Short History of the London Rifle Brigade Part 6

_To face page 30._

[Ill.u.s.tration: TRENCH BATTALION HEADQUARTERS.

_November, 1915--February, 1916._]

Lieut.-Colonel Bates, D.S.O., was given sick leave in August, and Major R. H. Husey, M.C., took command. Under his leaders.h.i.+p the Battalion added to its laurels in the fighting during September.

SECOND BATTALION.

At the beginning of September, 1914, permission was obtained to form a second Battalion. Recruiting was commenced at Headquarters in Bunhill Row on the 3rd, and the Battalion was filled in one day. So great was the rush of recruits that, had it been possible to obtain leave to do so, another Battalion could easily have been formed. Great care was taken, under these advantageous circ.u.mstances, in the selection of recruits. Those taken, combined with the draft from the 1st Battalion of men who were unable at that time to undertake the foreign service obligation, made up a fine Battalion.

Of the officers on formation, the following had formerly served in the Regiment, or were serving, and transferred from the 1st Battalion under the home service condition:--

Lieut.-Colonel G. R. Tod, formerly Adjutant for five years, 1898-1903.

Major G. Harvest.

Quartermaster and Hon. Major J. Guppy.

_To face page 31._

[Ill.u.s.tration: ENTRANCE TO CAMP, REST BILLETS, MAY, 1916, WHERE THE LORD MAYOR SAW THE BATTALION ON PARADE.]

Captain C. G. H. Macgill, M.V.O., who acted as Adjutant until the formation of the Home Service Provisional Battalion.

Captain S. Bowers.

Captain C. R. Bland.

Captain H. B. Prior.

Captain C. E. Johnstone.

Captain C. Furze.

Lieutenant B. E. Bland.

THIRD BATTALION.

The 3rd Battalion was raised on November 30th, 1914. The first Commanding Officer was Colonel H. C. Cholmondeley, C.B. (see pages 3 and 4). The Battalion was fortunate in having the help of several old members of the Regiment in the commissioned and non-commissioned ranks.

They were invaluable in carrying on to the new men the traditions and esprit de corps of the London Rifle Brigade.

After some five months in London, the Battalion proceeded at the end of April by train to Wimbledon, and on, by route march, to Tadworth, where it went under canvas. Soon after its arrival Colonel Cholmondeley was given command of a 4th Line Brigade, and the command of the Battalion was taken over by Major Norman C. King, T.D., who went out to the front with the 1st Battalion, and had been invalided home. Lieut.-Colonel King, being the officer with the senior permanent rank on the cadre of the Regiment, now commands it.

The system of training adopted was that of a public school; that is to say, the company represented the house, and the Captain the house master, who administered the company, but was not responsible for its training. The instructors in each subject--e.g., drill, musketry, bombing, etc.--each had their own staff of a.s.sistants, and every platoon was taken up in turn for its lesson. This represented the forms of a school. The system proved very successful, and received commendation from high authority. It was subsequently recommended for adoption over the whole of the Southern Command, but was too much of a departure from tradition to be taken over as it stood, though it was recommended in a modified form.

As the summer of 1915 pa.s.sed on, officers from the 1st Battalion, who had been wounded in the second battle of Ypres in April-May, were posted to the 3rd Battalion on recovery. Thus began the circulation between the 1st and 3rd Battalions which has proved so invaluable in keeping close touch and sympathy between those at the front and those at home.

On November 12th the Battalion moved to billets in Sutton, and received the greatest kindness and consideration there. Everything possible was done for the comfort of the Battalion, and not the least of the kindnesses received were the services at Christchurch, under the Rev.

Courtney Gale. Nothing could have exceeded the warmth and vigour of the church parades, which were much appreciated by all ranks.

On January 10th, 1916, the Battalion moved to its present camp.

ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE.

The Headquarters and Depot or Administrative Centre are situated at 130, Bunhill Row, E.C., and are in charge of Captain H. Ferguson, to whom the Regiment owes a considerable debt of grat.i.tude for the whole-hearted way he has thrown himself into the work since he joined. Having been private secretary to the late Lord Roberts, he has brought a ripe knowledge and warm appreciation of the Territorial Force to bear on the thousand and one details which have to be arranged from Headquarters. Here it is that recruits receive their equipment and their first insight into drill.

The finances of the Regiment since war broke out have been ably looked after by Major C. W. Cornish, V.D., who took up the reins again after having laid them down in 1908.

The London Rifle Brigade Mutual Aid Society centres in Bunhill Row, and a copy of its scheme is given in Appendix F.

The Prisoners' Aid Fund, for sending food and warm clothing to non-commissioned officers and riflemen of the Regiment who are prisoners, is also controlled from Headquarters. Weekly parcels are sent by ladies of the Regiment to any whose relatives are not in a position to send them all they require.