The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion)

Part 1

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The

Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry.

17th H.L.I.

THE GIFT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

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

Record of War Service, 1914-1918.

GLASGOW: DAVID J. CLARK, 23 ROYAL EXCHANGE SQUARE AND 92 UNION STREET. 1920.

EDITORS' PREFACE.

In compiling and editing this history of the Chamber of Commerce Battalion, the aim of the editors has been to present such a narrative as will provide a detailed but not overburdened account of the Battalion's movements and operations throughout the years of its existence, and at the same time give a representative impression of the various outstanding events which have built up the character and the traditions of the unit.

In accordance with the wishes of the History Committee, the narrative dealing with Field service has been kept within the limits of the Battalion's share in the campaign, and accordingly no attempt has been made to give any picture of the relative positions of the various other units operating with the 17th, or of the general strategic import of the actions described.

The chapters dealing with the beginnings and home training, and those general items in Part III. are founded mainly upon matter supplied by officers of the unit and members of The Outpost staff. The Roll of original members in Part IV. has been gathered together by Lieut. and Quarter-Master Kelly. The material in the section dealing with the service of the Battalion overseas has been gathered from the following sources:--

For data--the Official War Diaries of the 17th Battalion H.L.I. preserved in the "Records" Office, Hamilton; supplementary notes supplied by Lieut.-Cols. Morton and Paul and Major Paterson, D.S.O., M.C.; Brigade and Battalion Operation Orders; Battalion Operation Reports.

For impressions, opinions, and descriptions--numerous and exceedingly helpful literary vignettes from members of The Outpost staff and others, and from interviews.

The Editors desire to record their appreciation of material contributed and help given by:--Lieut.-Col. Morton, Lieut.-Col. Paul, Lieut.-Col. Inglis, Major Paterson, the Rev. A. Herbert Gray, C.F., Capt. G.H.R. Laird, Capt. M. MacRobert, Capt. T.P. Locking, Mr. Cameron of the Chamber of Commerce, Lieut. and Quarter-Master Kelly, Mr. Meadows of Saltcoats (for allowing illustrations and excerpts to be taken from the diary of his son, the late Lieut. B. Meadows), the relatives of the late Lieut. D.W. Hourston (for a selection of photographs from his collection), and the following gentlemen identified with the publication of The Outpost:--Messrs. A.M. Cohen, W.S. Corbett, Mark Drummond, W.M. Dixon, A.G. Deans, W. Glennie, A.G. Houstoun, J.L. Hardie, C. MacCallum, J. M'Kechnie, N. M'Intyre, W.K. M'Taggart, D. Murray, J.L.L. Niven, F.K. Pickles, H.F. Scott, D.M. Thomson, R. Tilley.

JOHN W. ARTHUR. ION S. MUNRO.

GLASGOW, May, 1920.

CONTENTS.

EDITORS' PREFACE.

I.--FORMATION AND HOME TRAINING. PAGE

THE NATION'S CALL TO ARMS, 13 Declaration of War--Strain on the resources of the Regular and Territorial Forces--Kitchener's Call to Arms--Civic response--Glasgow Corporation Battalions--Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and Resolution--Committee formed--The Technical College.

A BATTALION IN BEING, 15 Attestation and enrolment--"A" Company from Technical College--"B" Company from Schools--"C" and "D" from the City--C.O., Second in Command, Adjutant, Company Commanders, and Staff appointed--Leaving the City--Government acceptance--Farewell visit to City.

ESPRIT DE CORPS, 19 Traditions of the H.L.I.--the 71st and 74th Foot--Uniform--pre-War Establishment--Regular and Territorial Battalions--War Service Battalions raised--the allocation of the 17th Battalion.

HOME STATIONS AND TRAINING, 21 Gailes--Troon--Prees Heath--Wensleydale--Totley--Codford Camp--Overseas Orders--Message from the King--Embarkation.

II.--ON ACTIVE SERVICE.

Part 2

ON TREK, 27 Arrival at Havre--March to the forward area--Bouzincourt and Millencourt--instructional tour of front line trenches--condition of trenches--first casualties-- Molliens.

TRENCH ROUTINE, 30 In the line--Xmas '15 and the New Year--the new trench--"Standing to"--routine and patrols.

THE RAID, 33 The "Red" Division--in the line at Authuille--Colonel Morton wounded on March 21st--A raid postponed--carried out on 22nd--success of Lieut. Begg's party--congratulatory messages and awards.

A LULL BEFORE THE STORM, 37 Preparations commenced for the Somme offensive--a complimentary shoot with "P" Battery--Divisional, Brigade and Battalion identification marks--happy days at Rubempre.

THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME, 39 Spirit of the Battalion prior to the battle--zero and "over the top"--Leipzig Trench carried--flanks exposed--precarious position of the unit--great casualties--protective bombing posts--consolidation-- Battalion relieved--Victoria Cross gained by Sergeant Turnbull--Roll Call.

A DIARY ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE, 42 Extract from the personal diary of the late Lieut. B. Meadows giving a wonderfully realistic picture of the July 1st Battle.

HULLUCH AND THEREABOUTS, 48 Senlis--last parade under Col. Morton--Bombing raid north of Ovillers--Move to Bethune--1st Army Area--inspection by General Munro--depleted ranks--trench warfare about Hulluch--Cambrin Sector.

BEAUMONT-HAMEL, 51 The attack--weather conditions--failure of artillery support--forlorn hope--break-down of assault--gallantry and sacrifice--casualties--Mailly-Maillet--Franqueville and Rubempre--Xmas 1916 and New Year--football and high spirits.

THE NEW YEAR, 1917, 53 Bad weather--Courcelles--trench labours--varied moves--beginning of Spring Offensive--attack by the French--the advance--Nesle--condition of inhabitants--great digging work at Germaine.

ON THE HEELS OF THE ENEMY, 55 The taking of Savy--casualties--patrolling--capture of Fayet--congratulatory messages--strenuous days--Canizy--competitions with the French--work and sport--Hangard--leaving the Fourth Army--Farewell message from General Rawlinson.

IN FLANDERS, 60 En route to Steenbecque--R.T.O.--the 14th Corps--reconnaissance of Messines Sector--heavy marches--Coxyde and Kuhn--amenities of Nieuport area.

OPERATIONS ON THE COAST, 62 Enemy hurricane bombardment--enemy attempt frustrated--attack abandoned--visit to H.L.I.-- sports--visit of Dr. Kelman--patrol work by Corpl. Wilson--listening post raided--departure for Adinkerke.

THE YPRES SALIENT, 66 Passchendaele--gallantry of attack--casualties-- Hilltop Farm--move to Landethun and Yeuse--Serre Sector--close of 1917.

THE DISBANDMENT, 71 Hogmanay--with the II. Corps--the blow--new army establishment--Hospital Camp--disbandment--the passing of the "17th."

III.--AN ODD MUSTER.

THE SPIRIT OF THE BATTALION, 76 The Padre's tribute.

CO-OPERATION, 78 The 17th and the Gunners.

"THE OUTPOST," 81 The Battalion Magazine.

SPORT OF THE BATTALION, 83 Football--running--boxing.

THE R.S.M., 84 Tribute by Lieut.-Col. D.S. Morton.

A REMEMBRANCE, 84 An echo.

THE COMFORTS COMMITTEE, 85 The Ladies' Committee and Office-bearers--their helpful work.

MEMORIAL SERVICE IN GLASGOW, 86 The Somme--Rev. A. Herbert Gray's text.

THE CLUB, 87 The object--Battalion Benevolent Fund--Committee formed--Hope of the future.

"E" COMPANY, 89 17th H.L.I. Reserve--19th Battalion--drafts-- activities--Lieut. Col. Anderson, V.C.--78th T.R.B.

IV.--HONOURS AND AWARDS.

Battalion Honour, 91

The Victoria Cross, 91

Part 3

Honours gained by Officers and others while serving with the Battalion, 93

Honours gained by original Members of the Battalion after being transferred to other units, 96

List of Officers who were granted Commissions in the Battalion on its formation, 100

"Other Ranks" of the Battalion who were granted Commissions in the Battalion, 101

Roll of Warrant Officers, N.C.O.s and men who joined the Battalion prior to 22nd November, 1915, 102

ILLUSTRATIONS.

FRONTISPIECE. Facing Page

THE LATE MR. MONTAGU M.W. BAIRD AND MR. JAMES W. MURRAY, PRESIDENTS OF THE CHAMBER, 14

FAREWELL MEETING AT THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, 17

EARLY DAYS--A REST BY THE WAY, 18

H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT, COLONEL-IN-CHIEF OF THE H.L.I., AND COLONEL J. STANLEY PATERSON, 19

LIEUT.-COLONEL DAVID S. MORTON, V.D., C.M.G., 20, 35

ON THE SEA FRONT AT TROON--LEAVING TROON, 20

MESS ORDERLIES (PREES HEATH CAMP)--"GUARD, TURN OUT" (WENSLEY CAMP), 21

A PEACEFUL BIVOUAC (SALISBURY PLAIN)--RECRUITING MARCH AT CODFORD, 22

OFFICERS OF THE BATTALION AT MAR LODGE, TROON, 1915, 24

VISIT OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TROON, 1915 25

THE BATTALION ON PARADE, 26

HAVRE--RUINS OF BETHUNE, 28

THE CATHEDRAL, ALBERT--BEFORE AND AFTER BOMBARDMENT, 34

MAP ILLUSTRATING OPERATIONS OF 1ST JULY, 1916, 40

VIEW FROM BOUZINCOURT LOOKING TOWARDS THE LINE, 44

COOKHOUSE AT BECOURT--OBSERVATION POST, HULLUCH SECTOR--WAR'S DESTRUCTION, 50

LIEUT.-COLONEL W.J. PAUL, 51

LIEUT.-COLONEL J. INGLIS, C.M.G., D.S.O., 60

TYPES OF SUPPORT LINE DUG-OUTS AND FIRST AID POST, 68

MAJOR THE REV. A. HERBERT GRAY--CHURCH PARADE (PREES HEATH), 76

PHASES OF BATTALION TRAINING, 77

Part 4

"THE OUTPOST" STAFF ON ACTIVE SERVICE--ORIGINAL EDITORIAL STAFF, 81

THE LATE STEVEN D. REITH, D.C.M.--LCE.-CORPL. F.K. PICKLES, 82

MARGUS, THE MASCOT--ONE OF THE BATTALION RUGBY FOOTBALL TEAMS, 83

LIEUT. AND Q.-M. (FORMERLY REGIMENTAL-SERGEANT-MAJOR) JAMES KELLY, 84

MRS. DAVID S. MORTON, CONVENER OF THE COMFORTS COMMITTEE, 85

LIEUT.-COLONEL W. AULD, V.D., 90

THE LATE LIEUT.-COLONEL WILLIAM HERBERT ANDERSON, V.C., AND SERGEANT J.Y. TURNBULL, V.C., 91

"They ask a better Britain as their monument."

I.--FORMATION AND HOME TRAINING.

THE NATION'S CALL TO ARMS.

Great Britain declared war on Germany on August 4th, 1914, and almost immediately the combatant strength of its Regular Army was on service and the great bulk of that gallant force engaged in those fierce actions against odds which marked the early fighting.

The War Office was quickly alive to the fact that the Regular Army could not cope in point of numbers with the Germanic hordes. On the day following the declaration of war the Territorial Forces of Great Britain were mobilized, and with a marvellous and inspiring unanimity their members volunteered for Overseas Service. But even the addition of these many thousands to our striking force was realised to provide no more than a relief for the rapidly exhausting strength of the "old contemptibles," and Lord Kitchener issued his great manifesto calling the people to the Empire's help, and laid the foundations of a New Army--Kitchener's Army--the finest and most disinterested body of soldier patriots that ever stepped in a sound and worthy cause. At once the patriotism of the country declared itself and the Nation sprang to arms. The City of Glasgow proved itself second to none among the cities and districts of the Kingdom in its answer to the call. The Town Council recruited two fine battalions, the 1st Glasgow, which was mainly drawn from the Tramway employees of the city; and the 2nd Glasgow, which was recruited from former members of the Boys' Brigade. Other institutions in the city were bestirring themselves in the national cause, and at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Directors, held on 3rd September, 1914, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Bailie W.F. Russell, to form a Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion. Enthusiasm for the scheme was quickly evident, and no time was lost in getting the matter put upon a practical basis. At the same meeting of Directors the following gentlemen were appointed as the Committee in charge:--Messrs. M.M.W. Baird, James W. Murray, F.C. Gardiner, G.A. Mitchell, H. Moncrieff, W.F. Russell, A.A. Smith, with Sir Archd. M'Innes Shaw as Convener, and Mr. John W. Arthur as Vice-Convener, the former making Military matters his chief concern, the latter caring for Clothing and Equipment. Mr. Montagu M.W. Baird, the President, and Mr. James W. Murray, the Vice-President, did much to foster the movement.

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