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HLI Chronicle 1921 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

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HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.<br />

-------------.---.-.---~-----~----.~--------<br />

1st Battalion Notes.<br />

MUCH has happened since our last Notes,<br />

chiefly the sending of part of the Battalion<br />

for emergency protection duty to the pits.<br />

We hOlle that very soon we shall not be required<br />

on such duty at all. <strong>The</strong> barrack square really<br />

was quite warlike with lorries full of troops in<br />

full marching order and "tin hats," etc.<br />

What did us more good than anything was the<br />

arrival of the Reservists amongst whom were<br />

many old friends. <strong>The</strong>y all left their civil<br />

jobs with one accord and rallied round their<br />

old Regiment in a splendid manner and their<br />

behaviour was exemplary.<br />

Another matter of great interest was the<br />

visit to Edinburgh of His Imperial Highness<br />

the Crown Prince of Japan, and Prince<br />

Kan-in. We supplied the guards of honour<br />

at the station under Major W. C. Leckie-Ewing.<br />

and very smart guards they were too. H.T.H.<br />

and suite also visited the barracks and had tea<br />

in the Officers' Mess when the officers were<br />

presented. <strong>The</strong> P.M.C. had his work cut out<br />

but everything went very smoothly, and the<br />

Crown Prince, in a parting speech, said, " how<br />

honoured and how proud" he was to have<br />

had tea in a <strong>Highland</strong> Regiment's Mess. <strong>The</strong><br />

G.O.C.-in-C. and Staff were also present and<br />

several civic notabilities.<br />

Following shortly after this, a few days<br />

later, came the visit of <strong>The</strong> Lord High Commissioner,<br />

the Duke of Sutherland. We<br />

supplied a guard of honour at Holyrood<br />

Palace and another at St. Giles. His Grace<br />

sent us a special order saying how pleased<br />

he had been at the appearance of the guard.<br />

A levee was held in the morning and the<br />

81<br />

following week some of the officers went to<br />

an "At Home" at the Palace. Both our<br />

bands played with distinction during the latter<br />

ceremony. <strong>The</strong> following were the officers on<br />

the various Guards:<br />

For the Crown Prince:<br />

Major W. C. Leckie-Ewing,<br />

Lieut. A. C. Bruce (King's Colour),<br />

TJieut. D. G. Thorburn, M.O.<br />

For <strong>The</strong> Lord High Commissioner,<br />

At the Palace,<br />

Capt. F. M. M. Carlisle, M.C.<br />

Lieut. A. C. Bruce,<br />

2nd Lieut. J. A. Ralston.<br />

At St. Giles,<br />

Major W. C. Leckie-Ewing,<br />

Lieut. A. C. Bruce,<br />

Lieut. D. G. Thorburn, M.C.<br />

We had an excellent Battalion concert the<br />

night the Reservists were warned of their<br />

demobilisation. Our thanks are chiefly due<br />

to Lieutenants Davidson and Hamilton for a<br />

really enjoyable show.<br />

Our garden comes on wonderfully and we<br />

hope soon to be self-supporting in the vegetable<br />

line.<br />

We are very pleased to note the Band getting<br />

so many outside engagements, it is always a<br />

source of competition and encouragement.<br />

<strong>The</strong> 9th of June saw the officers once more<br />

back into Mess Kit.<br />

We had a whole day's Battalion Games<br />

recently, got up on the spur of the moment,<br />

which proved a great success. T expect the<br />

Sports Notes will recount them at length so T<br />

will refrain.<br />

Our Tug-o' -War Team went to Olympia but<br />

we were pulled over by the Navy. Better<br />

luck next time.<br />

Things go on very much as usual now the<br />

Reservists have gone but nowadays we are so<br />

accustomed to the unexpected that we wonder<br />

where we shall go and what we shall do next.<br />

At the moment of going to Press we learn<br />

we are bound for Ireland for temporary duty

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