With the Scottish Regiments at the FrontVivian, Evelyn Charles
History
With the Scottish Regiments at the Front
Vivian, Evelyn Charles
Great Britain. Army -- Scottish regiments; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Scotland
In the Mutiny the 2nd battalion formed a part of Havelock's force at
Lucknow, and subsequently assisted in stamping out the last traces of
the great rebellion. The 1st battalion took the field in Abyssinia in
1868, and went on with Napier to Magdala. Another famous British officer
shared in the exploits of the 1st battalion in the person of Sir Evelyn
Wood, during the strenuous work of the Zulu campaign of 1878, when the
battalion fought from Inhlobane to Ulundi, where Cetewayo was
overthrown.
The Cameronians shared in Buller's advance through Natal in the South
African War of 1899-1902, forming part of General Lyttleton's brigade at
Colenso, reinforcing the Lancashire Brigade in the action of Spion Kop,
sweeping the Boers off Vaalkrantz, and sharing in the furious charges at
Pieter's Hill--until the way to Ladysmith lay open. Through the fighting
for Laing's Nek, and in the guerilla warfare that lasted out the rest of
the campaign, the Cameronians played their part nobly. No less than
three South African campaigns are commemorated on the colours of the
regiment.
Of their work in France, less personal accounts are to hand than
concerning the work of any other Scottish regiment. There is one
statement by a wounded man with regard to a German ruse of driving on
sheep in night attacks on the trenches. The sheep were heard moving in
the darkness in front of the trenches, and while the Cameronians opened
fire on them, the Germans tried to get round their flank--but two Maxim
guns drove them back with a loss of over 200 dead. The incident is
related with no reference to place or date.
A non-commissioned officer of the regiment speaks of the secrecy of
movement that has to be maintained. None are made aware of probable
movements, destinations, or reasons for any plans, and commanding
officers are not informed of what is about to be done until it is
absolutely imperative that they should know. The reason for this lies in
the great number of German spies who are arrested in all kinds of
disguises, British and French uniforms, civilian clothes, chauffeurs'
uniforms, and all possible forms of dress. "The leakage of information
is astounding," says the writer, "and we quite appreciate the necessity
for secrecy in all our doings, and fully understand its wisdom, as we
have been saved from complete destruction more than once through this
secrecy."
Even of things that took place months ago, however, there is no record
yet. Of how the Gordons were cut off, and of what the Cameronians have
done and where they did it, we know little or nothing--concerning all
things that individual units have accomplished there is scarcely more
record than the stories collected here, which make no pretence at giving
a full history of the doings of the Scottish regiments at the front, but
simply stand as detached records of the deeds of brave men.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
With the Scottish Regiments at the Front — John Shaqi
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