HLI Chronicle 1910 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

20
HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
The football eleven of the Battalion entered for the
Durand Tournament at Simla in September, and Cpl.
Milne and Pte. O'Rourke were chosen to go of "D"
Co.
~e have just. finished the first part of our winter
training in the shape of half-battalion training of
fifteen days duration at Kokrail Camp, six miles from
barracks, and spent the two weeks under Lieut.
Alston in useful instruction in field operations, out·
posts, field· firing, etc.
The Regiment having decided to have a good re·
presentation at the Bengal.Punjab Rifle Assoeiation
Meeting at Meerut, 'which starts on the 8th Decem·
bel', "D " Coy. provided the undernamed :-C.·Sergt.
Papworth, Sergt. Romanis, Cp!. Milne, and Pte.
O'Rourke.
We are at present engaged in an Inter Section Six·
a.-Side Football Tournament, and our proBpects are
good of having some of our sections in at the death.
" H " COMPANY NOTES.
Since last issue the Company, on the recommendation
of the S.M.O., were ordered to relieve "G"
Company in the redoubts. These miniature forts are
about a mile apart, half a Company doing duty in
each-a party of nine men and one N.-C.O. being
detailed to undergo a course of instruction in big
gun drill, under Park Sgt White, RA. Owing to
the limited space, we were unable to indulge in any
sports, but, thanks to Geordie M'Kee, we were able
to enjoy ourselves at the open-air concerts held
outside" Isaac's Tank" on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Geordie arranged all the programmes, and
the following contributed greatly to the success of
the entertainments. .. 99" M'Donald, the possessor
of a fine tenor voice, heard to best advantage in his
rendering of" Scandinavia." Hawse was invariably
OUr" star," and "The Old Brown Hat" was always
well received. Cecil was reaUy marvellous at top·
boot dancing, and very often appeared with" Keady"
in the song and dance entitled "Chak." P. lVl'Donald
always rendered his songs in great style, the favourite
being" Loehnagar." Meachen's recitations were
highly appreciated by all, "Bannockburn" being
most in demand. Ptes, Malleny, TonneI', and
Nieholson, appeared in their conjuring and balancing
feats, and "Angus" treated us to a variety of sand
dances. The evenings were brought to a'very enioyable
close, the andience coming to their feet and
singing" A'm fon the noo."
The trooping sea80n has taken away a good many
of the "old tiles," their places being filled by the
"young files" of the last draft. Pte. Tait has gone
to the home establishment, leaving a vacancy in the
Company's sporting element. Tait represented the
Company in the Regimental football, rugby, and
hockey teams. He was also a good shot, holding
the marksman's badgf' for several years. He ha~ our
best wishes acr08S the "briny." Cpl. T. H l'.,£,Millan
has changed his title to that of "Mr." 011 discharge
by purchase. During his short stay in the Company
he made himself extremely popular and highly re·
sperted by all. We are sorry to lose his services,
and hope to hear well of him. \Ve wish him all
snccess in the "land 0' cakes and brither Scots."
D.D. could do with some of the cakes at Kokrail.
TheCompany are gettingthrough Battalion training
at present, at Kokrail, a camp about six miles from
ht'adqnarters. Night attacks, night outposts, and
night marches, leave little time for one to have
,. night-mare." On the company's return from ('amp
there is time to breathe, and no more, until they are
off again; this time to Cawnpore where" H " aJl(1
"I" Companies form a detachment for duty, pending
the arrival of the Gordon Highlllonders from Calcutta.
We are very fortutJate in having a chan..e to visit a
place of such historic interest as Cawnpore. A few
of "H" company's men were in Cawnpore with the
2nd Battalion, a long time ago. Those old soldiers
again! And now to sport. There is not a great deal
to report. Sergeant Goldie an,! "Bluehead" bulk
largest amongst the company's prizewinners. Private
Sergeant entered for the O. and RR. middle·weight
championship. and had hard luck not pulling it off.
Private Raeburn did not enter,owio" to want of
proper training. In the six.a.sidefootbafl tournament
I'or\)oral M'Menemy's half·dozen have reached the
fina -this is a very fast six, being strellltthened b~
the inclusion of Private Welfare. lVFMenemy s
trickery on the field is a treat to watch, and Oordon
is a good man for the middle line; the" Captain"
is quite confident of winning the d Rats,"
The" Hill Parrots" have returned, and can" bolo
the bat" fairly well, in fact some of them could teach
the plain's "parrots."
The Colour-Sergeant did N aini Tal. and spent a
whole month in "doing" it. We hear he did "him·
self" very well oecasionally. (Nae doot.)
" l'.PPherson was had on the cook-house fly-paper."
Sgt. Sanderson and Cp!. Jarvis have rejoined the
Company from home, where they have been enjoying.
a well-earned furlough, tbe former bringing with him
a charming bride to share his joys. (Let us hope there·
won't be any sorrows to share.) We are glad to welcome
them back again, ahd wish the" new addition"
to our married roll all success and happiness.
.. Old Docherty" dodged" camping it," as he was
left behind to keep the mosquitoes off the punkahs,
and a.ssist " Gou(lie" in the " !5!\,rdens."
"Old Blood," "La Martimcre, and" Ticky " are
doing well, considering the amount of "pongelo"
they put out of sight from 6 to 9. I hope to report
well of the Company next quarter, Heartiest greetinjls
to all ex " H " Company men at home, witb best
wi.hes for a Happy New Year.
TOWNHEAD.
"I" COMPANY NOTES.
The hopes given expression to in my last notes,
published in the Octobernumoor, have been fully
realised.
The result of our Annual Course of Musketry is.
very satisfactory, showine-. as it does, such a marked
improvement on that ot last course. Out of 92
exercised there are 35 marksmen, 56 first-class shots,
and 1 second·class shot. Company average, 21B, Not
at all bad, but still a little room for improvement.
,. Bill" Henrlerson takes the honour of Company
shot, and is to be congratulated on doing so with the
splendid score of 376.
Our next course will be the "bumper" from home,
or better known as the" money-saving" course (not
mentioned in the Bodget). How we will fare in it
remains to be seen, but from the results of the
practice shoots we have had, combined with 11 little
strategy, thcre iF; little doubt that a goodly few will
defeat the intention~ of ,. certain parties."
The forecast re the Rugby League proved correct.
Our team went through the League without losing
a single match, and only drew one, that agaiIl~t ,.D"
Company. The games throughout were well contested,
and awakened great enthusiasm. Rugby has
undoubtedly "caught. on," therefore next season
should see some rousmg encounters. On another