HLI Chronicle 1921 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

20 HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE. •
Battalion on parade ready to entrain for
Alexandria en route 'for Blighty, and we were
soon exchanging greetings. It was good to
meet and foregather with Peter Shaw, P. D.,
Jock Sweet, and countless others. I take this
(lpportunity of congratulating Uncle Fred,
my journalistic opposite number in the 7lst,
(In his rotund appearance.
We Were out in' strength to bid adieu to the
71st, and the band turned out and played a
short programme before the train left, finishing
up with the 7lst Regimental March followed
by "Auld Lang Syne" as the' train went
(lut 'of sight.
Now we are left to carry on, and feel that, if
allowed w sojourn for some time here, we will
in every respect keep up the reputation left
behind by the 1st Battalion.
Here's wishing all oUr members, past and
present, the compliments of the festive season,
which I am reminded will be past ere these
notes appear in print. -These notes .h~ye of a
necessity been hurried, so, as the maIllS due, I
must now conclude.
5th (City of Olasgow)
Battalion Notes.
ON the 8th October a very successful dance
for membe~s and their friends was held. Most
of the arrangements were ma,de by C.S.M.
Palmer and C.Q.:[\'I.S. Birrell, and everything
went without a hitch. It was good to see the
majority actually dancing, and not watching
others doing it. This was the more remarkable
because some of the dances were very new.
"On I,eave" seemed to be the favourite
innovation. By general request the dance
was made a regular fortnightly event throughout
the winter, and an excellent band engaged.
C.S.M. Crichton, C.Q.M,S. Bain and Masterton
joined the committee, which has worked hard
to make the dance the best possible attraction
to all. We hope to keep it up until our
slowly swelling numbers permit companies
tQ Qrganill~ their own daMes.
On Christmas eve the Pipe Band organisfld
an excellent dance. All details were thought
out to everyone's utmost enjoyment. Several
officers and friends were present.
'Arrangements have been made to hold a
Regimentalboxing tournament at the. end of
February. It is hoped that. there ,,:111 be a
large ~~try, ' . . .. .
'I
,'\'.,
...I;
1\:""
!
SERGEANTS' MESS NOTES.
A very successful billiard tournament was
held during November. C.S.M. Crichton was
the winner, R.S,M. Veitch being runner-up:
In December two whist drives were held.
These proved a great attraction, about 40
being present on each occasion, and it has
been decided to continue them fortnigbtly
throughout, the winter.
In the beginning of December our Quartermaster,
Capt. ClInk, wok very seriously ill
with pneumonia. We are glad to say that
he has now almost compJetely recovered.
REV. .T.
S. AGNEW, LATE LIEUT"
. O'I'J[ H.L.I.
IT is with great regret we record the d.eath of
the Rev. J. S. Agnew, who died at PaIsley on
28th December last. Before the war 'a
millister at Wemyss, he joined the Scots
Guards soon after the outbreak, and served
as a private in France, being wounded at
Festubert. On recovering from that wou'nd
he obtained a Commission and joined the
5th H.L.I. in Sinai early in 19]6. Few who
met Agnew will ever forget him, In stature
and build he was a giant, and his endurance
was worthy of his frame. One recalls the
march from Mahomidiyeh to Katia a.fter the
battle of Romani; the Khamsin heat was
intense, and many men collapsed. Agnew's
great form loomed up at the head of his
platoon burdened with two packs and two
rifles, his example doing more to encourage
his men than many words. His monkey,
"The Bint," was well known, and accompanied
him on many a wander in the desert.
At the beginning of the second battle of
Gaza, in th; ininor operation of taking the
Bourjalieh Garden, he was wounded in the
arm. Later on he became our intelligence
officer-wQrk for which he was well qualified.
In the Turkish attacks on our line at Tahta,
in November, 1917, he received a severe wound
in the shoulder and was invaUded home:
After his discharge he was engaged for some
time in welfare work in Paisley, and only
recently had accepted a call to a church at
Yoker: ~ further operation was required to
his shoulder last Sept(lmber, and though he
appeared to hav,e recQvered,it was frolll the
effects of his old wound that he died. He was
buried with military honours. We who knew
him appreciate th~t, t.he Chllr~h h~s lost a
man'of strik[ngpersonalityandgreatmfi':le~ce,
and that we ourse-Ives have lost a, trtiefrlend.
. . .. ." - " . ., ~