HLI Chronicle 1915 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
61
Commander-in-Chief with a general salute.
He then made the following address, on the
conclusion of which three cheers were given,
and the Battalion marched back to billets .
ADDRESS BY SIR JOHN FRENCH.
" First I wish to congratulate your gallant
Brigadier, General Walker, for the way in which
he led you at Neuve Chapelle. It gives me
great pleasure to have this opportunity of seeing
the Regiment and expressing the deep gratitude
and admiration which I personally owe to you
for' the part you played in the recent action
at N euve Chapelle. I wish to express my
thanks to each officer, N.C.O., and man for
what he did on those days. I have heard constant
good accounts of the Highland Light Infantry
since you arrived with the Sirhind Brigade
in November last. There is no more distinguished
Regiment in the Army than the Highland
Light Infantry, and you bear a long list of
honours on your Colours. In years to come
you will have reason to be as proud of your
doings at Neuve Chapelle as of any honour on
that list.
"I remember that you were one of the regiments
that advanced and tried to cross the River
De £ayes under a withering fire and in spite
of every adverse circumstance. But it is at
such times that the British soldier shows at his
best, and you hung on with that tenacity anji,
doggedness which is the characteristic of our
infantry. I am sure that you are prepared
to do the same in the future.
" I am glad to see that, in spite of all you have
gone through, you can still show such a splendid
front as you do to-day. I repeat that I am glad
to have had the opportunity of seeing you and
telling you haw pleased I am with you."
The Brigade orders of the same date contained
the following;­
"The Brigade Commander wishes to congratulate
all units of the Brigade on the remarkably
smart and workmanlike appearance they
made on parade to-day, which elicited the admiration
of the Commander-in- Chief and the Corps
Oommander."
On April 23rd the Battalion moved to La
Couture with a view to relieving part of the
Meerut Division in the trenches. On the 24th
the orders for this relief were cancelled, a.~d
the Battalion marched with the rest of the
Brigade to Berthen, about 18 miles due north.
The march, which took from 12.30 p.m. till
after midnight, was creditably carried out.
On April 25th, at 7 a.m., they marched to
Ouderdon hutments, 5 :miles south-west of
Ypres (where the Lahore Division had been
concentrated), and prepared for instant action.
On April 26th the Battalion paraded at
6.30 a.m., and marched via VlamertingE" and
the northern outskirts of Ypres to St. Jean,
forming up in preparatory formation for
attack in the fields to the south of the village.
They came under tnt, enemy's shell fire on the
way, while lying in the fields, but little effect
was caused. Their distance from the German
trenches was then about 3000 yards. At 2
p.m. the Lahore Division attacked, with its
left on the Ypres-Langemarck road, the French
co-operating on the left. 'Two brigades were
in the front line, the Sirhind Brigade being
in reserve. At 3,30 p.m. the Brigade, with
the 1/lst Gurkhas, were directed to support the
Jullundur Brigade, and at midnight they took
over the advanced trenches of this brigade,
held bv the Manchester Regiment. Their
casualties (from shell fire) were 23 rank and
file killed and wounded.
At 1.11 p.m. on the 27th the Battalion
supported the 1/1st and 1/4th Gurkhas in an
attack on the enemy's position, the French
being on the left and the FerozE"pore Brigade
on the right. A number of casualties occurred
crossing the crest and in the subsequent advance.
Both the French and the Brigad ~ on
the right being driven back, it was (by~5 p.m.)
considered useless to continue the advance.
Only a few hundred yards had been gained
during the day, but some French guns, left
in the open between the lines, came definitely
into the hands of the Battalion and were withdrawn
after dark. The Battalion casualties
on this day were Captain H. S. Tarrant, killed,
Captain G. M. Gerrard, wounded (slightly),
110 rank and file killed, wounded, and missing.
On the 28th the Battalion remained in the
same position all day, ready to go forward to
the attack if the French on the immediate
left should gain ground. There was a considerable
amount of shell fire from the enemy,
but much of it was directed at Ypres and
positions in rear and to the left. The casualties
were 2nd Lieut. J. C. Dickie and 3 rank
and file wounded.
April 27th passed much as the 28th. Shelling
from the right flank and to the rear made it
very apparent how pronounced the salient
occupied by the Battalion was. The continued
tension of being prepared to attack at any
moment was very trying for all ranb. A draft
of 139 men under 2nd Lieuts. Hunter and
Lander arrived, losing 4 men wounded on the
way. Total casualties this day-14 killed and