The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion) Part 9

A man of commanding appearance, always very smartly turned out, he set a fine example to all ranks and speedily infused the real military spirit into the rank and file. During training at home and on service in France he did splendid work, and to him is due in no small measure the high standard of efficiency and discipline maintained in the Battalion. In manner somewhat brusque, but of a tender heart withal, he was the friend and confidant of nearly all the Officers, N.C.O.s and men, and when off parade the best of good fellows.

DAVID S. MORTON, _Lieut.-Colonel._

A REMEMBRANCE.

Do you hear it, all of you, and remember. Listen!

"Markers outwards turn. Quick march."

"Up, number four. Look sharp. That'll do."

"Markers, steadi-i-i-i-i----."

"Right turn."

"Fall in." And then the final great roar of--

"Stop all that yammering." And how quickly it stopped, too.

Do you remember it, and who said it? Of course you do, just as clearly as I myself do. You remember those early mornings, too. The sleepy chatter stilled in an instant to silence. And all those other days, too, when custom had made it imperative on all parades, it was part of us and our ceremonial.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lieut. and Q.-M. (formerly Regimental Sergeant Major) JAMES KELLY.

_To face page 84._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mrs. DAVID S. MORTON, Convener of the Comforts Committee.

_To face page 85._]

The repeating of it to ourselves conjures up the history of those never-to-be-forgotten days and carries back our spirits to commune with all those gone before us.

I say it to myself often now just to bring before me those wonderful memories. I have heard it on the sea front at Troon; on the Hills of Dundonald; at Prees Heath, in the lovely woodlands and parks of England; on the moors of Yorks.h.i.+re; at Sheffield. It has sounded over the vast s.p.a.ces of Salisbury Plain, and in France and Flanders, where all it stands for was so wonderfully justified and upheld, calling up that wonderful spirit and special discipline. That was the dear old Seventeenth.

THE COMFORTS COMMITTEE.

On the Battalion embarking for active service, the Battalion Committee suggested that a Ladies' Committee be formed to carry out the supply of Comforts which would tend to alleviate the hards.h.i.+ps of the battle line. The members of the Chamber provided funds in a most generous manner, and the following ladies consented to form a Ladies'

Committee:--Mrs. D.S. Morton (Convener), Lady M'Innes Shaw, Mrs. J.M.

Mitch.e.l.l, Mrs. R.A. Murray, Mrs. W.J. Paul, Mrs. W.F. Russell, Mrs.

John Reid, Mrs. Albert A. Smith, and Miss G.D. Young.

Miss G.D. Young acted as Secretary and at a later stage she was succeeded by Miss M.E. M'Clymont of the staff of the Chamber. The relatives of the men of the Battalion were notified of the formation of the Comforts Committee, and were invited to a.s.sist in knitting articles, the wool for which in most cases, was supplied by the Committee. With this help, and by the industry of the Ladies'

Committee, a very large quant.i.ty of s.h.i.+rts, socks, helmets, scarfs, gloves, etc., was sent abroad.

The conditions under which the men were fighting was always wisely considered, and for trench dug-outs and cellar billets, a regular supply of candles was forwarded by the Committee. Christmas presents were also sent overseas for each man. Provision was made for the time when the Battalion was out of line for rest, and a supply of weekly and monthly periodicals was regularly despatched. Needless to say, all these were very acceptable.

While thanks are due to all the members of the Ladies' Committee, it must be placed on record that Mrs. Morton, as Convener, rendered invaluable services and it is universally recognised that to her indefatigable labours the men in France owed much.

MEMORIAL SERVICE IN GLASGOW.

A Memorial Service in honour of the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 17th Highland Light Infantry, who fell in the battle of the Somme and elsewhere was held at Glasgow Cathedral, on July 8th, 1917. Fully 1,200 people were present, and many soldiers of all ranks were among the congregation, including a number of wounded men belonging to the Battalion. The "Dead March in Saul" was played at the commencement, and the service was most impressive throughout. The preacher was the Rev. A. Herbert Gray, one time Chaplain of the Battalion, and the service included the anthem, "What are these?" sung by the choir.

Preaching from the text--"We also are compa.s.sed about with so great a cloud of witnesses," Mr. Gray said: "It must not be to mere mourning that we give ourselves this afternoon. We are met to recall a very great page in the history of our city and district. In the year 1916, the hundreds of young men of whom we are thinking dared to die in a great cause. Young, strong, and free, full of high hopes and great purpose, in love with life, and in a hundred ways fitted for mastery in it, they yet consented to deal with death. A hundred other ambitions had flushed their hearts, but because humanity called they laid them all aside and went to the great war. No such life was their choice, but because it was their destiny they accepted it with a smile. No compulsion save that of honour constrained them. They were recruited simply by conscience and the claims of humanity. They made one of the finest Battalions that ever left these sh.o.r.es, for some of the very best of the rising generation were in their ranks. And though they were not soldiers by profession they proved themselves worthy of a regiment that has traditions of honour as old as the British Army.

"Wherefore, here in G.o.d's House, we may well first of all rejoice concerning them, and give thanks to G.o.d who has put so great a spirit into man. Though tears be in our hearts we must not fail to be proud and thankful--proud because they were our brothers, and thankful because they finished their course in faith."

After mentioning the subject of a suitable memorial, and suggesting that there could be nothing more worthy than the monument of a Britain turned to G.o.d, the preacher concluded with the following impressive words:--

"From a hundred lonely graves in that foreign land--from the spots where they fell, and which now are sacred spots for us--our dead are asking us when we mean to erect that monument. From trench and sh.e.l.l hole where death found them, their voices call--young, musical voices, the voices of boys still in their teens, the voices of martyrs on life's threshold. Scarce a wind can blow that will not waft to you these voices. And they ask a better Britain as their monument. They ask it of you and me. Shall we not go from this place resolved to build it?"

THE CLUB.

Much has been written, and many discussions have arisen concerning the good-fellows.h.i.+p 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 inst.i.tution 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 a.s.sistance 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-fellows.h.i.+p 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 c.o.c.kburn 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.