HLI Chronicle 1915 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

ffTGHT.A.ND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
I again refused to go, asking that)he officer
should return and hear my explanation.
It took me an hour to satisfy,:them of my
position, and I was then liberated. It was
very trying now. Guns never stopped booming,
and one could not help thinking about
the hard task of our men in trenches, while
I consoled myself with the thought that
even as I was my condition must have been
much more comfortable. I then had breakfast
at the hotel, but even at the best that meal
there is not very satisfying. Pursuing my
mission of inquiry for my son, I learned I had
abou.t 50 kilometres by road to go. Anxious
to get confirmation, I made further inquiry,
and was told that there was a probability
that he might be in the neighbourhood of
Hazebrouck. I thought I was a lucky
fellow, and the thought that after all my
wanderings I might see my son caused me to
rejoice and be glad. As the day advanced,
however, and there was no sign of the Battalion
turning up, I became concerned, especially
as this was the rail-head, and I had to get 30
kilometres further on. 'After many attempts
and failures to get permission to go forward,
I came across a Oaptain --, who had charge
of the transport department, who very
graciously permitted me to go by one of their
waggons near to Poperinghe. I had not long
to wait, and finally started with the hope
of meeting my boy in an hour or two. There
were troops everywhere--all British, except
the French interpreters--and an endless
processjon of ammunition and provisions, and
hundreds of motor-cars of all kinds and from
all parts of the British Isles, in this convoy
work. Artillery camps and reserves were
continually in view, while the dreadful
destruction of war on property, vegetation,
and trees, was appalling. The many graves
on the roadsides and in the fields near by told
their tale. Gradually getting near to Poperinghe,
the trenches were frequent, showing
that many a determined stand had been
made by the Germans before the Allies got
them beyond Ypres. The appearance of the
country had an awesome effect, shOwing the
terribleness of war. It left no doubt in the
mind what would happen in our own country
if the deep-seated schemes of Germany were
carried out here.
WITH THE H.L.I.
" Ypres was now in view, and was in flames.
Its buildings were destroyed. There were
few soldiers there, and it was plain that the
enemy had been bent on destruction lest the
Allies should utilise the place as a base. The
impression of destruction was deep. I here
learned that the H.L.I. were at Ballriuel
On arriving there the' first thing I noticed
was the Glengarry bonnet-the head-dress of
the H.L.I. I got down off the transport
and felt content. The first person I spoke
to turned out to be my own boy's companion,
i James Brebbner, of Glasgow! On enquiring
. for my boy he asked if I was ' Thomas, his
i
father.' I replied 'Yes.' He explained he
had been informed of my previous visit to
France, and concluded that I was at it again.
" After 45 minutes search at last we met.
I will not describe the meeting, but my boy
could hardly believe his eyes. After dinner'
we had a walk round, and called on Oolonel
Wol£e-Murray, a fine type of a soldier,
standing six feet in height. His manner
was not unlike that of the late Lord Roberts.
He chatted freely, and was much interested
in my visit, and asked to see me on the
following day. He seemed to know everyone
in the Battalion. He remarked that their
Battalion came out 1100 strong, but there
were only 200 out of that number now. They
had had some great encounters, but since
l'Ions they had never yielded one inch to
the Germans. The Oolonel spoke very highly
of the bravery and of the fighting qualities
of his men, adding that no officer could desire
to le"d better soldiers.
"The remainder of the day was spent by
me in the presence of the soldiers, hearing
their experiences-which were thrilling. They
spoke a lot about their comrades, referring to
each by his pet name, and related in detail
their heroic acts and their desire to see their
'ain folk at hame.' All were ready to give
their life for the flag that Great Britain might
live! The experiences of my son were most
interesting describing the position of the
field when many of his comrades were killed
and many more were wounded. Breb bner and
himself were the only two left out of his
section.
" Ballriuel is a very nice, clean village, but
the most of the villages in Belgium, and
many in France, just now are neglected by
scavengers. In Paris, for instance, women
are now employed as scavengers, as no men
are available. Oolonel Murray kindly per­