London Scottish Regimental Gazette - G (London Scottish)

‘Fit to Fight’
ON FRIDAY 10th November at 1930 hours ‘G’ (The
London Scottish) Company mobilised for war. With
them went a person fortunate enough to be included in
their movement order as an official war reporter. Actually
he did not arrive at HQ until well after 1930 due to Lts
Anderson and Norman being late something to do
with the consumption of beefburgers from MacDonalds
- or so he was led to believe. They were met at the door
of HQ by CSM Brian Welsh, Sgt Hanford and L/Cpl
MacPherson, the latter marching about armed with a
clipboard and muttering “They’re hiding . . . I know
they’re hiding somewhere”. This turned out to be a
reference to soldiers, or the lack of them, and not as had
first been imagined, the absence of some vital parts of his
equipment such as his socks!
In the event about 60 Jocks actually appeared and were
quickly processed through the Admin desks before
having a drink in the canteen and finally bedding down in
the Drill Hall. Meanwhile the officers also had a drink or
two, in some cases more than two - No names, no
packdrill - before they were summoned to an ‘O’ Group
in the Company Commander’s office. They came back
into the mess much later to find their war reporter
comfortably dozing in two chairs with all his kit neatly
stacked away. A tremendous battle ensued for possession
of the chair cushions, soon to become mattresses. Lt
Clements looked on with an amused and rather smug
expression since he had his mat to sleep on. Lt Anderson
won the bed battle easily - principally because he got to
the mess first - having presumably sneaked away from
the ‘0’ Group early. He then proceeded to unpack the
most enormous suitcase - everyone else had efficient
and warlike ‘Bergens’ - from which he produced, of all
things, a ‘Laura Ashley’ wash-bag. His claims that this
was due to the fact that his suitcase had been packed by
his wife only added to the prolonged guffaws of laughter.
Reveille was at 0400 hours Saturday. The only good
thing that could be said about that is that at least it was
not raining! The Company moved to the Guards Depot
at Pirbright in a variety of 4-tonners and landovers. Lts
Anderson, Norman, Randall and the war reporter travelled
in style and at enormously high speed in Lt Norman’s
comfortable car. Lt Anderson slept. Captain Wirgman
and Lt Clemence travelled at a more sedate pace in
Wirgy’s car.
Once dismounted at Pirbright the Company assembled
in the car-park and stood shivering nervously, whilst they
awaited the arrival of a P.T.I. from The Parachute
Regiment. Rumours abounded as to how ghastly he was
and how he liked to ‘beast’ Scotsmen since he disliked
them so intensely.
As a result members of the Company could be seen
scuttling surreptitiously into the bushes with pained
expressions. A latrine in one of the blocks was
subsequently found, to the immense relief of all.
The P.T.I. finally turned up, and after a number of
Parachute Regiment-type jokes fired into the crowd as
‘warming rounds’, none of which anyone found in the
P. Carson, official war reporter.
least amusing, he launched the Company into their Battle
Fitness Test (BFT), dividing them into groups according
to age. The first to leave was L/Cpl MacPherson - a
small, slightly rotund but nevertheless very determined
figure, yomping off on his solitary tour of the course
amidst the cheers of the rest of the Company. But soon
everyone had gone as well, running the gauntlet of catcalls
from a number of bemused guardsmen who were
able to watch the proceedings from the windows of their
cell-blocks.
It was not long before the first straining and sweating
figures approached the finishing-line, followed at intervals
by the rest of the Company - everyone with arms and
legs pumping, tendons, muscles and eyes bulging with the
effort to beat the clock, every man being encouraged by
his officers, sergeants and friends - “C’mon mon, ye can
dae it” - and indeed all bar three did - a commendable
effort.
A quick towel-down and then breakfast, consisting of
sausages, scrambled eggs and beans-washed down with
tea.
Officers and senior NCOs departed to points spread
over a wide area to set up their various stands - mapreading,
first-aid, intelligence, NBC, signals, and the two
ranges - one for zeroing, and the other for the APWT
shoot. Junior NCOs and the Jocks sorted themselves into
their sections and began adjusting equipment - rifles,
webbing, and their helmets - with the distinctive
Hodden Grey patch sewn into the camouflage on the
back.
The war reporter went first with Lt Norman, Sgt Lane
and Cpl Orpwood to the zeroing range. The first section
soon appeared panting (out of breath again) took an issue
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