HLI Chronicle 1907 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

On the Hunt for Recruits in '68.
WHEN my auld pen went On the swing, the
thought flashed in-" My, Geordie, that's no
just the ither day." Certainly no'. Time
bides for no man, but hops round with every
tick of the clock. At that time peace reigned
within our borders, and the look-out ahead
could not catch the glimpse of a cloud-even
the size of a man's hand. Yet, as many able
men in those old days said, and men of equal
gumption at present say, "The best way to
maintain peace is to be prepared for war."
In those long-ago old days our Regiment was
a .crack corps-and is still. Of course all true
soldiers consider themselves "crack;ers," and,
as esprit de corps is the backbone of military
life, it is well to nurse that spirit. Then let
every man who lives in a red coat conclude
that his Regiment is "second to none," whether
it affects the waving folds of a kilt, H.L.I. tartan
trews, or the M'Cann tartan breeks. OUr
adjutant was "AI .at Lloyd's." He had
proved all that in the Indian Mutiny and on
the N orth-West Frontier, and that in the eye
of .an old soldier always is "fifty holes up."
In quarters he was always on the swing.
Even the youngest member of the Regiment
could. have told you "Oor adjutant kens
his duty, and does it, an', if you try tae sconce
it wul1 be lichts oot wi' you." That being so,
you will understand that "nip aboot" was
your safest method.
Nationality was considered the right thing
in "ours." And as our next move was the
Mediterranean, the Regimental Authorities
were anxious that Scotland should be well
represented On the old huge Rock of Gibraltar,
hence recruiters· were out'in all directions'in
"The Land 0' Cakes," and as a result our
Square in Richmond Barracks, Dublin, was
fairly clad. with Donalds, Duncans, and
Dougals, and "te.aring the tartan" was
becoming the common lingo. The forenoon
parade was just dismissed when "Sergeant
M--" came clear and loud from our adjutant,
and like a flash that individual stood at
attention in front of the centre of regimental
HiGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICtit
diaQipline. Preliminaries were not in oUl
adjutant's line-crisp, short, and straight to
the point. "You are for Stirling; attend
Orderly Room at three o'clock for instructions
and recruiting posters." With the real military
salute and the right-about face, Sergeant
M-- rushed off to prepare for recruit-fishing.
Our sergeant· major, and every member of
the Mess, detested g-o-s-s-i-p, but every
sergeant was interested· in the movres of' a
comrade. The Mess waiter was bringing in
the tatties when Bob G-- came sauntering
. in, clanked down, and plumped out-" Say,
Geordie, div ye ken that Jock M'G--, 0' the
-- Regiment, was twal mO:lths in Stirling,
an' only got a'e recruit Eh, laddie, ye'll
ha'e tae mind your P's and Q's." That was a
staggerer for Geordie. He gasped out­
"Whisht, Bob, an' dinna squash a fellow
with your cauld water." Among" Pass the
spuds, Jock" and "Shove along the rootie,
Sandy," Geordie's prospects in Stirling were
fully discussed. Bob was an auld recruiter,
hence his hash was a sneezer, and Geordie's
reputation seemed to stagger in the balance.
First-class certificates and all that sort of thing
was unknown in his day. It was smartness-.oIl
the Square and ability 011 regimental and company
duty that were the qualifications for promotion;
and if you knew how to do your
duty, and keep down crime, you were a marked
man for the colours.
A crowded steamer and a rough sea is not
the best place for a quiet think. However,
in the heart of a crowd of happy-go-lucky
Irishmen, and a deck cargo of Irish cattle,
a glimpse of the outs and ins of the recruiting
business was caught and well chewed. It
is the cream of wisdom never to ·dodge a difficultv.
but face it up. True, there was the
faihire of Jock M'G--; that seemed a fivebarred
gate. He was mounted on the nag
of inexperience; and this knot demanded
attention-" Hoo wull you mount that gate,
Geordie ~" Conclusion-" Sprawl ower in
some way, nae doot."
Certainly recruits were more easily got in
those days. Yet my recruits had all to be
swanky men. There was. the buff-coloured
PQster, 'attractive, and straight up to the.
lffiocker. At the top, on one side, was a smart,