The Fifth Battalion Highland Light Infantry in the War 1914-1918 | Page 2

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