THE SPIRIT OF THE BATTALION._The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion)

A corporate body is always a great mystery. Before very long it always

develops a spirit which is something more than the sum of the

individual spirits which compose it. And no man can quite say how it

comes into existence. It may be a greater spirit than that of any

individual. Sometimes it is not so great as that of its members.

And Battalions are no exception to this rule. Each brings forth a

spirit, and by that spirit the members are henceforth profoundly

influenced. It is not the spirit of the Colonel, or of any particular

member. It is the spirit of the Battalion, something compounded by the

subtle alchemies of the spiritual world out of the individual souls of

officers and privates alike.

Of the spirit of the 17th H.L.I. it may at once be said that the

outstanding characteristic was high-hearted youth. Most of the members

of the Battalion were young, but the Battalion itself had the

qualities of youth more truly than any of them. It was essentially

gay. It did its work to the accompaniment of a fine hilarity. It could

laugh even on the eve of battle. It could even be uproarious and

exuberant as only the really young can.

And yet it was very efficient youth. To a man these soldiers took

their work seriously, and because they brought to it a fine quality of

intelligence, the Battalion rose to efficiency with astonishing

rapidity. Many men read eagerly in text books about training and

tactics and so forth, and the Battalion from end to end was intolerant

of slovenliness. If it resembled a young man, it was a young man who

meant business.

[Illustration: Major The Rev. A. HERBERT GRAY.]

[Illustration: CHURCH PARADE--PREES HEATH CAMP.

_To face page 76._]

[Illustration: VARIOUS PHASES OF BATTALION TRAINING

_To face page 77._]

It was also very gifted youth. Its athletic record speaks for itself,

as does also its military record. But other gifts were lavished upon

it. It knew and loved good literature. It had numbers of trained

singers and musicians. It had dramatic possibilities in it. It knew

much of science and mechanics. That young thing which we call the 17th

H.L.I. in fact loved life, and every side of life. It throbbed with

energy of body, mind, and spirit. It tingled with many sided vitality.

But above all, it was loveable youth. Few bodies of soldiers have ever

so fully won the affections of towns and country districts. It has

left a mark of its own on Troon, Prees Heath, Wensley, Sheffield, and

Codford. People hurried out to see the column go by, and after it was

gone the hearts of men and women were happier because of it. It came

to have a place in the lives of thousands, and they all thought of it

with affection. As we look back on it now it lives with us as a silver

memory,--something belonging to the world of sunshine and laughter, of

beauty and of courage. The West of Scotland gave of its best to make

up that whole, and while it lived it made a place for itself in the

hearts of the West, which is secure for all time.

Its career was short, but its immortality is safe.

It is good to have known it. And though tragedy unspeakable dogged its

footsteps, and broke its life in this world, it lives and will always

live gloriously in the hearts and memories of uncounted men and women

who believe more in humanity, and perhaps even believe more in God

because of the "Seventeenth."

"CO-OPERATION."

One of the most outstanding and important things taught in military

text books is the value of striving to obtain "co-operation of all

arms." That is to say, the more sympathy, good comradeship and

understanding that exists between Infantry and Artillery and Cavalry

and Tanks and Air Force people and so on, the more efficient each of

these various arms becomes to carry out its respective duties.

Knowledge of the general tactical principles under which each arm

operates, and personal acquaintanceship with the various officers and

men of such other units, all tend to cement combined operations into

one smooth working whole for the pleasant efficiency of the

combinations concerned and for the better (or worse!) confusion of the

enemy.

Such co-operation was an ideal often aimed at, but only too seldom

actually accomplished. It required the best of officers and men to

attain that perfect co-operation through understanding, which does not

either fall short of or over reach the mark.

The following notes written by Major C.E. Lawder, late commanding "A"

Battery of the 168th Brigade, 32nd Division, Royal Field Artillery,

reveals how smoothly things ran in that all important section of

co-operation--that between Infantry and Artillery. In the eyes of

those accustomed to military affairs the following statements will

likely be recognised as perhaps the finest tribute that could be paid

to the 17th H.L.I., for it is not so much an item of direct praise, as

a sure indication of the high quality of efficiency attained by all

ranks of the Battalion, not to mention the pleasant reflection given

of "good humoured gentlemen." The 17th was ever proud to serve with

the gunners of the 168th Brigade, whose fine shooting inspired

confidence and courage:--

"We first met the famous 17th H.L.I. about New Year, 1916, in the La

Boiselle Sector and much concern as to the pronunciation of the

Scottish names given to the trenches was felt by my Yorkshire

gunners--Sauchiehall Street in particular defeated them. They wished

the Jocks would use Christian Huddersfield names! All my officers were

much impressed by the great kindness and hospitality shown them by the

17th H.L.I. Messes when liaison Officer with the Infantry or when

going round the front line, which we did constantly, myself as Battery

Commander every third day, and the subalterns daily--all to try and

get suggestions to better strafe the Boche and to show the Jocks that

the gunners wanted to share the pleasures of the front line with our

splendid Infantry.

"The 17th were commonly known as the Raiders, and most excellent they

were at the job--the Hun had a holy horror of the men from Glasgow. I

well remember a chat after a good raid with the big drummer and a

little corporal of the H.L.I. Both had greatly distinguished

themselves and they asked me not to question them as to details of the

raid, as some very dirty work took place across the way! I expect it

did from the look in their eye and the happy way they handled their

clubs.

"A great entente cordiale existed between my Battery and the Regiment

and this was referred to by Major-General Budworth, C.R.A., 4th Army,

at the Conference at Flixecourt before July 1st, 1916. All the gunners

at the gun position, then in the Orchard of Martinsart, sent in a

signed petition to be allowed to have the honour of going over the top

with the 17th in their next raid. The 17th returned the compliment by

Major W. Paul and about 20 raiders coming up to the guns from Rest

billets and carrying ammunition for us all night while we were

covering another regiment's raid. I got Major Paul on the firing seat

of one of the guns and some of the men at other guns. They did a lot

of firing but did not enjoy it. They all preferred the Infantry!

"The 17th were badly cut up on 1st July, 1916, and my men were much

concerned about them. We were all greatly relieved to hear that both

Col. Morton and Major Paul were not among the casualties. Some of the

Officers will doubtless remember a cheery Entente Dinner at

Bouzincourt--Cocktails by our Adjutant, Lobsters and Rouen Ducks are

still fresh in my memory. The Division moved up north to the Hulluch

Sector after the Somme July Battle. We were put to another Division

for a short time, and then our own Infantry turned up. It was cheery

meeting our old friends again, but many familiar names and faces were,

sad to say, missing.

"We had a very safe and nice gun position on a peninsula in a marsh at

Annieguin. This we made into a very smart and show position--lots of

"spit and polish." We had many visitors from the 17th and a lot of

their men used to come and bathe with ours. We fixed up a regular

bathing pool with springboard complete. All this was under cover of

trees and shrubs and quite out of sight of the Hun. I remember two of

the H.L.I. being pulled from or being stabbed in, a sap in No Man's

Land near the famous Brickstacks. We all wanted to have a Raid at once

in revenge. I forget whether it came off. Shooting here was difficult,

as the trenches were so close together, and very difficult to observe

fire. Very different was the supply of ammunition in mid and late 1916

to early in the year. It was a horrible feeling for a Battery when

asked to shoot and help the poor old Infantry, to have to refuse for

lack of shells. At the Brickstacks we used to often fire--almost

daily--from 150 to 350 rounds Agressive Action on Hun Tender Spots. It

was then that we could retaliate about 50 to 1 if they were

sufficiently "agressed" to fire back. That kept the line--our side

(!)--quiet.

"We all moved down in October, 1916, to the Ancre show, and a horrible

wet march it was. We separated for a bit, the Battery going to the

Scottish 51st Division. We were then rejoined by our own Infantry at

Beaumont Hamel. I got smashed up and was evacuated home, and just

after, my best Officer, Lieut. H.W. Ainley was burned to death at the

Wagon Line. He was a splendid fellow and very well known to the 17th.

"Officers and men of both Units were always together and better

feeling between them could not exist. It was a great honour to know

the 17th and we gloried in being the Battery to cover them at the P.

of E. in a raid." [The P. of E. is the Point of Entry, necessitating

very accurate gunlaying, timing, and strict adherence to the barrage

programme.]

[Illustration: "THE OUTPOST" STAFF ON ACTIVE SERVICE.]

[Illustration: THE ORIGINAL EDITORIAL STAFF.

Sgt. FERGUSON, the late Sgt. REITH and Pte. HUTCHESON.

_To face page 81._]

"THE OUTPOST."

One of the most outstanding activities of the Battalion was the

production of a periodical which combined a considerable high level of

artistic and literary excellence with a racy narrative of Battalion

news and _personalia_. This regimental magazine of the 17th H.L.I. was

conceived in 1914, though actually founded early in 1915, and from

that time, throughout all the rigours of work at home--and the

extraordinary difficulties of operations in the Field, _The Outpost_

was produced, and well produced. Perhaps more than anything, the

standard and record of this production, and its acceptance and

success, both within the unit and with an ever growing general public,

reflects the intellectual level of those who composed the Battalion.

In an appreciation which appeared in _The Glasgow News_ in June, 1919,

on the occasion of the completion of the seventh volume, it is

remarked--"Nursed in its early youth by an editorial staff that was

not without experience, it proved a lusty infant, and as the years

went on it gained in strength.

"In a sort of valedictory--for the magazine will still be published

annually by the Seventeen Club--the editor sings its praises. He has

every right to pitch them on a high key. He points out that the paper

has always been welcomed and appreciated in many homes (yes, even in

Buckingham Palace), and in training camps, hospitals, rest camps,

lonely dug-outs, and soaking trenches, as well as in the scorching

East and amid Arctic snows. Wherever old members have gone at duty's

call, their magazine has followed, and has interested and cheered with

its articles and illustrations of the lighter side of Army life.

"Lately a noted writer on military topics, an English officer of high

rank, in giving a most appreciative criticism of _The Outpost_,

said--'It is only your dour, determined Scotsmen who could manage to

'carry-on' such a paper under the tremendous handicaps of active

service, and the result has been unquestionably the finest literary

and artistic venture in battalion magazines that the war has

produced.'"

In a note concerning those who originated and inspired this war

publication--unique in its continued success--Mr. J. M'Kechnie, whose

name is intimately associated with its success, says--"The credit of

the original idea of publishing a Battalion Magazine belongs to Lieut.

J. Kelly--our first R.S.M. Early in January, 1915, he called a meeting

at which the journalistic machinery was set in motion. The appointment

of the late Mr. Steven D. Reith as Editor assured the success of the

venture, for under his able and enthusiastic direction, _The Outpost_

from the first number reached a standard hitherto unapproached in

British military publications. From month to month it supplied a

bright literary and artistic reflection of the chief events in the

life of the Battalion, and the editorial aimed at giving a lead to the