HLI Chronicle 1914 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

142 lllGHLA.KD LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.at Divisional Headquarters. Another beautifulday again. Received some letters to-night.. There are now four mails in. I think wecovered about 20 miles to-day.SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH.A rest day, but hardly for me, as I was onduty with my guard at Divisional Headquarterstill 6 p.m. Provided sentries, orderlies,etc. My valise turned up to-night. Ihave been very fortunate in this way. Amagnificent day, and very hot.SU~DAY,AUGUST 30TH.Left Servais about 5 a.m. and continued.our retirement. We had a two-hours halton the march, as t,he heat. to-day is except.ional.Bivouacked for to-night somewhereon the road to Soissons, but as I hadn't a mapr couldn't locate it. To-day has been, I think,the hottest I've ever experienced. Rathertired and sore to-night.MONDAY, AUGUST 31ST.Left our bivouac at 5 a.m., and are stillretiring. Arrived and bivouacked at thevillage of Laversine shortly after 1 p.m. Iwas rather ill this morning, having been sickduring the night; but am better now. "A"Company on outposts at 5 p.m. Dreadfullyhot.TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST.At 1.30 a.m. outposts withdrawn and theretirement continued. We marched till 11a.m., when we had a three hours halt. About16 to 18 miles, I should think. On renewingthe march we were suddenly halted to take upa position in rear of the Guards Brigade,which had been attacked. Accordingly tookup our outposts for the night. The samemagnificent weather still.WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND.Retired from our positions at 1.30 a.m.and re-continued our retirement. At 9 a.m.we halted and took up a position, continuingthe march about 12 noon. At 1 p.m. wehalted again and took. up another positiontill 3 p.m.,finally arriving on our bivouacsat a small village near the town of Meaux.I have no map to follow the route just now.Very hot.THURSDAY, SEPTEMBl;m 3RD.Re-continued our march at 3 a.m. throughMeaux, and going due east and south-east.About 1 p.m., after many minor checks,arrived near Petit Courrois, where we bivouackedfor the remainder of the day. Thisgives uS a much-needed rest. ·Marchingabout 2 miles per hom:, I should think. Veryhot again to-day. .FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 'lTH." A" Company off for outposts at 8 a.m.Germans reported to have crossed the lVlarneat an incompletely demolished bridge, sothe outposts were withdrawn, and we tookup a position half-a-mile to the south, arrivingabout mid-day. About 3 p.m. we took up aposition in the ditches at the roadside, facingnorth and east. At 7.30 we retired somefew miles, the Battalion acting SF) outposts tothe cavalry. I still have no map, and thereforedo not know the numerous villages, etc.,we pass through. We went through }Ieallxyesterday, which seems a quaint old town,with a most beautiful church building of veryancient structure. The weather of the paststill continues--very hot by day and verycold at night, with heavy dews.SATURDAY, SEl'TEMBER 5TH.Continued our march about 8 a.m., firstpassing through a sweet little modern townabout 9 a.m. Farenoutiers, I believe. At11.30 we had a long halt, continuing o.urmarch at about 1.30, and finally bivouackingnear the village of }Iarles about 4.30. Mostof the villages are deserted now, and theinteriors of the houses present a most melancholyaspect. Same fine weather; cloudy,though, at timesSU~DAY,SEPTEMBER 6TH.The firRt reinforcement arrived last nightwith Martin and Ferrers-Guy. At 7 a.m.we marched off and took up a position facingeast, about 2 miles from Marles. We remainedthere till about mid-day, when we droppedour left flank to face north. Heavy firingin the woods in front and on the right flank.About 6.30, the enemy having retired, weadvanced to the hamlet of Parades, where webivouacked for the night. r assume thegeneral advance has now begun. Anothermagnificent day.MO~DAY,SEPTEMBER 7TH.. About 6 a.m. took out Nos. 7 and 8 Sectionsto reconnoitre the woods in front, 'where thereis a very fine chateau. Quite clear of enemy.Thoroughly clear of enemy all round too.Reported on return. A.t 1.30 p.m. we continuedour advance, arriving at the village ofSt. Sumeon about 7 p.m., where we bivouackedfor the night. Very hot to-day, with