The Fifth Battalion Highland Light Infantry in the War 1914-1918   By: Great Britain. Army. Highland Light Infantry. Battalion, 5th

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY

IN THE WAR

1914 1918

[Illustration: COLONEL F.L. MORRISON, C.B., D.S.O., V.D.]

The Fifth Battalion

Highland Light Infantry in the War 1914 1918

[Illustration]

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

PREFACE

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 began in 1887, when it was named the 1st Volunteer Battalion Highland Light Infantry, a detachment of which served in the South African War. On the formation of the Territorial Force in 1909, the present name was adopted. The old history of the unit is contained in the Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1859 1908, by the late Lieut. General J.M. Grierson, C.V.O., C.B., C.M.G.

This book deals with our record of service in the war 1914 1918, and we feel we need only say three things in the Preface:

1. The book is published privately for those who served with us and others interested.

2. It has been written by officers of the Battalion who were with us during the period of which they write.

3. It is written to the memory of our gallant comrades who fell and who themselves did so much to make this History.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. FROM MOBILISATION TO THE EAST 1

II. GALLIPOLI TO 11TH JULY, 1915 7

III. GALLIPOLI ( contd. ) OPERATIONS 12TH 18TH JULY, 1915 19

IV. GALLIPOLI ( contd. ) 33

V. GALLIPOLI ( concluded ) 60

VI. MUDROS, CAIRO, SUEZ CANAL AND HILL 70 LINE 73

VII. THE SINAI DESERT, MAHAMDIYA, ROMANI, KATIA 92

VIII. ACROSS THE SINAI DESERT TO EL ARISH 112

IX. EL ARISH AND FIRST BATTLE OF GAZA 130

X. SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA 143

XI. GAZA, 1ST MAY TO 7TH NOVEMBER, 1917 157

XII. ADVANCE BEYOND GAZA. WADI HESI, SAUSAGE RIDGE, ESDUD, KUBEIBEH, NEBI SAMWIL, TAHTA 169

XIII. FROM TAHTA TO THE AUJA 185

XIV. LAST DAYS IN PALESTINE. NORTH OF JAFFA 194

XV. FRANCE 201

APPENDICES

I. LIST OF OFFICERS, SENIOR N.C.O.'S, ETC., WHO EMBARKED IN MAY, 1915 237

II. ROLL OF OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS, NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN WHO DIED ON SERVICE 239

III. HONOURS AND AWARDS 243

IV. TURKISH ORDERS FOR ADVANCE ON ROMANI 246

ILLUSTRATIONS

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

OFFICERS OF THE BATTALION, JULY 1914 To face p. 4

CAPE HELLES, GALLIPOLI " 8

GULLY RAVINE, CAPE HELLES " 16

SUEZ CANAL AT BALLAH " 80

IN A REDOUBT, MAHAMDIYA " 96

WATER CAMELS, MAHAMDIYA " 104

SHEIKH'S TOMB, KATIA " 108

BIVOUACS, EL RABAH " 112

CAMEL LINES, EL ARISH " 120

BAGGAGE CAMELS ON SHORE NEAR EL ARISH " 128

MOUTH OF WADI EL ARISH " 132

BEDOUIN SHEIKHS, BELAH " 136

BEDOUINS, KHAN YUNIS " 140

TYPICAL SMALL NULLAH NEAR WADI GHUZZEE " 144

NATIVE GIRLS, BELAH " 148

INSIDE YAPTON POST " 160

SHEIKH ABBAS " 164

OBSERVATION POST IN FRONT OF YAPTON POST " 168

SAUSAGE RIDGE, DEIR SINEID " 172

ORANGE SELLERS, MEJDEL " 176

BERFYLIA " 180

JAFFA FROM THE SHORE " 192

IN SARONA " 200

MAPS