The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion). Various

      The Farewell Meeting in the Technical College.ToList

      To face page 17.

      A member of the Battalion, giving a general impression of these memorable "first days," writes:—

      "We all assembled in our various drill halls. We watched and whispered. Some asked, who is that man with the loud voice shouting at us, giving us papers and getting us into what he called Companies. We knew soon. Then they selected N.C.O.'s (acting) from amongst those who had some previous training. After that we went away. The N.C.O.'s stayed and took the bundles of papers, our pledged word to our king, and wearily for hours sorted them and listed the names.

      "Days followed when we marched and when we got to know our officers by sight and to call ourselves by our Company name. Then came the day we drew our kit and carried off strange bundles to our homes. We got the magic words 'To camp at Gailes.' Then we were soldiers now. We paraded by Companies and assembled in the Square and marched to the train. A motley crowd carrying on our shoulders all manner of weird shaped bundles. The crowd laughed and cheered us. Thus we left the City that held us very peculiarly her own, her citizens and sons for the last time. Henceforth her soldiers."

      The Chamber of Commerce Battalion was now an accomplished fact, and the following authoritative acceptance by the Government and the War Office, linked it as an integral part of the Service Regiments of the British Army.