HLI Chronicle 1918 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

at point-blank range the success of the
tanks was of a very local nature.
Evening came on. The troops on our
flank gave. There was nothing for it. The
order to retire was given. Even as it was,
one half-company with their officers were
surrounded and made prisoners before they
could retire.
I don't suppose there ever has been a
forced retirement yet in which the troops
have not got broken up and been very difficult
to collect. N or was this an exception.
Eventually, however, the Battalion was
collected together, and units of the Brigade
were given L-- T-- as a rendezvous.
By now officers and men were thoroughly
exhausted, so a little sleep was snatched
just as we were and in the field where we
were. Thus ended Palm Sunday-the most
eventful Palm Sunday ever passed by those
who were left to tell the tale.
Then came the order to get ready to march,
and as a Brigade we marched down the
main B-- road to the G-- line, which
we reached in the early morning. But evening
found the Battalion back in the line of the
River A--, not that there had been any
fighting to-day, but the conformity of the
line with the right and left was necessary,
otherwise the Boche would have been behind
us. And that was how we sadly trekked
across the Somme battlefields, so different
now from what they had been.
On the 26th of March the old British Line
had been reoccupied, and was being held.
The constant strain of .these past few days
had been very great, and we were all in a
very exhausted condition, but to-dav was a
critical one. The Germans were preparing
to attack in strength, and orders were to
hold the old British Line to the last. One
could see the German troops pouring round
on our left, but we were ready· for an allround
defence which, by kind fate, was not
required. The New Zealand Corps had
just arrived fresh, and counter-attacked with
great success. They relieved us that night
and we withdrew to It night's rest in M--­
M--. The following day we went back
into the line in relief of another Battalion
of another Division at M--, and held the
line for three more days. The enemy advance
had now been finally stopped. On April 4
we began marching back to billets in Reserve,
and were pretty well marching every day
for about ten days. The marches were,
however, short, and perhaps the best thing
HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
109
the Battalion could have had. These journeys
through quiet and beautiful villages had a
very good moral effect. Eventually on 13th
April the Battalion took over a new sector
of the line, and held that sector uneventfully
until 12th May, when we came back into
Divisional Rest and had a most enjoyable
time. An article on the Battalion Sports
during that period out appeared in the last
number of the" Chronicle." .
All are in good heart, and at the
time of writing the Battalion is well up to
strength both in officers and other ranks.
Home Notes.
SINCE the last news of this Battalion appeared
in the "Chronicle" many things have
happened.
To start with, the fortnightly sports were
carried through and proved a huge success.
The termination of these sports was a most
exciting event. "F" and "G" Companies
tied, with the same number of points, for
first place; but they had yet to pull off the
tug-of-war tie. As far as these two Companies
were concerned, everything depended on this
pull. It was a beautiful afternoon when t.he
whole battalion turned out to see the deciding
event. At first it looked as if " F " Company
would win, but after a great pull of over five·
minutes "G" Company's team got their
opponents .on the run and proyed themselves
splendid winners, and thereby winning the
cup for their Company. The recruits, who are
mostly of good material, took a very active
part in these sports, and were very keen to
do their bit for their Company, thus showing
an exeellent spirit.
On the 31st August there was a great sports
day at the camp. The events were open to all
comers, but the competitors from the Battalion
were so well trained that only one or two
events went to outsiders. When the first item
on the programme was due the rain came down
in buckets, but it only lasted for twenty
minutes, al!d soon cleared IIp into a beautiful
afternoon. There were many close finishes,
and the times and distances of the various
events were very good. The Battalion tug-ofwar
team had some stiff opposition, but were
able to pull everything with them owing to
their excellent coaching. During the aft.ernoon
tea was served to the visitors in the
Officers' and Sergeants' messes.