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

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The Battalion was organised as far as possible in its depleted
condition and work and training carried on until December 10th, when
once more the unit moved up the line to Hilltop Farm, N.E. of Ypres.
During their stay here, Mr. Fred A. Farrell, the well-known Scottish
artist, visited the 17th on a commission from the Corporation of
Glasgow to execute drawings of the Glasgow Battalions and the places
in which they were operating.

On December 13th they were back in the trenches. Hard winter weather
had now set in, with fog, frost and water sogged ground. On the 20th
the Battalion was relieved and, as far as weather is concerned, spent
a typical Christmas Day when it came round, in Dambre Camp. Being in
Corps Reserve, nothing in the nature of Christmas festivities could be
permitted, but the gifts supplied by the Chamber of Commerce provided
seasonable fare and brought a measure of good cheer.

After a series of alarms and stand-to's, a Divisional Relief was
carried through, and on December 30th the Battalion trained to
Audruicq and set out on an arduous route march for the villages of
Landrethun and Yeuse, where the men were happily enabled to spend a
night's rest in comfortable billets, "A," "B," "C," and Headquarters
in the former village, and "D" in the latter.

The last day of the year which had probably been the hardest and, as
far as campaigning is concerned, the most eventful in the history of
the Battalion, was passed amidst the peaceful surroundings of these
villages untouched by war. The beginning of the year had seen the
Battalion in the line in the Serre Sector, then had followed the
memorable days of Beaumont Hamel, Honoroye, the battle of Savy and the
taking of Fayet in the St. Quentin area, a well deserved period of
rest at Canizy and thence by train and road into Belgium, being held
in reserve for the Battle of Messines, three hard months spent in the
line in the Nieuport Sector and the St. George's Sector, and then
after a spell of rest--forward into Passchendaele.

THE DISBANDMENT.

_Hogmanay--with the II. Corps--the blow--new army
establishment--Hospital Camp--disbandment--the passing of the
"17th."_

For some time rumours had been flitting about that certain Battalions
were going to be disbanded in accordance with a programme of
reorganised military establishments. Every New Army unit in the B.E.F.
had about this time qualms of fear that if rumours proved true the
selection might fall on them. Esprit de corps was never stronger and
the very thought of possible separations from brothers-in-arms, fell
as a vague shadowy fear over the 17th because it looked very likely
that the 17th, being the junior H.L.I. Battalion of the Division,
would be the Divisional victim in any re-arrangement that might be
carried out. But nothing definite was known, and the advent of New
Year, 1918, brought with it a feeling of hope for the future.

The Battalion was still billeted in the peaceful villages of
Landrethun and Yeuse. On the opening day of the year the ground was
snow covered, rendering parades well nigh impossible, and so the men
were at liberty. Preparations were eagerly pushed forward for a New
Year Feast, and on the 3rd, in spite of provisioning difficulties,
very complete arrangements had been successfully made considering the
length of time available for providing the men with a seasonable
repast on that evening. The Companies sat down to a feast of roast
pork--which only a few hours before had been a live pig. There was
soup, haggis, plum pudding, apple dumpling, cake, cigarettes, and
copious supplies of beer. The Commanding Officer, accompanied by Major
G.R.S. Paterson, and the Adjutant, visited each Company in turn to
wish them the Compliments of the Season, and the night finished with
song and story.

Work and training was resumed again in earnest the next day as far as
the weather conditions would permit. On the 9th of January the
Battalion moved off, embussing for the forward area to operate on the
II. Corps Line. After a cold journey in a heavy snowstorm, they
arrived at Murat Camp late at night and came under the command of the
35th Division. They found the camp in very bad order and set about
putting it right, meanwhile working parties were carrying on under the
C.R.E. of the Division. Splendid work was carried out by the Battalion
during this period, despite snowstorms and blizzards, and high praise
was given to the unit by the Corps Commander. All the Royal Engineer
Officers connected with the work declared they had never had better
nor keener infantry parties.

On the 16th Major Morton assumed command of the Battalion during the
absence of Lieut.-Colonel Inglis on leave; and on the 18th Major
Morton was ordered to hospital and Major Paterson took over.

_The Battalion Intelligence News Sheet_, inaugurated to keep all ranks
fully informed of the principal events of the day as regards the war,
was circulated, but it could not hope to oust _The Outpost_ as the
real news vehicle of the 17th.

On the 25th of January the Battalion left Murat Camp for a camp near
Woeston and came under the command of the 1st Division, and on the
27th the Battalion relieved the 10th Gloucesters in reserve in the Het
Sas Sector, and carried on improving the line until the 31st of
January--when the blow fell and hopes were dashed to the ground. While
in Brigade Support at Houthust Forest Sector, Major Paterson was sent
for by Brigadier-General C.A. Blacklock, who informed him that the
re-organisation of the Army necessitated the disbanding of an H.L.I.
Battalion in the 32nd Division. The Battalion selected was the junior
one, the 17th. General Blacklock expressed in very generous terms his
admiration for the Battalion, and for all that it had done, and
expressed his sorrow and regret that so fine a unit had to be broken
up, and the officers, non-com. officers and men serving in it would be
drafted to other H.L.I. Battalions, which would necessitate, in many
cases, the breaking up of what had been very long friendships.

Early in January, 1918, it had been decided by the War Office to adopt
the three Battalion per Brigade system throughout the British Army,
and this resulted in the disbandment of many Battalions which had seen
much service abroad, and had won a name for themselves in France.
Perhaps the chief Battalion in the whole army to be disbanded was the
17th Service Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, and the
disbandment of this Battalion came as a bitter blow, not only to those
who were serving in the Battalion at that time, but also to those who
had served in it at some time or other in the past and possibly to
those who were looking forward to serving with it in the future.

Needless to say all ranks of the Battalion were deeply disappointed at
the Commander-in-Chief's decision, which was received as a calamity.
The highest traditions of the Battalion had been maintained
throughout, and the esprit de corps and good comradeship of all ranks
made the news almost unbearable.

As soon as the official notification arrived the Battalion was
relieved by the First Battalion, the Dorset Regiment, and was
withdrawn to Hospital Camp near Woesten where the disbanding was to be
carried out. From then onwards an enormous amount of work fell on
everybody, especially on the Adjutant, Captain Dunsmuir, M.C., who was
responsible for compiling the rolls of the different drafts, which
were to proceed to the various H.L.I. Battalions in France, comprising
the 10/11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 18th Battalions.

On the 11th of February the first draft, consisting of about seven
officers and 200 other ranks marched out of camp to the tune of the
pipes en route for the railway station at Boesinghe, where it
entrained and proceeded to join the 10/11th Battalion H.L.I. Although
there was much cheering as the train steamed away, yet there were many
men with sad hearts at leaving the Battalion they had served in from
the beginning, which had become their home in the Army.

For the next few days that followed, similar drafts were sent off
until the strength of the Battalion was reduced to the establishment
for Headquarters with Transport. For about a week this small unit
carried on, until the Transport section, under the Transport Officer,
Lieut. Smith, was detached, and was attached to the Division where it
remained for some time until it was sent to the base for drafting. All
that remained now was the Headquarters establishment, commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel Inglis, D.S.O., who had returned from leave, and this
establishment was sent to take over another camp which was to be run
as a Divisional Reception Camp for men returning to their units from
leave. About a week later orders were received that some of the H.Q.
personnel were to be drafted away, and on the next day a draft of
about thirty men under R.S.M. Burns proceeded to join the 13th
Entrenching Battalion. A few days later all that was left of the
Battalion under Captain Dunsmuir, M.C., was drafted to the same
Battalion, and Lieut.-Colonel Inglis, D.S.O., and Major Morton, who
was again with the Battalion, were ordered to report to Divisional
Headquarters.

All that remained now of the 17th Battalion Highland Light Infantry
was the name, but that name will always remain in the minds of those
who served in the Battalion, and the mere mention of it brings back
happy memories of days spent both at home and abroad to those who knew
it.

As William Glennie of "A" Company, writes:--"That the good old
Battalion would end, we all expected, as the happy sequence of
completed duty, and somehow we all imagined we would be there. In our
ideal picture of the scene, George Square was clearly outlined;
somehow we fancied old Hughie would order 'Officers, fall out please,'
and while the ranks took the rhythmical right turn, the 'Faither'
would step forward from the right of 'C' Company, give his
characteristic red army salute, shake his cane and rap out 'Quick time
off the parade ground' in his best Troon parade style. But we forgot
the war, as too often in our ideal outlook we did.

* * * * *

"'Fall out ... the 17th Highland Light Infantry....' That was at No. 6
Camp, Calais, in the chill dusk of 6th February, 1918. Back from
Blighty leave, as the news spread, we took it philosophically--the old
Battalion had been disbanded, and scattered to various sister
battalions. Here we were, practically all the originals to the number
of about 50, the sole remnants of 26 months of war, welcomed back to
France for the second time, but not to the Seventeenth; orphans to be
adopted by strange parents.

* * * * *

"'Quick march.' The party swung slowly down the rough track between
the huts. It was one of those innumerable hutted campments behind
Poperinghe. At the junction of the road stood Colonel Inglis, Majors
Morton and Paterson, Captain Dunsmuir and R.S.M. Kelly. It all seemed
so usual, save that there was more handshaking and waving of bonnets.
'Cheerio, old chap--best of luck.' Gone, those pals of three years in
camp, trench, billet and shell hole; but we never knew how great a
part of our life they had become. Then in the look in each other's
eyes, in the huskiness of the voice, rather than in the ill-concealed
tear, came the full realisation of the undying spirit of our old
Chamber of Commerce Battalion, and the certainty that the death of the
Battalion had bequeathed to us the LIVING SOUL OF THE SEVENTEENTH."

III.--AN ODD MUSTER.

THE SPIRIT OF THE BATTALION.

A corporate body is always a great mystery. Before very long it always
develops a spirit which is something more than the sum of the
individual spirits which compose it. And no man can quite say how it
comes into existence. It may be a greater spirit than that of any
individual. Sometimes it is not so great as that of its members.

And Battalions are no exception to this rule. Each brings forth a
spirit, and by that spirit the members are henceforth profoundly
influenced. It is not the spirit of the Colonel, or of any particular
member. It is the spirit of the Battalion, something compounded by the
subtle alchemies of the spiritual world out of the individual souls of
officers and privates alike.

Of the spirit of the 17th H.L.I. it may at once be said that the
outstanding characteristic was high-hearted youth. Most of the members
of the Battalion were young, but the Battalion itself had the
qualities of youth more truly than any of them. It was essentially
gay. It did its work to the accompaniment of a fine hilarity. It could
laugh even on the eve of battle. It could even be uproarious and
exuberant as only the really young can.

And yet it was very efficient youth. To a man these soldiers took
their work seriously, and because they brought to it a fine quality of
intelligence, the Battalion rose to efficiency with astonishing
rapidity. Many men read eagerly in text books about training and
tactics and so forth, and the Battalion from end to end was intolerant
of slovenliness. If it resembled a young man, it was a young man who
meant business.

[Illustration: Major The Rev. A. HERBERT GRAY.]

[Illustration: CHURCH PARADE--PREES HEATH CAMP.
_To face page 76._]

[Illustration: VARIOUS PHASES OF BATTALION TRAINING
_To face page 77._]

It was also very gifted youth. Its athletic record speaks for itself,
as does also its military record. But other gifts were lavished upon
it. It knew and loved good literature. It had numbers of trained
singers and musicians. It had dramatic possibilities in it. It knew
much of science and mechanics. That young thing which we call the 17th
H.L.I. in fact loved life, and every side of life. It throbbed with
energy of body, mind, and spirit. It tingled with many sided vitality.

But above all, it was loveable youth. Few bodies of soldiers have ever
so fully won the affections of towns and country districts. It has
left a mark of its own on Troon, Prees Heath, Wensley, Sheffield, and
Codford. People hurried out to see the column go by, and after it was
gone the hearts of men and women were happier because of it. It came
to have a place in the lives of thousands, and they all thought of it
with affection. As we look back on it now it lives with us as a silver
memory,--something belonging to the world of sunshine and laughter, of
beauty and of courage. The West of Scotland gave of its best to make
up that whole, and while it lived it made a place for itself in the
hearts of the West, which is secure for all time.

Its career was short, but its immortality is safe.

It is good to have known it. And though tragedy unspeakable dogged its
footsteps, and broke its life in this world, it lives and will always
live gloriously in the hearts and memories of uncounted men and women
who believe more in humanity, and perhaps even believe more in God
because of the "Seventeenth."

"CO-OPERATION."

One of the most outstanding and important things taught in military
text books is the value of striving to obtain "co-operation of all
arms." That is to say, the more sympathy, good comradeship and
understanding that exists between Infantry and Artillery and Cavalry
and Tanks and Air Force people and so on, the more efficient each of
these various arms becomes to carry out its respective duties.
Knowledge of the general tactical principles under which each arm
operates, and personal acquaintanceship with the various officers and
men of such other units, all tend to cement combined operations into
one smooth working whole for the pleasant efficiency of the
combinations concerned and for the better (or worse!) confusion of the
enemy.

Such co-operation was an ideal often aimed at, but only too seldom
actually accomplished. It required the best of officers and men to
attain that perfect co-operation through understanding, which does not
either fall short of or over reach the mark.

The following notes written by Major C.E. Lawder, late commanding "A"
Battery of the 168th Brigade, 32nd Division, Royal Field Artillery,
reveals how smoothly things ran in that all important section of
co-operation--that between Infantry and Artillery. In the eyes of
those accustomed to military affairs the following statements will
likely be recognised as perhaps the finest tribute that could be paid
to the 17th H.L.I., for it is not so much an item of direct praise, as
a sure indication of the high quality of efficiency attained by all
ranks of the Battalion, not to mention the pleasant reflection given
of "good humoured gentlemen." The 17th was ever proud to serve with
the gunners of the 168th Brigade, whose fine shooting inspired
confidence and courage:--

"We first met the famous 17th H.L.I. about New Year, 1916, in the La
Boiselle Sector and much concern as to the pronunciation of the
Scottish names given to the trenches was felt by my Yorkshire
gunners--Sauchiehall Street in particular defeated them. They wished
the Jocks would use Christian Huddersfield names! All my officers were
much impressed by the great kindness and hospitality shown them by the
17th H.L.I. Messes when liaison Officer with the Infantry or when
going round the front line, which we did constantly, myself as Battery
Commander every third day, and the subalterns daily--all to try and
get suggestions to better strafe the Boche and to show the Jocks that
the gunners wanted to share the pleasures of the front line with our
splendid Infantry.

"The 17th were commonly known as the Raiders, and most excellent they
were at the job--the Hun had a holy horror of the men from Glasgow. I
well remember a chat after a good raid with the big drummer and a
little corporal of the H.L.I. Both had greatly distinguished
themselves and they asked me not to question them as to details of the
raid, as some very dirty work took place across the way! I expect it
did from the look in their eye and the happy way they handled their
clubs.

"A great entente cordiale existed between my Battery and the Regiment
and this was referred to by Major-General Budworth, C.R.A., 4th Army,
at the Conference at Flixecourt before July 1st, 1916. All the gunners
at the gun position, then in the Orchard of Martinsart, sent in a
signed petition to be allowed to have the honour of going over the top
with the 17th in their next raid. The 17th returned the compliment by
Major W. Paul and about 20 raiders coming up to the guns from Rest
billets and carrying ammunition for us all night while we were
covering another regiment's raid. I got Major Paul on the firing seat
of one of the guns and some of the men at other guns. They did a lot
of firing but did not enjoy it. They all preferred the Infantry!

"The 17th were badly cut up on 1st July, 1916, and my men were much
concerned about them. We were all greatly relieved to hear that both
Col. Morton and Major Paul were not among the casualties. Some of the
Officers will doubtless remember a cheery Entente Dinner at
Bouzincourt--Cocktails by our Adjutant, Lobsters and Rouen Ducks are
still fresh in my memory. The Division moved up north to the Hulluch
Sector after the Somme July Battle. We were put to another Division
for a short time, and then our own Infantry turned up. It was cheery
meeting our old friends again, but many familiar names and faces were,
sad to say, missing.

"We had a very safe and nice gun position on a peninsula in a marsh at
Annieguin. This we made into a very smart and show position--lots of
"spit and polish." We had many visitors from the 17th and a lot of
their men used to come and bathe with ours. We fixed up a regular
bathing pool with springboard complete. All this was under cover of
trees and shrubs and quite out of sight of the Hun. I remember two of
the H.L.I. being pulled from or being stabbed in, a sap in No Man's
Land near the famous Brickstacks. We all wanted to have a Raid at once
in revenge. I forget whether it came off. Shooting here was difficult,
as the trenches were so close together, and very difficult to observe
fire. Very different was the supply of ammunition in mid and late 1916
to early in the year. It was a horrible feeling for a Battery when
asked to shoot and help the poor old Infantry, to have to refuse for
lack of shells. At the Brickstacks we used to often fire--almost
daily--from 150 to 350 rounds Agressive Action on Hun Tender Spots. It
was then that we could retaliate about 50 to 1 if they were
sufficiently "agressed" to fire back. That kept the line--our side
(!)--quiet.

"We all moved down in October, 1916, to the Ancre show, and a horrible
wet march it was. We separated for a bit, the Battery going to the
Scottish 51st Division. We were then rejoined by our own Infantry at
Beaumont Hamel. I got smashed up and was evacuated home, and just
after, my best Officer, Lieut. H.W. Ainley was burned to death at the
Wagon Line. He was a splendid fellow and very well known to the 17th.

"Officers and men of both Units were always together and better
feeling between them could not exist. It was a great honour to know
the 17th and we gloried in being the Battery to cover them at the P.
of E. in a raid." [The P. of E. is the Point of Entry, necessitating
very accurate gunlaying, timing, and strict adherence to the barrage
programme.]

[Illustration: "THE OUTPOST" STAFF ON ACTIVE SERVICE.]

[Illustration: THE ORIGINAL EDITORIAL STAFF.
Sgt. FERGUSON, the late Sgt. REITH and Pte. HUTCHESON.
_To face page 81._]

"THE OUTPOST."

One of the most outstanding activities of the Battalion was the
production of a periodical which combined a considerable high level of
artistic and literary excellence with a racy narrative of Battalion
news and _personalia_. This regimental magazine of the 17th H.L.I. was
conceived in 1914, though actually founded early in 1915, and from
that time, throughout all the rigours of work at home--and the
extraordinary difficulties of operations in the Field, _The Outpost_
was produced, and well produced. Perhaps more than anything, the
standard and record of this production, and its acceptance and
success, both within the unit and with an ever growing general public,
reflects the intellectual level of those who composed the Battalion.
In an appreciation which appeared in _The Glasgow News_ in June, 1919,
on the occasion of the completion of the seventh volume, it is
remarked--"Nursed in its early youth by an editorial staff that was
not without experience, it proved a lusty infant, and as the years
went on it gained in strength.

"In a sort of valedictory--for the magazine will still be published
annually by the Seventeen Club--the editor sings its praises. He has
every right to pitch them on a high key. He points out that the paper
has always been welcomed and appreciated in many homes (yes, even in
Buckingham Palace), and in training camps, hospitals, rest camps,
lonely dug-outs, and soaking trenches, as well as in the scorching
East and amid Arctic snows. Wherever old members have gone at duty's
call, their magazine has followed, and has interested and cheered with
its articles and illustrations of the lighter side of Army life.

"Lately a noted writer on military topics, an English officer of high
rank, in giving a most appreciative criticism of _The Outpost_,
said--'It is only your dour, determined Scotsmen who could manage to
'carry-on' such a paper under the tremendous handicaps of active
service, and the result has been unquestionably the finest literary
and artistic venture in battalion magazines that the war has
produced.'"

In a note concerning those who originated and inspired this war
publication--unique in its continued success--Mr. J. M'Kechnie, whose
name is intimately associated with its success, says--"The credit of
the original idea of publishing a Battalion Magazine belongs to Lieut.
J. Kelly--our first R.S.M. Early in January, 1915, he called a meeting
at which the journalistic machinery was set in motion. The appointment
of the late Mr. Steven D. Reith as Editor assured the success of the
venture, for under his able and enthusiastic direction, _The Outpost_
from the first number reached a standard hitherto unapproached in
British military publications. From month to month it supplied a
bright literary and artistic reflection of the chief events in the
life of the Battalion, and the editorial aimed at giving a lead to the
more serious thought of its readers.

"Throughout its active service career _The Outpost_ was edited by the
following:--The late Mr. Steven D. Reith, Mr. J.L. Hardie, Mr. J.
M'Kechnie, and Mr. W. Glennie. Mr. W. J.F. Hutcheson performed the
duties of Home Editor until November, 1917, when he handed on the
torch to Mr. Frank K. Pickles, who acted as Editor during the last
year."

Copies and Volumes of _The Outpost_ will remain among the most
cherished keepsakes of all members of the Battalion, and a complete
set of all numbers of the production is being carefully and jealously
preserved in the archives of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. There
its pages will rank with the greatest achievements of industrial and
commercial affairs as evidence of the judgment, humour, poetry, and
doggedness of a Battalion so intimately bound up in the traditions of
a great house, and indeed, also reflective of the traditions of
Scottish industrialism, whose eminence is the manifestation of those
very elements of balanced judgment and perseverance, coupled with that
saving humour and imagination which has marked alike its progress in
the markets of the world no less than in the fields of war.

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