Much has been written, and many discussions have arisen concerning the
good-fellowship and camaraderie which exists among the survivors of
the 17th H.L.I., and able pens will express the high ideals aimed at,
and the strong determination in the minds of those remnants to
establish "The Club" on a basis good and sound. Since the inauguration
of the Battalion in September, 1914, there has been a predominating
feeling that such an institution should be made.
Since the first batch of men arrived in Glasgow from France
arrangements were made which facilitated meeting daily in Craig's
Smoke Room in Gordon Street--the arrangement still holds good. Any
forenoon the boys may be found over their coffee and incidentally
discussing the chance of one day, in the near future, having a "nook"
of their own. The object of having such a place is to afford such
privacy as premises of their own would give, in order to have
uninterrupted meetings, business or pleasure, as the occasion
demanded.
One great object of the Club is to establish the Benevolent Fund of
the Battalion on a sound financial basis, so as to be in a position to
deal with necessitous cases connected with the 17th Battalion, and it
is thought that this is the only way. It is intended that the Club
should be self-supporting, and assistance is hoped for, morally and
financially, of all those who are interested in the affairs
appertaining to the old Battalion.
A Committee to carry on the good work has been formed, and includes
Colonel Morton, Major Young, with Messrs. Ritchie, Tilley, Corbett and
M'Andrew from the various Companies, along with Mr. J.W. Arthur on the
Benevolent Fund Committee, as representing the Chamber of Commerce.
This Committee will report progress to a General Meeting, at which it
is hoped to decide what steps may be taken to acquire a Working
Capital. It is possible that a Voluntary Subscription List may be
opened, and it is hoped that the opportunity may be given to help the
worthy project of thus forming a Memorial to those who have fallen in
the great cause.
No better monument of love and good-fellowship could be thought of
than to give a helping hand in the hour of need, and, to provide
towards a comfortable home for those who are left to enjoy it.
"E" COMPANY.
At the beginning of January, 1915, the 17th H.L.I. had recruited its
full war strength, and the authorities decreed that a Reserve Company
should be formed. This became "E" Company, and was trained as a unit
of the Battalion at Troon, until the 17th left for England. On May
13th, 1915, it was transferred to Gailes, and became a unit of the
19th Reserve Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Auld being in command. Under
his training, the Company, as well as the Battalion, reached a high
standard of efficiency. After being inspected by Brigadier-General
Cockburn on the 28th September, 1916, a draft of 101 N.C.O.s and men
was sent to join the 17th H.L.I. at Codford. What was left of "E" Coy.
entrained on 26th October, 1915, at Gailes for Ripon. The men were
billeted in excellent huts in the South Camp of that quaint old
cathedral town, where route marches took place and many excursions
were made to many of the interesting towns and places of interest.
When the 17th embarked for France, some details left behind arrived
from Codford on 15th December, 1915, and brought back many old friends
and highly efficient instructors. Later on Viscount French paid a
visit of inspection to the Ripon area, and the 19th H.L.I. formed part
of the Guard of Honour on that occasion.
After Ripon came Montrose, and although connected with the Battalion's
history only in a small way, the period from 25th April, 1916, to 12th
June, 1917, is nevertheless well worthy of mention. Montrose with its
lovely beaches and pleasant surroundings, forms one of the happiest
memories of those who found themselves part of the 19th H.L.I. during
its sojourn there.
1916-17 was a trying time in the life of the Reserve Battalion.
Training was concentrated to an unheard-of degree--a recruit being
allowed nine short weeks before he found himself on Embarkation Leave.
Drafts were required by the dozen, both for the Western Front (for
which the Somme and Beaumont Hamel Offensives were chiefly
responsible) and for the Eastern Front. Then there was the trying
coastguard work with its trench-digging excursions to Lunan Bay--work
which probably helped to avert a danger not so remote as we then
imagined.
"E" Company had a fair share of all these worries, and its able
Commander, Captain F.D. Morton, was kept busy choosing drafts,
arranging programmes, and working out tactical schemes.
Major W.H. Anderson, who afterwards became Lieut.-Colonel, and was
awarded the V.C. after his lamented death, did much for the good of
the Battalion; and the Soldiers' Home, run by Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs.
Auld, proved of great advantage to the men. This period marked the
extinction of "E" Company, as representing the 17th. Draft after draft
had robbed it of its original appearance, and when on 1st September,
1916, the 19th became the 78th Training Reserve Battalion, it lost all
semblance of its former self, and may be said to have had an
inglorious end to a short but useful life.
[Illustration: LIEUT.-COLONEL W. AULD, V.D.
_To face page 90._]
[Illustration: The late Lt.-Col. WILLIAM HERBERT ANDERSON, V.C.]
[Illustration: The late Sergt. J.Y. TURNBULL, V.C.
_To face page 91._]