HLI Chronicle 1910 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

30 HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
hand from the start. For the lirst ten minutes the
Artillery were kept very much on the defensive,
until a 'break away on their right wing looked somewhat
dangerous for the visitors; but lJuncan stepped
in at the right moment and cleared our lines_ Our
forwards 800n found their true form, and piled on
two goals within a few minutes. Up to the interval
play was of a give-and-take nature, the score remainmg
the same,
Little ('omment is needed on the play of the
second half, as our half backs always held the Artillery
safe, and our defence was seldom troubled
except for an occasiol'al long kick. Two additional
goals were scored by the H.L.I., one of which was a
splendid drive from Neil at centre half, beating the
15oal-keeper all the way. This concluded the scoring
1n a game that WitS more robust than scientific.
Final score :-H.L.I., 4; R.KA., nil.
Team :-Rae, Caldwell, Duncan, Southworth, Neil,
Smith, Buchanan, Minney, Tait, Reeves, Robertson.
BOXING COMPETITION.
The 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers held a
boxing competitioll in the Gymnasium on the 1st
and 2nd October, at which one of the H.L.I. figured
rather prominently, viz., Pte. Rattray, "C" Coy.
In the open featherweights Rattray knocked out
Lyons, S. Lancs. Regiment, in the first round.
-In the same class he knocked out Driver M'Namara,
A.S.C., second round, in two rounds. In the same
class he knocked out Pta. Bickley, R. W.F., third
-round, in two rounds. He then met Sergt. Sweeney
of the S. Lancs. Regiment in the final round of the
BRIne class and beat him on points.
In the light·weight class Pte. Smith, 2nd H.L.I.,
was beaten by Pte. Spalding, R. W.F. In a very
spirited six·round contest which was fought by Pte.
Saunders, 2nd H.L.L, and Pte. Spalding, R. W.F.,
the H.L.I. man lost on points.
This is the first time that ·Pte. Rattray has appeared
in public, and, though a little raw, with
experience amI a little study of what professional
boxers call "ring-craft," he will, I have no doubt,
turn out a credit to hi" Regiment and a dangerous
and hard hit·ter to his opponents.
In Ollr newly organised Sports Club boxing plays
an iml!ortant part, a professional boxer attending
three tImes a week to give lessons to those desirous
of learning the manly art. and tCl judge by the
numbers turning up, and the interest they take in it,
I think it probable that a boxing competition will be
held by our own Regiment at 110 distant date, particulars
of which will be read in your next issue
HOCKEY.
We have been trying to get together something of
a. hockey team, but we haye not been able R'turn out
an) thing as yet up to the desired quality. We first
essayed a friendly match against the Cork County
Club, about the stron14est team we could have chosen
in this part of the world, and consequently we suffered
a somewhat substantial beating to the tune of seven
goals to love; we then played the Blackrock Hoad
and were again beaten ~eyen goalll to three, but in
the first round of the Vork Charity Cup we were
fortunate enough to dr".w against a team weaker
than ourselves. though we certainly played a better
game than we formerly had been doing, and beat the
R. G. A. from Spike Island by four goals to one.
Lieut. Davis (who has adopted a usual-sized hockey
stick in consequence of some rude remarks made by
the local papers about his short-handled one) and
Corpl. Bristow were the mainstay of the forwards,
as Volour·Sergeant Hayball and Lieuts. Gera.rd and
Thackeray were of the back line. However, by next
issue of the "Chronicle" we hope to be able to give
a better account of ourselves.
PAPER CHASES.
After the arduous duties of the summer training
was over, and we had once more settled down again
to a quieter life at Cork. it was decided to hold a
paper chase every week. The idea originating in the
Adjutant's great mind. A considerable amount of
trouble was taken in asking the fltrmers within 4
miles north ()f Cork for permission to run over their
land, which they all were very good in l:,,;,ving us, and
on the 5th of October we paraded under the Barracks
clo('k for om first run. Ueut. Halswell, L.-Cpl. Jackson,
L.·Cpl. Rae, anii Bugler i::iouthworth went as
hares and were given 10 minutes start, after which the
pack made a move, numbering about 50 and hunted
bv I,ieut. Davis. The course was about 5 miles over
a"very stiff country, all the fences beinll; banks, and
some of them took a good deal of getting over. In
fact, after negotiating some of them on one's flat feet
one's estimatIOn of the hunter one bestrides with the
hounds rises considerably. Since the first day we
have had three other runs,but although personally the
writer considers I bem really good fun, and by far and
away the best method of keeping a man really well
and fit, they seem to have fallen off in favour, and
consequently dter four runs no more have been held.
There is a feelin~ which is too prevalent that unless
there is somethmg to be got out of a. sport competitions
are 1I0t forthcoming, which is qUlte wrong
and unsportsmanlike, an,t it is a pity that these runs
undoubtedly did not get the support which they
deserved.
Amongst the officers it was fonnd that the running
greatly increased the cl:tlves of their leg~, and caused
much pain and bad language when they tried to get
their boots on for next day's hunting. In fact the
prime mover, after the second run, appeared out
hunting in gaiters, being unable to get his boots
more than half on, and then nearly did not get them
off again.
\Ve had a run of about two miles each time; the
following was in each case the order of finishing :­
First paper chase, 5 miles-lst, CpI. Evans, G Coy;
2nd, Pte. Smith, D Coy; Srd, Pte. Rattray, C Coy;
4th, Cpl. Nicholson, E Coy. .
Second paper chase, 7 miles-1st, Cpl. Bnstow, G
Coy; 2nd, Pte. Black, C Coy; 3rd, L.-C);)l. Rawlins,
ROylll Welsh Fusiliers; 4th, Private Rodgers, F
Coy.
Third paper chase, n miles-1st, L .. Cpl. Rawlins,
Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 2nd, Pte. Smith, D Coy;
Srd, Pte. Hawkins, C Coy; 4th, Bds. Robertson,
Band.
Fourth paper chase, Si miles-1st, Pte. Saunders,
D Coy; 2nd, Pte. Bourke, E Coy; Sl'd, Pte. Brookes,
E Coy; 4th, Pte. Brown, E Coy.
SOME'l'IMES A HARE.
GOLF.
On the 20th September ~he Officers went down to
Uttle Island Golf Course to play for the Swinton
Medal and Lieutenant l'hackeray's Golf Cup.
The Swinton Medal was played off in the morning