However, to return to September, 1914, the early destinies of the Reserve Battalion were placed in the hands of Captain J. Howard Temple, who, with Captain H. K. Wilson and Captain Broad, had been sent back to the Depot from the original 6th Battalion to organize the new unit, and they could not have been placed in better hands. During the first two days about 200 men were enlisted, and the work that devolved on the head of Captain Temple may be better imagined than described. The staff at his disposal were Colour-Sergeants Taggart, Firth, Ramsay, Staff-Sergeant Miller, and Sergeants Blackburn, Cormack, Pender, Lee, and Leask. In addition some budding officers with O.T.C. experience helped to fill the gap, and the work of training and organization proceeded apace, though most of the staff for a considerable period had to sleep and eat at the Depot. As the numbers increased the men were formed into eight companies, and from the ranks men with some experience were picked out and appointed Acting Lance-Corporals, amongst these being Heyworth, Batson, Higginbottom, H. Lewis, Hockenhull, Hinde, C. E. Peck, Brunner, Pryce, and Beeston. Those early days are amusing to look back upon. We came daily to the drill-shed for training in every form of costume that can be imagined--some men in everyday clothes of a clerk, some in shooting coats and grey trousers, others in khaki bought at their own expense, and so on. Bowler hats were early discouraged, but except for that there were no restrictions as to dress. Little by little khaki began to appear and our regulation black puttees, though the regimental "walking out" uniforms had for some time to be used as a temporary arrangement, which made us look a motley crowd. "Bugles" were soon formed, and behind these we marched gaily to the Old Farm Field in Sefton Park for drill, and to Allerton or Arrowe Hall for field days. In those early irresponsible days life proceeded easily; the "King's Regulations" and the "Manual of Military Law" were volumes unknown except to a very few. Keenness and enthusiasm were the keynotes of our life. Someone murmured the word "inoculation," and forthwith we trooped in gay crowds to the Medical Officer to undergo that much-discussed but very innocent operation. The 1/6th Battalion wanted men to complete their numbers: the draft could have been made up ten times over. How proudly we marched through the streets of Liverpool! How we envied the New Army Battalions--the "blue-eyed boys" of the War Office--who called themselves "Regulars," and on whom everything seemed to be lavished. Beyond frequent inspections, we got no serious assistance for two and a half years, and equipment was doled out but sparingly up till the last moment. The reason of this apparent neglect was probably sound and in accordance with policy, but it was none the less heart-breaking at times.