HLI Chronicle 1909 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE. 87made many kind inquiries for him. Whilethere I spent two happy mornings with J. D.Scott on the racecourse, watching his numerousstring at exercise. He seldom rides now,but devotes himself to owning and training.He made many inquiries for Officers of the2nd Battalion-notably for Majors Sandys­Lumsdaine and Purvis and Captain Neilson.Major Sandys-Lumsdaine will be interestedto know that his old steeplechaser "GarryC!wen " is still fit and well at Patiala-a pen­SIOner.While at Dehra Dun I took the opportunityof visiting Chakrata once more, and climbingto the top of Deoban, from where I got themost glorious view of the perpetual snowsfrom the little-used path below" Snow View."The ground was covered with fresh greenmaiden-hair, and the lovely white Himalayanolimbing roses festooned the lofty deodars.It was just" topping," and the air perfect.When one looks round the Regiment it iscurious to see how few are now with it whoserved at Chakrata. The place itself, however,hasn't changed, and all goes on as of old.The wood still shoots down the water-shootto the little railway at the bottom-whichMrs. Browne kindly consented to open butnever did !-and is trundled to the woodsheds under the "nek." I spent two daysthere and returned to Dehra glad to have hadthe chance of seeing the place again.I had almost forgotten to mention the Lucknowregatta, in which Lieut. Johnston­Stewart upheld the credit of the Regiment bywinning the canoe race.In the four-oar race for novices the Regimentalboat looked all over a winner a quarterof a mile from home, until a series of " crabs"caught by Lieut. Harvey destroyed all hopesof success, and the King's Own boat won theevent.These notes, I feel, are already too long,but I must just add what I feel will be ofinterest to those who served with the 2ndBattalion in the eighties and early ninetiesnamely,"GUNGA IS DEAD."To very many of your readers this announc\'lmentwill convey nothing; but there are stillthose to whom it will carry full significance,and to one in particular.-" Dead men tell notales." R. W. H. R.LUCKNOW IN MAY.LucKNow, May 25) 1909.Lucknow it is now the" off" season, whenmanreuvres cease from troubling and fielddays are no more. Nowadays we are neverreally chilled, and sometimes get so hot as toperspire. At the present moment we areclad in a charming deshabille of short cottonknicks and ventilated socks, and are seated ina pool of wllfter supplied from our own overheatedpores by a bountiful Nature to keepus from entirely melting away.In this season of warmth and Arcadiansimplicity our chief concern is the maintenanceof health-glorious health. The followingis something of our usual routine workRising at 5 a.m., we proceed to the gymnasiumafter a hasty draught of tea to fortifyus. Here a few highly-trained instructorsproceed to show us all that they can do, savebreaking their necks, thus lashing us into afever of perspiration lest we should have to dolikewise. They then by a series of horribledevices, comprising jumping, twisting, hopping,fiying, lifting, pressing, etc., etc., proceed toreduce us to a state of physical exhaustion,till they are no longer entertained by us.We are then released, and proceed to enjoya really good half hour in the swimming bath,by which time we are all thoroughly readyfor breakfast.After breakfast we have minor companyparades till about 10.30 or 11, by which time,as the thermometer usually registers about114 degrees, we stop for the day, and clean up,rest, read, etc., till about 6 p.m., when recreationbegins.At present we have a Oompany FootballLeague, which is producing some very good andsurprising football. At present it would bevery difficult to prophesy the winners.Largely because of the active habits engenderedby the above described routine, thehealth of the Battalion remains excellent.We are also trying to pick a hockey teamto represent us in Calcutta, but the selectionis again difficult owing to the large numberof men with claims to be considered.We are much better off than in our previousstations, for not only is the whole Battaliontogether but we are also associated withartillery, cavalry, and another regiment ofinfantry (the King's Own), which renders theopportunities of sport and enjoyment muchmore frequent.As regards news, there is but little that willnot be dealt with in other pages. We are, ofcourse, considerably below strength, owing tothe usual exodus to the hills. We can still,