HLI Chronicle 1921 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONlVLE. 3
The time came only too soon for our departure,
and to the moving strains of "Auld
La.ng Syne" and amidst the cheers of the
2nd Battalion, vigorously led by Col. Grahame,
we waved good-bye. The memory of these
scenes will long remain with those who witnessed
it.
We arrived at Alexandria shortly before
dusk the same evening, and proceeded direct
to the Transit Camp, which was situated,
fortunately for us, close to Mustapha Barracks,
then occupied by the 2nd Battalion The
Sherwood Foresters. The hospitality accorded
to u~ by the Sherwoods rendered our stay in
the camp a very pleasant one, as the officers'
mess, the sergeants' mess, and all regimental
institutes were all most kindly placed at our
disposal. Friendly football matches, golf and
hockey, took place daily, and altogether our
three days' sojourn there was made most
enjoyable through the kindness of the Sherwoods.
St. Andrew's Night did not pass unnoticed.
It cannot have occurred often that on St.
'Andrew's Night the Battalion was dining
with another Regiment; in this .case--the
Sherwoods and Lieut.-Col. Taylor, C.B.E.,
commanding, invited the pipers to play during
dinner.
We embarked on December 3rd, sailing
shortly· after 1600 hours. We did not look
forward to the prospect of cold weather,
however, after the warmth and sunshine of
Egvpt. The voyage itself was nneventful,
at 'least as regards weather conditions! !
On December 13th we disembarked at
Southampton, and entrained that night for
Redford Barracks, Edinburgh. We felt,
however, on leaving the "Teutonic," that
we were parting from an old friend, since it
had had so much to do, both with ourselves
and our 2nd Battalion ..
All ranks are, on the whole, glad to be at
home again. For those in whose hearts linger
regrets for the sunshine of tlie East we can
safely say that a goodly proportion of them
will probably shortly find themselves in the
"Land of the Pharaohs" once a,gain. For
these we wish the best of luck in the 2nd Batt.
We congratulate Major Telfer-Smollett on
his nomination to the Staff College, and also
on the termination of his well-earned leave!
We all look forward to a happy tenure at
Redford, our only regret being that we are
losing our Adjutant, Major Wallace, who is
also going to the Staff College. His untiring
energies and interest in all matters pertaining
to the Battalion have done so much for our
comfort and efficiency during the difficult
period of re-forming the Battalion; making his
temporary absence a real loss, and we all look
forward to the day when he will be amongst
us again.
Finally, we wish all ranks the best of good
luck in the coming year.
A. C. B.
COMPANY NOTES.
" A" C01IIPANY.
WE are now home again, and most of us are very
pleased to be there after a year's absence in Egypt.
The Company was commanded by Lieut. J. W. M.
Pllter~on from the end of August to the end of October,
during the abRence of Major Leckie-Ewing, who was
Acting Second-in-Command and P.R.T.
We started firing our annual Musketry Course in the
first week of October, on the Abbassiah ranges.
As "C" Company had averaged 119, we realised
that we had a big score to def'3at, but we determined
to have a velY good try.
When the averages W6re worked out we found 01lt
that the Company had the excellent average of 120.3­
thus defe.ating "C" Company, and having ths best
a verage in the Battalion.
Corporal Barley WItS Oompany Shot, and the following
were JlUl,rksmen :-J... -CorpI. Bald, L.-Corpl. Dent,
Sergt. Carling, Pte. Troth, Piper Paterson, and Pte.
Durham.
In the football field we have done fairly well. We
have played a number of matches with outside teams in
Cairo and Heliopolill, and we have managed to win
moat of them.
In the Battalion League we were defeated by .. B ,.
Company, and defeated" C" Company by the odd
goal in five. It was a very good game, and Sergt.
Guttoridge played a great part in the defea.t of a much
stronger team.
The following represented the Battalion at football :
-Piper Milne and Pte. Devine; 2nd XI.-L.~Corpl.
Best, l-.-Corpl. Dent, and Bandsman Black.
The results of the matches played are as follows :­
Sept. 16-" A" Coy., 0; R.H.A., 7.
" 28-" A " Coy., 5; 179th M.T. Coy., R.A.S.C., O.
Oct. 8-" A " Coy., 0; "B" Coy., 2 (League Match).
13-" A " Coy., 1; R.A.D.C. (Cairo), O.
23-" A " Coy., 6; R.A.D.C., 2.
" 3(}"""" A " Coy., 3; Y.M.C.A. (Cairo), O.
Nov. 14-" A " Coy., :~; "C" Coy., 2.
The Company team ill as follows :-L.-CorpI. Best;
L. ·Corpl. MitcheJI and L. -CorpI. Dent; Dunnegan,
Piper Milne, and Flint; Batchelor, Devine, C.S.M.
Thomton, Corpl. Hamilton, and Sergt. Gutteridge.
The team was strengthen!ld by the inclusion of
Lieut. O'Donovan in Bome of the games.
We had a very pleasant time with the 2nd Battalion
whE'n we met on Abbassiah Siding on the da.y of our
departure for Alexandria.
We were all pleased t{) travel home by t.he
"Teutonic," as most 9£ usJmew her, !,-s she had taken
us· out. .
The passage home was a very good one, the absence
of rough weather in the Bay being partioul&rly
noticeabl£>.