Part 18

I sing wi' great pleasure the sangs frae his pen, A credit is he tae oor dear auld grey glen. Noo, freens, come an' join in the lilt o' ma sang As I sing in the praise o' ma Auld Cronie Tam.

REFRAIN.

H. L. I.

To the Lads who fought so heroically at the Battle of Loos on 25th September, 1915.

Song. Tune, "Hot Ashfelt."

When they left the mother country to fight the barb'rous Hun We knew they never would turn back till victory was won; The fathers, mothers, sisters, wives were loath to say good-bye To the gallant soldier-laddies in the H.L.I.

CHORUS.

You may talk about your Gordons and your Irish Fusiliers, Your Black Watch and your Royal Scots and famous Grenadiers; But for lads who meet the foemen with courage bounding high, There's none can beat the laddies in the H.L.I.

And when they'd crossed the briny and were marching through Boulogne, And striding on light-hearted, "Tipperary" for their song, The Ma'moiselles in ecstasy admiringly did cry, "Oh! see the bonnie laddies of the H.L.I."

CHORUS.

When at their post of danger 'midst the roar of shot and shell, With poison gas discharging fumes as from the pit of hell, On their courage and their steadiness commanders could rely, For devoid of funk were laddies in the H.L.I.

CHORUS.

And when the order to advance came sounding low and clear Our gallant Highland laddies answered gaily with a cheer, Then at the foemen boldly rushed, their motto "do or die," And dauntless were the laddies in the H.L.I.

CHORUS.

All honour to that glorious band who fell to rise no more! They died for Right and Justice, and they've reached a fairer shore, Where the brave shall meet together without a tear or sigh, There we'll find those gallant laddies of the H.L.I.

CHORUS.

BRAVE LADS O' SANQUHAR.

Song. Tune, "Yellow-haired Laddie."

The brave Lads o' Sanquhar Tae the war hae a' gane, Tae fecht for oor freedom, Oor country an' hame. When duty did ca' them They answered the ca', An' the Brave Lads o' Sanquhar Will conquer or fa'.

The Brave Lads o' Sanquhar Remember fu' weel Cameron an' Renwick, an' Crichton o' Peel-- Names Time wi' its changes Will never efface An' the Brave Lads o' Sanquhar Will never disgrace.

They are fearless an' strong As the best in the lan', Aye steady an' sure At the word o' comman'; Tae honour an' kindred They never were fause: An' shooder tae shooder a' In a guid cause.

Fu' mony o' the leal An' the true hae "gane west" Tae reap their reward an' Their nobly won rest. Their mem'ry wi' laurels, Bricht laurels, we'll croon, Tho' sair be oor herts in The Auld Burgh Toon.

MENNOCK BURN.

Tune: "Kirkconnell Lea."

When mist nae langer hides the lift, An' rain cluds flee afore the sun, Wi' staff in han' I slowly gang Tae muse on thee, sweet Mennock Burn.

REFRAIN.

Sweet Mennock Burn that springs sae clear Frae oot the Lowther Hills sae hie, The happy days I'll ever min' That I in youth hae spent by thee.

Dear Mennock Burn, what memories cling Aroun' thy bonnie wuds an' braes; Near thee the Muirlan' Bard was born, That sang sae sweetly in thy praise.