The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919 | Page 6

collection. We feel sure that few Regimental
Transports can have looked more like a circus than did ours as we left
Newark.
The march of 14 miles to Radcliffe-on-Trent was completed about 4
p.m., and after a good night's rest we left early on August 11th, and
proceeding via Nottingham, arrived at Derby at 6.30 p.m., after a 23
mile march. This was a very severe test for all, as few were really
"hard" enough at that time for such a long trek. Route marches were
accordingly carried out, on each of the three extremely hot days spent
at Derby, as the main part of our programme.
Whilst at Derby the main subject of discussion was that of Imperial
Service for Territorial units. So far as we were concerned a
considerable number of officers and men had already volunteered.
There were many others who had not actually done so, but there was no
doubt as to what their answer would be. Of the remainder many were
practically disqualified from serving abroad by reason of age, unfitness,
family and business ties, and other reasons, and for them, in the light of
the little we knew then, the decision was most difficult, and the need
for it we hardly thought fair. The demand for volunteers was in the first
instance put rather baldly, with little notice, and with apparently little
realisation of the enormous difficulties under which so many were
labouring, and it was not surprising that this appeal met with little
response. A second earnest appeal, reinforced by the feeling that the
honour, even the existence of the Battalion was in danger, resulted in
over 800 volunteering, which was eminently satisfactory, though it is
impossible to avoid the feeling that many who volunteered then did so
against their better judgment, and that the decision should have been
made for them.

All the other units in the Division having more or less similarly settled
this vital question, training was started in earnest.
The first area allotted to the Division was Hertfordshire, and we
entrained on August 15th, for the first time, and by no means the last.
Hours went by after our scheduled time before there was any sign of
the train. In an adjoining field, however, the various Company
entertainers had full scope and played to large audiences. Eventually
we got off in two trains, and detraining at Leagrave marched the last
three miles to Luton, where we arrived in the early hours of August
16th. Here we stayed for six days and carried out a little training,
mostly at Luton Hoo and Markyate. We cannot say that we regarded
this as the most pleasant of our experiences, as our billets were not of
the best either for Officers, who were mostly crowded into a few
cottages, and took turns at bathing in small tin baths in the sculleries, or
men who were also crowded in somewhat unwholesome schools, while
our menu consisted monotonously of bully beef and pickle, and army
biscuit and cheese.
Better things fortunately were in store, for on August 21st, we moved
on a few miles to Harpenden, where we were destined to stay for three
months, and where we received on all sides the greatest possible
hospitality. We are sure that all who were billeted at Harpenden will
look back with the greatest pleasure to the time spent in that delightful
district. The men for the most part were billeted in small houses, three
or four together, and with the more than ample rations and billeting
allowances then in force, both men and billet owners were exceedingly
well off.
Here we had also the 5th, 6th and 7th Sherwood Foresters, which, with
ourselves, formed the Notts, and Derby Infantry Brigade, under the
Command of Brigadier-General C. T. Shipley, who had Major E. M.
Morris as Brigade Major, and Capt. R. J. Wordsworth as Staff Captain.
The Stafford and Lincoln and Leicester Infantry Brigades completed
the North Midland Division, which was commanded by Major-General
The Hon. E. J. Montagu Stuart-Wortley.
Fortunately the weather for some time was splendid, and the Battalion

soon began to shew the result of constant and regular drill, and the
turnout and smartness improved rapidly. Training comprised almost
every possible form that could be required to make both officers and
men efficient, and went so far as to include the detailing of
Sergt.-Instructor Mounteney to carry out the by no means easy task of
trying to turn Officers into swordsmen. It is no disparagement of his
efforts to congratulate ourselves that we never had to put our lessons to
the test of stern reality. "Infantry Training" and "Field Service
Regulations" were studied and more or less followed out in practice in
all we did. Most of our drill, musketry instruction, bayonet fighting,
physical exercises, and