HLI Chronicle 1907 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT: INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
45
~nd
Battalion News.
NEW-YEAR'S DA Y.
THOUGH inost of the Battalion were on
furlough on New-Year's Day, the usual
dinners were held by such as w€re not so lucky
as to be able to get away on furlough, and
thoroughly enjoyed. Each Company had its
own dining-room more or less decorated for
the occasion, and all had a most excellent
meal provided, which everyone did ample
justice to, and enjoyed thoroughly. The
0.0., as usual, visited the various Company
dinners, accompanied by the Adjutant.
BURNS' NIGHT.
ON Janua.ry 25th, the Sergeants invited
the . Se~eants H.L.I. from Fort-George to
play a hockey match, which, after a keen
struggle, ended in a win to the visitors by
two goals to one. A most successful smoker
was held during the evening, the "immortal
memory" being duly honoured, and an
impromptu subscription for the "Auld Brig
0' Ayr Fund" realised 24s 6d. Our guests
would assut.e the success of any smoker, they
sang so well, and it was with great regret we
parted to enable them to catch the 10-30
train_ They had made arrangements to drive
up, but the weather was too bad for that.­
"The 79th News," March, 1907.
THE HIGHLAND
BAND
THANKS to the
prise of Treasurer
lead in the North
LIGHT INFANTRY
IN NAIRN_
public spirit and enter­
Tocher, Nairn took the
in extending a cordial
welcome to the famous band of the Highland
Light Infantry, and on Wednesday evening
the. Fub-lic Hall was crowded in all parts by
an expect&Dt ano! enthusialittic Ml.dience, who
had evidently come filled with pleasureable
anticipation of the musical treat in store for
them. It may at once be said that these
anticipations were more than realised, and the
opinion could be heard expressed everywhere
that the concert, in point of all-round enjoyment,
had rarely if ever been equalled, and
certainly never surpassed, in the annals of
Nairn entertainments. The first part of the
programme was carried through by the
Orchestral Band, and as the opportunities of
hearing good music performed by orchestral
combinations are comparatively rare in Nairn,
the various numbers were listened to with the
keenest attention and appreciative interest.
After a few appropriate words of welcome by
Provost M'Intosh, the band, under the able
conductorship of Mr. Bicks, made a most
auspicious start with a stirring and melodious
march, " Bravour," by Zillmann. The splendid
quality of the strings was at once apparent,
and, considering their numbers, the breadth,
volume, and purity of tone produced was
worthy of the highest praise. The instrumentalists
at once placed themselves on the
best of terms with their audience, and for
upwards of two hours their performance was
one unbroken series of triumphs. The vocal
trio, " Ye Shepherds, Tell.Me," sung by Messrs.
H. Simpson, D. Munro, and W. C. M'Queen,
had the advantage of a most artistic orchestral
accompaniment, during which Mr. 'Bicks held
his forces in perfect control, and later Mr.
H. Simpson and Mr. Munro each contributed
two songs, which were received with every
mark of favour_
The Provost voiced the feelings of the audience
when he expressed the sincere hope that
Nairn may, during the coming season, ...~~.e a
great deal more of Mr. Bicks and his accomplished
instrumentalists. A special and,l1earty
vote of thanks was accorded to Treasurer
Tocher for his untiring energy and va.!llIloble
services in carrying through all the arrangements
in connection with the concert. A
capital display was also given by the pipers
and dancers of the Regiment, all their efforts
calling forth unstinted applause,. and forming
an attractive feature in an otherwise exceptionally
strong programme.
CONCERT.
THE second op'these amusements took place
in the theatre, on the 7th January, for the
farewell amusement to the draft which· left
the following day toeI11bark atSouttiampton .
en route to join the 1st Battalion in India_