FRANCE—1918
On disembarking at Marseilles on 7th May we opened a new chapter in
the history of the Regiment. The contrast from the East was indeed
marked and delightful, and the long train journey passed quickly in
our joy at seeing once more green fields and green trees, villages,
and farms, long fair hair and fair complexions. We could hardly have
had more beautiful scenery than we had during the first day through
the south of France. We kept to the branch lines to the west of the
main Rhone Valley line, and wound in and out all day at the foot of
steep hills crowned with old castles and picturesque villages which
looked so peaceful that it was hard to realise that there was a war
on. The second day saw us skirting Paris by Juvisy, and gave us a good
view of Versailles and the numerous airships at St Cyr. The last day
our route lay chiefly through water meadows, and by 9.30 we had
reached our detraining station—Noyelles—whence after a hot breakfast
we marched ten miles to our destination—St Firmin near the mouth of
the Somme. Our transport had already been here about a week, and we
found excellent quarters in the long straggling village.
Here we spent ten days, being fitted out with gas helmets, and passed
through gas, a form of warfare of which we had had no practical
experience out East, and in bayonet fighting also, under experts who
found we had not very much to learn in that line. Our number of Lewis
guns were doubled, and we started lots of classes of new Lewis gunners
to form the new gun crews and provide a large nucleus of trained men
as reinforcements. Our transport establishment was also completed
here. We entrained at Rue early on the morning of the 21st, and made
our way via Etaples and St Pol to Ligny St Flochel, whence we had a
long fifteen miles march to Humbercourt. That night we had our first
experience of night bombing. From here several senior officers went
for a day or two’s experience of trench life to a New Zealand Division
in the Hebuterne sector north of Albert.
On the 25th May we moved to a very much better area at Grand
Rullecourt where we stayed for just a month. Here there were much
better facilities for training, and we worked away steadily at wood
fighting, fighting through crops, co-operation with tanks, and all the
while paying special attention to the Lewis-gun personnel. We also
gave an exhibition of the attack in open warfare, for the edification
of the Canadians who were in the neighbourhood, and put in a good
deal of musketry at the rifle ranges, and throwing and firing
grenades. We had quite a good field for football, and had an
inter-platoon competition, won by No. 6 platoon, but the great event
was the defeat of the Scots Guards by the Battalion team. The Scots
Guards were the winners of the Bull Dog Cup at the Crystal Palace, and
had only once been beaten, and to defeat them 2–0 was a great
achievement.
The Ayr and Lanark Battalion of the R.S.F. left us here to form a new
brigade along with the 12th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Battalion; the Norfolk
Regiment from the 230th Brigade, and the 24th (Denbigh Yeomanry)
Battalion; the Royal Welsh Fusiliers from the 231st Brigade. We were
all very depressed at the departure of the Ayrs and Lanarks. We had
been together close friends and keen rivals on the football field ever
since we had been made into an infantry battalion, and though we all
knew that the Brigade was sure to be reduced from four to the normal
French establishment of three battalions, we had somehow never
contemplated parting from our special friends, the only other Scotch
battalion in the Division.
Spanish influenza, which was so prevalent everywhere, now began to
attack us, and when we left Grand Rullecourt on 26th June, as we had
about nine miles to march to our entraining station Ligny, 150 were
considered unfit to march, and had to come on by motor lorry the
following day. This was an excellent arrangement, as it enabled us to
keep on the men who we knew would be quite fit again in a day or two,
instead of sending them to hospital, and probably to another
battalion. Fortunately it was a mild type, the patient being
completely knocked out for a day or two and then rapidly recovering,
but it left us all pretty weak for a bit. We detrained at Aire, and
though we had only another four miles to go to our billets at Fontes,
it was quite enough for anyone with a touch of the “’flu.” From here
parties went out every day to reconnoitre the various lines in the
Robecq-St Venant sector, and to get to know the country before we were
told to take over the line.
We left Fontes with practically all our invalids cured after a
fortnight’s stay, and moved on to Ham en Artois, only a few miles
farther east, where we became Divisional Reserve, our Division having
taken over a sector of the line in the Lys area. Here we carried on
our company and specialist training while parties reconnoitred
forward, and after twelve days in reserve we again made a short move
forward on 23rd July to La Pierriere where we became Brigade Reserve,
the Brigade having the other two battalions now in the line. This was
a strenuous business, as not only had we to provide small working
parties by day and guards over about eleven bridges over the Aire-La
Bassée Canal, but we had also to supply 100 men per company each night
to dig in the support line, which meant very hard work for both
company officers and men, and it was with relief that we saw our eight
days finished, and moved ourselves into the line. It was not that the
digging was such hard or jumpy work, but the fact that it took two
hours to get there and two more to come back, which made it such a
trying business. There were very few casualties, though B Company had
a lucky escape. A shell landed right in the middle of them and wounded
thirteen, five of whom had to go to hospital, while the other eight
asked to remain on duty, fearing lest, if they went to hospital, they
might be posted to another battalion.
On the night of 31st July/1st August, we took over the right
sub-sector of the line from the Somersets, and were lucky in having to
keep only one company in the line. This front line consisted of a
series of posts, each held by a section and built up as a breastwork,
trenches being impossible. The Noc and Clarence Rivers sluggishly
meandered through our line, and even in summer the water level was
only about nine inches below the surface. Behind these posts was a
semi-continuous support line, and half a mile farther back a
continuous main line, fairly well complete as to wire and parapet,
but hardly anything in the way of parados, so there was plenty of work
for everyone. D Company (Captain R.A. Andrew) held the front line with
their H.Q. at Baquerolles Farm, A and B Companies were in support, and
C back at Robecq in reserve. Battalion H.Q. were at Carvin Farm.
Frequent patrols were sent out, and the Bosche paid us a certain
amount of attention both with high explosives and gas, and at night
turned on his machine guns along the routes by which rations came up,
but at no time could it have been called anything but a quiet sector.
We had been six days in the line when about four o’clock in the
afternoon word came from the battalion on the left that the enemy were
massing in front. Captain Andrew at once sent out officers’ patrols
who discovered no signs of the enemy, so he took his company forward
and occupied the German trenches, and by evening held a line about
half a mile farther forward. It was now evident that the enemy
intended evacuating the salient which our gunners had made so
unpleasant for him for some time past, and by nightfall our whole line
was moving forward. To D Company fell the distinction of initiating
the advance on the whole corps’ front, and then B Company passed
through them and advanced the line to Rues des Vaches Farm. So rapid
had been our advance that a party of Germans, still under the
impression that they were behind their own lines, bumped right into a
section of Mr Wood’s platoon in a “grouse butt.” On being challenged,
the Bosche sergeant-major called out, “Welche Kompanie ist das?”
(which company is that?) which seemed to annoy one Jock who replied
“Welsh Company be damned. Take that, you ——, it’s the Black Watch
you’re up against this time.” Their carelessness cost them five
killed, including the sergeant-major, and twice as many wounded.
Next day we advanced to just beyond the Quentin Road, meeting with
practically no opposition, and later A Company (Mr C.G. Duncan) passed
through B, and advanced to the Turbeauté River. The Bosche guns were
very busy all day, and considering the number of shells they threw
over us and our lack of any cover, we were lucky in having as few
casualties as we did. We had a good deal of gas in our area and on the
main road, and the following day after a short but severe
trench-mortar bombardment they attacked one of our posts on the
Turbeauté River which repulsed them at the point of the bayonet. That
night we were relieved by the 15th Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment
(230th Brigade); our relief was managed quite successfully, and we
went back into support at Robecq, with garrisons in the main line of
the Amusoires trench system.
Only very short parade hours and daily bathes in the Lys or La Bassée
Canals made this a delightful week. We were asked for no digging
parties, and the only fatigue—which the men thoroughly enjoyed—was
harvesting under Mr H. Adamson’s supervision.
On 16th August we moved a few miles farther back across the Canal to
La Miquellerie where we had as good billets as we had seen in France.
Up to now we had received a few kilts of the large size only, so we
had only a few of the biggest men fitted out, and drill order was
always trousers. On getting to Miquellerie we found a huge assortment
of kilts awaiting us, and the sergeant-tailor (Sergeant Ferguson) had
two hectic days fitting the Battalion for the Divisional Church Parade
in a field between La Miquellerie and Ham en Artois. The Army
Commander, General Sir Wm. Birdwood, was present, and after the
service he gave us a most inspiring address, and saw us march past him
in fours as we left the field. The two following days were devoted to
a detailed inspection by the Corps Commander, Lieut.-General Sir R.
Haking, who seemed favourably impressed and made some very
complimentary remarks.
On the 24th we moved up into support relieving the 25th R.W.F. The
Battalion was disposed in two halves supporting the right and left
battalions respectively—A and C Companies at Quentin and B and D
Companies in front of Calonne with Battalion H.Q. After spending
three quiet days here we were relieved by the 2/6th Battalion D.L.I.
(59th Division), and marched back to Molinghem where our transport had
been all the time. B Company left that afternoon, and the rest of the
Battalion entrained next day on a tactical train for the Somme. We had
a very slow journey, and arrived at La Houssoye about midnight and
found our billets there. On 31st August the B Team moved to the
Divisional Reception Camp at Franvillers, and about midday we got
sudden orders to proceed to near Franvillers where buses would be
awaiting us. We went by bus to a farm a couple of miles west of
Maricourt, dumped our packs there and reached our destination Le Foret
about midnight, where to our joy we were run to earth by the transport
with rations and ammunition.
Next day, 1st September, was spent in reconnaissance towards
Bouchavesnes, out of which the Bosche had been pushed that morning. At
7.30 P.M. we set out for the position of deployment east of
Bouchavesnes, and were met by guides who conducted us by the longest
possible route over the worst country they could find, and it was 3
A.M. before the relief of the 2/4th London Regiment was complete and
our men in the assembly trenches. Zero hour was 5.30 A.M., at which
time it was barely light and rather misty. The first objective was the
system of trenches (Opera and Monastir Trenches) on the far side of
the Canal Du Nord, the second objective the strong system of trenches
half way up the slope, and the final objective the crest of the ridge
south of Nurlu Village, a good four miles away. We were to advance
across the Tortille River keeping Moislains on our left, across the
Canal and then swing north-east and push on to the high ground. This
meant squeezing through a narrow neck between Moislains and Allaines
and then after we were through the neck, changing direction and
extending our front to almost double.
After the preliminary bombardment and following the creeping barrage
the Brigade moved forward—the Somersets leading on the right with
ourselves following. The Devons were to mop up the village of
Moislains, and once clear of the village we were to come up on the
left of the Somersets and take the first objective. The barrage fell a
long way ahead of us and left untouched a party of the enemy holding
the trench immediately in front of us. This delayed us but for a
moment, but the Somersets were having a good deal of trouble from the
direction of Allaines which had to be dealt with and this took them
and us more to our right than we should have been. The advance was
again momentarily held up by heavy machine-gun fire on the Canal, but
pushing on in most gallant style the leading companies got across all
right and up the slope, driving the Bosche out of the wooden huts at
the point of the bayonet and accounting for a great many at the same
time. So far the advance had gone splendidly. The first objective had
been taken, and the advance begun towards the second when murderous
machine-gun fire was opened upon us from the left and left rear. The
battalion of Londoners on our left north of Moislains had withdrawn,
the village of Moislains itself was never mopped up, and the eight
Bosche machine guns holding Moislains seeing this moved quickly to the
south of the village and opened on our backs. In addition to this we
were being subjected to very heavy fire on our left flank, which was
now completely in the air, and we could actually see their gun teams
working the 77’s on the crest of the ridge. The Bosche had paid us the
compliment of rushing up his best troops to meet our Division, and
certainly the Alpini Corps were most gallant fighters. To advance
unsupported was out of the question, and our casualties were by now
very heavy, so there was nothing left but to withdraw to the west side
of the Canal again and reorganise the remains of the companies. Next
day we pushed forward to the trenches south of Moislains and to the
Slag Heap on the canal bank, and at dusk on the evening of the 4th we
were relieved by the 19th Battalion London Regiment and marched back
to rest and reorganise.
Our casualties had been heavy—the C.O. wounded; of the four Company
Commanders Captain R.W. Stewart and Captain I.C. Nairn had been killed
and Captain J. M’Nab and Mr C.G. Duncan wounded. Mr Darney was killed
and C.S.M. Aitken died of wounds—a total of 3 officers and 38 other
ranks killed and 14 officers and 157 other ranks wounded. The
Battalion got great praise for its gallant performance that day, and
though the attack was apparently unsuccessful we had advanced farther
than the authorities had expected, and, moreover, had the pleasure of
seeing the 230th Brigade, who passed through us, make good about six
miles without firing a shot—a peace march, which as Brig.-General
Hoare was at pains to point out was entirely due to the offensive
spirit of the 229th Brigade.
We were given a day and a half in which to rest and reorganise and
then off again on the retreating Bosche. Just as we were leaving we
heard that Mr J.C. Drysdale had been hit by a shell which landed right
at the mouth of his bivouac, at least six miles behind the line. In
him we lost a most efficient and hard-working transport officer. After
a night at Aizecourt and another at Longavesnes we were again in the
line relieving the 25th (Montgomery and Welsh Horse Yeomanry)
Battalion Welsh Regiment in the left sector of the divisional front
holding the horse-shoe line of trenches round St Emilie, with
Battalion H.Q. behind the railway embankment between Villers Faucon
and St Emilie. A Company of the Somersets was attached to us to help
to hold the long length of this salient. They linked up with the
Devons on our right, while on our left and considerably to our rear
was the 58th Division. We had about one and a half miles of half-dug
trench to hold with less than 400 men all told. They were probably the
worst sited trenches in France, with no field of fire and not
continuous, completely dominated by the German guns at Epehy, who
could fire down them, and by snipers who, by crawling through the
thistles and broken country on our left rear (and the Alpini were bold
snipers and deadly shots), could fire right up some portions of the
trench. The salient held by the 74th Division was considerably in
advance of the line held by the Australians on our right and by the
Londoners on our left, and was quite an unhealthy spot until the
Bosche were pushed out of Epehy.
9th September passed fairly quietly until evening, when D Company (Mr
Brodie Brown) was sent to reconnoitre to the front, and if possible
establish themselves on the ridge on the far side of the valley in
front of us. They had got about three-quarters of the way when their
patrols reported at least two companies of the enemy going into the
trenches which D were to occupy and two strong patrols working
forward on either side of them. To push on was impossible, so they
returned to the trenches they had left. Though this merely confirmed
what we already knew—that the enemy were holding that line in
strength—and though a report was sent in to this effect, because the
Air Force had reported that they could see no signs of the enemy,
Corps ordered us to push forward at dawn next morning and occupy the
crest of the ridge. These orders were only received at 2 A.M., and
though Company Commanders were summoned at once A Company (Sergeant W.
Collier) only received his orders at dawn—the runner having missed
the way in the dark. The company of Somersets were to attack on the
right, keeping touch with the Devons, C Company (Mr I.W. Cruickshank)
in the centre, B Company (Mr J. M’Lean) on the left, with D Company
(Mr Brodie Brown) in reserve. A Company (Sergeant W. Collier) was to
keep in touch with the Londoners (58th Division) on the left and
advance in conjunction with them. The time for our barrage opening was
postponed, but the wire from Brigade never reached us and we advanced
without any preliminary bombardment. C Company and the Somersets
almost reached their objectives unobserved when they were met by very
heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. B Company on the left were unable to
push on which left C Company’s left flank exposed. Into this gap the
enemy quickly rushed fresh troops and attacked in force with the
result that the two companies were overwhelmed by numbers and nearly
surrounded. They were ordered to retire but not more than a quarter
got back.
We consequently were forced to hold our old line as a defensive line
and get liason with the 58th Division, who also found the enemy in
great strength and were unable to hold what they gained. We learned
afterwards that a regiment (three battalions) of the enemy were
holding the line between Ronssoy and Templeux le Guerard with orders
to fight to the last. The Battalion was now very exhausted, the
trenches were knee-deep in water, and a great number of Lewis guns and
rifles were out of action with mud and water. Major D.D. Ogilvie and
Mr Brodie Brown were the only officers left in the line, with Mr J.W.
Ormiston doing liaison between Battalion H.Q. and Captain R.H.
Colthart at Battle H.Q.—telephonic communication was almost
impossible as the line was broken every five minutes. We were
consequently very pleased when we were told we were to be relieved by
the 10th East Kent Regiment (230th Brigade), who took over from us
that night and we moved back to Longavenes.
Here we found a draft of twelve Black Watch officers awaiting us, and
the day was spent in cleaning ourselves. Next day (12th September) we
moved back to Templeux la Fosse, with Battalion H.Q. in the old
Prisoners of War compound and the companies in trenches. Major J.M.
M’Kenzie, Royal Scots, arrived to take over command of the Battalion
from, Major D.D. Ogilvie, and Brig.-General F.S. Thackeray (H.L.I.)
assumed command of the Brigade which Lieut.-Colonel C.J.H.
Spence-Jones, Pembroke Yeomanry, had commanded since Brig.-General R.
Hoare had been wounded. We had six restful days here and then moved up
to Faustine Quarry in reserve for the attack by the Division. A
Company (Mr P. Dane) were attached to the Somersets, who had suffered
a lot of casualties from gas.
The III. Corps continued the attack on 18th September with a view to
securing a position affording good observation on the Hindenburg line.
The 1st Australian Division co-operated on our right and the 16th
Division on our left. Against us was the 38th Division (German)
holding from Templeux le Guerard to Ronssoy.
Our divisional frontage had been reduced by nearly half, each brigade
having been responsible for about 1000 yards. The 230th (and the
Somersets) were on the right, 231st (with the Devons) on the left,
leaving only ourselves in reserve. Aided by a haze and a very
effective barrage the attack was a complete success, the first
objectives being gained by 7.45 A.M. with very few casualties and a
large bag of prisoners. On advancing over the ridge towards the second
objective A Company came under very heavy machine-gun fire from
Rifleman Post, but our artillery soon silenced that, and we were in
occupation of Rifleman Post by one o’clock—an advance of 4500 yards.
Here we consolidated, and remained till relieved by the Sussex. A
Company’s casualties were 4 killed and 25 wounded, and they had a
number of prisoners and machine guns to their credit.
[Illustration: The Divisional Boundaries for the three phases of the
advance are shown by shaded lines. The first two advances were on a
1–Brigade frontage, the third on a 2–Brigade frontage with only our
Battalion in Reserve. Opposed to us were the Alpine Corps (1st
Bavarian Jaeger Regiment and Body Infantry Regiment), with the 6th
Cavalry Division on their right and the 96th and 95th Imperial
Regiments of the 38th Division on their left.
MAP SHOWING THE TRENCH SYSTEM ON THE SOMME.
In addition to the principal trenches, use was made of all sunken
roads and belts of barbed wire stretched across the country.
_To face page 134_
Emery Walker Ltd. Sc.]
20th September was spent in salvage work on the battlefield, and at 10
P.M. we moved forward to relieve the Suffolks at Toine and Pimple
Posts—the first objectives in the attack. On the 22nd we relieved the
25th R.W.F. in the front line, and held from Carbine Trench to
Benjamin Post with A Company in support at Artaxerxes Post. The enemy
shelled the position heavily both with high explosives and gas and we
suffered some casualties.
The Division was now consolidated on the line of the second objective,
and it was obvious that the Bosche were holding the high ground,
particularly Quennet Copse and Quennemont Farm, very strongly, and it
was impossible for the tired and depleted Division to advance without
further preparation. The line held by the enemy was our old front line
of March overlooking the Bellicourt-Le Catalet section of the
Hindenburg line, and they were determined to hang on to that at all
costs. The attack on the Hindenburg line was not for us. The 74th
Division was booked for the advance further north.
On the night of the 24/25th September we were relieved by two
companies of the 106th American Battalion; got to Faustine Quarry by 5
A.M. and at 8 marched to Tincourt, where we entrained for
Villers-Bretonneux. From Villers-Bretonneux we marched to Corbie
(fifteen miles east of Amiens) and got into billets there. This was
the last we were to see of the Somme, for we were destined for another
front. That our services on the Somme front were appreciated is shown
by the following letter received by our Division from General
Rawlinson, Commanding Fourth Army, dated 28th September:—
“_74th Division._—The 74th Division has taken a prominent part
in the successful advance of the Fourth Army during the past
month, and, much to my regret, has been ordered to another part
of the British front.
“The work of this Division during a period of severe and
continuous fighting is worthy of the best traditions of the
yeoman stock of Great Britain.
“Brought to this country from a hot climate, where they took
part in a very different method of warfare, the 74th Division
has quickly adapted itself to the altered conditions, and has
fought with a determination and courage which is beyond praise.
“In the capture of AIZECOURT, DRIENCOURT, TEMPLEUX LA FOSSE,
LONGAVESNES, VILLERS FAUCON, and TEMPLEUX LE GUERARD, the
Division has made a name for itself which ranks with the best
division fighting in the British Army, and I desire to offer to
all ranks my warmest thanks for their gallantry and
self-sacrifice.
“In addition to the considerable area of ground gained the
Division has captured over 1700 prisoners.
“I greatly regret that the Division is leaving the Fourth Army,
and in wishing all ranks every good fortune, I trust I may at
some future time find the 74th Division once more under my
command.”
We left Corbie early in the morning of the 28th for Mericourt where we
entrained for Berguette, reaching our destination the following
morning, whence we marched to our billeting area in Bourecq, just
south of our old billeting ground at Fontes. Here we stayed till 2nd
October when we moved by the light railway to “what was Locon.” Two
days later we were at Herlies. On the night 10/11th October the 229th
Brigade took over from the 231st Brigade, and on the 14th we moved
into the line relieving the 12th Battalion S.L.I., D Company on left,
A in centre, and B on right, with C in support in Ligny Wood. On 15th
October we occupied the railway line east of Ligny, and next day our
patrols had pushed forward to the outskirts of Haubourdin (a suburb of
Lille). On the 17th we again advanced, crossed the Haute Deule Canal,
and on reaching our final objective handed over to the 16th Devons
while we remained in support. Petit Ronchin, Ascq (on the
Lille-Tournai road), and Baisieux gave us billets for the following
nights. We were now in support to the Somersets, who carried on the
advance until held up outside Marquain. The 231st Brigade had been
withdrawn, so the Division was advancing on a one-battalion frontage.
As soon as Orcq was gained we were to pass through the Somersets and
carry on the advance. The enemy’s resistance, however, was stiffening,
and the Somersets were unable to push on. On the 22nd we took over the
line in front of Orcq, but found it impossible to patrol much to the
front owing to the heavy machine-gun fire. The trenches opposite were
well wired in and strongly manned, and the attack by B Company on the
23rd was held up within 100 yards of the objective by intense
trench-mortar and machine-gun fire and artillery barrage, and the two
platoons were compelled to withdraw to their original line after
suffering 32 casualties.
Next day we were relieved by the 10th Buffs and moved back to billets
in Baisieux, where we rested for ten days and got through an
inter-platoon football competition. On the evening of 1st November the
enemy put over a few shells, and in going to regulate the traffic into
the cellars Captain R.H. Colthart was mortally wounded. The death of
our adjutant was a great loss to the Battalion. As Sergeant Colthart
he had gone out with the Regiment to Gallipoli, was appointed
quartermaster and then adjutant, and had been with the Regiment or
Battalion in every engagement in which it had taken part, being
mentioned in dispatches. Lieutenant J.W. Ormiston succeeded him as
adjutant.
Tournai was evacuated by the Germans on 9th November. The 231st
Brigade promptly passed through it, and formed a bridgehead east of
the town with the 55th Division on their right and the 57th Division
on the left. The 230th Brigade occupied the town while we moved
forward to Lamain. Next day we marched through Tournai, and had a
tremendous reception. The skirl of the pipes and the sight of the
kilts moved the population to great enthusiasm, both vocal and
osculatory, and we had a regular triumphal procession. Our destination
was Beclers, five miles east of Tournai.
On 11th November we were continuing our advance east, and had reached
the main road just west of Frasnes, when at twenty minutes before 11
o’clock the Brigade-Major (Captain A.J.M. Tuck, M.C.) informed us that
an armistice had been signed which came in force at 11 o’clock. The
consequent halt threw our time-table out of gear, and we finally
stumbled in to our billeting area in the dark, covered with mud and
very weary.
The following day our Brigade relieved the 230th Brigade in holding
the outpost line, and we were billeted at Izieres. The inhabitants
could not do too much for us, and we were quite sorry when orders were
received on the 17th to proceed to Moustier. We had been transferred
back again into the Fifth Army. Here we rubbed up our ceremonial drill
and practised guard of honour for the King’s visit. This, however,
fell through, and on the 7th December we marched to a point on the
Leuze-Tournai road, near Barry, where His Majesty held an informal
inspection.
While at Moustier we started elementary educational training, which
was more fully developed after we moved to Grammont on 16th December.
Here our wanderings finally ceased, and demobilization commenced. We
had a most successful and sumptuous dinner on Christmas Day, the whole
N.-E. of France having been ransacked for geese and turkeys. On New
Year’s Day Lieut.-Colonel J.M. M’Kenzie went home sick, and Major D.D.
Ogilvie assumed command. Educational training in the forenoon and
sports in the afternoon was the order of the day, and everyone looked
forward to demobilization and Blighty once more.
After defeating the K.S.L.I, in the semi-final we met the M.G.C. in
the final for the Divisional Cup on 22nd January, whom we beat 3–0.
Considering we had only four of the original team left it was all the
more creditable that we managed to pull it off. Major-General E.S.
Girdwood, C.B., presented a very beautiful silver cup and medals to
the winning team, and Battalion medals were also sent to all members
of the team. For the Divisional Cup our record was:—Played 6: won 5:
drawn 1: goals for 25: goals against 6. Unfortunately a complete
record of the Regimental and Battalion team was not kept, but we have
records of the last 74 matches. Of these 66 were won: 3 lost: 5 drawn:
goals for 217: goals against 45.
[Illustration: THE BATTALION FOOTBALL TEAM.
_Standing_ (_left to right._)—Sgt. Patterson, 2nd. Lt. Gourlay, Pte.
Davidson, Pte. Buchanan, Pte. Thomson, Sgt. Fyall, Pte. Gair.
_Sitting_—Sgt. Goodall, Lt.-Col. Ogilvie, Pte. M’Guffog, Cpl. Davis,
Capt. Andrew. _In front_—Pte. Petrie, Pte. Moir.
_To face page 140_]
The Divisional Cross Country Run was also won by us, and we were
selected to run in the Inter-Corps Run. One or two successful mule
gymkhanas were got up, and we also tried our hand at baseball,
cricket, and paper chases, both mounted and on foot. Two or three
nights a week we had dances, and one or two good concert parties
entertained us.
Each week we kept sending men off for demobilization, and about the
third week in March we sent about 100 men to the 8th Battalion the
Black Watch, and half a dozen officers to the 6th Battalion in the
Army of the Rhine. This reduced us to cadre strength. On 18th June the
cadre consisting of 2 officers and 22 other ranks proceeded home via
Boulogne, and a few days later the baggage guard followed, after
handing over all Battalion stores at Dunkirk. Of those who went out on
the _Andania_ only four remained—Lieut.-Colonel D.D. Ogilvie,
Captain R.A. Andrew, M.C., R.Q.M.S. W.J. Galbraith and Sergeant-Major
W. Nisbet. The cadre reached Kirkcaldy on 25th June, where they were
entertained by the Provost on behalf of the Corporation, and in the
afternoon were all demobilized at Kinross.
So ends the history of the 14th (Fife and Forfar Yeomanry) Battalion,
the Black Watch, Royal Highlanders.
On 6th September 1915 Lord Lovat received the following wire from
Windsor Castle:—
“I send you and your Brigade my best wishes on your departure
for Active Service. I feel sure that the great and traditional
fighting reputation of Scotsmen will be more than safe with you,
and that your Brigade will spare no effort in the interests of
the Empire’s cause to bring this war to a victorious conclusion.
GEORGE _R.I._”
The purport of this short history is to show how we did our best to
carry out His Majesty’s command.
[Illustration: THE LYS SECTOR
_To face page 142_]