HLI Chronicle 1921 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE. 107
There were & lot of Pool Bull shoots at different
ra.nges, so that everyone knew exaotly where his rifle
sent a bullet. Corporal Doll' and Bugler Clark were
the prinoipal prize-winners.
The evening before we left there was an enormous
sum in a pool which nobody had got for some days.
It is said that when it got too dark to see the marker's
discs certain hopeful oompetitors wished to go on and
ha.ve shots signa.lled by telellhoue.
Life was quite pleaaant in the camp. The chief
drawback was lack of water and baths. Fortunately
some quite good baths were found in the village later
on. All ranks took a keen interest in a water pipe that
the sappers were laying, but we became apathetic
during our last few days, not having seen water in the
pipe more than once or twice.
The Band came and stayed with us for a week-end,
II.nd we had B()me excellent cricket matches with them.
We had beaten the transport several times, and were
rather surprised when the Band beat us-however
only by eight runs. They brought their instruments,
which sounded espeoially cheerful in our isolated camp
-in spite of the fact that there was a good deal of .\ocal
music every night.
Another cricket match was arranged against the
markers, who came from the Prince of Wales' Volunteers.
We got the transport to help, as one of their
players was said to have played in "Oounty Crioket."
He had a bit of bad luck, as onr C.Q.A-I.S. would say,
with our fast bowler. The handicap demolished, we
disposed of the remainder with a comfortable surplus
of sixty runs.
We came back to Surafend at the end of July,
having had quite a good time. Our one regret was the
sad death of Pte. Quigley of " D " Company, who was
doing mUBketry with us.
Again we leave old Surafend without many regrets
and should be settled in Jaffa by August 16th.
Itis with the deepest regret that the death of Private
E. Everest is recorded. He died at the Palestine
General Hospital on September 2nd, 1921, and was
buried at Ramleh.
BAND NOTES.
THE Rand has had trouble9like the rest of un, practice
often being interfered with by sickness and by bandsmen
being taken for duties; but they have always
risen to the occ&eion when wanted. When some of
the Fleet werE' in Haifa the Band performed at a dance
given a.t the Officers' Club there. The following day
they were invited on board H.M. Flotilla Leader
"Stuart" (Capt. Freemantle.• R.N.). Getting into
whalers at the landing-stage caiIsed considerable
amusement, also some anxietv for the instruments.
However, it was eventually a~complished. with only
one mURic stand being deposited in the sea, and this
was recovered by an obliging nativ!". When we got
on board the Band gave oue or two selections, and then
a water polo match was played against the ship'!'! team,
in which the following took part :-Sgt. Howson,
Bandsmen Alien, Morgan. Wilson, and Sangster.
The result was a win for the Navy by 3 goals to I,
but, eonsidE'ring our team had never played together,
and had little or no swimming practice, the result was
quite creditable. They were then treated to an
exceHent tea, after whioh they again played while the
sailors danced (on an iron deck) waltzes, fox-trots, etc.
After a most enjoya.ble afternoon, we left the ship to.
the strains of "Scotland the Brave," played by the
ship's Piper.
In June, when three light cruiSfrs oame to Jaffll •
the Band wae again in demand, both at a reoeption
at the Governor's house in the a.fternoon and at a
dance in the evening, where they gained fresh laurelsliterally,
as the Bandmaster was presented with a large
oouquet.
The String Band has once again come into being
under the able leadership of Bandmaster Friend,
himself a violinist. Though still in their infancy •
they .have already played at five dances, which is
very encouraging.
The anoient· distinction of a red hackle has been
restored to the Band, and this has now replaced the
'red a.nd white hackle worn in the topee.
DEATHS.
3300691 Pte. R. M. Baird, "D" Coy., 10/2/21, gunshot
wound, Abba.ssia.
3300571 Pte. J. Stewart, "A" Ooy., 14/5/21, gun-shot
wound, Surafend.
3300278 Pte. J. L. Quigley;- "0" Ooy., 23/7/21,
malaria, P.G.H.
Son of C.S.M. J. T. Cramond, 27/8/21, enteritis, M.F.H.
3301694 Pte. C. G. Everest, "0" Coy., 2/9/21, maia.ria,
P.G.H.
GRAY.-At Leith Hospital, on 11th September, 1921,
of a.ppendicitis, Abram (Abbey), 14 years, eldest
son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Gray, ia.te H.L.I., 333
Leiih Walk, Edinburgh.
BIRTHS.
Wife of Sergt. A. Gibson, a. daughter, at Abbllssia,
28/4/21­
Wife of C.S.M. J. T. Cramond, a son, _at Abbassia,
15/5/21.
Wife of Sl'rgt. J. Miller, a daughter, at Surafend,
12/6/21.
Wife of Sergt D. }lorrison, a daughter, at Surafend,
12/7/21.
Wife of L.·Sergt. J. Drysdale, a daughter, at Bir Salem,
10/7/21.
Wife of C.Q.M.S. R. M'Lean, a daughter, at Surafend,
23/7/21. .
Wife of Sergt. K. Jl.facDonald, a daughter, at Surafend.
Wife of R.Q.M.S. A. R. Douglas, a daughter, at Edinburgh,
19/1/21.
Wife of 8ergt. W. S. Hitchcock, a daughter, at Edinburgh,
21/4/21.
Wife of Sergt.-Piper C. Johnstone, a son, at Edinburgh.
POLO.
TH;E heading of t.his contribution may appear somewhat
ambitious to those who remember former days of Polo
in the Regiment. However, valiant struggles have
been madE>, and a 2nd Bn. H.L.I. team has played
matches once again sinCI' the war.
The first chance of polcr-after our wanderinp-R in
North Russia., Ireland, and elsewhere--came in Cairo.