HLI Chronicle 1914 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT IN:("ANTRY CHRONICLE. 63on looking round the room to.night I see there is prac.tically no one here exoept officers, past and present, ofthe Highland Regiments, and therefore I don't thinkthere is anyone else who will. And what I want tosay, gentlemen, is this, that if Sir James Willcocks werecoming to·mDrrow in command of a Field Army-nomatter to what part of the world-I am quite certainthat the more Highland Regiments he had in thatField Army the better he would be pleased. And nowit is my very great privilege and pleasure as seniorofficer of this year's Highland Brigade Gathering to askSir James Willcocks to accept from all the offioers ofall the Highlllnd Regiments in India this small tokenof our respect, our esteem, and our gratitude for all hehas done for UB, and our hopes are that perhaps infuture years it may remind you of some pleasant daysspent with the officers of the Highland Regiments inIndia.This, sir, is, unfortunately, the last time we shallhave the pleasure of seeing you amongst us as G.O.C.Northern Army, and I can assure you, sir, we all verymuch regret it. But should you, in the future, returnto India in any other capacity, I think I can also assureyou that you will receive a warmer welcome from no onethan from the officers, non·commissioned officers, andmen of the Highland Brigade.Now, gentlemen, in conclusion, I feel sure I am sayingWhat everyone in the room feels when I say it will bea great pleasure t . UB all to meet Sir James again, andmore especially if we were serving under him in thatField l\rmy which I have just talked about, and which,gentlemen, I would have you remember, we have settledis to be composed almost entirely of the HighlandRegiments. And now I wish you all to join with mein drinking Sir James' health, long life, prosperity andhappiness, with Highland honours. .Sir James . very feelingly replied. Undoubtedlyhe was much t01lched by the kindlythought that prompted such an action, andhe added to his endearment of the Brigadeby offering another Championship Cup fornext year, ,vhen he himself no longer wouldbe with us.From the dinner we wended our way intime for the Sergeants' dance, which. tookplace this year in the Regimental gymnasium.The hall was very well arranged, and, as well,a large marquee had been pitched hard by,which looked very nice with its tartans andother decorations. The dance was a greatsuccess; it went merrily through the "sma''oors" and was hugely enjoyed by one and all.The hosts of the evening were full of attentionto their guests, and a very happy eveningthey gave us.On Thursday evening Lady Willcocks gavea most charming and delightful dance at theClub. The scene was a gay one, and everythingwent with an unusual swing till the earlyhours of the morning.RE. The Viceroy and Lady Hardinge-came over from Delhi for the last afternoonof the Games. We are not surprised to hearthat they were delighted with all they saw,and after seeing the Tattoo in the evening,it is rumoured, a wish was expressedthat the Gathering be held in the Capital nextyear. So perhaps in next winter's movessome of us may find ourselves detailed forduty in the new Capital.The prizes were graciously distributed byLady Hardinge, and Lady Willcocks handedSir James' Cup to the champions. The 72ndpipers then formed up, and the Cup wascarried of amidst loud cheering.The Viceregal party were entertained todinner by the Brigade in the Fort before theTattoo. The dinner was given near theDiwan-i-Khas, and I leave those who knowthe" Jasmine Tower" (though it may seemrather incongruous) to imagine a more perfectsetting for an entertainment of such a kind.The Tattoo proper started about 10 p.m.Those of us who saw it last year thought itwould be impossible to improve upon, butfound we had been mistaken when we sawbut a few of the new lighting effects producedthis year.On the gun sounding, the gateway leadingfrom Jehangir's Court to the Diwan-i-Amis lit up by red light, outlining our buglerssoundin,g the "First Post"; the lights areextinguished only to be re-lighted again inthe distance or. the dorues of the Peari Mosque,where the echo is taken up by the remainingbuglers.. The darkness below is then graduallydispelled as each pipe band marches infrom various parts of the quadrangle, headedby torch-bearers, who form a square on thefarther side. Then follow a variety of evolutions.The massed bands open with a march,a reel set from each Regiment dances (accompaniedby the massed pipe bands outlined inred light), the torch-bearers (all of the 7211d)carry out some complicated and very effectivefigures. The massed bands again play, andthen directly below us we find men dancingagain, only this time performing the " broadswords."Equally fine is the exit of the pipe bands.The" Last Post" is sounded over the gateway,taken up again from the Pearl Mosque, a.ndthen all is darkness, and a solitary piper isheard slowly wending his way along theramparts playing" Soldier, lie down." TheTattoo is finished.Soon, however, we are in the midst of lightagain. A farewell reception is held in theDiwan-i-Khas, outlined with fairy lights, andgood-byes a.re said. I'm sure many ofus were wondering whether the scene of our