-15
18-12-15
5-10-16
10-10-16
1-1-17
6-3-17
27-3-17
6-4-17
6-4-17
200,167
200,823
201,337
200,852
200,741
241,651
200,336
200, 269
200,241
200,693
240,666
201,222
200,266
241,669
201,283
201,442
200,571
200,946
241,650
200,696
200,809
200,162
200,642
201,558
200,708
200,412
201.451
201,773
200,899
201,455
200,720
201,265
201,267
6770
200,148
200,961
200,092
201,022
201,877
201,429
201,404
30492
200,014
201,858
201,246
30723
201,160
200,124
146
Private Cowan, F., Killed in action
,, Webb, G., ,,
,, Landels, J., ,,
,, Todd, T., ,,
,, laterson, J., ,,
,, Murray, ,V., ,,
,, Kennedy, J.,
A/Cpl. Watson, G., ,,
Private Paterson, G., ,,
,, Brockie, W.R., ,,
,, Maxwell, M., ,,
,, Welsh, J., ,,
» Dunn, C.,
,, Halliday, A.,
,, Bell, J., ,,
,, Sbie], W., ,,
,, Cunningbam, W., Died of wounds
,, Tumbull, R., ,,
,, Brown, W., ,,
,, Cochrane, R., ,,
,, Young, C., ,,
Sgt. Gray, A., ,,
Private Ferguson, H., ,,
,, Hunter, J.A., ,,
,, Johnstone, R., ,,
,, Thorburn, R. ,,
,, Blake, A., ,,
,, Cassidy, J., ,,
,, Robertson, A., Died of disease
,, Craig, J.A., Missing. Presumed dead
Cpl. Yeomans, W. Died of wounds
Private Young, R., ,,
,, Tumbull, P.,
Herkes, W., Misslng. Presumed dead
L/Cpl. Fernie, I., Died of disease
Private Crosbie, A., Killed in action
,, Duncan, A., ,,
C.Q.M.S. McDonald, D., Died of wounds
Private Cnningham, J., ,,
,, Leslie, W., Killed in action
,, McEwan, T., ,,
,, Eggleston, F., ,,
,, McLeod, S., ,,
,, McGuire, D., ,,
,, Anderson, J., ,,
,, Barber, R., ,,
,, Beattie, R.,
,, Burton, J.,
23-4 17
24-4-17
26-4-] 7
27-4-17
3-5-17
20-5-17
7-6-17
22-6-17
9-7-17
8-9-17
25-10-17
30-10-17
147
201,252 Private Cockburn, J., Killed in action t3-11-i7
200,845 L/Cpl. Cowan, A., ,, ,,
200,832 Cpl. Craig, G., ,, ,,
200,149 L/Cpl. Dalgliesh, S., ,, ,,
200,159 Private Dalgliesh, T.,
31730 ,, Fox, E., ,, ,,
30947 ,, Heaps, J., ,, ,,
201,401 L/Cpl. Jenkins, A., ,, ,,
30916 Private Rain, J., ,, ,,
30838 ,, Robertson, J., ,,
200,850 ,, Tait, A., ,, ,,
201,116 ,, Thomson, R., ,, ,,
201,961 ,, White, H., ,, ,,
201,211 ,, Lindores, A., ,, ,,
201,867 ,, Owens, E., ,, ,,
30726 ,, Pinfold, H., ,, ,,
200,537 ,, Pow, J., ,, ,,
201,496 ,, Preacher, W., ,, ,,
240,422 ,, Bissett, J., ,, ,,
23048 ,, Maxwell, J., ,, ,,
201,618 ,, Thompson, I., ,, ,,
201,865 ,, Kyle, J., ,, ,,
201,260 ,, Leithead, P., ,, ,,
200,113 ,, Rorfison, G., Died of wounds 14-1 I-17
200,483 L/Cpl. Cunliffe, W., ,, ,,
200,918 L/Sgt. Douglas, J., ,, ,,
201,410 Private Lauder, A., ,, ,,
201,248 ,, Turnbull, A., ,,
200,408 ,, Scott, R., ,, 17-1ï-17
200,446 ,, Forrest, J., ,, 23-11-17
200,586 ,, Naim, A., Killed in action ,,
200,073 ,, Taylor, A., ,,
201.486 ,, Adamson, A., ,, 28-1ï-17
241,599 ,, Clarke, J., ,, ,,
200,868 ,, Lough, T., ,, ,,
200,392 ,, McGhee, J., ,, ,,
201,184 ,, Reid, J. ,, ,,
200,631 ,, Allen, J., ,, ,,
30910 ,, Bain, W., ,,
200,441 Cpl. Lindsay, J., Died of wounds 29-1ï-17
200,464 Private Donaldson, T., Died while a Prisoner of
Var (cause hot known) 1/30-11-17
200,355 ,, Christie, D., Died of wounds 1-12-17
200,303 ,, Pringle, A., ,, 5-12-17
00783 ,, Sanders, T., ,, 7-12-17
201,933 ,, Blake, T., Died of disease 10-12-17
201,249 ,, McMichan, S., Killed in action 11-12-17
201,039 ,, Hunter, H., Died of wounds 15-12-17
148
201,190 Private Glendinning, A., Killed in action 22-12-17
200,484 Cpl. Johnstone, J., Missing. Presumed dead 30-12-17
28921 Private Gerrard, J.R., Died of wounds 2-1-18
31756 ,, Benson, T., ,, 12-1-18
33468 ,, Obree, M., Died of disease 10-2-18
201,421 ,, Scott, J., Missing. Presumed dead 26-2-18
30635 ,, Wilson, J., Died of disease 18-6-18
45548 ,, Hay, A., ,, 7-7-18
45256 ,, Fergie, T., ,, 10-7-18
45642 ,, Scott, J., ....
45472 ,, Elliot, F., ,, 12-7-18
45775 ,, Edgar, W., ,, 18-7-18
45297 ,, I)ouglas, R., ,, 28-7-18
31809 ,, Sullivan, J., ,, 12-8-18
42163 Terrace, A., Died of wounds
200,039 Sgt. Smart, G., 13-8-18
45505 Private Mcllwraith, J., Died of disease 14-8-18
45240 ,, Wilson, A., ,, 19-8-18
45761 ,, Yule, J., 24-8-18
201,117 ,, Cunningham, J., Died of wounds ,,
200,471 ,, Noble, W., Killed in action
201.267 ,, Colvin, A., ,, 26-8-18
202,081 ,, Flint, J., ....
31838 L/Cpl. Huddart, T., ,, ,,
31765 Private Spence, J., ,, ,,
30829 ,, Thomson, A., ,, ,,
31748 ,, Wood, C.,
201,379 ,, Gray, C., Killed accldentally 30.8-18
201,491 ,, Bell, W.E., Killed in action 1-9-18
241,598 ,, Cochrane, J., ....
41138 ,, Cormack, P., ....
240,736 ,, Coupland, H., ....
31812 ,, Elliot, J., ,, ,,
200,819 ,, Foster, T., ,, ,,
200,578 Sgt. Knox, W., ,, ,,
201,344 Private Mack, J., ....
30634 ,, Merrin, G., ,, ,,
202,914 ,, Milne, G., ,, ,,
242,750 ,, McLean, P., ,, ,,
200,317 Cpl. Renton, J., ,, ,,
42155 Private Smith, D., ,, ,,
30508 ,, Scott, J., ,, ,,
200,636 A/Sgt. Scott, W., ,, ,,
202,006 Private Somerville, F., ,, ,,
31840 ,, Thomson, E., ....
200,610 Sgt. Thorburn, J., ,, ,,
201,054 Private Turnbull, J., ,, ,,
30251 ,, Wilson, J., ,, ,,
149
201,424
23061
242,340
41977
42149
31775
201,010
30556
202,908
200,072
33759
200,081
42261
31766
901,151
901,551
30588
200,804
31786
201,063
28780
201,569
202,9O7
200,976
201,387
200,233
35312
42153
202,193
31746
35118
35105
201,592
201,205
35327
18254
200,827
10287
35148
240,303
35054
201,199
201,041
35117
35196
Private Young, H.,
,, Milne, G.,
,, Knowles, A.,
,, McMahon, P.,
,, Simpson, D.,
,, Atkinson, H.,
,, Bennett, T.,
,, McCusker, F.,
,, Howe, J.,
A/L/Cpl. Douglas, F.,
Private Morrison, J.,
,, Nichol, W.,
,, Rose, W.,
,, Atkins, G.,
,, Gibbs, G.,
,, Hay, W.,
,, Piper, E.,
,, Rule, A.,
,, Melling, H.,
,, Rodgerson, J.,
,, McKay, H.,
,, Liddle, A.,
,, Anderson, J.,
,, Tice, W.,
,, Avery, W.,
L/Cpl. Craig, J.,
Private Shepard, F.,
,, Stark, R.,
,, Keats, H.,
,, Wardlaw, T.,
,, Wyllie, J.,
,, Andrew, W.,
, Robertson, R.,
,, Chapman, R. T.,
,, Wilson, J.,
,, Potter, T.,
,, Hewitson, J.,
,, Smith, R.,
,, Scullion, J.,
,, McKnight, R.,
Cameron, J.,
L/Cpl. Fairbairn, T.,
Private Knox, R.,
,, McLean, D.,
,, ]3oyd, W.,
Killed in action 1-9-18
Died of wounds 2-9-18
Died of disease 9-9-18
Killed in action 16-9-18
Died of wounds 19-9-18
Missing. Presumed dead 20-9-18
Died of wounds ,,
Killed in action ,,
24--
Died of wounds or 25-9-18 or
killed in action shortly af ter
Killed in action 27-9-18
,, 1-10-18
,, 2-10-18
Died of wounds or 2-10-1' or
killed in action shortly after
Killed in action 3-10-18
Died of wounds or 3-10-1' or
killed in action shorfly after
150
201,247
201,418
241,565
241,508
201,911
35109
201,528
35058
42278
200,061
35224
31741
201,258
201,979
35195
200,416
200,283
201,946
201,425
200,967
201,345
35232
5805
35098
35360
35207
31793
30903
200,340
201,341
241,677
31825
200,215
28061
201,035
46032
35461
31263
201,497
201,237
Private Corson, R.,
,, Scott, T.,
,, Hempseed, J.,
,, Mathieson, J.,
,, Melvin, J.,
,, Crosbie, J.,
,, Richardson, W.,
,, Sannachan, J.,
,, Hitchen, R.,
,, Baillie, G.,
,, Muir, A.,
,, Shilton, A. E.,
,, Smith, A.,
,, Drew, G.,
,, Duffy, J.,
,, Dawson, W.,
Sgt. Allan, W.,
Private Devlin, A.,
,, Douglas W.,
,, Henderson, W.,
,, Mercer, H.,
,, Wallis, W.,
,, Snaith, J.,
,, Twiggins, R.,
,, Kennedy, K.,
,, Munce, G.,
,, Dixon, R.,
McKerron, G.,
Sgt. Crossan, J.,
Private Thompson, P.,
,, Green, J.,
Hardcastle, A.,
Sgt. Wood, A.,
Private Harris, --
,, Wilton, D.,
,, Scott, F.,
,, Donnelly, C.,
,, Robinson, G.,
,, rowl, J.,
,, Shiell, W.,
Died of wounds or 3-10-18 or
killed in action shortly after
Killed in action 3-1-18
Missing. Presumed dead ,
" 4-1-18
Died of disease ,,
Killed in action ,,
Died of ounds or 4-10-18 or
killed in action shortly after
Died of wounds 5-1-18
,, 6-10-18
,, 7-10-18
" l 18
8- -
22-10-18
Died of disease while a
prisoner of war 29-10-18
Died while a prisoner of
war (cause not known) 30-10-18
Died of disease 1-11-18
,, 23-11-18
,, 3-1-19
9-1-19
Died of wounds 25-9-19
,, 9-7-19
The I,ate Ç'Ol.ONEI. (TF.xII,. IRI«;.-Gglx.) LORD BINNING, C.B., 3I.\'.O.
Part II.
Lothians and Border H orse Record.
The I.ate {'lq'.IX T..\. N:l.s«x.
153
CHAPTER I.
MOBILISATION.
To horse ! to horse ! the sabres gleam,
High sounds our bugle call ;
Combined by honour's sacred tie,
Our word is Laws and Liberty,
Match forward, one and all!
--War Song of the Royal Edinburgh
Light Dragoons, 1802.
One hundred and ten years after the date famous in
the Border counties as the occasion of " the False
Alarm " of 1804, the Lothians and Border Horse
mobilised on the declaration of war against Germany.
Mobilisation took place rapidly and ef[ectively in accord-
ance with the Mobilisation Standing Orders drawn up for
such a contingency. Of the four peace establishments
of the regiment, '" B " and " D " Squadrons, which were
recruited from Mid and West Lothian, mobilised at
Edinburh; "A " Squadron, from East Lothian, and
Berwickshire, mobilised at Dunbar; and " C " Squadron,
representing the shires of Roxburh and Selkirk, mobil-
ised at Hawick. Most of the men from country districts
brought with them their own horses, which were taken
over by the Government. But many men, particularly
those who came from Edinburgh, had still to be provided
with horses, and purchasing officers had already been
engaged for a day or two on the formidable task of buying
a sufficient number of horses to mount the regiment com-
pletely. The feelings with which one and ail met the
sudden upheaval, and the strange situations which it
caused, have been well expressed in verses written by a
member of the Regiment.
Tommy once worked in a baker's van,
And I on a stool in town ;
I was a sort of city man,
Tommy a hackney brown.
Tommy and I, Tommy and I, little thought thus to meet
As we passed each morning when I walked up and he rattled
doxaa the street.
154
Tommy is free from the morning rolls
That weighted hisbusy cart,
And I am one of rive hundred souls
Who ride with a single heart :
Tommy and I, Tommy and I, who could ever have guessed
We'd find each other good company--good company?--the best.
Tommy no longer must move ahead
At the bang of a door behind ;
And I can't snuggle till nine in bed,
And I'm leaming not to mind.
Tommy and I, Tommy and I, funny are fortune's tricks,
To kick me out of a crowded tent to saddle him up at six !
For two days the issue of saddlery and equipment,.
the allocation of newly-bought horses, and the organisa-
tion of ail detail consequent upon mobilisation went on.
Then late on the evening of Friday, 7th August, a[ter
almost ail officers had gone to bed, it was suddenly dis-
covered that the Scottish Command had reason to fear
an immediate landing of German forces on the coast of
East Lothian. Colonel Lord Binning at once called a
meeting of officers, attended by a quaintly diversified
gathering of majors in pyjamas, captains in all-concealing.
greatcoats, and subalterns in breeches and spurs. Arrange-
ments were ruade for mounted patrols and a motor-patrol
under an officer to start at once to reconnoitre the coast
line on which the landing was suspecte& Ammunition
was issue& And in the grey of early dawn the greater
part of the two Edinburgh squadrons paraded mounted
and in marchin order in Princes Street, and marched t«
Haddington with all military precautions. Those men
who were as yet unmounted were conveyed by motor
lorry to Haddington, whose newly-awakened inhabitants
learned in one breath of their danger and their deliverance.
Their surprise, however, at the first of those "' scares,"
which constant repetition later robbed of the charm of
novelty, was as nothing compared with the surprise and
"Ballads of Field and Billet" by W. Kersley Holmes
(Gardner, Paisley), 1915.
155
chagrin of one officer whose absence from the midnighr
conference had remained unnoticed, and xvho awoke next-
morning in his billet to learn that the regiment had
meanwhile marched to Haddington to repel a German
landing!
"A " Squadron had at the saine rime marched from
Dunbar to Haddington, where the whole regiment con-
centrated. The change from the peace establishment of
four squadrons to the war establishment of three was
effected by the bxeaking up of "C " Squadron, and the
distribution of the officers, horses, and men among the
other squadrons in order to bring them up to war strength.
The horses were picketed in the Neilson Park, and the
men were billeted in a disused distillcry. Before very
long an outbreak of " pink-eye " among the horses led
to the transfer of "A " Squadron to the grounds of
Amisfield, just outside Haddington, where soon afterwards
the other two squadrons followed. In September the
re-organisation of the regiment for service abroad was
carried through by the elimination of the unfit. At thc
same time the " second line " regiment was formed, and
commenced its training in Edinburgh, under Lieut.-Col.
Lord George Scott. For the remainder of the winter
the regiment was quartered at Amisfield, one squadron
living in billets in the stables, whilst the remainin
squadrons lived under canvas until new buts had been
erected, an improvement which was not completed until
the end of the year. The inevitable wct weather had
meanwhile reduced the horse-lines--and indeed the
whole park--to an indescribable mass of mud. Trainin.
proceeded rapidly. But, in common with most other
units, the regiment's memory of the first winter of war
will always be a recollection of vigorous training carried
on in spire of a constant struggle against adverse condi-
tions, and varied by a succession of alarms of enemy
landings; a memory of mud and troop-training, musketry
and roadside control-posts, a midnlght stampede of
horses, and constant issues and recall of ammunition,
coupled with ominous announcements that " ail men are
confined to camp to-night because there's a ' scare ' on."
156
The alarm which had brought the regiment to Had-
dington proved false. But the fear of invasion remained
constant. Soon after its arrival the regiment was sent
to the battlefield of Prestonpans to dig a system of
trenches which was designed as an outlying defence for
Edinburgh. And similar work
haven sands, where any hostile
East Lothian was most likely to
rime the troops responsible for
prepared for landings anywhere.
was carried out at Bel-
landing on the coast o|
take place. At the same
coast defence had to be
This led to the rehearsal
of a variety of schemes, carried out in conjunction with
the 10th Royal Scots and artillery of the Lowland Brigade
R.F.A., intended to make ail ranks familiar with the lie
of the land and with the part which they might be called
upon to play. The possibility of their actual fulfilment
ave these schemes a reality lacking in peace rime
manuvres, and they became doubly interesting when
compared with similar schemes drawn up for the East
Lothlan Yeomanry and the local Volunteers during
Napoleon's threat of invasion in 1803.
At the beginning of May, 1915, the regiment moved
down to Hedderwick, near Dunbar, and went into camp
on the race course, where the annual training had taken
place in previous years. Training went on with renewed
enthusiasm amid conditions which were ideal when con-
trasted with the mid-winter gloom of Amisfield. Inspec-
tions by Generals of various degrees became more and
more frequent. Towards the end of July a telegram was
received that the regiment was to be armed forthwith
with the cavalry sword. Finally it was announced that
the regiment would proceed abroad as divisional cavalry
with three divisions of the New Army. The delight with
which all ranks hailed the fact that the regiment could
at last be spared from coast defence, and had been selected
for service abroad, and that it would serve mounted, con-
cealed a very real feeling of regret that, in fulfilling the
role of divisional cavalry for which it had been selected,
the regiment would necessarily be split up into its three
.component squadrons. And joy at the prospect of going
157
abroad was tempered by regret at the thought that active
service would involve the breaking up of the regiment
as a single unit under the command of " The Colonel."
At the end of July, 1915, the three squadrons left
Scotland to join their divisions. "A " Squadron was
sent to Salisbury Plain to join the 26th Division. " B "
and " D " Squadrons entrained for Aldershot, where they
remained in camp together--although training separately
with their respective divisions--until "" D " Squadron left
on 5th September to embark for France with the 22nd
Division. " B " Squadron and Regimental I-Ieadquarters,
with the Machine Gun Section, followed later with the
25th Division.
158
CHAPTER II.
" A '" SQUADRON.
On September 21st, 1915, " A " Squadron, under the
.command of Major W. Warin, M.P., embarked at
Southampton, and crossed to France as divisional cavalry
to the 26th Division, which was commanded by Major-
General Mackenzie-Kennedy. The other officers of the
Squadron were Captain S. S. Steel, and Lieutenants T. A.
G. Tulloh, Lord Charles Hope, T. Robson Scott, and F.
R. Eustace. At that rime the British front had recently
been extended so as to include an area south of the river
Somme. This area was taken over by the XII. Corps, of
which the 27th and 22nd Divisions formed part, and took
over the front line trenches from the French, the 26th
Division remainin in Corps reserve. The Squadron,
therefore, after detrainin at Loneau, near Amiens, for
some weeks moved from place to place in reserve durin
the later staes of the Battle of Loos.
Rumours which had beun to fly about concernin
the dispatch of a British Force to Serbia were confirmed
by the receipt of orders to re-entrain [or Marseilles, where
the Squadron arrived on 28th October. Marseilles, until
then merely the base of the Indian Corps, had at a
moment's notice been transformed into the port of
embarkation of a new ]xpeditionary Force as well as a
Base, and chaos held undisputed sway. Units of every
kind were inextricably minled at the Borely Racecourse
in a camp where the mud rivalled and surpassed that of
Amisfield. Ordnance and equipment desined for Indian
troops had to be adapted to the needs of ail and sundry,
and information as to probable dates of embarkation was
unobtainable--if existent. In the beginning of December
the Squadron embarked for a destination unknown, and
by reason of an outbreak of septic-pneumonia amon the
horses, was enabled (unlike "'D " Squadron) to land
without the usual delay on arrival at Salonika.
The retreat of the 10th Division and the French
-forces from Doiran to Salonika had just taken place, after
their inef[ectual attempt to relleve the retreatin Serbian
159
Army, and during the remainder of the winter the
newly arrived divisions were employed in digging the
"' entrenched camp of Salonika " on the northern slopes
on the range of hills immediately behind the town. The
Bulgarians had halted some 30 miles north, on the Greek
frontier, which they in their turn set themselves to fortify.
But for some time considerable apprehension existed in
the minds of the staff and of everyone else lest the Bul-
garian advance on Salonika should be resumed before
the completion of the necessary defences. The Squadron
at once moved out in advance of the area of defences held
by the 26th Division, and by Christmas, 1915, was on
outpost duty at [.angaza. Two troops were dispatched
under Captain Steel to act as divisional cavalry to the
10th Division, which held the line of defence on the right
of the 26th Division.
During the spring and summer of 1916 the Squadron
continued its outpost duties, in addition to undertaking
reconnaissance of the unknown country which lay between
the British defences and the Bulgarian lines. It also
iound itself called upon to perform many of the "" odd
jobs "' which invariably devolve upon divisional troops.
Thus, for instance, during July, 1916, orders were received
to detail a party to proceed to Likovan and bring in
prisoners and cattle. A sergeant and ten men were dis-
patched for the purpose. In due course the sergeant
reported that there were forty prisoners and two thousand
animais, ranging from pigs to water buffaloes. So a
further ten men under an officer had tobe sent to perform
the double office of escort and assistant cattle-drovers.
On another occasion it was rumoured that a large number
of rifles were stored in a village named Suho, some
distance away, in the mountains between Langaza Lake
and the Struma Valley. As it was part of the duties of
the Squadron to collcct arms from the population, of
whom a large portion were pure Turks, the Squadron
leader and a small party rode to the village and sur-
rounded a suspected house. It was found to contain
some hundreds of pistols and swords, elaborately orna-
mented and of antique pattern, and obviously quite
160
unsuited for modern warfare. The load was far beyond
the capabilities of the pack mules which had been brought
as transport. The party, therefore, returned and reported
the result of the investigation. The discovery of so large
a quantity of arms amongst so heterogeneous a popula-
tion caused considerable uneasiness of mind to those in
authority. Instructions were accordingly given that ail
the arms must be brought away from Suho and carefully
guarded. The following day two waggons were sent to
Suho--the first wheeled vehicles that in the history of
Macedonia had ever achieved the journey--and the
pistols and swords were brought in safety to the
Squadron lines. Subsequent investigation by experts in
the language and history of the country revealed the fact
that the bouse surrounded had been the local police
station, and that these weapons had been there under
guard since the disarming of the population during the
Balkan War of 1912.
In the months of July and August, 1916, a general
advance of the British and French forces, begun during
the spring and early summer, was completed, and posi-
tions were taken up which were therafter maintained
with little change until the final advance which ended the
campaign in the autumn of 1918. In August, "'A ""
Squadron was transferred from the 26th Division to the
Struma front, where--together with "'D " Squadron,
which was similarly transferred--it formed part of a
Composite Regiment with the Derby Yeomanry in the
7th Mounted Brigade. The opposing forces had not yet
settled down into trench warfare, and many villages on
the wide valley of the Struma were still in dispute. And
during this period both Squadrons crossed the river on
rafts, and took part, dismounted, in raids upon various
villages, notably in those in which the villages of Ano
(Upper) and Kato (l,ower) Gudeli were captured and
set on tire.
After this visit to the Struma--a visit w} ", ill long
be remembered for the grapes and melor: "d fruit of
every kind which grew in profusion abou. .vacuated
villages--" A " Squadron, in October, 19 ined the
The Late CAPTAIN C. k'o
161
26th Division, which had mennwhile been sent to the
Doiran front. Here the Squadron was made responsible
for the defence of a sector of the front line extending
from the vicinity of Doiran Station to the village of
Surlovo. And, with certnin interruptions, the Squadron
remained in this area from the end of 1916 until the
final advance in September, 1918. Soon after its arrival
the Squadron undertook to remove from Doiran Station
two railway trucks which had been abandoned during the
retreat. The railway line was repaired in seven places,
and a bridge 30 feet long and 30 feet high was constructed
over tbe Gol Ajak stream out of railway sleepers, rails,
and wire. Under cover of a screen of poplar trees work
was carried on in dayliht, but with such precaution
that the Bulgarians, distant only about a thousand yards,
had no suspicion of what was happening until the
had been completed and the railway waggons recovered,
much to the satisfaction of the Divisional and Corps
Commanders.
Duririg the last months of 1916 the political situation
in Greece was such as to give rise to great anxiety.
Constantine had not yet been deposed from the throne
of Greece, and there was a very real danger that he might
openly avow the German cause, and treacherously bring
the Greek army in to attack the Allied forces in Macedonia
[rom the flank and rear. In order to guard against
possible surprise in such an event, it was round necessary
to send a brigade of the 60th Division to Ekaterini, seven
days' march away, on the seashore beneath the slopes
of Mount Olympus. On the 7th of December, 1916,
"A " Squadron received orders to join this brigade at
Salonika. The infantry of the brigade had meanwhile
been sent to their destination by sea. On arrival with
their new formation the Squadron was given a half-a-day's
rest and then sent off in charge of a column of 1700
men and 2000 mules and horses, composing the transport
animais of the brigade. The Division had but newly
arrived in the country, and had ]ust been equipped for
the first rime with pack transport, a method of transport
whose intricacies and mysteries the transport drivers had
162
as yet had no opportunities o¢ mastering. A distinctly
heterogeneous force was collected by one o'clock in the
morning and marched off in good moonlight, resting the
following day.
The next evening it started again, and by 9 o'clock
came on an area of tremendous floods, which had
inundated the low-lying country near the mouths oI the
Vardar River. The whole country was a vast lake, with
a few trees and bouses sticking up here and there to show
that it was hOt the sea. Through this tan the so-called
road on a raised embankment of three feet, the road itself
being submerged by water. A series o¢ partially sub-
merged bridges served to indicate the course of the road
through the flooded area, which extended for 1} toiles.
As it was important to arrive at Ekaterini in time to
oppose the King of the Greeks, who xvas said at that time
to bc marching l:rom Larissa to attack the Allied armies,
:t was decided to push across in spite of the floods. The
mounted troops got over without difficulty. But a¢ter
another three mlles marching, the column came upon
another flood two mlles wide, in which the bridges showed
from their position that the road was winding. Rain-
clouds ruade the moonlight fit¢ul and bad. Al:ter various
attempts to find a way round, a couple o¢ men picked
their way across the second flood, and returned to guide
the mounted troops over. For hours the Squadron
leader watched the units go by. CIosed up, the mounted
column was three toiles long, and the dismounted column
another three--six toiles in ail. It was a strange scene:
mules with packs dangling beneath them, horses without
riders, men wading without horses. By .5 a.m. the
mounted troops were in bivouac. Then the Squadron
leader rode back to the assistance of the in¢antry and pack
animais, and round that it had taken from 11 p.m. to 6
a.m. to negotiate the first flood. In daylight a better way
as, as ¢ound ¢or them, and they got into bivouac quite
exhausted by 4 p.m. When the final reports came in it
was a relief to find that no men, horses, or mules had
been lost. The test of the match was child's play---seven
¢lays in all.
163
In Marcb, 1917, the Squadron returned from
Ekaterini to the Doiran front, where it took part in a
flank attack on certain villages held by the Bulgars to
tbe east of the lake. On May 7th, 1917, " A " and " D "
Squadrons were re-united, formed into the XII. Corps
Cavalry ReSiment under the command of Major Waring,
and attacbed to the 8th Mounted Brigade, which had
assumed responsibility for lhe line immediately south of
Lake Doiran. On the departure of the 8th Mounted
Brigade for Palestine in June, 1917, the Regiment once
more took over this line. During September and
October, however, " A " Squadron was sent up for patrol
duty with an Independent Brigade in the Dova Tepe area.
In September, 1917, Captain H. S. Stewart, accompanied
by Corporal W. Ker, proceeded on patrol several toiles
in advance of the summer outpost lines on the hiIls to
wbicb the infantry had withdrawn in order to escape
malaria. The patrol encountered the enemy, and Capt.
Stewart was wounded and his horse shot. Corporal Ker,
who dismounted and proceeded towards Captain Stewart
in order to extricate him from under his horse, vas kiIIed,
and Captain Stewart was taken prisoner. Writing from
tbe prison camp at Philippopoli, Captain Stewart re-
marked in a letter--" Poor Ker met his death whilst per-
forming an act of supreme courage."
In September, 1917, Maior Waring was recalled
to other duties, and tbe command of the Corps
Cavalry Reiment was taken over by Lieut.-Colonel
Browne-Clayton, D.S.O., South Irish Horse. From
November, 1917, until July, 1918, the Regiment remained
in the Doiran Lake sector, where, together with the XII.
Corps Cyclists, it held the line between the right of the
22nd Division at Doiran and the left of tbe Independent
Brigade in tbe Dova Tepe area. During this period it
took part in raids carried out by the Independent Brigade
on Brest, Akindzali, and other villaes lying to the east
of the lake. Attempts were frequently ruade by escaped
Bulgar prisoners of war to slip through the lines. Several
of these were captured by the Regiment whilst attempting
to do so. Witb the advent of summer, and the withdrawal
164
of the infantry from the malarial area, a system of
rnounted outposts and patrols was substituted for the dis-
rnounted outposts of winter.
In July, 1918, the Regirnent was withdrawn for a
rnonth's intensive training in preparation for the general
advance. And on Septernber 18th the Regirnent was once
more split up, " A " Squadron rnarching by night to join
the 27th Division as divisional cavalry. With that
Division the Squadron advanced up the Vardar Valley on
Septernber 22nd. The rapid advance of the Greek and
Serbian troops across the rnountains to the north, how-
ever, rnade further advance up the Vardar Valley
unnecessary, and the 27th Division therefore swung east-
wards across the river, and so carne behind the 26th
Division, thus rnissing the opportunity of corning into
touch with the retreating Bulgars. On Septernber 28th
the Squadron entered Bulgaria and rnarched to Strurn-
nitza to act as XVI. Corps Troops. After the Armistice
with Bulgaria on 30th Septernber thc Squadron was sent
up to Berovo and Pehcevo in Serbia, where it relieved
the Greek Archipelago Division then engaged in disarrn-
ing the Bulgar forces, held an outpost line on the
Bulgarian frontier until the general situation had begun
to clear, and rnaintained touch between the Greek,
Serbian, and British forces scattered by the rapid advance.
On its return to Strurnnitza on 12th October the Squadron
was ordered to rejoin the Regirnent and proceeded to
Dedeagatch in Bulgaria as escort to the artillery and
transport of the 22nd Division, in thc concentration of
forces which then took place with a view to the invasion
of Turkey. On 30th October, 1918, just as the Armistice
with Turkey was sined, the Squadron reached Dedea-
gatch, after having rnarched alrnost continuously for over
seven weeks, during which it had covered soine 600 to
700 mlles. After rernaining for over a fortnight close to
the Turkish frontier, the Squadron began the return
rnarch to the Salonika area, which was reached belote the
end of Novernber. And soon after Christrnas, 1919, it
accornpanied the 27th Division to Baturn for duty with
the Arrny of Occupation in Trans-Caucasia.
CHAPTER III.
HEADQUARTERS, "'B " SQUADRON AND
MACHINE GUN SECTION.
In the third week in September, 1915, the 25th
Division began their move overseas from Aldershot.
The Officers were:--Headquarters--Colonel Lord
Binning, C.B., M.V.O.; Major D. A. Wauchope,
D.S.O Major and Quarter-Master W. Stubbs, and
Captain P. C. Caverhill, R.A.M.C.
The Squadron:--Major Burton Stewart, Captains A.
G. Cowan and J. Pringle, Lieutenants T. A. Nelson and
C. Younger, and 2nd lJieutenant Napier.
Machine Gun Section :--Second-Lieutenant Haldane.
"'B " Squadron with Headquarters and Machine
Gun Section embarked from Southampton on the 27th
September and arrived at Havre the following morning.
They cntrained frorn Havre that afternoon, and then
started what appcared to be an interminable tour round
the North of France. At some station late the following
evening a chit was handed to the C.O. conveying orders
to detrain at Steenbecque and march to a farm, Steam-
mill, one mlle south-west of Bailleul, which, with other
farms if necessary, was to be taken as billets. Then there
was much searching of maps, for the country, which
became so familiar later, was entirely unknown to anyone.
The first detraining in France at 11 p.m. on the
29th was rather a nightmare. In torrents of rain, and
pitch darkness, tb..e 18 kilometer march through Haze-
brouck and Merris was only ruade interesting by its
complete strangeness, the utterly deserted road, and
the fact that we could see and hear that " there was
a war on." Just at dawn the appointed destination
was reached. The interpreter, picked up at Havre,
clistinguished himself by knocking at the farm and
dernanding " Ou est le Maire." (The Maire was prob-
bly in bed at Bailleul, and the farm outwith his
166
jurisdiction.) Other steps were taken to induce the
owner to believe that we had orders to billet there, and
not at ail the other places which he declared were much
more convenient for us and for himself. There was
nothing like room for ail at Steam-mill. Ïhe Squadron
billeted there for the time, and Headquarters and the
Machine Gun Section established themselves not far from
the Bailleul Station. Next day was spent in settling down
and spreading out as much as our experience permitted.
Two more farms were occupied, and the horses and men
vere ruade fairly comfortable. By degrees we located
ourselves. We knew we were in the 25th Division, com-
manded by Major-General Beauchamp Doran. We round
we were in tbe II. Corps, commanded by Sir Charles
Ferguson, and in the Second Army, commanded by
General Plumer. The front now taken over by the
Division was from the Lys, near Armentières, to St Yves,
and included the well-known Ploegsteert Wood, of evil
odour at that time. We had to make ourselves familiar
with ail the approaches not to our front only, but
also from any part of our area to the parts of the
line occupied by the neighbouring Divisions on our
right and left. On the 5th October Headquarters
removed to Nieppe. A first experience of the trenches
was gained on the 10th October and following days,
when two troops at a time joined the 74th and 75th
Brigades in Ploegsteert Wood, and half the Machine Gun
Section went to the 7gth Brigade. Second Lieutenant
Haldane was appointed, on 8th October, A.D.C. to the
G.O.C. 3rd Division, and Lieutenant Napier took over
the Gun Section.
The work of divisional mounted troops is varied.
They bave to be kept trained as cavalry. They provide
orderlies for Army Corps and Division, and bave to be
ready to do the thousand and one other things, mounted
or unmounted, which may be required of them, and to
act as a reserve for the Division. The Police for road
control, and in this area for prevention of espionage,
always ruade a heavy call, and some 30 men under Captain
Pringle were generally thus employed, with their head-
167
quarters at Romarin. In addition there was continuous
instruction in bombing and gassing, the preventive
measures for the latter being then only in their infancy.
Horses had to be e×ercised and stances made for them, as
the Flanders mud was very deep. Shelter also had to be
provided, as the weather was very bad. Material was
limited, and the demnnd of the whole Division very
great. Transport was hot easily got, and bricks from
destroyed bouses in Ploegstreet village could only be got
with difficulty and at night. The brickfield at Hazebrouck
was a great find. The owner sold the bricks with pleasure,
and the R.T.O. proved a friend in need. But after a few
truck loads were secured, the First Army, in whose area
Hazebrouck was, objected. Fortunately, the sergeant in
charge of the party was a wilv man, and managed to
persuade the objecting First Army that any orders con-
cerning him must corne through his own C.O., and got
another two days at the brickfield, securing nefirly ail the
bricks that were required. To get the things was the
order, and it was round that having got the things the
authorities were always pleased--if a little surprised--at
the initiative and ingenuity shown. And the absence of
sickness amongst our horses was a pleasing result.
The Squadron and Machine Gun Section had mean-
while moved to two fatras on a road running north-east
of Steenwerck Station, which was considerably nearer
Nieppe and near the centre of the Division. On the
26th October the whole Squadron was on parade or on
duty on the ground and at Bailleul in connection with the
visit of His Majesty King George. Another duty which
fell upon the Divisional troops was that of finding obser-
vers for the Divisional Intelligence Officer. This work
was started on October 26th, and the men engaged on it
soon got learned in the various Hun uniforms and the
movements of their transport. Thcy also got a good
knowledge of the various kinds of missiles hurled across
by him. By some good luck these well-chosen observa-
tion posts were never struck by direct bits, though later
we were hOt so lucky. This work was very interesting,
if strenuous, and subsequently was greatly developed.
168
Maior Burton Stewart at the end of the month was
attached to the 7Sth In[antry Brigade for duty, and Capt.
Cowan assumed command of the Squadron. Maior
Stewart was on 3rd November appointed temporary
I,ieut.-Colonel commanding the 10th K.O.Y. Battalion.
The Machine Gun Section, or part of it, from now to the
rime the Division le[t the line, was always lent to one of
the Brigades, and it is a pleasure to record that the
Brigadier under whom they served every week thought
fit to compliment the C.O. on their work in the trenches
and their co-operation in raids. On I)ecember 6th the
Second Army Commander, General Plumer, ruade a tour
of the admin;.strative area of the Division and inspected the
horses and lines of the Squadron. He was good enough
to be complimentary about the work which had been put
in, and incited us to be_, borrow, or (recollection thinks)
to steal, but at any rate to et, what we needed. A
different kind of visit was paid to the Division by Lieut.
Kennerley Rumford, assisted by officers and men of the
Artists' Rifles, who enlivened things considerably at two
concerts. The eneral feelin was that Mr Kennerley
Rumford never sang better in hls lire. He certaln!y never
san to a more appreciative audience. These winter
months were hot good in Flanders--cold and continuous
rain varied with SHOW. The mud was proverbial and
indescribable. On December 13th the followin was
circulated from Second Army Headquarters:--
" The Army Commander wishes all Commanding
Officers, N.C.O.'s, and men to know that he fully realises
all the hardships they are underoin and the difficulties
they bave to contend with in the present very severe
weather. He thoroughly appreciates all the efforts ruade
to mltiate the hardships and discomforts, and to prevent
any abnormal amount of sickness, and he is confident that
these efforts will be contlnued through what must be
necessarily a very trying period."
The Hun had left Nieppe alone since out arrival, but
in December he now began to amuse himself by shelling
lhat place occasionally. The bouse next Headquarters
Officers' Mess was demolished by some hih explosive
169
,shell. In the house on the other side of the mess were at
that moment ail the N.C.O.'s :and men of Headquarters
.at dinner. However, [or us the miss was as ood as a hit.
The inhabitants o[ Nieppe soon learned the way to the
cellars beneath these houses whenever " les obus " were
heard, and the Headquarters went to look to their horses,
.and by good luck the shells dropped in the neighbouring
fields and not on their newly-made canvas sheiters.
Colonel Lord Binning, who had been in comm:and
temporarily of the 62nd Inantry Brigade, on the 19th
December was gazetted to the 41st Brigade, and the
following is the last Order published to the Regiment he
loved so well, and which owed so much to him :--
" The Commanding Officer much regrets that his
sudden appointment to command a Brigade, and the
short time allowed him to leave belote taking it over,
prevented him rom coming over, as he would have
wished, to say good-bye personally to ' B ' Squadron. It
would bave been a proud moment for him if he had been
able to command the Regiment in tlle Field, but circum-
stances bave hOt permitted it, and after ten years, whicb,
alas! have gone only too quickly, he leaves it in the best
of hands. He wishes ail ranks every sort o luck and a
.sale and glorious return home, confident that, whatever
may turn up, the Lothians and Border Horse wîll continue
to maintain their splendid traditions, and confirm the
high opinions which have been formed of them on all
sides since they came out."
Christmas Day and New Year's Day passed with such
celebrations as were possible, and the 1915 Christmas
dinner gave evidence that Flanders had not, at least at
that rime, been denuded o ail its pigs and pouitry. At
the end of January, ater some tour months in the line,
the 25th Division was ordered into rest billets, and the
Squadron and Machine Gun Section moved to somewhat
scattered qtarters near Noute Boom. Headquarters
moved to Merris. Rest billets do not mean absolute
idleness. We had a good deal of training, schools
instruction in tbe many arts o war, drill manuvres,
.and combined work with Inantry and Cyclists. The
170
Divisional Headquarters began huge preparations for
Divisional manuvres, which generally did not take place
owing to the Division moving before the advertised time.
One wonders if the German in his great push adopteà
the saine plans we then prepared.
The Army Commander, General Plumer, again
inspected the Division. But it was not ail work. Foot-
ball and cross-country running and other sports were
induiged in, and the cross-country team carried off the
zI-5 toile cross-country race, open to the Division, very
easily; a good performance considering their small
numbers; and the success was only gained by pluck and
endurance during the race, and good training and pre-
paration before it. A rugby fifteen also defeated the
hitherto unbeaten Cheshire Battalion, after a very
strenuous gaine, which indeed was so keen as to be almost
a fight.
Some much-needed drafts, to replace casualties and
men who had left to take commissions, now began to
arrive from the Base, and Major H. F. Caddell joined as
second in command on 19th February, 1916. Rumour had
been rire as to the movement of the Division. "" The
Salient " was the most favourite prophecy, probably
because the Division always had to be ready to move there
at a few hours' notice. However, it turned out that the
new area taken over from the French was to be its destina-
tion. On the morning of 15th March the two days "
trek began in a snow-storm. The snow ruade going
difficult, and Merville was only just cleared at the
advertised rime. The following day took us through
Lillers and Pernes to our destination--Tangry. The late
snov«-storm and drifts ruade some of the roads impassable.
The following is an Order published on the 12th as
farewell Order from the Corps Commander of the II
Corps on the departure of the Division from the-
Corps :--
"'I should like to express my great regret at the
severance of our connection, and my sincere congratula-
tions and thanks for ail the good work the Division has
done during the last month. The Commanders of ail
171
grades, staff, and units have worked most loyally and
whole-heartedly. I know they will keep up the reputadon
that the Division bas already ruade for itself, and I wish
the Division the best of luck and success in the future."
We now round ourselves in the XVI| Corps, com-
manded by Sir Julian Byng. The time in Tangry was
spent in learning the roads in what was to be out future
area, and finding out which roads were suitable for the
various kinds of transport. The change to the peaceful
hilly and pleasant country and the glorious spring weather
and flowers, after the fiat, ugly region of Flanders, was
thoroughly appreciated. On Match 25th a move was
rnade to Averdoingt. While there, and afterwards at
Bethonsart, rnuch training in cavalry work was done. The
Corps Commander himself superintended a great deal of
it, and several times had the whole of the cavalry and
cyclists of his Corps out, and the terre "G in gap "
became familiar. Further, it was arranged that a troop
at a time should go to a cavalry regirnent at Filliéres. A
new weapon, the Hotchkiss gun, was issued about this
rime, and its intricacies and tactical employrnent had to
be studied. At the end of the month the G.O.C. in
Chier, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, inspected the
Division, and the following cxtract from Orders was the
result :--
"" The Comrnanding Officer has been instructed by
the G.O.C. in Chief to inform ail ranks that he is glad
to see such fine men from the Lothians and Borders o
Scotland."
Towards the end of April the Division again went
into the line, holding the Vimy Ridge towards Arras, and
the Divisional mounted troops moved on the 29th to
Bethonsart. Cavalry training was carried on with some
difficulty, as the Division wanted us repeatedly in the
line by night, and the Higher Command wanted us to
train every day. Observers were furnished for posts at
St Eloi and Neuville St Vaast. At the beginning of May,
1916, the reorganisation of Divisional rnounted troops
as Corps rnoup.ted troops began, and the Lothians
and Border Horse joined the V. Corps. Part of
172
the reorganisation necessitated the abolition of the
Machine Gun section. Some of the men were attached
to the Machine Gun Corps, others were absorbed in the
Squadron. On the 9th the Headquarters of the Squadron
marched to Ham-en-Artois, and billeted there. On thc
following day we marched through country we knew well,
to the Headquarters of the 50th Division, at Fleetre, and
received orders to billet at farms at Godewarsveld. The
following letter to the O.C. was received from the G.O.C.,
25th Division :--
'" Thanks for your letter, which I was very glad
to receive. I trust your gallant and smart lads are
having a good and restful rime, and at the saine time
putting in useful work. I feel sure that when the rime
cornes for them to show their worth they will be
second to none. They are a fine soldierly lot, keen
and energetic, and I ara sorry to lose them out
of the Division. Whilst they were with me I felt
that any job I gave them to do they would do
well. I was very sorry I did not have the opportunity
of seeing them before they went. But will you
please convey to ail ranks my very high appreciation
of them as a squadron, and that I shall always follov
their movements and look out for great things for
them when they get busy.
"' It is kind of you to speak in the appreciative
terres which you have used of the 25th Divisional
staff, and I shall make it known to all concerned.
"'I hope you and ail ranks of the Lothians and
Border Horse, Headquarters and Squadron, will have
the best of luck at ail rimes, and that we may corne
across you again whilst we are soldiering. I ara very
sorry to lose you ail."
Two squadrons of the Queen's Own Glasgow Yeo-
manry joined us, and the three squadrons beca:ne the V.
Corps Cavalry Regiment. With the cyclists from the
50th and 23rd Divisions and No. 3 Motor Machine Gun
Battery, we became the Corps mounted troops, under
the command of Lieut.-Colonel D. A. Wauchope, D.S.O.,
to whom on 24th May passed the command of the
173
Kemmel defences. A ood rime was spent at Kemmel
in bivouacs. The Squadron was billeted near Westoutre
and Headquarters at Locre. Captain Nelson was iven
command of the Corps Intelligence Observers, who were
[urnished mostly by the Squadron.
174
CHAPTER IV.
HEADQUARTERS, " B " SQUADRON AND
MACHINE GUN SECTION.
(CONTINU.E1).)
By the rniddle of April, 1916, the great Gerrnan
attack on Verdun had spent itself. For SOl'ne rnonths the
enerny had been making attacks on the Ypres Salient,
which culminated in the onslaught on the Canadians at
the beginning of June. As a result, in addition to the
V. Corps rnounted troops, No. 4 Cornpany Mon-
rnouthshire R.E., the 1st Entrenching Battalion, and
1st Battalion Northurnberland Fusiliers, were put under
O.C. Kemrnel defences for tactical purposes. The
Gerrnan attack, however, was eventually defeated, and the
ground lost was recovered by Canadian counter-attacks.
It was then decided to send the Corps mounted troops to
the Second Cavalry Divisional area for a month for
training both as a cavalry regirnent and in conjunction
with the Cyclists and Motor Machine Gun Battery. On
the 7th of June a two days' trek began frorn Westoutre
by Hardiforte to Noordpeene for the night, and thence
the following day via Watten and Nordausques to Guerny,
where we carnped. " B " Squadron was attached to the
Royal Scots Greys, who readily gave thern all sorts of
assistance, and lent expert instructors. Indeed, nothing
could bave been more pleasant and usel:ul than a rnonth's
training with the Greys. Great programmes were rnade
.out how to put the rnonth to best advantage, and rnake
the regirnent ready for the " G. in gap." But after a
week was past, the Regirnent was ordered back to West-
outre, and left the area on the 25th of May. The Squad-
ron returned to Westoutre. Preparations were now being
rnade for the attack on the Messines Ridge, and every
rnan who was in the area was at once put on to dig, rnake
roads and durnps, and bury cable, and rnuch tirne was
175
pent on the Kemmel defences. Our observers, some 28
of thern at Siege Farrn, were particularly busy at this
rime, the whole systern of observation on the Corps front
being reorganised by Captain Nelson.
At 5.30 on the 17th July a high explosive shcll struck
and set tire to the observers' but at Siege Farrn. Fortu-
nately, only hall of the party were in the but at the rime.
Trooper Wickharn was killed on the spot, and Serteant
Inglis and Lance-Corporal Grieve died of wounds next
day, and Lance-Corporal Palfrey in October. Two other
men were also wounded. Very brave work was done in
gettint the wounded from the burning but, which was
kept under heavy shell tire and in which rnuch S.A.A.
was exploded. Sergeant Jack and Lance-Corporals
Riddell and Young received the Military Medal for
tallantry.
Much dissatisfaction had been expressed with the
method of carrying the Hotchkiss tun arnrnunition, and
Major-General Sir Philip Chetwode, comrnanding the
Second Cavalry Division, had experirnents rnade as to the
best rnethod. At a conference held by General Chetwode,
the carrier rnade by the V. Corps Cavalry, on a plan of
Major Caddell's, was adopted as the best for the Arrny.
On the 29th of July Lieut.-Colonel Connal, of the
Queen's Own Glasgow Yeornanry, assurned cornmand of
the V. Corps Cavalry Regirnent, with such of the Head-
quarters of that Regirnent as had corne with hirn from
Eypt.
The first hall of Autust, 1916, was fully occupied by
various workin parties, on road construction, rnaki@,
arnmunition durnps, and constructing darns; and in addi-
tion, several reconnaissances were rnade of the G.H.Q.
second line, which tan, roughly, frorn Neuve Etlise, and
connected up with Kernrnel defences. By this tirne the
Battle of the Somme had started, and it had been open
knowledge for sorne days that the r@,irnent was to match
south to take its place in the Fifth Arrny, which was sorne-
rimes described as the " Arrny of Manuvre." There
was rnuch exciternent and speculation as to how the
situation would develop, and sorne people with grey horses
177
Some 30 other ranks were detached for duty with the
A.P.M., V. Corps, and remained more or less in this
capacity until the Squadron left the Corps. The A.P.M.,
V. Corps, was very sorry indeed to lose these men, and
said repeatedb; that they were the best men he ever had.
October passed very much as September had done,
there being the saine routine work, interspersed with
various working parties at such places as Beaussart and
Mailly-Maillet. Towards the middle of the month, pre-
parations were well advanced for the subsequent attack
at Beaumont-Hamel, which took place eventually on 13th
November. Many parties were detached from the Squad-
ron for duty, escorting prisoners from various Divisiona!
Headquarters to the Corps cages. The main Corps cage
was at Forceville, and about 200 prisoners passed through
this cage in the first 24 hours after the attack.
Several reconnaissances were now ruade by the C.O.,
second in command, and Squadron leaders, from near
the front line at Beaumont-Hamel, the '" special idea '"
of "'(3 " V. Corps being that, when the attack on Beau-
mont-Hamel took place, the V. Corps Cavalry should
go through and establish themselves on a line between
Pusieux and Miraumont, at a place called Beauregard
Dovecote. It was probably fortunate for the Regiment
that the " special idea " did not mature. It is question-
able whether anyone could ride over this ground even
at the present day.
Captain Nelson and Mr Thin rejoined the Squadron
for a few days at intervals, but for the most part were
very fully employed with their observers, and lived a very
hard life. Captain Nelson went forward with the 63rd
R.N. Division during their attack on Beaucourt-sur-Ancre,
and the information he sent back by carrier-pigeon of the
situation at this particular part of the front was the first
to reach Corps Headquarters. At the end of November
the Regiment moved to Marîeux, and went into billets
there for the winter.
December passed fairly uneventfully. An officer from
5th Lancers was attached to supervise the Troop and
Squadron training. On the 21st December the following
178
appeared in Orders:--" Military Medal awarded Sergt.
Tait, J., L. & B. Squadron, for conspicuous gallantry
when attached to 63rd R.N. Division as Dispatch Rider."
January, 1917, was taken up with working parties at
various places within the Corps area; and several officers
were detached for a course of instruction with regular
cavalry regiments, and to attend the 4th Cavalry Divisional
School near Le Tréport. It was probably in January or
February that the Fifth Army Commander inspected the
regiment. As there was deep ShOW on the ground and
very hard frost at the time, liberty of manuvre was
somewhat restricted.
On the 12th of March the regiment--less details to
look after horses--marched to Couin dismounted, to be
under the orders of 46th Division. On the 13th the march
was continued to Bienvillers. The Corps troops relieved
the 5th Battalion Leicester Regiment in the line at Hannes-
camps. It was just at this time that the Germans were
retiring from the Hindenburg Line. The Squadron was
in the line until the 17th of Match. Patrols were sent out
nightly. Regimental Headquarters were at Hannescamps,
which came in for a good deal of attention from the
Germans two or three times a day. On the 17th March,
on information that patrols from the Brigade on the right
were pushing into Essars, a patrol under Mr Kerr was
sent out, and gained touch wt' the Notts and Derbys
in Essarts. A troop with two Hotchkiss guns, and cyclists
with two Lewis guns, were sent out in support of Mr Kerr,
and joined up with the left of the 6th Notts and Derbys.
A patrol sent out to ascertain what the situation was on
our left (which was very much in the air), did very good
work, ruade its way to Monchy, and explained the situa-
tion to the troops they found there. Parties of Germans
were seen hurrying from their dug-outs at Adinfer Wood,
about 2000 yards distant. In the evening the mounted
troops in tbe line were relieved by the l/6th South
Staffordshire Regiment, and marched back to Bienvillers,
The Squadron found their horses there, and rode back to
Marieux, which they reached about 2 a.m. on the 18th.
179
The following special order was received by O.C.
¥. Corps Cavalry Regiment :--
COPY OF LETTER FROM G.O.C 46TH DIVSION,
TO 5TH CORPS.
To V. Corps.
I desire to place on record my very great appre-
ciation at the way the Corps mounted troops have
carried out their duties when holding the line east
of Hannescamps whilst under my command. By
energetic patrolling, and reports rendered, they bave
assisted materially in watching the movements of the
enemy on my let, and maintaining touch with the
58th Division.
(Signed) WLLAM THWAITES,
Major-General Commanding
46th Division.
17th March.
To O.C. Corps Mounted Troops.
The Corps Commander wishes me to say that he
bas much pleasure in forwarding this letter. The
work of the Corps Cavalry Regiment and Cycllsts is
most creditable to ail concerned.
(Signed) G.F. BOYD,
B.G.G.S.V. Corps.
18th March.
On the evening of the 18th, orders were received for
a contingent of the Corps Cavalry to report the following
day to 7th Divisional Headquarters at Mailly-Maillet. A
composite squadron of rive troops of the Queen's Own
Glasgow Yeomanry and L. & B. Horse, under the com-
mand of Major W. Macfarlane of the Queen's Own
Glasgow Yeomanry, marched out at 5 a.m. on the 19th.
The officers of "B "" Squadron were Mr Younger, Mr
Kerr, and Mr Mein, who had just corne to France frorrl
180
Salonika. This force received orders at Mailly-Maillet
to proceed to St Leger, where they reported to the O.C.
6th North Hants Regiment. The distance from Marieux
to St Leger is approximately from 20 to 25 miles. The
going was terrible, as the roads were rendered very deep
owlng to the thaw which had now set in after the severe
frost. The village had been demolished, and numerous
large craters had been blown in the roads. The horses
were taken to the gully south-west of St Leger, and the
Squadron " stood to " ail night waiting for orders. It
was a bitterly cold night, with rain and bail. Threepatrols
were sent out. A mounted patrol under Mr Mein round
Boyelles occupied by our infantry at 6 p.m. A dis-
mounted patrol, at 10.30 p.m., met an enemy patrol, which
retired south of Croisilles. And a further dismounted
patrol, which went out at 2 a.m., round no signs of the
enemy up to the wire in front of Croisilles. At 7 a.m.
the composite Squadron, under Major Macfarlane, took
part in an attack on Croisilles. A squadron of Jacobs'
Horse operated to the west of the village, a frontal attack
was ruade by the 6th North Hants, while the composite
squadron advanced to the south-east of Croisilles. The
attack was held up by artillery and machine gun tire. A
Hotchkiss gun under Mr King, of the Glasgow Yeomanry,
was left in position to cover an attempt by Major Macfar-
lane to work round the enemy's east flank. This attack
was also held up by machine gun tire, and a line of
skirmishers was established to conform with a line which
the Lucknow Brigade was holding. Later in the day the
led horses were sent back to St Leger, a small detachment
remaining on outpost duty under Mr Mein.
At 12.45 on the 20th Major H. F. Cadell, second in
command of the regiment, assumed command of Major
Macfarlane's party. At about 3 o'clock the enemy opened
heavy shell tire on St Leger, and it was then that Mr
Younger and Mr Kerr were wounded, the former suc-
cumbing to his wounds the following day. Mr King of
the Glasgow Yeomanry had previously been wounded
while in charge of the Hotchkiss gun. The casualties,
besides those mentioned, were 11 other ranks wounded,
181
3 other ranks killed; 15 horses killed, and 9 wounded.
Mr Mein did very good work at this time in getting the
horses removed from the shei/ed village, and personally
going round and shooting those that had been too badly
wounded.
On the 21st, Major A. G. Cowan and Mr Smith joined
Mr Cadell's party at St Leger. On the 22nd, Mr Thin
and Sergeant Watson, both of "B '" Squadron, and
attached to V. Corps Observers, passed through out lines
at St Leger to make a reconnaissance of the position in
front. They were unfortunately both taken prisoners,
and Sergcant Watson was fatally wounded. Until the
26th, a line of outposts was held by Major Cadell's party
together with the 21st Manchester regiment. The troops
in the line were increasing in numbers every day, but
the difficuity of getting anything moved up, in the way
of guns and wheeled transport, was enormous, as the
roads were so bad. If the Germans had ruade a local
counter attack during any of these days they would hOt
bave met with much opposition, and it was very fortunate
that the St Leger valley got off with as little shelling as
it did. On the 26th, at 11 p.m., the posts were relieved
by the 2[Sth City of London Regiment, and on the 27th
Major Cadell's party reioined regimental headquarters at
Logeast Wood.
On the 2nd of April, 1917, the Regiment moved back
to Mailly-Maillet for a few days' test, and on the 7th the
Regiment moved forward to Bihucourt and went into
camp. On the 10th, the Regiment marched to Ervillers
and reported to 18th Infantry Brigade. Next day the
Regiment marched again to L'Homme Mort, under the
orders of the 62nd Division, returning to camp again in
the evening. The whole of the 4th Cavalry Division were
then " standing to." Flagged-tracks had been prepared
up to the line, and everyone thought they were " going
through." Indeed, the itinerary eventually was described
as--Ervillers-Ecoust and " The Gap." On April 28th,
Captain T. A. Nelson's naine appeared in the War Diary
as " kiiled in action and struck off the strength." The
Squadron had heard previously of Captain Nelson's death,
182
and those who had been in any way associated with him
will never forget the gloom and sorrow which the news
of his loss cast over all ranks. At the time of his death
he was attached to the Tank Corps as Intelligence Officer,
and it was while making a reconnaissance during the
battle of Arras that he was killed. There is hOt an N.C.O.
or man who bas served with him who does hOt hold his
memory very dear. And his love and admiration towards
his men was a joy to ail.
Towards the end of April Major Cadell had been
evacuated sick. The outlook was rather gloomy. Major
Cadell, Captain Nelson, Mr Younger, and Mr Kerr were
all casualties, but the Squadron had two excellent subaltern
officers in Mr Mein and Mr Smith, and all the N.C.O.'s
and men of the Squadron carried on splendidly. During
May and 3une, 1917, the situation had again become one
of stalemate. Bullecourt in the Hindenburg line had
been attacked several times without success and at enor-
mous cost. One squadron in the composite regiment was
always kept "' standing to," as the idea still seemed to
obtain that a successful attack, followed by a break-
through, might be ruade. Working parties in the line
at night, digging new trenches near Bullecourt Ecoust,
were of frequent occurrence. The following letter was
received in this connection :--
To O.C.V. Corps Mounted Troops.
The Corps Commander wishes me to say he is
much pleased at the excellent report received from
the 62nd Division on the work latterly done by the
Cavalry and Cyclists in digging trenches, which re-
flects great credit on all concerned.
Please communicate these remarks to officers and
meno
(Signed) G.F. BOYD,
B.G.G.S.V. Corps.
14/3/17.
Mention must be made of a most successful dinner
held on the 4th July at the Town Major's (Captain
Pringle's) house at Ablainzeville, when the following
183
oflïcers were present:--Colonel W. Norman Stewart,
D.S.O. ; Majors Burton Stewart, Cowan, and Ramsay;
Captains Pringle, Robson-Scott, and Brydon; Lieutenants
Dunn, Mein, Lindsay, and Smith.
In the beginning of July, 1917, a strong rumour was
received that the Regiment was to be dismounted. This
rumour seemed about to be verified when the Squadron
entrained a lot of its horses at Bapaume to go to Mar-
seilles. Mr Smith, with a party from "'B " Squadron,
was in charge of the '" B " Squadron horses. This party
returned in about a fortnight's time, and on the 24th of
July, with a few horses and officers' chargers that were left,
the whole Regiment moved to G.H.Q. Army Troops area
near Hesdin, the Squadron going into billets at Crequy.
It was pretty well known now that the Squadron was to
be turned into infantry, although until the last moment
no official information was vouchsafed on the subject.
The billets at Crequy, after lire in the forward area, were
much appreciated, and before the Squadron was finally
disbanded a most successful and enjoyable sports meeting
was held, and also a concert in the Crequy school build-
ings, which many of the natives attended. On the 22nd
July, 1917, Maior Cowan left the Squadron to report for
duty with the P.M. Fourth Army, and on the 23rd the
Squadron proceeded to Etaples to the 20th I.B.D., for
attachment to the 17th Royal Scots. A note compiled
from imperfect records shows that up to this rime over 60
N.C.O.'s and men of '" B " Squadron had been commis-
sioned from the ranks--a remarkable record in an estab-
lishment of 142 of a!l ranks. The reinforcements which
the Squadron received from rime to rime were of a high
order, and in spite of the constant drain for commissions,
the excellence and individuality of the N.C.O.'s and ail
other ranks was maintained to the end.
184
CHAPTER V.
"D'" SQUADRON.
After having been reviewed with the 22nd Division
at Aldershot both by Lord Kitchener and by His Majesty
the King, " D " Squadron embarked for France on 6th
September, 1915, landed at Havre, and entrained straight
for the Somme area. For a short rime the Squadron was
billeted near Vignacourt, but soon rnoved with Divisional
Headquarters to Gillaucourt, where a series of control
posts were established in coniunction with the Surrey
Yeom.anry of the 27th Division. The Squadron was con»
manded by Major J. R. Ramsay, with Captain the Marquis
of Linlithgow as second-in-command, the other officers
being Lieuts. J. R. Marshall, A. R. Balfour, A. K.
Graham, and I. M. A. Matheson. Before belng ordered
to Marseilles at the end of October, the officers and
N.C.O.'s of the Squadron were given an opportunity of
acquiring a first-hand experience of trench warfare by
being attached for a short spell to infantry battalions in
the line. A class of instruction for the snipers of the
Division was also started by Captain Lord Linlithgow,
but the class was abruptly tèrminatèd by the transference
of Lord kinlithgow to another formation, and by the
receipt of orders by the Squadron to entrain for Marseilles.
On reaching Marseilles the Squadron spent three weeks
in the mud of Borely Camp, patiently awaiting the arrival
of a transport. It embarked on 24th November, and
learnt with surprise that the transport had, with no less
patience, for the last fortnight been awaiting the arrival
of its troops. Four days later the transport sailed, and,
after a day spent in the harbur of Toulon, steamed into
the mists of Salonika harbour on the morning of 8th
December.
Owing to the uncertainty of the situation no
troops were landed for four days, and the Squdron
did not disembark until the night of llth-12th December,
M«unted patr«l near llamzli. Match, lç16.
\'ie in Savjak.
Tro«,p f "" I)"" Squadron al: l'at:trs, |:ty, 1010.
The village fitmtain at Savjak. Affer the Bulgar descent flore Rupel this village
was vell behind the Bulgar line t/Il the final advance.
185
t the very moment when the retreat from Doiran was
taking place. After a couple of days' rest for the horses,
after their 17 days' voyage, the Squadron was equipped
'ith bivouacs and with transport, and marched to Dautli,
in order to take up patrol duties in advance of the en-
.trenched line then being dug around Salonika. During
the next three months the country between the Salonika
.defences and the Bulgar lines at Doiran was constantly
patrolled, both for defensive purposes and in order to
acquire information likely to be useful in case of an
advance. Reports were furnished to the Division on the
billeting accommodation in the villages, on the state of
the roads and tracks, and on the water supplies, fuel,
.and flocks available throughout the area, whilst at the same
rime military proclamations were distributed amongst
the inhabitants. In carrying out these duties the Squad-
ron acquired a detailed and thorough knowledge of the
area occupied by the British forces. Special reconnais-
sance detachmcnts, accompanied by General Staff officers,
geographical experts, engineers, and artillery officers,
were also sent forward, and traversed the country to the
very fringe of the enemy zone, penetrating as far as the
villages of Poroi and Nikolic, which were later included
in the lines entrenched and occupied by the Bulgars.
In the middle of April, 1916, the Squadron received
orders to march with a squadron of the Notts Hussars
for duty as Army Troops in the Struma Valley, where it
camped close to the village of Orljak, in a position of
isolation far in advance of any other British troops. From
here patrols and reconnaissance parties were sent to
Demir-Hissar, Vetrina, and the Rupel Pass, and in fact
throughout the Butkova-Seres portion of the Struma
Va!ley, into which the enemy had hot as yet descended.
The Greek fronticr was still occupied by the Greek army,
with whom, however, relations were somewhat delicate,
since this army a month or two later surrendered Fort
Rupel to the Bulgars, and permitted their invasion of the
Struma Valley. One day in May it became known to
Army Headquarters that the German Consul fïom the
Drama had that morning gone to Seres, in order to engage
186
Greek workmen for the prosecution of designs which were
undoubtedly pro-German and presumably anti-British. It
was decided therefore to have him arrested, and "'D '"
Squadron was ordered to perform this task, but to be
careful not to get into trouble with the Greek troops. As,
the Consul was known to be returning from Seres to Drama
by a certain train, Lieut. A. R. Balfour, M.C., with one
troop was sent to intercept and stop the train after it had
left Seres. This he did, and returned that evening with
the Consul as prisoner, having ef[ected his purpose in the
face of strong opposition and threats of violence from a
number of Greek oflïcers and a company of soldiers who.
happened tobe on the train.
Before the end of May the Squadron was recalled
from the Struma, and rejoined the 22nd Division, which
was then advancing from Salonika to the vicinity of Lake
Doiran. Here, together with the 7th Mounted Brigade,
it carried out protective duties covering the front of the
Division, occupying by day posts of observation on a ridge
overlooking the town and lake of Doiran, and by night
guarding the roads between the enemy's lines and the
position occupied by the Division.
Owing to the sickness prevalent during the first sure-
mer in Macedonia, many units were reduced very much
below strength. Amongst others, the Derby Yeomanry
had suffered severely from the ravages of malaria. Ac-
cordingly, in August, 1916, both "" A " and "" D " Squad-
rons were sent to the Struma Valley to make up the
depleted numbers of the Derby Yeomanry, with whom
they formed a composite regiment. As a part of the 7th
Mounted Brigade, therefore, "D " Squadron took part
in the various operations in which the river was crossed
and villages in the occupation of the enemy were raided.
At the end of September the composite regiment was
broken up, and "' D " Squadron recrossed the British area,
which had then been extended to the River Vardar, and.
rejoined the 22nd Division on the left of the British line,
where it camped close to the western shores of Lake o
Ardzan.
i87
Amongst other difficulties incidental to the conduct
of war in Macedonia, the strange mixture of races amongst
the inhabitants produces a very serious problem. In one-
place a taroup of villages will be entirely Turkish. In
another, exclusively Greek. In a third, both Greeks and
Turks live totaether in the saine village. The next village,
perhaps, may be inhabited by Bulgar-speaking inhabitants.
Ail of these are citizens of Greece, but, as may be readily
imagined, their sympathies are apt to differ widely. Often
some member of the family is actually serving in the
Bulgarian or the Turkish army. Consequently espionage
is widespread and diflîcult to suppress. Once the oppos-
ing forces had settled down to a warfare of positions, the
scope for the use of mounted troops was restricted, and
the services of the Squadron were largely utilised in order
to establish a system of control posts under the orders
of the A.P.M. of the Corps. Posts of N.C.O.'s and men
were scattered throughout the Crps area in order to
patrol the villages, watching the inhabitants and control-
ling their movements, so as to lessen the danger of
innocent-looking peasants gaining military information
and carrying it across the lines to the enemy.
On 26th November, 1916, one troop was detached and
sent to join the Independent Brigade, which was th.n
taking over the Dova Tepe area, hitherto held by an
ltalian Division. This troop provided orderlies and d-
patch riders, and also furnished mounted patrols, which
took part in the operations conducted by the Brigade
against the village of Akindzali. Later it was attached to
the 60th Division when that Division arrived from France
and relieved the Independent Brigade.
Meanwhile, in the beginning of December, 1916,
"D " Squadron once more left the 22nd Division
and came under the orders of the 8th Mounted
Brigade, which was then responsible for a portion
of the front line immediately south of Lake Doiran.
During its tenure of this area, in addition to the
usual duties of defence, the Brigade carried out a
complete reorganisation and renewal of the defensive
works of the sector, and also took part in several raids
188
on villages within the Bulgar outpost line. On the de-
parture of the 8th Mounted Brigade for Palestine in May,
1917, "'A "' and "'D "' Squadrons, which had now been
united as the XII. Corps Cavalry Regiment, took over
the defence of the sector previously held by the whole
Brigade.
At the beginning of June, however, "" D " Squadron
was sent eastwards to the Dova Tepe sector, in order
to provide outposts for the forward area, on the with-
drawal of the infantry from the low-lying mosquito-
infested " winter-line " to the '" summer line " on the
hills. Mounted posts were established by night, whilst
during the day the whole area was searched by patrols
and watched by observation posts from suitable points.
During July "D " Squadron was withdrawn, and after
a short period of training in August, replaced "A '"
Squadron at Piton Gallieni, south of Lake Doiran. "" A "
Squadron was then sent to the Dova Tepe sector. For
the next year '" D " Squadron remained in camp at Piton
Gallieni with responsibility for the 8efence of the Lake
Sector, at first under the 22nd Division, but later--on a
regrouping of the sectors of defence--as part of the XII.
Corps Cavalry Regiment. During this period, each troop
-of the Squadron in turn was attached to one of the infantry
battalions of the 22nd Division, and for a week at a time
held a front-line work called Silbury Hill, thereby gaining
a valuable insight into the tension and monotony of the
role of infantry in trench warfare.
Before the final advance of September, 1918, the
Squadron was withdrawn with the Regiment for a short
period of intensive training in preparation for the advance.
When the offensive took place, "D " Scluadron, with
Regimental Headquarters, were attached to the 26th Divi-
sion, and concentrated near Lake Ardzan. On the retreat
of the Bulgars, "D '" Squadron advanced into Serbia
with the Derby Yeomanry by Bogdanci, Cestovo, and
Kosturino to Strumitza in Bulgaria. On the retreat of
the Bulgars, ofiïcers' patrols advanced in front of the
Division, and joined the Derby Yeomanry at Cestovo,
"where skirmishing with the retreating enemy first took
189
place on the Kosturino Ridge. Early on the following
morning the Regiment advanced in support of the Derby
Yeomanry, and shared with them the honour of being
the first Al]ied troops to enter Bulgaria. Beyond the
frontier village of Kosturino, the road to Strumitza was
round tobe blocked by enemy machine guns. The
advance of the 14th Greek Division on the left flank
having been delayed, it was round impossible to force
the pass with mounted troops alone, and they were
accordingly withdrawn at night behind the infantry outpost
line. Durina the night the enemy continued his retreat,
and on the 26th the Derby Yeomanry, with the I. 8: B.
Horse in close support, continued their advance on
Strumitza, where touch with the enemy was once more
gained among the villages on the northern side of the
wide valley of the Strumitza. A large column of the
enemy could be seen winding along the road which
ascended the mountains across the valley, but in the
absence of artillery support it was impossible with a com-
posite mounted force of four weak squadrons to attack
the retreating column, protected as it was by a chain of
villages strongly held by machine guns and mountain
guns. And dusk removed any further opportunity of com-
pleting the havoc wrought among the column by the
bombs of the Royal Flying Corps.
Early on 29th September one troop, under Lieut.
Dunlop, M.C., moved as advance guard to the 79th
Infantry Brigade, when the advance towards Berovo was
resumed along the mountain road. The progress of the
troop was soon checked by heavy rifle and machine gun
tire. The troop Hotchkiss gun was brought into
action with good ef[ect, first against a Bulgar rear-guard,
and afterwards, by a quick change of position, against an
enemy mountain gun, by which they had begun to be
heavily shel]ed. By this manuvre the enemy was forced
to retire. Mr Dunlop, who had been wounded by
shell tire, was subsequently high-ly complimented by the
Divisional Commander on the good work of his troop,
which remained until nightfall in advance of the Briade.
190
Next day hostilities ceased in consequence of the
signature of the Armistice with Bulgaria. The Regiment
was re-united, and started on its long march through the
Rupel Pass and the Struma valley by way of Kavalla, to
take its part in the concentration on the Turkish frontier
at Dedeagatch. Almost at once, however, two troops of
"'D " Squadron were detached and sent with the 26th
Division to Sofia, thence to Rustchuk on the Danube,
.and ultimately to Varna on the Black Sea. And before
the Regiment had left the Struma valley the remaining
two troops of " D " Squadron were ordered to rejoin the
27th Division, which was marching to Adrianople. After
the Armistice with Turkey had been concluded, however.
on 31st October, 1918, these two troops were withdrawn
and brought back to the neighbourhood of Salonika, and
were eventually sent with the remainder of the Regiment
for duty with the Army of Occupation in Trans-Caucasia.
CHAPTER VI.
CASUALTIES, HONOURS AND AWARDS.
At the beginning of January, 1919, after its return
from the Turkish frontier at Dedeagatch, the Regiment
--less the two troops with the 26th Division in Bulgaria--
embarked at Salonika for Batum, being much reduced in
strength owing to the ravages of an epidcmic of influenza.
On arriving at Batum the Regiment disembarked, and
after a few days' rest proceeded by train to Tiflis, taking
up quarters--after a thorough cleansing of the Augean
stables--in the Cavalry Barracks before the end of the
month. On 3rd February a detachment under Captain
Tulloh was sent to Kars, for duty in maintaining order
there and at Erzeroum; and on 20th February another
detachment under Captain Clappé was sent for similar
duty to Akhaltsikh. In both places the confused medley
of races which compose the populatîon--Greeks, Turks,
Tartars, Armenians, Kurds, and Georgians--made this a
matter of considerable difficulty, and at times it was round
necessary to resort to force in order to restore order.
Officers and men were meanwhile being gradually sent
home for demobilisation. Finally, after four months'
duty as Troops of Occupation, the Cadre of the regiment
under Major Stericker (Scottish Horse) returned home,
and arrived in Edinburgh on 2nd July, 1919. Next day,
together with the 1st Batt. Royal Scots, the Regiment
marched through the streets of Edinburgh to the City
Chambers in order to receive the official welcome of the
City of Einburgh. The colours of the Regiment were
crowned with a laurel wreath, and then borne through
the city to the Drill Hall in Forrest Road, where both
units were entertained to luncfi. And after rive years of
mobilised service, ail but one month, the remainder of
the Regiment was at length disembodied, in order to await
re-creatlon in the new Territorial Force.
192
The compilation of a list of casualties and of honours
and awards won by rnernbers of the Regirnent has been
rendered dif-ficult by the inaccessibility of the necessary
records. In addition to this, exceptionally large nurnbers
of N.C.O.'s and rnen have been granted commissions in
ail branches of the service. So far as can be ascertained
at present, 22 a, commissions were granted during the war
to rnembers of the Regiment. Many others also were
transferred to infantry regirnents in France after "B '"
Scluadron was disrnounted.
It bas been cluite impossible to trace the records of
those who were cornrnissioned, and of those who were
transferred to other units. Many are known to bave been
killed in action with the regirnents in which they were
serving. Many more gained distinctions of every kind.
But to narne any without narning ail would be invidious,
and itis therefore with regret that the list which follows
has been restricted to Officers, N.C.O.'s, and rnen servin
with the Regirnent abroad, attached to the Regirnent, or
seconded frorn it for service with other units. An excep-
tion has been ruade in the case of Sergeant J. B. Daykins,
V.C., M.M. Sergeant Daykins enlisted in the Regirnent
on 13th Septernber, 191,, and went overseas as a private
in "A " Scluadron. Frorn there he was sent home in
order to clualify himself for cornnrnlssioned tank. For
rnedical reasons his commission was refused. He was
then posted to the ,th Reserve Regirnent of Cavalry at
Aldershot. Frorn there he was eventually transferred to
the 2/4th Battalion of the York and Lancaster Reaiment
(T.F.), in which he was serving as a scrgeant at the rime
of the operations during which he won the Victoria Cross.
A special Order, issued by Major-General Sir R. D.
Whi,,aharn, K.C.B., D.S.O., Cornrnanding the 62nd (West
Riding) Division, describes the circurnstances in conse-
tuence of which the award was rnade:--
Decernber 26th, 1918.
During the operations at Solesrnes on 20th October,
1918, this N.C.O. displayed the greatest dash, initia-
tive, and gallantry. He had comrnand of No. 7
French, Greek, and British sentries on bridge over river Struma,
near Orljak, April, Ic)16.
193
Platoon, and led 12 men of this platoon--all that
remained with him--up the main street towards the
church, and met with heavy opposition. By the
skilful way in which he picked his way he was able to
work along, and about half-way up the street he shot
a machine gunner just about to open tire on the party,
and the gun was rushed. The Sergeant and his party
carried on up the street, and when about S0 yards
from the church the opposition became very strong,
heavy machine gun tire being opened and bombs
thrown at the party, which by this rime was sur-
rounded, the enemy coming out of the cellars behind.
Hand-to-hand fighting ensued, in which the Sergeant
accounted for 7 of the enemy. The enemy at last
ran away, and the Sergeant led his men to their
objective, where a strong point was formed. Up to
this time the party had captured 30 prisoners and
killed about 25 of the enemy, wounding many more.
They had been isolated in the town about half-an-
hour.
From one of the prisoners Sergeant Daykins
learned the position of a machine-gun which was
holding up another portion of his Company, and
although other men left with him wanted to accom-
pany him, he refused to take them owing to the
necessity of still maintaining the important post
already established, and to prevent the large numbers
of prisoners from escaping and again taking part in
the action.
In spire of heavy machine-gun tire he worked his
way to the post alone, and shortly afterwards returned,
driving 25 of the enemy in front of him and carrying
a captured machine-gun, which he mounted at his
post. This action of Sergeant Daykins, although it
appeared, owing to the previous opposition, almost
certain death, undoubtedly saved many casualties to
the remainder of his Company, and enabled the
villa/e to be carrled at an early hour of the
operations.
194
His rnagnificent figbting spirit and exarnple inspired
his rnen, who would follow hirn anywhere. He was
the outstanding figure in the success of the attack.
(Sined) HAROLD F. LEA,
A.A. & Q.M.G., 62nd (West
Riding) Division.
Exceptions bave also been rnade in the case of Sert.
T. M. Skirving, who died in Edinburh whilst on short
leave I:rorn Salonika, and in the case of Col. (Ternp. Bri.
Gen.) Lord Binning, C.B., M.V.O.
By the death o1: Lord Binnin, which took place on
12th ,lanuary, 1917, during a visit to Tyninharne, East
Lothian, the Re,airnent suffered an irreparable loss. Lord
Binnin's previous experience o1: active service in the
Egyptian carnpain of 1882, the Sudan Expedition o1: 1884,
and the Hazara carnpaign o1: 1888, proved of inestimable
value when the Reirnent carne to undertake its war train-
ing. The four years which he had spent in cornrnand of
the Royal Horse Guards, frorn 1899 to 1903, rnade him
an ideal Colonel of a yeornanry reirnent. It was in 1905,
a couple of years before the institution of the Territorial
Force, that Lord Binnin took cornrnand of the Regirnent.
,lust as he was on the point of retirin in 1914, after the
last possible extension, the reat war broke out, and his
period of cornrnand received a new lease of lire. By the
fact that the Regiment was split up and sent overseas as
three divisional squadrons, Lord Binning was denied the
privilege of cornrnanding in the field the Regiment which
during so rnany years he had trained. In going to France
with Regirnental Headquarters and "'B "" Squadron, it
was felt that his ability and experience were wasted in
¢ornrnand of what was little more than one squadron.
But although the regret which he expressed in leaving
the Regirnent was shared by every rnember of it, none
could deny the right of the War Office to rnake use of his
services in the more suitable rank of Brigadier-General.
What he had done for the Regirnent during the ten years
which he comrnanded it, only those who have served
under hirn can realise. With the professional skill of
195
he regular officer, he combined the tact and charm of
manner, the knowledge of men and the power of arousing
enthusiasm, which are especially necessary for the success-
fui command of a regiment like the Lothians and Border
Horse. By his death the nation lost an able soldier, and
the Regiment a keen and devoted commander.
h would be impossible in less than a volume to
describe adequately the many qualities with which he was
endowed. But a brief tribute is contained in aletter
written to the "" Times " by an old comrade. "" He was
hot only a man of extreme brilliancy and charm, but one
whose kindness, unselfishness, and devotion to duty com-
manded the affection and respect of all those who were
associated with him. He shone in every way that is most
calculated to inspire admiration, for he was a bold and
admirable horseman, a fine polo player and cricketer, a
clever musician and composer, and the most charming of
companions. He was spontaneously witty, and would
always lay himself out to please and entertain ail those
in whose society he round himself. His military career
speaks for itself, but it denotes the energy of his character
that at the age of sixty he went out to France and took
part in some of the most severe fighting of the present
campaign. His most remarkable characteristic was his
influence over others, for in ail his surroundings he
unconsciously became the leader, his companions deferr-
ing voluntarily to his opinions and views. With ail this
he was a man of the most extreme modesty and simplicity
of character, and his kindness and sympathy to those in
trouble, combined with his energy and wisdom in assist-
ing them, can never be forgotten by those who benefited.
In the opinion of many he was the most brilliant man of
his generation, and had he been ambitious of worldly
success, he might have attained any position. During his
lire he always set the highest example of duty, and he
leaves behind him the deepest sorrow in the hearts of
many people, and a gap which can never be filled."
The death of 2nd Lieut. C. V. M'G. Watson occurred
shortly after he had left the Regiment in order to be
attached for duty to the Royal Flying Corps. After
196
goln out on a reconnaissance fliht with another ocer,
he and his pilot failed to return and were posted missin.
A few days later the followin message in French was
dropped in our lines by an enemy aeroplane:--" The
English aviator, C. V. M'Greor (Watson), and his
observer were brought down after a combat over our
lines. They are buried in a little cemetery near a church.
We honour the brave of whatever nation, even though
they are our foes."
(Sined) LES BULG,RES.
AWARDS.
Lieut.-Colonel R. C. Browne-Clayton (South Irish Horse), D.S.O.,
Serbian Order of the White Eagle.
Major S. A. Stericker (Scottish Horse), O.B.E.
Captain (Temp. Lieut.-Colonel) W. N. Stewart, Distinguished Service
Order.
,, I.M.A. Matheson, O.B.E., Croix de Guerre and Serbian
Order of the White Eagle.
,, W.E.S. Napier, Military Cross.
,, A.R. Balfour, do.
Lieutenant G. S. Bleck, M.B.E., Portuguese Order of Avis (Military)
3rd class.
1718
120, 061
120,090
120,227
120,013
120,108
120, 206
120,319
120, 331
120,029
120,396
W. Stuart, Distinguished Service Order.
G. H. Mills (4th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers), Military Cross.
J. J. Dunlop, Military Cross.
Sergeant Daykins, J. B., Victoria Cross and Military Medal.
,, Young, A. P. A., Military Medal.
,, Riddell, J., do.
,, Jack, A.G., do.
,, Tait, J., do.
Squadron Sergt.-Maior Short, J., Meritorious Service Medal.
Farrier Staff-Sergeant Duff, C., do.
Sergeant Christison, D., do.
,, Scott, R., do.
,, (Acting R.Q.M.S.) Sanderson, W. J., Meritorious Ser-
vice Medal and Greek Military Cross (Class II.)
Private Barr, A. B., Meritorious Service Medal.
197
MENTIONS IN DISPATCHES.
Major W. B. Stewart ...... June, 1916
Captain T. A. Nelson ...... June, 1916, January al'ld May,
1917
Lieutenant J. H. Brydon ...... June, 1916
Captain A. R. Balfour, M.C .... September, 1916
,, H.C. Haldane ...... January and December, 1917,
May, 1918
,, (Temp. Lt.-Col.)W. N. Stewart, D.S.O. May, 1917
,, (Acting Lt.-Col.) V. A. J. Marquis of Linlithgow, May, 1917
Lieutenant T. J. D. Reid, ..... May, 1917
,, J.A. Thin ...... May, 1917
Captain W. E. S. Napier, M.C .... December, 1917
Lieutenant G. S. Bleck, M.B.E .... May, 1918
,, S.H. Williams ...... May, 1918
Major (Bt. Lt.-Col.) R. C. Browne-Clayton, D.S.O. (South Irish Horse
and R. of O. 5th Lancers), January, 1919
Captain R. J. K. Russell ...... January and June, 1919
Lieutenant J. J. Dunlop, M.C., ... January and June, 1919
Lieutenant R. Thornton ...... January and June, 1919
Major S. A. Stericker (Scottish Horse), O.B.E. June, 1919
Captain I. M. A. Matheson ... June, 1919
Lieutenant A. H. Otto ...... June, 1919
,, J.E. Mein ...... July, 1919
Major J. R. Ramsay .........
Major A. G. Cowan ......... July, 1919
120,263 Squadron Sergt.-Major Goodwin, A. L., September,
1916,
12003
1
120,046
1491
120,108
12299
121,338
12313
12175
June, 1919
,, Morgan, G. A., June. 1916
Regfl. Q.M. Sergeant Anderson, D., June, 1916
Corporal Hudson, G ....... June, 1916
L.-Corporal (Act. Cpl.) Jack, A.G., January, 1917
Squadron Sergt.-Major Short, J., January, 1919
Sergeant Lindsay, J.H., ... June, 1919
Private (Act. Cpl.) Caverhill, F.D., June, 1919
,, ,, Hume, J., June, 1919
Sergeant Mayo, J. P., ...... July, 1919
198
SUMMARY OF AWARDS AND
MENTIONS.
Victoria Cross ..................
Order of the British Empire ............ 2
Member of the British Empire .........
I)istinguished Service Order ............
Military Cross .................. 4
Military Medal .................. 5
Meritorious Service Medal ............ 6
Serbian Order of the White Eagle ......... 2
Portuguese Order of Avis (Military) 3rd Class ... 1
Croix de Guerre ...............
Greek Military Cross (Class II.) .........
Mentions in Despatches--Officers ......... 29
Other Ranks ...... 11
Total ......... 66
THE ROLL OF HONOUR.
KILLED, DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE.
Colonel (Temp. Brig.-Gen.) Lord 120,760 S.-Smith Howatson, W.
Binning, C.B., M.V.O. 1605 Private Hogarth, W.
Captain T. A. Nelson 1460 ,, Wickham, J. V.
,, T.P.E.F. Clennel I480 ,, Harvey, C.
,, W.N. Stewart, D.S.O. 1939 ,, Smith, J. K.
Lieut. C. F. Youlger I585 ,, Pott, . G.
2nd Lieut. C. V. M'G. Watson I839 ,, Rintoul, R.
,, M.S. Macaulay 120,586 ,, Smart, .
,, R.C. Campbell 1897 ,, Old, J. W.
120,040 Sadd.-Sergt. Lawrie, G. 120,768 ,, Murphy, . C.
646 Sergt. Inglis, G. 120,654 ,, Laing, W.
120,117 ,, Watson, G.P. 120,436 ,, Bruce, W. A.
120,124 ,, Ronaldson, W.A. 120,607 ,, Valentine, G. F.
120,264 ,, Skirving, T.M. ,, Spence, R.
120,276 Corpl. Kerr, W. 120,822 ,, Lafferty, .
1680 L.-Corpl. Grieve 120,688 ,, Murdoch, J.
1679 ,, Palfrey, . 120,792 ,, MacDonald, A.
120,604 ,, Reid, D.
Part III.
History of the Territorial Force
Associations for the Counties
of Roxburgh, Berwick,
and Selkirk.
201
HISTORY OF THE TERRITORIAL FORCE
ASSOCIATIONS OF THE COUNTIES OF
ROXBURGH, BERWICK, AND
SELKIRK.
Schemes were made by the Army Council for the
establishment and constitution of the following Associa-
tions:--(1) Territorial Force Association of the County
of Roxburgh; (2) Territorial Force Association of the
County of Berwick; and (3) Territorial Force Association
of the County of Selkirk. That for Roxburgh provided
for a president, 7 military members, 2 representative
members appointed by the County Council, and 4
co-opted members; that for Berwick, 6 military members,
2 representative members, and 4 co-opted members; and
that for Selkirk, 6 military members, 2 representative
members, and 3 co-opted members. The members of each
Association have always been fairly representative of the
military, lande& and industrial interests of the district.
His Grace The Duke of Roxburghe, K.T., M.V.O.,
is president, and Colonel Sir Richard Waldie Griffith,
Bart., of Hendersyde Park, Kelso, is chairman of the Rox-
burghshire Association. Captain C. B. Balfour is presi-
dent and chairman of the Berwickshire Association. The
Right Hon. Lord Polwarth is president, and Major C.
H. Scott Plummer of Sunderland Hall, Selkirk, chairman
of the Sclkirkshire Association.
The units administered by thcse Associations at the
outbreak of the late war were :--
ROXBURGH.--1 squadron Lothians and Border Horse.
3 companies of the 4th King's Own Scottish
Borderers.
BERWICK.--1 squadron Lothians and Border Horse.
2 companies of the 4th King's Own Scottish
Borderers.
SELKIRK.3 companies of the 4th King's Own Scottish
Borderers, with the Headquarters of that
Regiment.
202
Lieut.-Colonel Andrew Haddon, O.B.E., Hawick,.
was appointed Secretary of the three Associations, with
offices at 7 Tower Knowe, Hawick, and Mr J. Aikman
Smith, C.A., 11 Duke Street, Edinburgh, was appointed
auditor.
Ail the members of each Association were elected to
the General Purposes Committee.
It was seen at the very start that the three Associa-
tions would be jointly interested in the greater part of
the business, and it was obvious that Joint Committees
would be required. Ail the members of each Asso--
ciation were therefore appointed a Joint Committee.
Captain C. B. Balfour, of Newton Don, Kelso, then the
Chairman, now the President of the Berwickshire Associa-
tion, was appointed Chairman of the Joint Committee.
There was also appointed a Joint Finance and Advisory
Committce of nine members, which could be called to-
6ether at short notice to authorise the payment of accounts
or deal with any business requiring immediate attention.
There was also a Joint Mobilization Committee appointed
to deal with these matters.
Meetin6s of the Roxbur6hshire Association have been
held at Newtown St Boswells, of the Berwickshire Associa-
tion at Duns, and of the Selkirkshire Association at Gala-
shiels. The Joint Association meetings have been held
in the County Council rooms, Newtown St Boswells, the
use of these rooms having been granted by the Roxburgh-
shire County Council, a small rent bein6 char6ed. In
order to comply with the terres of the schemes, it was
necessary to hold meetin6s of each Association in the
County Council rooms immediately after the Joint
Committee met for the purpose of homolo6atin6 the
resolutions corne to at these joint meetin6s.
Although the business of the Associations was con-
ducted jointly, the schemes, to6ether with War Office
instructions, entailed separate books and accounts to be
kept for each Association. An Army Book, 89.B., was
therefore kept for each Association to6ether with a
separate minute book for each, as well as a minute book
for the minutes of the Joint Committee. The claires for
203
annual rants were made up for each Association as welI
as the financial returns. A separate bank account was
kept for each, and the £rants for each Association paid
into the respective bank accounts, which were drawn
upon by cheques si£ned by appointed members of the
respective Associations and the secretary.
The followin£ were the members of each Association
prior to the war:--
ROXBURGHSHIRE.--
The Right Hon. Lord Reay, K.T., G.C.S.I.
G.C.I.E., President.
Colonel Sir Richard Waldie Griflîth, Bart.,
Chairman.
His Grace The Duke of Roxbur£he, K.T.
M.V.O., Vice-Chairman.
Lord G. W. Montagu Douglas Scott.
Provost J. S. Boyd.
Captain Mark Sprot.
Major C. W. Anderson.
Maior A. M. Small.
Major A. Stevenson.
Major W. A. Innes.
Maior T. D. Crichton Smith.
Arm.-Sgt. J. H. Scott.
Provost Melrose.
A. B. Patrick, Esq.
BERWlCKSHIRE.--
Captain C. B. Balfour, Chairman.
Colonel Lord Binning, M.V.O., Presidento
Major J. Hunter, Vice-Chairman.
Lieut.-Colonel D. W. Milne Home.
Captain A. N. McDougal.
Major 3ames Greig.
Colonel C. Hope.
Major R. H. Shaw.
Provost J. Ford.
Colonel W. M. Threipland.
Major Sinclair Wemyss.
Captain Fulton.
204
SELK1RKSH1RE.--
The Right Hon. Lord Polwarth, President.
Major C. H. Scott Plummer, Chairman.
The Earl of Dalkeith (now His Grace The Duk¢
of Buccleuch), Vice-Chairman.
Major D. C. Alexander.
Major W. Dunlop.
John Scott, Esq.
John C. Scott, Esq.
Major J. Herbertson.
Captain J. L. Pringle.
Lieut. S. Strang Steel.
Lieut.-Colonel J. McNeile.
Captain McGregor Jobson.
The following were the members of the Finance and
Advisory Committee :-
Colonel C. Hope.
Captain C. B. Balfour.
Colonel Sir Richard Waldie Griflth, Bart.
His Grace The Duke of Roxburghe, K.T.,
M.V.O.
Major C. H. Scott Plummer.
Major T. D. Crichton Smith.
John H. F. K. Scott, Esq.
John C. Scott, Esq.
A. B. Patrick, Esq.
Although some of the members were called on and
had to leave the country for servicc abroad, their places
were not filled, but when any member was reported
killed or presumed to be killed, a substitute was round to
fill the vacancy. As a number of the military members
were on home service and were able to attend the meet-
ings of the Associations, and in view of the fact that much
of the business had devolved upon the Joint Finance
and Advisory Committee and a Joint Emergency Com-
mittee consisting of the Chairman of each Association with
Colonel Hope and Major Dunlop, the work of the
Associations was carried on quite satisfactorily. These
205
committees frequently met in the Secretary's office and
took the burden of the great pressure of work entailed
at the time of mobilisation.
Another room was fitted up in the Secretary's offices
for the accommodation of the staff to be engaged on the
separation allowance work, and girls employed to be
initiated into that work. The Secretary's staff was added
to as it was round necessry to undertake the increased
volume of work. The Separation Allowance Department
has hand[ed up to 2000 claires. A separte set of books
and accounts are kept for this Department, which are
audited periodically by auditors from the Scottish
Command.
In peace time the Associations had provided suitable
drill halls and rifle ranges. The site for a drill hall was
purchased at Hawick, and a suitable drill hall erected
thereon at a cost of .2750. A building was purchased
at Galashiels and alterations and additions ruade thereon
to make it suitable for a drill hall with headquarter offices
and stores for the Regiment at a cost of 311S. A build-
ing was leased at Melrose and altered to make it suitable
for a drill hall. Drill halls and armouries were also
acquired on lease at 8elkirk and throughout Berwickshire.
These drill halls were suitably furnished and gymnastic
apparatus obtained for the use of the men, and instructors
lrovided to give instruction. Rifle ranges were either
provided or put into proper repair at the various Detach-
ments throughout the three counties. Drill fields were
also arranged for the use of the units. The latest web
equilment had been provided and ail units were suitably
clothed. The yeomanry had a suit of walking-out dress
and service dress for each man. Walking-out dress had
not been provided for the infantry, but two sets of service
dress had been supplied for each man. Mobilisation
stores had aIso been provided or a contract ruade for their
supply, so that when the word to mobilise came every-
thing was ready.
The Association undertook the raising and organisa-
tion of the National Reserve, and appointed Golonel Sir
Richard Waldie Griffith to the command of the Battalion
206
|or Roxburh and Selkirk, and Colonel Hope to the
eommand of the Battalion for Berwickshire. They also
appointed committees throuhout the area for the purpose
-of recruitin and oranisin. The ollowin were the
Chairmen of these Committees:--
ROXBURGH.--
Hawick--Lieut.-Colonel A. Haddon, O.B.E.,
Hawick.
Jedburgh--Major C. W. Anderson, Royal Bank
House, Jedburh.
Kelso--Major T. D. Crichton Smith, Kelso.
Melrose--Major A. Murison Small, Commercial
Bank Chambers, Melrose.
BERWICK.--
Duns--Captain A. N. McDoual, Market Square,
Duns.
Coldstream and Swinton-- Captain Smith,
Orchard House, Coldstream.
Earlston--Colonel C. Hope, of Cowdenknowes,
Earlston.
Lauder--Captain G. L. Broomfield, Lauder.
Greenlaw--Captain J. McDoual, Bassendean,
Gordon.
Chirnside--Mr Geore Ainslie, The Bridge,
Chirnside.
Ayton--Major T. J. S. Douhty, Ayton.
Eyemouth--Sert.-Major Peter Edar, Albert
Road, Eyemouth.
SELKIRK.--
Selkirk--Major D. C. Alexander, Selkirk.
Galashiels--Major W. Dunlop, Lawyer's Brae,
Galashiels.
Many parades took place at the headquarters of de-
tachments, and a shootin competition was oranised and
held at Melrose for the Roxburh and Selkirk Battalion,
prizes bein awarded to the best shootin detachments,
and a parade of the Berwickshire Battalion was held at
Duns. A register of ail men was kept by the chairman
207
-at each detachment Headquarters and by the secretary of
the Associations. At the outbreak of war parades of these
.detachments were held at the Headquarters of each de-
tachment, which were attended by Colonel Sir Richard
Waldie Griffith in Roxburh and Selkirk, and by Colonel
Hope in Berwickshire, who read the conditions upon
which they could ioin the army. Many enrolled at once,
and others enrolled at subsequent parades. The men were
classified into Class I., Class II., and Class III. Class I.
had been medically examined as fit for foreign service,
and subsequent instructions provided they could only get
the bounty if they ioined the Reular or New Armies.
The bounty for Class I. was £10, and the bounty for Class
II. £5. After the outbreak of war A.F.N.R.1 were
issued for every man entitled to the bounty who joined
the army. The strenth of the National Reserve was as
follows :--
Roxburghshire ...... 445
Berwickshire ......... 410
Selkirkshire ......... 376
1231
The recruiting under the voluntary system entailed
a great amount of work on behalf of the members of the
Associations, and each contributed his quota in one way
or another. Arrangements were ruade with the political
agents and their committees to assist in this work. Meet-
ings were arranged in ail the towns and villages through-
out the area administered by the Associations. Local
bands were engaged, and the band of the 3rd Battalion
K.O.S.B. from Edinburgh was brought out, and played
:t various centres throughout the area. Speakers were
arranged to address the audiences, advertisements were
inserted in the local papers, and attractive bills posted
at ail populous places. Large supplies of circulars and
attestation forms, both for the Regular Army and Ter-
ritorial Force were obtained, and the former freely distri-
buted. Recruiting staffs were organised at every Drill
Hall with instructions to recruit every man available either
for the Territorial Force or Kitchener's Army, the latter
2O8
being the most popular, as it was considered by many that
they would be the first to go to the front, which was not
the case.
On the passing of the Military Service Act the
Chairman, Captain C. B. Balfour, was appointed area
representntive. Major T. D. Crichton Smith, Major
Dunlop (both Members of the Association), and the
Secretary were appointed Military Representatives, and
subsequently, with the exception of Major T. D. Crichton
Smith, National Service representatives, and these gentle-
men did a great deal of work in securing men for the
army.
When the additional battalions came to be organised
much work fell to the Associations, especially in the
clothing and equipping of these and in finding the under-
clothing required, also for the 1/4th K.O.S.B., before
proceeding to the front. The Emergency and Finance
Commitees took this in hand. The contracts with the
London clothiers were stopped, as the War Office
required these contractors to supply the immediate needs
of the army in the south. The Hawick hosiery firms were
each visited, and old stocks on their shelves of the very
best quality of underclothing purchased. They also
arranged with the textile mills in the district to make
and supply the necessary khaki cloth, which was ruade
up by tailors and clothiers in Galashiels and Hawick. A
manufacturer in Galashiels also undertook to manufac-
ture the glengarry caps, including the diccd border, which
was done most efficiently, although these articles had not
been manufactured in the district before. These arrange-
ments proved most efficient and enabled the Battalions
to be clothed with the utmost despatch. Boots were also
obtained from supplies in the shops, and the units were
clothed and equipped to the entire satisfaction of the
Commanding Officers. The accounts, amounting to
about £22,000 for ail these outlays, were checked and
passed by the Finance Committee, paid by the Associa-
tions, and debited on an Imprest Account, which was
subsequently repaid to the Associations through the
Scottish Command, the result being that three Bat-
2O9
talions of Infantry and four Squadrons of Yeomanry were
recruited, clothed and equipped--the 1/4th K.O.S.B.,
2/4th K.O.S.B., 3/4th K.O.S.B., and two squadrons 1st
Lothians and Border Horse, one squadron 2/1st Lothians
and Border Horse, and one squadron 3/1st Lothians and
Border Horse. A depot (first called the Administrative
Centre) for the K.O.S.B. Territorials had been estab-
lished in Galashiels, and another in Wemyss Place, Edin-
burgh, for the Lothians and Border Horse, to which the
Associations sent considerable supplies of clothing, under-
clothing, and boots, which enabled subsequent drafts of
recruits to be fitted out ready to join the reserve unit.
In peace rime two squadrons of the Yeomanry were
administered by Roxburgh and Berwick Associations, the
other two squadrons with Headquarters in Edinburgh
were administered by the City of Edinburgh. After the
outbreak of war the four scuadrons were put into three
squadrons, and as this entailed a good deal of mixing up
of men administered by the different Associations in
March, 1917, the payment of the separation and depend-
ents' allowances were taken over by the City of Edin-
burgh.
The 2/4th K.O.S.B. was billeted in Galashiels, and
Colonel Sir Richard Waldie Griffith, as Chairman of the
Roxburghshire T.F. Association, did good work in obtain-
ing suitable billets there on reasonable terres, and the rents
and claires were settled by the Associations.
As already stated, every facility was given for men to
enrol in the Regular or New Armies, and a supply of
Attestation Forms for these Armies, as well as the Terri-
torials, were provided at ail Recruiting Centres. The
Associations also gave the Regular and New Armies
billeted in the area the use of the Drill Halls and Rifle
Ranges, paying ail expense of heating, lighting, and clean-
ing of the former and ail repairs and upkeep of the latter.
An important part of the duties of the Association has
been the recommendation of gentlemen for commissions
throughout the war. A joint Committee was appointed
composed of Captain C. B. Balfour, Colonel Hope, and
Major Alexander, who have satisfied themselves as to the
210
qualifications and suitability of each applicant before the
President and Secretary of the respective Associations
signed the certificate on the Army Form.
At a meeting of the Joint Committee held on 25th
October, 1916, the question of raising Volunteers was con-
sidered. Colonel The Hon. W. G. Hepburne Scott, who
had been asked to attend the meeting, explained what
would be required, and it was resolved to raise a Volun-
teer Battalion from Roxburgh and Selkirk and another
Volunteer Battalion from Berwickshire. After the pro-
bable number of officers and men had been ascertained
it was agreed to request the Lords Lieutenant of these
counties to make the necessary offer of service for His
Majesty's acceptance, and Committees were appointed to
put forward the names of gentlemen for commissions to
be recommended by the Lords Lieutenant.
At a subsequent meeting it was reported that the
offers of service had been accepted by His Majesty, and
the following strength had been enrolled:--
1st Roxburghshire Volunteer Regiment ... 685
1st Berwickshire Volunteer Regiment ... 457
1st Selkirkshire Volunteer Regiment ... 485
The following gentlemen had been nominated for
commissions :--
ROXBURGHSHIRE.--
Maior A. Stevenson. Mr Thomas Black.
Maior W. A. Innes. Mr Wr. E. Ballantyne.
Mr M. J. Oliver. Mr A. Midd|emas.
Mr J. B. Hamilton. Rev. John Laidlaw.
Mr W. Scott El|iot. Mr John T. C. Hi||.
Mr H. S. R. Innes. Mr Robert E. Boyd.
Mr James Veitch.
ERWICKSHIRE.--
Captain C. B. Balfour (as County Adiutant).
Captain A. N. McDougal.
Mr A. Malcolm. Mr H. Harvie.
Mr W. E. Kitson. Mr J. F. Veitch.
Mr G. S. Robertson. Mr N. P. Durie.
SELKIRKSHIRE.--
Colonel H. S. Murray.
Mr D. G. Stalker.
Mr John Roberts, jun.
Mr J. S. McQueen.
Mr R. H. Dun.
211
Mr R. S. Sanderson.
Mr C. Craig-Brown.
Mr Wm. Rutherford.
Mr R. Turnbull.
Mr Thomas Dryden.
It was also reported that Coloncl Sir Richard Waldie
Griffith had been appointed County Commandant for
Roxburghshire, and Lieut.-Colonel Murray, County Com-
mandant for Selkirkshire, and that these were to form an
Administrative Battalion to be called the Bordcr Rifle
Volunteer Battalion, under the command of Colonel Sir
Richard Waldie Griffith. Colonel Hope was appointed
County Commandant for Berwickshire, and Maior J. C.
Aitken, Nisbet, Duns, to command the 1st Berwickshire
Voluntcer Battalion. On 14th Aùgust, 1917, Colonel Sir
Richard Waldie Griffith having resigned the command
and the office of County Commandant in ordcr to take
up military duty in France, Lieut.-Colonel Murray was
appointed to the Command, and Lieut.-Colonel Steven-
son was appointed County Commandant for Roxburgh-
sbire. Captain J. M. Dun, 4th K.O.S.B., was appointed
Adjutant of the Border Rifles, and Captain A. N.
McDougal, Duns, was appointed Adiutant of the 1st
Berwickshire Volunteer Regiment. A sure of money was
voted for each Commanding Officer to meet his postage
and petty outlays, and ail the drill halls and rifle ranges
belonging to the Associations were put at their disposal
for drilling and rifle practice purposes. Additional drill
halls at outlying populous centres were also hired for
their use. The Royal Army Clothing Department sup-
plied the cloth on Indent, and the Associations arranged
contracts for the uniforms tobe ruade up first by a London
firm, but latterly by a Galashiels and Hawick firm of
clothiers. Equipment as well as arms were obtained by
Indent on the Ordnance at Stirling, and the whole Force
was suitably clothed and equipped in anticipation of the
men becoming efficient. On their being certified as
havlng become efficient a Grant of £2 per man was drawn
2i2
by the Associations to meet the cost of clothin and other
expenses. After the regiments were armed, clothed and
equipped, mobilization stores were indented for on
Ordnance and supplied to each Volunteer Battalion.
Alternative titles were given by the War Office to these
two Volunteer Regiments, that for the Border Rifles to
be 1st Vol. Batt. King's Own Scottish Borderers, and that
for 1st Berwickshire Volunteer Regiment to be 2nd Vol.
Batt. King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Circulars were sent out to owners of heavy motor
lorries and others throughout Roxburgh, Berwick, and
Selkirk, asking for the use of these to form a Heavy
Motor Transport Corps. Although these were readily
offered, it was round that Roxburgh was the only county
possessin sufficient of the weight required. An offer of
service of such a Corps was sent in by the Lord Lieutenant
of Roxburgh, which was accepted by His Majesty. The
naine of Mr J. B. Situe, Brieryhill, Hawick, was sent in
for a commission to command the Corps, and he was duly
gazetted Lieutenant to the Command. Mr R. W.
Michael, Kerchesters, Kelso, was also gazetted a 2nd Lieu-
tenant. The naine assigned to this l_]nit was Roxburgh-
sbire A.S.C., M.T. (V.), and it consisted of one heavy
section.
A conference was held in London on 23rd April, 1918,
with the Under Secretary of State for War in reference
to the raising of Special Service Companies for Coast
Defence. ]_.ieut.-Colonel Murray, Major Aitken, and the
Secretary attended on behalf of the Associations, when it
was arraged that these Service Companies should be
provided for three months, and the pay, with separation
allowances, to be the saine as those paid for the Territorial
Force. The necessary number of officers and men offered
their services and were organised under the 93rd and 94th
Companics of the Special Service Volunteers doing duty
at Dunbar. The separation and dependents' allowances
xvere assessed by the Secretary and paid to the dependents
and wives of these Volunteers. There were 36 had
dependents and 35 were married.
At the conclusion of the period the following letter of
appreciation was received from the Director General of
the Territorial Force:--
WAR OFFICE,
ADASTRAL HOUSE,
VICTORIA EMBANKMENT, F.C.4,
28th September, 1918.
SIR,
With reference to the termination this day of
the engagement of the Volunteers who have been serving
for three months in the Special Service Companies raised
under War Office letter, number as above, of the 1st June
last, at the original instance of the Under Secretary of
State for War in his appeal at the Conference heid at the
County Hall, Spring Gardens, London, on the 27th May
last, I am directed by the Army Councii to convey to you
an expression of the keen appreciation which is felt at the
patriotic response to that appeal.
It is fully realised that the officers and men concerned,
who voluntarily undertook, in nearly ali cases at consider-
able inconvenience to themseives, unaccustomed duties for
protracted periods of two or three months, enabled the
Government to meet a critical situation, and tide over
very difficuit days in the history of the war.
I am glad to add that ail concerned may congratulate
themselves on the fact that up to the limit of their powers
they have directly contributed to the improvement of the
situation in France, and on more distant fronts. It is a
matter of satisfaction to know that members of the Volun-
teer Force can be relied upon to corne forward on the
occasion of a crisis such as that which recently occurred,
and I ara to ask you to convey this expression of thanks
to ail concerned.
I ara, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sgd.) SCARBOROUGH, Major General,
Director General,
Territorial and Volunteer Forces.
Recruiting for the 1st Vol. Bn. K.O.S.B. (Border
Rifles) commenced in December, 1916, including both
Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire. Captain John M. Dun,
l/4th Bn. K.O.S.B., was appointed Adjutant on 27th
April, 1917, and about this time the obligation for a
definite number of hours of training to be done each
month came into force, and about 75 per cent. of the
Battalion signed the necessary form. The permanent
staff consisted of R.S.M.W. Balmer {K.O.S.B.), C.S.M.
Instructor of Musketry Buchanan {K.O.S.B.), and Reg.
Q.M.S. Elliot (H.L.I.).
The total number of ail ranks enrolled was 2121. Of
this total 546 men joined the Regular Army, about 200
were discharged medically unfit, and 1200 passed the effi-
ciency test, a record which was commented on most
favourably by the G.O.C.-in-C., Scottish Command.
The various specialists, signallers, machine gunners,
pioneers, etc., were fully trained up to establishment.
The Battalion was fully equipped and armed early in
1917, although every man could hOt be clothed, as the
Battalion was always over establishment. On the llth
November, 1918, the total strength was 1044.
Temporary service was performed by men of Jedburgh
and Hawick Detachments for about 18 months, manning
Hostile Aircraft Observation Posts at Jedburgh, Denholm,
Hawick, and Borthwickbrae. This duty was performed
from sunset till sunrise during that period.
The Battalion was inspected at various dates by the
G.O.C.-in-C., Scottish Command, G.O.C. Special Re-
serve Brigade, G.O.C. Highland Reserve Brigade, Inspec-
tor General of Infantry for Scotland, all of whom ex-
pressed their satisfaction as to its efficiency. The official
report of the Inspector General of Infantry was:--
REPORT OF I.G. INFANTRY VOLUNTEER UNITS.
lST BATTALION BORDER RIFLES VOLUNTEER REGIMENT.
TRAINING.--Well tralned and as good as any other Volun-
teer Battalion seen. Both instruction and work
thoroughly satisfactory throughout.
DRILL.---Good.
MUSKETR¥.--Instruction good, but a little more attention
needed to the correction of faults.
BAYONET FIGHTING.--Good.
HOTCHKI$$ GuNs.--Work smart and instruction good.
REMARKS.--A thoroughly efficient Battalion.
REMARKS B¥ G.O.C. SPECIAL RESERVE BRIGADE.
A very satisfactory report and reflects great credit on
the Commanding Officer and Adiutant.
(Sgd.) C.J. SIMPSON, Lt.-Col.,
Special Reserve Brigade.
Edinburgh, 23/3/18.
Field Marshal French inspected the Battalion at
Galashiels in January, 1917, and 600 men of the Battallon
took part in the march past before the Duke of Connaught
in September, 1917.
The Duke specially congratulated the County Com-
mandant on the smartness of the Battalion.
About 600 men of the Battalion were under canvas in
August and September, 1918, at Hedderwick and
Melrose.
When a call was ruade for Special Service Companles
in May, 1918, at a critical period in the war, two officers
and 109 men offered their services, though only two
officers and 71 men were accepted. These were on duty
on the East Coast from 29th .lune till 29th September,
1918.
The Battalion was one of the most efficient unlts in
Scotland, and was frecluently held up to other units as an
example of the standard to whlch Volunteers could be
raised.
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