HLI Chronicle 1914 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE. 53such marked success for nearly the full periodof his appointment. Keen on his work, theRegiment, and all sports, he will be very muchmissed, and, like others of his batch who haveso lately left us, his place will indeed be hardto fill. With complete restoration to healthwe hope to hear of him finding his way successfullyinto the Staff College, and rejoining us,at no very distant date, full of vigour andkeenness once more.Our old friends the 8th Hussars joined us ingarrison, having been railed up in relief of theK.D.G.'s. We were all glad to welcome them,and corresponding Companies entertainedSquadrons to breakfast on arrivaLBy the 23rd February nearly 300 of us weregathered at Agra to attend the HighlandBrigade Gathering and closely watch the fortunesof the Regiment at the games. Detailswill be found elsewhere.Year by year these gatherings increase innumbers and popularity, and it is only rightthat it should be so. Competition has nowbecome so keen among Regiments that onlythe very best can hope to win, with the resultthat very high standards have been reached.e all enjoyed ourselves immensely, and whenthe end came all wished it might have continuedlonger.The Highland Brigade in India is a veryreal thing, and grows in strength and friendshipsyear by year. Long may it continue.We failed to retain the Bengal-PunjabFootball Cup this year, being defeated by the60th Rifles by 1-0. We must look to ourlaurels if we intend to compete at Simla forthe Durand Cup, and give our minds to thework.We were sorry to say good-bye to .Mr. Loch,who has S(one away--for a time only, we hopetoWest Africa, and we wish him well and allsuccess.We were all sorry to hear from the WirelessSignal Company that .Mr. Lean had decidedto resign his commission and go " back to theland." We wish him well, and regret we shallsee him back with us no more as a soldier.At present we are in the throes of theAmbala Week~-the usual programme ofracing, polo, Horse Show, and dancing. Theracing has been excellent, the polo good, but,alas! we do not compete, which is much feltin the Regiment. All our ponies were disposedof when joining this station last October.At the Horse Show Colonel Ronaldson got1st prize for infantry chargers and" turn-out."The Fancy Dress Ball was quite a good one,with many excellent kits. The troupe of" Prehistoric Peeps" was quite excellent, andthe band of French porters were most amusing.The sporting " Tartan Trio" are much to becongratulated on the success of the" Domino"dance they gave, which everyone most thoroughlyenjoyed, . and all danced until dawnbroke in upon them. The Band played excellently,and by special request, many oldfavourite waltzes, such as "The Choristers,"and others.Captain Cameron left us last night to takeup his appointment as Staff Officer to GeneralLean, C.B., leaving yet another gap in ourranks hard to fill. We hope to see him backagain among us before another year drawsto a close.On the 4th April Headquarters and Half­Battalion march to Solan for the hot weather,and we shall be broken up for the next sevenmonths-not a pleasant prospect at all.We have to thank Lieut.-Colonel Wilsonfor being instrumental in securing for theOfficers' Mess a very valuable manuscript of" The Battles and Campaigns of one BalfourKermack, 7lst (Highlanders) Light Infantry"­so kindly presented by J. A. WedderburnOgilvy, Esq.-which adds another valuablerecord to our many treasures.I am afraid, dear Mr. Editor, I have leftmuch undone in this letter, but press of workmust be my excuse, and I must ask you toaccept it "with all its imperfections on itshead."R. W. H. R.OUR KIRK AT AMBALA.St. Aidan's Church of Scotland, Ambala,was dedicated and opened for public worshipon Sunday, December 14th, by the Rev. D.H. Gillan, B.D., officiating Presidency SeniorChaplain of Bengal. Assisting him in theservice were the Wesleyan Chaplain and theminister of Simla, the Rev. Jas. Black, .M.A.,who conducted the service in the evening.Mr. Black had most kindly come to be presentat these services, and his goodness in comingwas much appreciated.St. Aidan's is the second kirk that theRegiment in this tour in India has (to usean expression heard at the kirk door on the14th inst.) seen" sworn in." St. ])lungo's atLucknow was opened shortly after the Regimentwentthere, and was called so becauseof the Regiment's connection with Glasgow.