The Outpost Vol 1 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

58 THE OUTPOST.
The Rifle Squad.
IN the last two issues of the Magazine undue
notice is taken of the exploits of all the
Companies from A to E, but what about the
bhoys who haven't been "gazetted" to any
old company? What about The Rifle
Squad? In our opinion, WE are the "fine
body of men" which is often referred to down
here. Although Sergeant-Major Taylor
informed us we shall soon have a company
attached to us, to show them how to drill, and
otherwise manoeuvre, let it be understood that
we are "some" Squad. In fact, Sergeant
Dobbie said-how does he know?-that we
might even be promoted, should we be lucky
enough to draw the right ticket during the next
raffle for stripes. Did not our respected
Colonel hie into our pastures to cast a loving eye
on our proceedings? He did! What did he
say after we attacked the railway signal-box?
You don't know 1 We did it in grand form,
and we had real rifles, too. This conspiracy of
silence is not fair I We are here, and everybody
has got to know it. "Hackenschmidt," one of
The Rifle Squad, says he overheard the
Colonel remark that he had never seen such
an attack carried out in such a manner before,
and he was sure he'd never, possibly, seeits like
again.
Another thing, we don't all agree about the
efficacy of vaccination and inoculation--we
,yield to our obligations-but; say, can't they
inject something into us to make us bulletproof,
say iron tonic, or steel? It is highly
gratifying to know that our instructor, Sergeant
Halliday, has called us credits to him, even
although he has had to use red-hot sabre-cuts
of Saxon speech taus occasionally: lovable
words- in the Anny must have a nip in them.
Snuff and ginger, what! what I We'll disbancl
with regret, and think all the time that, as
The Rifle Squad, we could have preceded
the battalion into action, swiped the Gennans
into a panicky condition, and, like hefty
pioneers, left a path open for the other
companies to walk along. \Ve>d make ourselves
th.e sacrifice. Anyhow, we'll be leaven among
the battaJion-=" Hackenschmidt," " Napoleon,"
and" Harry Lauder,"-and although as The
Rifle Squad we may cease to exist, unlike
Rosalind, we'll have The Rifle Squad in our
dispositions.
" My word, by Gawd, we're The I{ifle Squad,
A dem fine body of men:
It is no cod when the folk applaud-
They won't see our like again." Amen.
D.M.H.
The Khaki and the Blue.
WE were quite the smartest lot
That Kitchener had got
To see his bit of business carried through;
Indisputably chic
Our appearance was unique
While still we wore our uniforms of blue.
The public quickly grasp'd,
As we went marching past,
Exactly who we were and whence we came;
And the ladies would admire
So distinctive an attire,
And smile approvingly upon the same.
And if on pleasure bent,
No matter where we went,
Our appeal was irresistible, when dress'd :
The clothes were quite enongh
To attract a bit of" fluff,"
And our captivating manner did the rest.
So, till quite a recent date,
We could charm and fascinate
By virtue of our uniform alone;
There was that about the dress
That tended more or less
To elevate the military tone.
Unfortunately. though,
Resistance to the foe
Necessitates less visible attire;
However" nice" the blue
In spectacular review,
It's rather too attractive under fire.
Accordingly, one day
A change in our array
Announced itself emphatically near,
As it lay upon the floor
Of the Quarter-Master's store,
Instilling fragrance to the atmosphere.
The new phenomenon
Was duly fitted on,
But the khaki left US critically cold;
As contrasted with the blue
Its merits were but few,
Its deficiencies were great and manifold.
So, humbly we submit,
Since the khaki doesn't fit.
And slacks and tunics are of diff'rent hue.
That those that are in power
Will improve the shining hour,
And re-instate our uniforms of blue.
J; L. H.
As a result of the Rugby Football Match at
Anniesland, between our Battalion XV. and
the 6th (1'.) Battn. H.L.L XV., the Belgian
Relief Fund has benefited to the extent of
{2I 4s. 6d. .