The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasglow Chamber of Commerce Battalion) | Page 7

trying marches in the scorching May-June weather, to
Clive's native district, Moreton-Say and Market Drayton, to Wem and
Hodnet, and to the beautiful scenery of Hawkstone Park, and Iscoyd
Hall. Football, cricket, hockey, golf and cross-country running

provided healthy recreation, while excursions to old-world "Sleepy
Chester," to Shrewsbury and into Wales were popular week-ends.
[Illustration: A PEACEFUL BIVOUAC--SALISBURY PLAIN.]
[Illustration: RECRUITING MARCH AT CODFORD. To face page
22.]
In the third week of June, 1915, the 17th H.L.I. changed quarters from
the flat stifling district of Prees-Heath to the breezy upland valley of
Wensleydale, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. There is hardly a level
acre in the district, but this was a welcome change. Many an enjoyable
journey was made, in the intervals of Brigade Training, northward to
lonely Swaledale, south to Coverdale, across the Valley of the Yore, to
the prominent peak of Penhill, or to the beautiful Aysgarth Falls.
The Infantry Brigade, the 97th, had the 95th and the South Irish Horse
as comrades for the training round Leyburn and Middleham, and
Bellerby Moors; and some pleasant friendships were formed with the
Warwickshire and Gloucestershire lads, and with the "foine foightin'
bhoys" from Cork and Tipperary.
On the 27th of July tents were shifted to Totley Rifle Ranges in
Derbyshire, where the preliminary Musketry Course was fired by the
Battalion during the next fortnight, with most creditable results. The
men made themselves great favourites in Totley and Dore, and at
Sheffield, where they received a very hospitable welcome at all times,
and especially on the occasion of a memorable route march through
that city on 9th August. The Battalion was given an enthusiastic
send-off at Dore and Beauchief Stations on 10th August, when
entraining for Salisbury Plain, the scene of their next training ground.
When the Seventeenth steamed into the station at Codford St. Mary, on
11th August, and saw the occasional houses peeping through the tall
trees, it was the thought that, after the bustle and stir of Totley, they
had indeed become soldiers in earnest. The Camp Warden strengthened
this belief with his assurance that no unit stayed longer than six weeks
in the Camp, and after that,--Southampton and France, for the testing

and proof of all that had been learnt so eagerly. As it turned out, three
months were spent at Codford--months of rigorous training, of long
interesting divisional manoeuvres, and general hardening. The men
learned to dig trenches quickly and well, for they had to spend nights in
them; to march many miles without complaint, and fight at the end of
the hardest day's march; to use Lewis guns, not as amateurs with a
strange toy, but as men whose lives depended on their speed and ability.
The mysteries of transport, and the value of a timetable were revealed.
Needless to say these days of field exercises were not lacking in some
amusing incidents which seem to dog the footsteps of peace conditions
manoeuvres and which act as very welcome episodes amid the hard
work that such training involves. Towards the close of one of the
periodical manoeuvres carried out by the Seventeenth under the critical
eye of an Inspecting General a bugle had sounded and the manoeuvres
ceased. Officers grouped together and men lay on their backs and
talked. The General turned to one of the Battalion officers who were
now beginning to assemble round him, and said, "What was that call?"
He often did such things as this to test knowledge of detail. "The Stand
Fast," said the officer to whom the question was addressed. "Oh! come!
come!" said the General, "Now, what was it?" he further questioned a
Company Commander. No reply came. Then he turned to the Second in
Command, "Now, Major, what was it? Tell him." "The Stand Fast, sir,"
said the Major. "Really," said the General, "you gentlemen must learn
the elementary things in soldiering. Bugler, tell these gentlemen what
that call was." "The Stand Fast, sir," replied the bugler. The General
hurried on with the conference!
At Codford the Battalion had its first taste of army biscuit and
bully-beef. From Monday to Thursday manoeuvres were held; on
Friday, "clean up," and on Saturday, after the Colonel's inspection, the
luckier ones went to Bath and Bristol for the day, or to London or
Bournemouth for the week-end. Friday was pay day--"Seven Shillings
me lucky lad," and after pay-out, the reading of the Army Act or a
Lecture on bayonet-fighting or tactics. Games flourished. The Battalion
football team played and defeated Bath City, and met the other
Battalions of the Division at Rugby Football, and invariably won. On

the ranges with rifle and Lewis gun, the Battalion maintained its place
as the Battalion in the Division.
[Illustration: OFFICERS OF THE BATTALION AT MAR LODGE,
TROON, 1915. To face page 24.]
[Illustration: