The Fifth Leicestershire | Page 6

were the first complete
Territorial Force Division to cross the seas and go into action as a
Division against the Germans. And it may be that the whole Territorial
Force owe to our General, too, that they went in Divisions, and were
not sent piecemeal as some earlier battalions, and dovetailed into the
Regular Army, or, perhaps, even into the New Army. We live in the
assurance that the confidence the Army Council extended to us was not
misplaced.
Having rested a day at Ware, we marched to Bishops Stortford, where
we cannot say we were billeted neither can we use again the word rest,
for the town was over-crowded, and queues were formed up to billets;
queues composed of all arms of the service, and infantry did not take
the front place. Let us say we were "stationed" there one week. The
week was enlivened by strange rumour of German air attacks, and large
patrols were kept on the watch at night.
On the 26th of November, the time of our life began when the regiment
marched into billets at Sawbridgeworth. The town was built for one
infantry regiment and no more. The inhabitants were delightful, and we
have heard, indirectly, more than once that they were pleased with us.
We soon learnt to love the town and all it contained, and we dare not
say that our love has grown cold even now. The wedding bells have
already rung for the regiment once at Sawbridgeworth, when Lieut.
R.C.L. Mould married Miss Barrett, and we do not know that they may
not ring again for a similar reason. In Sawbridgeworth, our vigorous
adjutant, Captain W.T. Bromfield, was at his best. Everyone was seized
and pulled up to the last notch of efficiency, pay books were ready in
time, company returns were faultless, deficiency lists complete,
saluting was severer than ever, and echos of heel clicks rattled from the
windows in the street. Best of all were the drums. Daily at Retreat,

Drum Sergt. Skinner would salute the orderly officer, the orderly
officer would salute the senior officer, then all the officers would salute
all the ladies, the crowd would move slowly away, and wheel traffic
was permitted once more in the High Street.
The ordinary routine of military life was broken into at times by sudden
and violent efforts dictated by lightning ideas of the Divisional or
Brigade Staff, or by the latest news from the front. There was a time,
for example, when we could think of one thing only,--the recessed
trench. That gave place to the half company trench, a complete system,
embracing fire trenches, supports, inspection trenches, with cook
houses, wash houses, and all that a well regulated house could require;
and so important was it, and its dimensions so precise, that an
annotated copy was printed on handkerchiefs.
Then came a sudden desire to cross streams, however swollen, and a
party rode off to Bishops Stortford to learn the very latest plans. We
had just received a set of beautiful mules, well trained for hard work in
the transport. As horses were scarce, and the party large, our
resourceful adjutant ordered mules. Several mules returned at once,
though many went with their riders to the model bridge, and in their
intelligent anxiety to get a really close view, went into the water with
them.
On another day we did a great march through Harlow, and saluted Sir
Evelyn Wood, V.C., who stood at his gate to see us pass.
Football, boxing and concerts, not to mention dancing, filled our spare
time, and there was the famous race which ended:--BOB, Major Toller,
a, 1., BERLIN, Capt. Bromfield, a, 2. And we are not forgetting that it
was at Sawbridgeworth that we ate our first Christmas war dinner.
Never was such a feed. The eight companies had each a separate room,
and the Commanding officer, Major Martin, and the adjutant made a
tour of visits, drinking the health of each company in turn--eight
healths, eight drinks, and which of the three stood it best? Some say the
second in command shirked.
Officers had their dinner, too. After the loyal toast there was one

only--"Colour Sergt. Joe Collins, and may he live for ever!" The reply
was short--"Gentlemen, I think you are all looking very well." It was
his only thought, and we were well. We know how much we owe to
him as our mess sergeant; he studied our individual tastes and
requirements, and kept us well for many months. Good luck to him!
It was not till January, 1915, that a most important, and as a matter of
fact the very simplest, change in our organisation was made. To be in
keeping with the regular forces, our eight companies were re-organised
as four. This system would always have