HLI Chronicle 1909 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFA...'fTRY CHRONICLE. 119sure that what Tom doesn't know of "theold '~sahibs," as he calls them, is not worthlearning!No persuasion on earth will induce" Tom"nowadays to repeat the little nursery rhymethat Colonel Scrase-Dickins taught him... Nay, sabib," he says, "Bahut karab bat"(" Very bad language.")It is with much regret to all ranks that wehear we are not to see Major and Mrs. Wolfe­Murray back among us for at least someyears, but, at the same time, we take the&pportunity of congratulating him on hisappointment, and wishing them every goodfortune.Our Regimental football team proceedsto Simla on the 2nd September to competein the Durand Football Tournament, and wewish them every success.R. W.H.R.SERGEANTS' MESS NOTES.ON the 9th of June an interesting and alsoinstructive shooting competition was carriedout by the members of the Sergeants' Messwhen competing for the medal presented byOol.-Sergt. Underwood.This medal, although it has been in theMess for a considerable time, has, on account-of the Battalion being broken up, never been.competed for before.The competition was in two stages :-(1)Lying in the open at 300 yards; target, 3rd()lass figure; rounds, five; time, slow.(2) Lying in the open at 200 yards; two ironfalling plates to be knocked over. and then9pen fire on same target, as before; rounds,ten; time, slow.A great deal of amusement was caused byattempts made in the second stage to get theplates down, and there was a tie for thewooden spoon, as two competitors failed toget them down with ten rounds. One ofthese was nobly assisted by his brotherSergeants, who, seeing he was in difficulties,ran bravely up with a box of ammunition,and sent baCK word that ammunition wasrunning short.The medal was won by C. S. Brisbanewith a score of 45, only seven from the possible.This, considering that nothing was signalleduntil after each competitor finished, wasan exceptionally good score. Qr.-Mr.-Sergt.Murray was second with a score of 40, andSergt. Mackie third with a score of 38.., The aonor, also, did exceptionally well,as he had fired his ninth round before hissecond plate dropped, but improved on hissecond attempt, failing to get them down inten rounds.One competitor was heard to remark thatthe ammunition was bad, as he had to jerkthe trigger before the rounds would go off,and that, if he pressed the trigger, he had ahang or miss-fire. (?)Who got the order from the Sergeant­Major to fix his bayonet in order to knock theplates down ~During the last three months we have beenhaving a series of entertainments, we havingbeen entertained by the Artillery, RoyalDragoons, and King's Own, and in turnentertaining them, at whist drives. Veryenjoyable evenings have been spent, enlivenedby music and singing, and, in the case of theDragoons, by an impromptu dance.This form of amusement is very popular,as it affords so many opportunities for makingthe acquaintance of members of other Messes.We have also been having a series of socialevenings each Saturday-dancing (weatherpermitting, which it very seld om did), or thealternative whist drive. These have beenvery well attended, and have brought forthsome excellent talent in the singing line; butI shall not publish any names, as you willprobably see them flourishing in the programeof the next" cafe chantant."Ju-jitsu is now the leading topic, andsome have got the craze bad, it being theironly subject of conversation. You hearnothing but neck holds, throttle holds, variousforms of arm and leg holds, &c. It's nowonder I've got it myself !A. K. M'F.