HLI Chronicle 1909 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.105by luxuriant ~ palms loaded 'Jwith nuts andblossom, each crown a study in green and.gold and brown; gnarled •'old temple-treesfilling the air with fragrance; the yellowrobedpriests laying offerings of lovely flowersbefore the small dome-shaped relic shrines,beneath huge Bo-trees with spiritual-lookingwhite stems and light foliage, which quivers.ceaselessly even when there is scarcely aperceptible breath of air.The beauty of the scene exercises a peculiarfascination upon one, and it is no doubt thisfeeling which works upon the native wor­..shippers who attend daily at the Maligawa. and other shrines of Buddha.J. S. C. FADE,Sergt., A.P.C., late H.L.I.Fully Fifty \Years Ago.No. 2. THE hook and eye, sir! That is the con­necting link in military life. Enlistment isonly the threshold of the door into the Army.Many a man gets that length, but no furthel·.Some loose links in the human frame, and, inmilitary lingo, he is "a wash-out." Theindividual who passes beyond that is a com­-plete man. Externally and internally he is as.sound as a well-toned bell; in plain language,he is without a single flaw. At least that was.80 in the long-ago days, and doubtless is so still.Hence you will understand that a man who isfit for the ranks is also physically fit to makehis way in civil life.But to come to the "hook and eye" business.That always has been the testingperiod, which in my day took place themorning after enlistment. The first move onthe board was a good scrub in a bath before:passing the doctor. A quiet walk past, sir ~Oh, no; it was quite the opposite. Justcarry back your butt and I will endeavourto explain. But bide a wee, sir. Are youfishing for news in-the book line 1 If so, I ammum. You see auld sodgers must be careful.and not tell tales out of school. N0 ~ Well,then, all is fair and above board; so I will-tirive ahead. On the morning in questionthere were the existing anxieties-the reoruiterwas occupied with his registration and £ s. d." Am I to keep my name up ~ Am I to get my.quid for that lot ~" And the thought in the:recruit's mind was, " Am I to pass, or am Ito be thrown out!" It was a fairly largerO()lll, and in the huge grate a roaring fire, andjust two steps outside there wa.s the door ofthe surgery-and behind that door was themedical officer whose decision was to shape'the future of fully twenty youths. Thecandidate for honour and glory stood withjust one garmen.t on; his name is. called, thatlast garment is slipped; the recruiter's adviceis whispered, " Keep perfectly cool; he'll no'eat you. There--buck up !" No one couldblame the sergeant; his good name as areC'ruiter and one pound one shilling dependedon the issue. In a moment, without as muchas would dust a fiddle, there the recruit stands .The critical eye of the doctor sweeps all overhim, apd he, if very courageous, looks thedoctor straight in the faae. There may bethat look-" I care for nobody; no, not 1."All the same, if truth were known-at least inmy case-he cares a good deal for the doctor.Immedia tely the performance begins. Suffice itto say he has to do everything but stand onhis head; and, as a recruit said, "Yon weetrumpet thing tells a' aboot the inside." Onequestion decides his destiny-" What is yourreligion ~" If that were asked, he was passed,and was a Queen's man; if not, he goes backamong his shed chums to be twitted as "theQueen's bad bargain," and at once the recruiter'sinterest in him vanishes. But if thequestion has been asked, the recruiter patshim on the back, and says, "Good shot."Then comes the sealing of the bargain. Heis taken before a magistrate, and sworn to befaithful and loyal to Queen and country. Thegentlem8,n who performed that duty in ourcase was more than kind. He gave us a realfatherly advice, and, when leaving, he shookus by the hand and hoped we both would atleast be sergeants; and gave us the swearinginmoney-one shilling-which caused weeJoC'k to say outside, "~ly, Geordie, bit we'rein clover ! "In our case we had a tew days to do theswagger; and we did it in grand style. Ourlively imaginations pictured all sorts of greatthings to come. There was only one unpleasantduty. "Noo, Jock, you'll gangha.me an' tell yer mither, an' I'll gang hamean' tell mine. Of course there will be a queerdust, but, as the sergeant said, buck up!an' I'll meet ye at the fit 0' the brig abootfive o'clock, an' then we'll dust oor chums."In my case there was the auld Highland grannyand the mother, who said, just like otherfolks when a lad joins the Army: "Ay, ye're