morrison COLONEL F.L. MORRISON, C.B., D.S.O., V.D....

crest Glasgow Printed for Private Circulation by MacLehose, Jackson and Co. Publishers to the University 1921 TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE FIFTH BATTALION HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY WHO FELL IN THE WAR 1914-1918 The 5th Highland Light Infantry was originally known as the 19th Lanark Rifle Volunteers, one of the Volunteer units raised in 1859. In 1880, it became the 5th Lanark Volunteers. The connection with the Highland Light Infantry beg

Gallipoli—Battle of 12th July, 1915 Sketch to Illustrate Position on Night of 19-20th December, 1915 Area of Operations 7-8th November, 1917 Sketch showing Route taken by the Battalion between Gaza and Jaffa, November-December, 1917 Area of Operations 24-27th August, 1918 Moeuvres, September, 1918 Gallipoli and the Dardanelles, Bird's-Eye View Northern Portion of Sinai Peninsula Gaza...

FROM MOBILISATION TO THE EAST. The period from the date of mobilisation to the date on which we began our active service experiences we propose to pass over quickly, as the events which happened then seem now of small interest to those coming later. With orders prepared carefully in peace time, mobilisation went smoothly. The Normal School, Glasgow, became a barracks and a place for the busy public of the New City Road to gaze at with interest. Within a week our Brigade found itself at Dunfermli

GALLIPOLI—TO 11th JULY, 1915. The main objects the Allies had in view in their operations at Gallipoli may be briefly stated: 1. To relieve the pressure on the Russians in the Caucasus by forcing the Turks to withdraw troops to the new front. 2. To open the Black Sea to allied shipping by forcing the passage of the Dardanelles. 3. By striking a blow towards Constantinople to compel the Turks to abandon their attacks on Egypt. In Southern Russia there were immense stocks of wheat of which Western

GALLIPOLI ( contd. )— OPERATIONS 12th-18th JULY, 1915. In the afternoon of July 11th the firing and support lines were cleared for another bombardment, and later we were relieved by the 7th H.L.I., who took over our right sector, and the 5th Argylls who took over our left. Enemy artillery gave us unpleasant attention, causing some casualties before we had installed ourselves in reserve trenches immediately behind. In accordance with orders for the battle which was to be fought the next day, "A"

GALLIPOLI ( contd. ). The Battalion remained in "Rest Camp" for twenty-one days. The words "Rest Camp" conjure up a mental picture of shady trees and green, close-cropped meadows sloping to a winding river, of ordered rows of tents or huts, of a place where the horrors of the trenches can be forgotten and war-jangled nerves re-attuned in a placid atmosphere of peace and innocent recreation—not to mention baths and long cool drinks. Nothing could be more unlike this ideal than the reality of a Re

GALLIPOLI ( concluded ). Early in December, after a few days in the rest camp, we returned to the Eski lines, west of Krithia nullah. The Eski line was the first trench one met on the way up to the front line and was a continuous trench running across the Peninsula. It had been dug during the early stages of the campaign, when the original forces had succeeded in getting a footing on the Peninsula and driving the enemy back from the beaches towards Achi Baba. The trench had been greatly improved

MUDROS, CAIRO, SUEZ CANAL AND HILL 70 LINE. In the early hours of the morning of 9th January the transports, which contained the troops which had left in the first party from Gallipoli the previous night, arrived at Mudros Bay. As explained in the last chapter the Battalion was scattered throughout several ships and the process of disembarkation was by no means easy. However, the Staff got busy and lighters were soon arriving alongside the transports disembarking the troops by divisions. The lig

THE SINAI DESERT—MAHAMDIYA, ROMANI, KATIA. On the 10th of July, after handing over to the 5th Manchesters, the Battalion entrained for Mahamdiya. The curse was pronounced against it, "On thy flat feet shalt thou go—and dust shalt thou eat"; and it did not entrain again until it left Ludd at the beginning of the journey to France nearly two years later. The accumulation of stores resulting from several months comparatively civilised life had to be sorted out, and all but the barest necessities we

ACROSS THE SINAI DESERT TO EL ARISH. So our gunner-poet—and in the main he speaks truth. But the "Road firm and true!" at any rate lived only in his imagination. One does not think that any infantryman would have written that line. Such as ride upon horses can afford imagination. If you walk you come down to facts. The second stage of our Crusade began on October 12th, when the Battalion marched away from Katib Gannit, this time carrying packs. Officers were allowed 30 lb. valises. And in genera

EL ARISH AND FIRST BATTLE OF GAZA. El Arish, the ancient Rhinocolura, lies near the mouth of the Wadi el Arish, which runs away southward into the heart of Sinai and is believed to have been the River of Egypt, the southern boundary of Biblical Palestine. The wadi hardly deserved the name of river to-day, but during the winter months it is sometimes covered with water to the depth of a few inches, flowing slowly down to the sea. Along its banks the inhabitants plant their crops among the palm tr

SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA. If the first battle of Gaza was a legitimate gamble—the second was foredoomed to failure from the start. Given fair warning and three weeks in which to strengthen their position—and probably no army in the world can beat the Turks at spade work—given moreover a natural stronghold, reinforcements and innumerable machine-guns, the enemy could certainly withstand a frontal assault by the same troops as he had already beaten off in a surprise attack, strengthened only by one n

GAZA. 1st MAY TO 7th NOVEMBER, 1917. The beginning of May found the Battalion in support, with its Headquarters on Queen's Hill. As was usually the case, when in support the time of all ranks was taken up with continuous fatigues and other duties. At this time, besides supplying working parties for the Royal Engineers and burying cable for the Brigade Signalling Officer, various parties, usually of 200 each, were employed in constructing communication trenches for the battalions of the Brigade i

ADVANCE BEYOND GAZA. WADI HESI, SAUSAGE RIDGE, ESDUD, KUBEIBEH, NEBI SAMWIL, TAHTA The 31st brought news of the success of the 20th Corps and the fall of Beersheba. Preparations were made for removal and on the 1st of November the Brigade went into Corps Reserve at Regent's Park. That night the other two brigades of our Division and the 53rd Division went over the top before midnight, and by dawn had taken the whole of the enemy's front and support lines from Umbrella Hill to the sea. In so doin

FROM TAHTA TO THE AUJA. Two companies, one of the Royal Irish Regiment and one of the 7th Dublin Fusiliers, arrived at 10 p.m. on the 1st of December to relieve us, and about 11 p.m. 7 officers and 320 N.C.O.'s and men, all that now remained of the Battalion, turned their backs on Tahta. It was with mixed feelings that we moved off in the pitch darkness: regret for the many good fellows who had lost their lives in the last two days: thankfulness that we ourselves had escaped: joy that at length

LAST DAYS IN PALESTINE. NORTH OF JAFFA. The operations of 22nd December brought to an end our fighting in Palestine. Jaffa was now well protected from everything, except perhaps aeroplanes, and we now settled down to enjoy a rest after our labours. In any case the force of our blow was spent. In little over a month the entire army had moved forward nearly 100 miles. Beersheba, Jaffa, and above all Jerusalem, were in our hands. The cost had been heavy to us, but considerably heavier to the enemy.

FRANCE On 10th April, 1918, we embarked on H.M.T. Omrah at Alexandria and set sail for France on the following day. Many were sorry to leave the Palestine front, where in between the battles the life was often very pleasant, and no regimental officer was ever heard to say leave in Cairo, Alexandria or Luxor was unpleasant; but going to France meant a chance of home leave, and it was a change. We were not so sure of home leave being open, however, as the German spring offensive was still going st

(A) Officers (B) Other Ranks ....

(A) Officers. Companion of the Bath. Colonel F.L. Morrison . Companion of Saint Michael and Saint George. Lieut.-Col. J.B. Neilson . Bar To the Military Cross. Captain R.H. Morrison . Order of the British Empire. Captain V.B. Stewart . Croix de Guerre. Lieut. D.M. Pitchford . Italian Silver Medal. Captain W. Beckett . Chevalier of the Order of Avis. Captain E.M. Leith . Chevalier of the Crown of Roumania. Captain E.M. Leith . (B) Other Ranks. The Victoria Cross. 43247 Sgt. D.F. Hunter . The Dist

The following is a translation of Turkish orders, found on prisoners captured near Katia in July, 1916: MILITARY. GENERAL ORDERS—Infantry and Machine-Guns. 1. I expect every officer, of whatever grade, to give an example of courage to his subordinates. I expect the rank and file to show the superiority of Turks to British troops, as their comrades have done at Gallipoli and in Irak. 2. Men are to make all possible use of entrenching tools and sandbags during attack and defence. 3. Since a contin