I.--The Guard Room was always empty.
II.--There were practically no men "crimed" for lateness on
parade.
III.--There were practically no "crimes" for being out of
"billets."
IV.--There were no complaints of rowdyism in billets.
V.--There were no charges of drunkenness.
VI.--There were only very few charges of pass breaking.
VII.--There were very few claims for damage, and these on
examination were more vindictive than real.
VIII.--It was not necessary to serve any billeting notices.
These are a few of the significant facts that mount up to bring honour
to the rank and file of the 17th H.L.I.
The three troop-trains carrying the Battalion arrived at Whitchurch,
Shropshire, on the morning of the 14th May, and the men marched some
three miles south to the great hut-city on Prees Heath. This was the
first War Station of the Brigade, where the 15th, 16th and 17th H.L.I.
joined the 11th (S.) Battalion Border Regiment (The Lonsdales). There
the men found hut life very comfortable. The cleaning and tidying of
their new abodes kept them busy, and was carried out with the cheery
zest and whole-hearted enthusiasm so characteristic of the
Seventeenth. Full advantage was taken of the adjacent Y.M.C.A.
establishment, which proved an admirable Institution. The Concert
Hall, Refreshment Tables, Reading and Billiard Rooms, were well
patronised at all off-duty hours, and the men appreciated the cheerful
kindness of the attendants, who were voluntary lady workers from the
County houses.
Extended manoeuvres were impracticable in this well-fenced
agricultural area, so the training embraced much route-marching, and
barrack-square work, musketry, signalling, visual training, etc.
There were several trying marches in the scorching May-June weather,
to Clive's native district, Moreton-Say and Market Drayton, to Wem and
Hodnet, and to the beautiful scenery of Hawkstone Park, and Iscoyd
Hall. Football, cricket, hockey, golf and cross-country running
provided healthy recreation, while excursions to old-world "Sleepy
Chester," to Shrewsbury and into Wales were popular week-ends.
[Illustration: A PEACEFUL BIVOUAC--SALISBURY PLAIN.]
[Illustration: RECRUITING MARCH AT GRAND PARADE, BATH.
_To face page 22._]
In the third week of June, 1915, the 17th H.L.I. changed quarters from
the flat stifling district of Prees-Heath to the breezy upland valley
of Wensleydale, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. There is hardly a
level acre in the district, but this was a welcome change. Many an
enjoyable journey was made, in the intervals of Brigade Training,
northward to lonely Swaledale, south to Coverdale, across the Valley
of the Yore, to the prominent peak of Penhill, or to the beautiful
Aysgarth Falls.
The Infantry Brigade, the 97th, had the 95th and the South Irish Horse
as comrades for the training round Leyburn and Middleham, and Bellerby
Moors; and some pleasant friendships were formed with the Warwickshire
and Gloucestershire lads, and with the "foine foightin' bhoys" from
Cork and Tipperary.
On the 27th of July tents were shifted to Totley Rifle Ranges in
Derbyshire, where the preliminary Musketry Course was fired by the
Battalion during the next fortnight, with most creditable results. The
men made themselves great favourites in Totley and Dore, and at
Sheffield, where they received a very hospitable welcome at all times,
and especially on the occasion of a memorable route march through that
city on 9th August. The Battalion was given an enthusiastic send-off
at Dore and Beauchief Stations on 10th August, when entraining for
Salisbury Plain, the scene of their next training ground.
When the Seventeenth steamed into the station at Codford St. Mary, on
11th August, and saw the occasional houses peeping through the tall
trees, it was the thought that, after the bustle and stir of Totley,
they had indeed become soldiers in earnest. The Camp Warden
strengthened this belief with his assurance that no unit stayed longer
than six weeks in the Camp, and after that,--Southampton and France,
for the testing and proof of all that had been learnt so eagerly. As
it turned out, three months were spent at Codford--months of rigorous
training, of long interesting divisional manoeuvres, and general
hardening. The men learned to dig trenches quickly and well, for they
had to spend nights in them; to march many miles without complaint,
and fight at the end of the hardest day's march; to use Lewis guns,
not as amateurs with a strange toy, but as men whose lives depended on
their speed and ability. The mysteries of transport, and the value of
a timetable were revealed.
Needless to say these days of field exercises were not lacking in some
amusing incidents which seem to dog the footsteps of peace conditions
manoeuvres and which act as very welcome episodes amid the hard work
that such training involves. Towards the close of one of the
periodical manoeuvres carried out by the Seventeenth under the
critical eye of an Inspecting General a bugle had sounded and the
manoeuvres ceased. Officers grouped together and men lay on their
backs and talked. The General turned to one of the Battalion officers
who were now beginning to assemble round him, and said, "What was that
call?" He often did such things as this to test knowledge of detail.
"The Stand Fast," said the officer to whom the question was addressed.
"Oh! come! come!" said the General, "Now, what was it?" he further
questioned a Company Commander. No reply came. Then he turned to the
Second in Command, "Now, Major, what was it? Tell him." "The Stand
Fast, sir," said the Major. "Really," said the General, "you gentlemen
must learn the elementary things in soldiering. Bugler, tell these
gentlemen what that call was." "The Stand Fast, sir," replied the
bugler. The General hurried on with the conference!
At Codford the Battalion had its first taste of army biscuit and
bully-beef. From Monday to Thursday manoeuvres were held; on Friday,
"clean up," and on Saturday, after the Colonel's inspection, the
luckier ones went to Bath and Bristol for the day, or to London or
Bournemouth for the week-end. Friday was pay day--"Seven Shillings me
lucky lad," and after pay-out, the reading of the Army Act or a
Lecture on bayonet-fighting or tactics. Games flourished. The
Battalion football team played and defeated Bath City, and met the
other Battalions of the Division at Rugby Football, and invariably
won. On the ranges with rifle and Lewis gun, the Battalion maintained
its place as _the_ Battalion in the Division.
[Illustration: OFFICERS OF THE BATTALION AT MAR LODGE, TROON,
1915.
_To face page 24._]
[Illustration: VISIT OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
TROON, 1915.
_To face page 25._]
At last word was received that the Battalion would cross to France on
November 22nd. Only fifty per cent. got week-end leave--there was no
time for more. Training was over. Few will forget the brave skirl of
the pipes as the Battalion swung home in the morning from Yarnbury
Castle, file after file silhouetted against the orange and gold of the
rising sun. Always, when the wind blows fresh and sweet in the
morning, those who are left of those happy times will think of
Codford, the "jumping off place" of the Seventeenth for France.
The following message of God-speed and goodwill was received by the
Battalion as part of the 32nd Division before setting out:--
"17TH SERVICE BATTALION HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY.
"BRIGADE ORDER NO. 1285, OF 19TH NOVEMBER, 1915.
"MESSAGE FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING.
"Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 32nd
Division, on the eve of your departure for Active Service I send
you my heartfelt good wishes.
"It is a bitter disappointment to me, owing to an unfortunate
accident, I am unable to see the Division on Parade before it
leaves England; but I can assure you that my thoughts are with
you all.
"Your period of training has been long and arduous, but the time
has now come for you to prove on the Field of Battle the results
of your instruction.
"From the good accounts that I have received of the Division, I
am confident that the high traditions of the British Army are
safe in your hands, and that with your comrades now in the Field
you will maintain the unceasing efforts necessary to bring the
War to a victorious ending.
"Good-bye and God-speed."