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THE FIFTH BATTALION
HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
IN THE WAR
1914-1918
[Illustration: COLONEL F.L. MORRISON, C.B., D.S.O., V.D.]
The Fifth Battalion
Highland Light Infantry
in the War
1914-1918
[Illustration]
Glasgow
Printed for Private Circulation by
MacLehose, Jackson and Co.
Publishers to the University
1921
TO THE MEMORY OF
THE OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS,
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN OF
THE FIFTH BATTALION HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
WHO FELL IN THE WAR 1914-1918
PREFACE
The 5th Highland Light Infantry was originally known as the 19th Lanark
Rifle Volunteers, one of the Volunteer units raised in 1859. In 1880, it
became the 5th Lanark Volunteers. The connection with the Highland Light
Infantry began in 1887, when it was named the 1st Volunteer Battalion
Highland Light Infantry, a detachment of which served in the South
African War. On the formation of the Territorial Force in 1909, the
present name was adopted. The old history of the unit is contained in
the Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1859-1908, by the late
Lieut.-General J.M. Grierson, C.V.O., C.B., C.M.G.
This book deals with our record of service in the war 1914-1918, and we
feel we need only say three things in the Preface:
1. The book is published privately for those who served with us and
others interested.
2. It has been written by officers of the Battalion who were with us
during the period of which they write.
3. It is written to the memory of our gallant comrades who fell and who
themselves did so much to make this History.
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
I. FROM MOBILISATION TO THE EAST 1
II. GALLIPOLI--TO 11TH JULY, 1915 7
III. GALLIPOLI (_contd._)--OPERATIONS 12TH-18TH JULY, 1915 19
IV. GALLIPOLI (_contd._) 33
V. GALLIPOLI (_concluded_) 60
VI. MUDROS, CAIRO, SUEZ CANAL AND HILL 70 LINE 73
VII. THE SINAI DESERT, MAHAMDIYA, ROMANI, KATIA 92
VIII. ACROSS THE SINAI DESERT TO EL ARISH 112
IX. EL ARISH AND FIRST BATTLE OF GAZA 130
X. SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA 143
XI. GAZA, 1ST MAY TO 7TH NOVEMBER, 1917 157
XII. ADVANCE BEYOND GAZA. WADI HESI, SAUSAGE RIDGE,
ESDUD, KUBEIBEH, NEBI SAMWIL, TAHTA 169
XIII. FROM TAHTA TO THE AUJA 185
XIV. LAST DAYS IN PALESTINE. NORTH OF JAFFA 194
XV. FRANCE 201
APPENDICES
I. LIST OF OFFICERS, SENIOR N.C.O.'S, ETC., WHO EMBARKED IN
MAY, 1915 237
II. ROLL OF OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS AND MEN WHO DIED ON SERVICE 239
III. HONOURS AND AWARDS 243
IV. TURKISH ORDERS FOR ADVANCE ON ROMANI 246
ILLUSTRATIONS
COLONEL F.L. MORRISON, C.B., D.S.O., V.D. _Frontispiece._
OFFICERS OF THE BATTALION, JULY 1914 _To face p. 4_
CAPE HELLES, GALLIPOLI " 8
GULLY RAVINE, CAPE HELLES " 16
SUEZ CANAL AT BALLAH " 80
IN A REDOUBT, MAHAMDIYA " 96
WATER CAMELS, MAHAMDIYA " 104
SHEIKH'S TOMB, KATIA " 108
BIVOUACS, EL RABAH " 112
CAMEL LINES, EL ARISH " 120
BAGGAGE CAMELS ON SHORE NEAR EL ARISH " 128
MOUTH OF WADI EL ARISH " 132
BEDOUIN SHEIKHS, BELAH " 136
BEDOUINS, KHAN YUNIS " 140
TYPICAL SMALL NULLAH NEAR WADI GHUZZEE " 144
NATIVE GIRLS, BELAH " 148
INSIDE YAPTON POST " 160
SHEIKH ABBAS " 164
OBSERVATION POST IN FRONT OF YAPTON POST " 168
SAUSAGE RIDGE, DEIR SINEID " 172
ORANGE SELLERS, MEJDEL " 176
BERFYLIA " 180
JAFFA FROM THE SHORE " 192
IN SARONA " 200
MAPS
GALLIPOLI--BATTLE OF 12TH JULY, 1915 _To face p. 54_
SKETCH TO ILLUSTRATE POSITION ON NIGHT OF 19-20TH
DECEMBER, 1915 " 64
AREA OF OPERATIONS 7-8TH NOVEMBER, 1917 " 174
SKETCH SHOWING ROUTE TAKEN BY THE BATTALION BETWEEN
GAZA AND JAFFA, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1917 " 184
AREA OF OPERATIONS 24-27TH AUGUST, 1918 " 216
MOEUVRES, SEPTEMBER, 1918 " 224
GALLIPOLI AND THE DARDANELLES, BIRD'S-EYE VIEW }
}
NORTHERN PORTION OF SINAI PENINSULA } _In pocket at end_
} _of book._
GAZA }
CHAPTER I
FROM MOBILISATION TO THE EAST.
The period from the date of mobilisation to the date on which we began
our active service experiences we propose to pass over quickly, as the
events which happened then seem now of small interest to those coming
later.
With orders prepared carefully in peace time, mobilisation went
smoothly. The Normal School, Glasgow, became a barracks and a place for
the busy public of the New City Road to gaze at with interest.
Within a week our Brigade found itself at Dunfermline, and a few days
later we were at Leven, with two companies on duty at the docks at
Methil. The Leven companies did uninterrupted training, the Methil
companies uninterrupted guards, and to the credit of the latter no one
was drowned on these inky nights in the docks. It was there one night a
small but gallant officer was going his rounds. One sentry was posted in
mid-air on a coal shute, and to challenge persons approaching his post
was one of his duties. On the approach of the officer there was no
challenge, so to find the reason of this the officer climbed up the
ladder and found the sentry, who explained he had seen something "right
enuff," but thought it was "one of them things they tie ships to"--in
other words a bollard.
The Army authorities had not then become prolific publishers of training
pamphlets; training therefore was in accordance with the Red Books
previously published, which meant that we trained for open warfare.
Bombs, Trench Mortars or Rifle Grenades we never saw, still the training
was invaluable and we became a very fit battalion.
All ranks have happy memories of the many kindnesses shown there by the
good people of Leven and Methil, but in spite of the pleasures of home
soldiering, being then enthusiasts, we thought we had been forgotten and
longed for orders to proceed overseas.
Early in May, 1915, we gathered that we would soon be going abroad. It
was then we heard that our Division would be known as the 52nd (Lowland)
Division, and our Brigade, consisting of ourselves, the 6th and 7th
H.L.I., and the 5th A. & S.H., as the 157th Infantry Brigade.
Anticipating our move, the G.O.C. Division, General Egerton, lectured
the officers at Markinch on warfare in France. He referred to us
embarking on the greatest adventure of our lives; to many attending the
lecture it was also their last. In spite of the lecture we found
ourselves bound for the East.
On May 19th, Major T.L. Jowitt, Captain J.D. Black and eight subalterns
with their trusty batmen left Leven for the South and they were lost to
us for a month. This was owing to limited boat accommodation. The
Battalion, under command of Colonel F.L. Morrison, moved from Leven on
May 24th, with, we think we can say, the best wishes of the inhabitants.
The next day found us at Plymouth boarding the _Transylvania_ for her
first voyage as a troopship. The transport section under Lieut. W.L.
Buchanan sailed by another steamer. In addition to ourselves the
_Transylvania_ carried the 6th and 7th H.L.I. and about 100 unattached
officers. It was a tight fit.
The ship was detained from sailing until our pith helmets arrived on the
26th, when, at 10 o'clock on a clear moonlight night, we steamed away
escorted by two T.B.Ds. The Bay was crossed in calm weather. Gibraltar
passed on the 30th and Malta reached on the 2nd June. Our clothing,
consisting of the ordinary drab khaki, now began to prove unsuitable for
a hot climate.
At Malta parties were allowed ashore while the ship coaled. The Maltese
methods of coaling are worth seeing. A goodly proportion of the coal is
dropped intentionally into the sea, as it is being carried from the
lighters to the bunkers. After coaling is finished, a fleet of rowing
boats with dragnets collect the ill-gotten coal from the bottom of the
sea. It was our introduction to the oriental mind.
On the 5th June we entered the harbour of Alexandria, threading our way
through a fleet of transports and other vessels such as the place had
never known in peace time. Disembarking we entrained to Aboukir some ten
miles away on the Bay of that name. A camp was pitched near the sea,
where abounded scorpions, snakes, flies, beetles and mosquitos. Leave
was given to visit Alexandria, and this, to those visiting the East for
the first time, afforded endless interest. It was there we learned to
scatter the unfortunate natives with "imshi" or stronger, and what
"mafeesh" meant.
The officers were fortunate in securing for their mess the cool verandah
of a solitary house round which the camp was pitched. The house, which
was unoccupied, was said to be owned by a Frenchman in Cairo. He arrived
one day with a bride on his arm--he had just been married--not knowing
that the district was now crowded with troops. He had intended to spend
the honeymoon at his seaside residence. With all a French gentleman's
courtesy he made the officers welcome to his house and sought his
honeymoon elsewhere.
We found ourselves aboard the _Transylvania_ again on the 12th June, and
sailed at dusk. Our course was Northwards, so now, we thought, we were
in for the real thing. Gallipoli and the Turk would know us in a few
days time. To travel hopefully, reflected R.L. Stevenson, is better
than to arrive. Ere Crete was passed the ship put about and steamed for
Alexandria again. A wireless had been received recalling us to Egypt,
the reason for this _volte face_ being, we understand, congestion at
Mudros, the advanced base.
[Illustration: OFFICERS OF THE BATTALION. GAILES CAMP. JULY 1914.
2nd Lt. R.M. Miller, 2nd Lt. T.A. Fyfe, Lt. and Q.-M. T. Clark, Lt. A.B.
Currie, Lt. T.S.S. Wightman, Capt. D.E. Brand, 2nd Lt. E.M. Leith, Lt.
N.R. Campbell, Lt. K. Macfarlane, 2nd Lt. J.F. Moir, 2nd Lt. J.E. Milne,
Lt. R.H. Morrison.
Capt. J.B. Neilson, Capt. H.C. Macdonald, Major A.M. Downie, Major
D.A.C. Reid, C.F., Col. F.L. Morrison, V.D., Major T.L. Jowitt, Capt.
J.R. Simson, Capt. John MacDonald, Capt. George Morton, Jr.
2nd Lt. J.W. Main, 2nd Lt. Lewis MacLellan, 2nd Lt. J.W. Malcolm, 2nd
Lt. E.T. Townsend.]
Alexandria on our return was dimmed in the heat and choking in the sand
clouds of a khamsin. This wind blows off the desert and man is almost
prostrate in its scorching blast. We had met a particularly hot
one--Alexandria had not known its like for years. The move back to
Aboukir was therefore very trying. We were now rejoined by the Transport
Section, and Major Jowitt and his party also returned. They had gone
direct to Mudros in the _Mauretania_, where an attempt was made to post
them to the 29th Division. The compliment was declined on the ground
that their unit was in the offing. After transhipping to the Donaldson
liner _Saturnia_, which was nearly hit by bombs from an aeroplane, they
were sent to Alexandria by the _Minnetonka_.
About this time Colonel Morrison had the pleasure of dining with the
Sultan of Egypt at his Palace near Alexandria, his tartan slacks
attracting considerable notice.
On 28th June we again embarked for Gallipoli, this time on the
_Menominee_. The Transport Section were left behind at Aboukir as there
was no room for them in the small sector occupied by our troops in
Gallipoli. We were all aboard and ready to sail by 4 p.m. All aboard did
we say? Then where's the Padre? Last seen going through the town with
the intention of making a few final purchases, he was now nowhere to be
found. As the relentless ship cast off and moved down the harbour, his
tall and for once dismayed figure came in sight on the quay. Too late.
Too late. All ranks crowded to the side shouting advice and sympathetic
cheers.
But the Padre was not to be denied. With the resource of the hero in the
film play, he routed out a motor boat and came speeding after us. Down
the ship's side hung a rope ladder to which clung a couple of natives in
a small boat. Overtaking us in great style, the Padre leapt into this
and essayed the ladder, but his pith helmet got in the way and his cane
and parcel of purchases burdened his hands, so he threw the lot to one
of the natives and began the precarious ascent. Half way up a swing of
the ladder brought him under a shoot of water from the ship's side, and
at the same moment an extra burst of cheering from the decks drew his
attention to the native who, as the best way of carrying the helmet, had
good humouredly donned it. It was a trying situation for any man, but
the Padre did full justice to the occasion and was eventually hauled on
board amid wild enthusiasm.
In spite of submarine scares the voyage up the Aegean Sea was a pleasant
one. By day the succession of rocky islands (among these Patmos, where
St. John was inspired to write his Revelation) shining in the sea like
jewels in an azure setting, marked our progress and recalled their
ancient story.
In the evening impromptu concerts were held, at one of which, on the
fo'c'sle decks the pipers played "The 5th H.L.I.'s Farewell to Aboukir,"
composed by Pipe Major Thomson. Can its plaintive harmonies still be
heard, or did they perish with him when he fell just ten days later?
At dawn on the 1st July we sighted Lemnos island. Soon we were lying in
Mudros Bay among over 120 ships, British and French of all sizes and
types, from battleships to submarines, and from great ocean liners to
trawlers, all safely at anchor in this wonderful natural harbour. Now
picks, shovels, rations and extra ammunition were issued, and in the
afternoon of the next day the destroyer _Racoon_ took off Brigade and
Regimental Headquarters with A and B companies, followed by the sweeper
_Whitby Abbey_, with C and D companies under Major Jowitt. Singing and
cheering we passed down the long line of shipping to the harbour mouth,
then into darkness and silence, bound at last to meet the enemy.