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THE FIFE AND FORFAR YEOMANRY
[Illustration: OFFICERS AT FAKENHAM, 1915.
_Back Row (left to right)._—Lt. Smith, Lt. Rigg, Lt. Hutchison, Lt.
Herdman. Lt. Gray, Lt. Stewart, Lt. Marshall, Lt. Lindsay, Lt.
Robertson, Capt. Osborne, Lt. Don, Lt. Cummins, Capt. Mitchell, Capt.
Ogilvie. Capt. Tuke, Major De Prée, Major Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Mitchell,
Capt. Lindsay, Major Younger, Major Nairn. Lt. Nairn, Lt. Andrew, Lt.
Sir W. Campbell, Lt. Inglis.
_Frontispiece_]
THE FIFE AND
FORFAR YEOMANRY
AND 14TH (F. & F. YEO.) BATTN. R.H.
1914–1919
BY MAJOR D.D. OGILVIE
WITH A PREFACE BY
MAJOR-GENERAL E.S. GIRDWOOD, C.B., C.M.G.
Lately G.O.C. 74th (Yeomanry) Division
ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS
LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET
1921
_All rights reserved_
FOREWORD
Major Ogilvie has done me the honour of asking me to write a short
preface to a work which to me is of peculiar interest.
To write a preface—and especially a short one—is a somewhat
difficult task, but my intense pride in, and admiration for, the part
played by the Battalion with which the gallant author was so long and
honourably associated must be my excuse for undertaking to do my best.
From his stout record as a soldier the author’s qualifications to
write this history are undoubted. His readers will be able to follow
from start to glorious finish of the Great War the fortunes of that
gallant little band of Fife and Forfar Yeomen who ultimately became
the 14th (Fife and Forfar Yeomanry) Battalion The Royal Highlanders.
There was little of moment in the operations of the Egyptian
Expeditionary Force in which this unit did not take part. In divers
theatres of war they answered the call of Empire—from Gallipoli to
Jerusalem, from Jerusalem to France—ever upholding the honour of
their King and Country and the best traditions of the British Army.
No matter what by-path of the Great War they trod they bore themselves
with the undaunted spirit of their forefathers.
The experiences of the Battalion were so full of interest as to seem
well worth placing on record—quite apart from the military importance
of the operations in which they were concerned.
The ordinary reader must consider the conditions under which the work
of this unit was carried out—often under a burning sun and again in
bitter cold, mud and torrential rain—conditions which might well
appal the stoutest heart, but here I note that the gallant author, as
I expected, makes light of the many hardships and vicissitudes that he
and his comrades were called upon to endure.
Again, when we consider how these heroes first entered the lists as
cavalry, were then called upon to serve as dismounted cavalry, and
finally as infantrymen, it surely speaks highly for that “will to win”
that they had not long before the cessation of hostilities died of a
broken heart!
Many a time during the two years that I had the honour to command the
74th (Yeomanry) Division both in Palestine and France, I noted—not
without a feeling of intense pride—the cheery “never-say-die” spirit
which pervaded all ranks of this splendid Battalion.
No matter what task was set them—no matter what the difficulties and
privations to be encountered—all was overcome by that unfaltering
determination and unswerving loyalty which carried them triumphant
wherever the fates called them.
In conclusion of these few poor remarks of mine, let me congratulate
the author on his story. If others read it with the same interest and
enjoyment with which it has filled me, I can only think that the
author’s labours have not been in vain.
Further, may these remarks go forth, not only as a token to my old
friends of the 14th Battalion The Royal Highlanders, of the
admiration, affection, and gratitude of their old Commander, but to
the whole of Scotland as a tribute to the memory of those good and
gallant comrades of the “Broken Spur” whom we left behind in foreign
lands.
ERIC S. GIRDWOOD,
_(late) Major-General,
Commanding 74th (Yeomanry) Division._
PORTSMOUTH,
_20th August 1921_.
INTRODUCTION
This short history, written by request, was started shortly after the
Regiment was disbanded. For the delay in publishing it, I must plead
the great mass of inaccuracies which had to be corrected and verified,
entailing a considerable amount of correspondence and consequent lapse
of time. It has been compiled from Official Diaries and Forms, and
from a Diary kept by Lieut.-Colonel J. Younger, D.S.O., without whose
assistance it would never have been completed.
It will, however, recall to the reader’s mind the strenuous and
eventful days we spent together in a regiment of whose history we are
all so justly proud, and whose career now as a Yeomanry Regiment is
ended, and it will recall the gallant fellows with whom we served and
many a gallant deed.
To the glorious memory of those whose graves lie in a foreign land, I
humbly dedicate this book.
D. DOUGLAS OGILVIE.
_April 1920._
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
I. AT HOME—1914–1915 1
II. ABROAD—1915 9
III. EGYPT—1916 30
LIST OF OFFICERS 40
IV. EGYPT AND PALESTINE—1917 41
V. PALESTINE—1918 107
VI. FRANCE—1918 119
VII. SOME PERSONALITIES 143
VIII. THE PREDECESSORS OF THE FIFE AND FORFAR YEOMANRY 159
HONOURS AND AWARDS 165
LIST OF CASUALTIES 168
INDEX 204
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
_Face Page_
Officers at Fakenham, 1915 _Frontispiece_
N.C.O.’s at Fakenham, 1915 2
H.M. The King, with Brigadier-General Lord Lovat and
Major-General Bruce Hamilton 4
The Regiment in Column of Troops at St Ives 4
Crossing the Bridge, St Ives 6
Lieut. R.G.O. Hutchison and Machine Gun Section, 1915 6
Guard Mounting, Fakenham 8
Entraining Horses, Fakenham 8
Gebel-el-Ghenneim, Khargeh Oasis 18
The Highland Barricade, Asmak Dere, Suvla 18
Captain Tuke on “Joseph” 34
In the Village of Khargeh 34
Sentry on Water Dump “A” 36
Camel Lines at Khargeh 36
Senussi Prisoners, Dakhla 40
The Sergeants’ Reel, Moascar 40
The Battalion Mascot 42
Battalion Cookhouse, El Ferdan 42
Dug-outs in the Front Line, Sheikh Abbas 54
A Reserve Wadi, Sheikh Abbas 54
A Platoon Mess, Wadi Asher 58
“C” Company Officers’ Mess, Wadi Asher 58
Turkish Trench, with dead Turks, Hill 1070, Beersheba 62
Bathing, Regent’s Park 62
Battalion Bivouac near Suffa 110
The Irish Road crossing the Wadi Ain Arik 110
The Battalion Football Team 140
The Fife and Forfar Imperial Yeomanry at Annsmuir 158
Detachment at H.M. The King’s Visit to Edinburgh 160
Regimental Drill at Annsmuir, with Skeleton Enemy 160
Group showing Six successive Commanding Officers 164
The Cadre on arrival at Kirkcaldy 164
MAPS
Our Trenches in the Front Line at Suvla 20
Battle of Sheria 68
Operations in Palestine, 1917–1918 106
Trench System on the Somme 134
The Lys Sector 142
THE FIFE AND FORFAR YEOMANRY
CHAPTER I
AT HOME—1914–1915
August 4th, 1914, marks the end and also the beginning of two great
epochs in the history of every Territorial Unit. It marked the close
of our peace training and the beginning of thirteen months’ strenuous
war training for the thirty-seven months which we were to spend on
active service abroad.
The Fiery Cross which blazed across the entire Continent caught most
people unawares and unprepared—but not so our headquarters. Our
mobilization papers had already been made out and were despatched
immediately on the outbreak of war. Each one of us was bidden to
report forthwith to his Squadron Headquarters, and while we kicked our
heels there, officers were scouring the country for horses. Soon these
came in of every sort and shape, and in a week’s time the Regiment was
concentrated at Blairgowrie.
The headquarters of the Regiment was at Kirkcaldy, the four Squadrons
A, B, C, and D having their headquarters respectively at Cupar,
Dunfermline, Dundee, and Forfar. The recruiting area comprised the
counties of Fife, Forfar, Kinross, and Clackmannan, and there was also
a troop in Stirlingshire within a few miles of Loch Lomond. The rest
of the Highland Mounted Brigade, to which the Regiment belonged, was
pure Highland, consisting of two regiments of Lovat’s Scouts, the
Inverness Battery, R.H.A., and a T. and S. Column and Field Ambulance
hailing also from Inverness. On changing to War Establishment, D
Squadron dropped out and was divided amongst A, B, and C, with the
exception of Lieut.-Colonel King who went to Remounts, and Captain
Jackson who became Staff Captain on the newly formed Brigade Staff.
The Regiment was fortunate in having about a week at Squadron
Mobilization Centres before uniting at Blairgowrie, and a pretty
hectic week it was for most of us. The most rapid bit of work must
have been that of D Squadron, whose men were distributed amongst the
other squadrons, fully equipped, in about three days. This squadron
was also called upon to provide the various details, such as mounted
police, who were required on mobilization to report to the Highland
Territorial Infantry Division, the famous 51st.
[Illustration: N.C.O.’s AT FAKENHAM, 1915.
_Back Row (left to right)._—Sgts. Edmond, Petrie, Annand, M’Niven.
_Second Row._—Farr.-Sgt. Lindsay, Sgts. Inglis, Gourlay, Farr.-Sgt.
Renton, Sgt. Abbie, Saddler-Sgt. Smith, Sergt. Kirk, F.Q.M.S. Allan,
Sgts. Hood, Walker, Colthart, Haig, Lumsden, Thorp, Dougall, Couper,
Bradfield, Craig. _Third Row._—Sgts. Thornton, Aitken, S.Q.M.S.
Craig, S.S.M. Edie, S.S.M. Ogilvie, Capt. and Adjt. M.E. Lindsay,
R.S.M. R.G. Rapkin, Capt. Jackson, S.S.M. M’Laren, S.S.M. Adams,
S.Q.M.S. W. Birrell, Farr.-Sgt. W. Guthrie, Sgt. J. Wilson. _Front
Row._—Sgts. Scott, Stewart, Gair, Duff, Hair, Adams, Kidd, and
Henderson.
_To face page 2_]
During this first week squadrons had to arrange for their own
billeting, forage, and rations; take over, shoe, brand, and number the
horses as they were sent up in twos and threes by the buyers; mark all
articles of equipment with the man’s regimental number; fit saddlery;
see that all ranks had brought with them and were in possession of the
prescribed underclothing, boots, and necessaries; take on charge all
articles on the Mobilization Store Table as they arrived in odd lots
from Stirling; and, beyond the above duties, which were all according
to regulation, to make unofficial arrangements to beg, borrow, or
steal clothing of sorts to cover those who had enlisted, or
re-enlisted, to complete to War Establishment, and to provide for
deficiencies in the saddlery and clothing already on charge.
The result of all the hard work was that it was practically a complete
unit which came together at Blairgowrie about the 12th of August. Our
Mobilization Orders had been thoroughly thought out and the general
outline made known to all ranks, so that no time was lost in getting a
move on. At Blairgowrie we were billeted in a school, and would have
been very comfortable if we had been older campaigners, in spite of
the fact that our horses were about half a mile away, up a steep hill,
in a field which looked as if it had been especially selected so that
we might trample to pieces a heavy clover crop, and at the same time
be as far as possible from any possible watering place for the
horses. It meant also about as stiff a hill as possible up which to
cart all our forage from the station below. Here our adjutant, Captain
M.E. Lindsay, who knew the whole business of regimental interior
economy from A to Z, started to get things into proper form and to see
that orderly officers, orderly sergeants, and orderly corporals
performed as many of their proper duties as, with their inexperience,
could be fitted into the twenty-four hours. By the end of three days
order was beginning to spring out of chaos, and the adjutant never did
a better bit of work—and that is saying a great deal—than he did in
hunting all and sundry during those first few days.
A depot for recruiting was formed at Kirkcaldy and men quickly swelled
our reinforcements there. After a few days at Blairgowrie, the
Regiment entrained for the Brigade Concentration at Huntingdon; but as
it was found there was insufficient space for a whole brigade, we were
moved to St Ives, about six miles off, where there was a splendid
common for drilling and good billets for the men. Very strenuous
training occupied our two months there, and the expectation of going
abroad at a moment’s notice kept us up to concert pitch. An inspection
by H.M. the King of the whole Brigade on the common at Huntingdon, and
another by Sir Ian Hamilton, helped to confirm our expectations,
and when we suddenly got orders one Sunday at midnight that we were to
move to an unknown destination few doubted that we were bound for
Boulogne.
[Illustration: H.M. THE KING, WITH BRIGADIER-GENERAL LORD LOVAT AND
MAJOR-GENERAL BRUCE HAMILTON.
_To face page 4_]
[Illustration: THE REGIMENT IN COLUMN OF TROOPS AT ST. IVES.
_To face page 4_]
What a bustle we had that Monday. We had built a fine range of stables
on the Market Square, which were completed all except the harness
rooms on the Friday, and on the Saturday all the horses were moved in
except those in the sick lines. We had just received a consignment of
about 100 grass-fed remounts which had been handed over to squadrons
to look after, but not definitely allotted. Consequently when we
received orders to move we had horses in the Market Square, saddlery
about a mile away up the Ramsey Road, and horses in the sick lines
which belonged to no one in particular and had never been fitted with
saddlery at all. In addition, every one had been collecting every
conceivable sort of kit “indispensable for active service,” presents
from kind friends and purchases from plausible haberdashers, with the
result that quite 50 per cent. of our gear had to be left behind or
sent home. To add to our confusion a draft arrived from our second
line to bring us up to War Establishment, and they had to be fitted
out with horses, etc. However, we got off up to time and entrained at
Huntingdon, wondering if it would be three days or a week (at most)
before we were charging Uhlans.
But our destination was only the Lincolnshire coast—Grimsby.
Fortunately thirty-six hours terminated our stay there, and we trekked
off south, eventually halting at Hogsthorpe, a village about three
miles from the coast. The two remaining regiments of the Brigade were
one in Skegness and the other half-way between us and Skegness.
For the next few months we moved from one village to another in the
neighbourhood of Skegness. “We dug miles of trenches along the
coast—we erected barbed wire entanglements for the sea to play
with—we patrolled bleak stretches of coast day and night, and in all
sorts of weather—we watched patiently for spies and Zeppelins, and we
were disappointed. Nothing happened; the Germans would not come.”
Christmas was spent at Skegness, and in spite of alarms and excursions
we had an excellent regimental dinner, very largely due to the
generosity of our friends in Scotland. The ladies of the Regiment
opened subscription lists for “Comforts” for the Regiment, and
everyone who was asked not only gave but gave generously. Wherever we
went our “Comforts” followed us, whatever we asked for we got and,
except on Gallipoli, we were never without our own private stock of
Grant’s or Inglis’ oatmeal. We owe a lot to the generosity of our
friends in Scotland.
[Illustration: CROSSING THE BRIDGE, ST IVES.
_To face page 6_]
[Illustration: LIEUT. R.G.O. HUTCHISON AND MACHINE GUN SECTION, 1915.
_To face page 6_]
From Lincolnshire we moved again south to Norfolk. King’s Lynn was
found to be unsatisfactory as a billeting area, so we trekked on to
Fakenham which proved to be our final resting place in England. By now
our training had so far advanced that we were not kept at it quite so
hard, and we had more time for sports. We had polo, cricket, and all
kinds of games, and on 3rd June mounted sports which were most
successful.
We spent the summer putting on the finishing touches, and did some
very useful bits of training, including some fairly ambitious schemes
of trench digging and planning, which proved invaluable later on, and
which was a branch of knowledge in which many Yeomanries were
conspicuously lacking. Also, by this time, a few courses of
instruction had been started at the larger military centres, and we
had several officers and men trained at these courses in musketry and
other branches who were then able to pass their information on to the
rest of us. We were given an army gymnastic instructor who brushed up
our physical training—on which we had always been very keen—and also
started to put us through a thorough course of bayonet fighting. There
was also a busy time among our machine gunners, who trained spare
teams up to nearly three times our establishment, which was
invaluable, as it enabled us to take advantage of the chance which
came to us of going abroad with six machine guns per regiment instead
of three. As our usual role on Gallipoli was to take over with three
squadrons, whose effective strength was never more than 100 each at
the most, and generally considerably less, from four companies of
infantry, each numbering anything from 150 to 180 strong, these extra
machine guns were worth their weight in gold.
By this time a good many were thoroughly “fed up” with so long a spell
of home service, fearing that the war would be over before we got out
at all. And it was not till nearly the end of August that we got
definite news that at last we were to receive the reward of all our
hard training and see service overseas. We were inspected and
addressed by General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien. Our horses, that had done
us so well on many a strenuous field day, that knew cavalry drill
better than some of us, that had taken part in our famous charge with
fixed bayonets on the common at St Ives, were taken from us and sent,
some to our second line and some to remount depots. In return for a
horse we were each given a heavy cavalry sword, presumably to prevent
us being confused with mere infantry.
On 5th September we said good-bye to our friends in Fakenham and
started off on our journey for an unknown destination but—business.
[Illustration: GUARD MOUNTING, FAKENHAM.
_To face page 8_]
[Illustration: ENTRAINING HORSES, FAKENHAM.
_To face page 8_]