Description: The History of the 7th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders by Colonel J. W.Sandilands C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. and Lieut.-Colonel Norman Macleod C.M.G., D.S.O. This is the 1922 First Edition Front cover and spine Further images of this book are shown below Publisher and place of publication Dimensions in inches (to the nearest quarter-inch) Stirling: Eneas Mackay, Murray Place 4¾ inches wide x 7½ inches tall Edition Length 1922 First Edition 207 pages Condition of covers Internal condition Original blue cloth gilt. The covers are scuffed and rubbed, with evidence of old staining (particularly on the front cover) and noticeable variation in colour, although the gilt blocking remains reasonably bright. There are a few small white marks on the front cover and an old circular stain in the lower section. There is some faint staining on the rear cover though not as evident and both front and rear have darker discoloured patches. The spine remains fairly bright. The spine ends and corners are bumped and slightly frayed. The end-papers are browned and discoloured. The text is generally clean throughout, on foxed and tanned paper, though there is toning and heavy foxing to those pages adjacent to the plates. The illustration of Colonel Sandilands has clearly become detached at some stage and has been glued back in place by a former owner, though standing slightly proud of the text block, and is chipped and creased around the edges as a result. The illustrations have acquired a yellowish tinge. The edge of the text block is grubby, dust-stained and heavily foxed, with the foxing extending into the margins. Dust-jacket present? Other comments No Generally, still a good example of the First Edition, with mainly age-related wear including discoloured covers, internal foxing and heavy edge-foxing. Illustrations, maps, etc Contents Please see below for details Please see below for details Post & shipping information Payment options The packed weight is approximately 500 grams. Full shipping/postage information is provided in a panel at the end of this listing. Payment options : UK buyers: cheque (in GBP), debit card, credit card (Visa, MasterCard but not Amex), PayPal International buyers: credit card (Visa, MasterCard but not Amex), PayPal Full payment information is provided in a panel at the end of this listing. The History of the 7th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Contents Foreword 1. Early Days 2. The Battle of Loos 3. Hulloch-Loos Sector 4. The Somme Battle, 1916 5. Battle of Arras, 1917 6. The Salient, 1917 7. The British Withdrawal, 2/3/18 8. Amalgamation of 6th and 7th 9. Buzancy 10. Demobilisation Honours Awarded Officers who Served with the Battalion Extracts from War Diary Illustrations The 7th Camerons on Hill . . . Frontispiece Colonel J. W. Sandilands, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., Lieut. Colonel Norman Macleod, C.M.G., D.S.O., Monument Erected by the 17th French Division to 15th Scottish Division The History of the 7th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Foreword This is a great story. A narrative of the adventures in training camps, in billets and trenches, in battles and in periods of rest, of one of the units of that splendid body of men known as the "New Armies" which sprang into being in 1914 under the inspiration of Lord Kitchener. A story of comradeship, endeavour and sacrifice in the great cause. By far the greater part of it deals with the periods of fighting, and it is doubtful whether any of the New Army units saw more, for the famous 15th Scottish Division, of which the 7th Camerons formed part, was one of the earliest of the new divisions to go to the front and take a place in the line, and its record includes the battles of Loos, the Somme, Arras 1917, Ypres 1917, the German attack on Arras in 1918, and the capture of Buzancy in the Soissons area in August 1918, as part of the 10th French Army under General Mangin. I had two opportunities during the war of judging the fighting qualities of the 15th Division. The first was when serving with the 1st Division, which attacked alongside the 15th at Loos. The energy and enthusiasm with which the Scotsmen prepared for the attack, and the dash and determination with which they executed it, excited the highest admiration of their regular comrades of the 1st Division. The two divisions served in the same Corps for some months in the ensuing winter, succeeding each other in and out of the water-logged trench lines of the Loos Salient, and the admiration aroused by their action in the battle was deepened by the observation of their soldierly qualities under the trying conditions of trench warfare in winter. The second time I was a more intimate observer, for I had the supreme privilege of being appointed to the command of the 15th Division in June, 1917, just as it was entering the Ypres Salient to take part in the desperate and bloody fighting of the efforts to capture the Passchendaele Ridge. Its personnel had largely changed, owing to the casualties of the Somme and Arras, but the Scottish fighting spirit was there still, and the dour and stubborn valour with which, after seizing and holding the Frezenberg Ridge, they essayed again and again to win the concrete defences of Borry Farm, Beck House, Iberian House, etc., under indescribable conditions of mud, shell-fire and gas, forms a story which has not yet been fully told. In this fighting, as in all the other operations of the Division, the 7th Camerons bore a full and gallant share. The last of the German efforts to retake the Frezenberg Ridge was broken up by a skilfully led counter-attack by a company of this Battalion with one of the 8th Seaforths. The last time I saw the 7th Camerons was after the return of the Division to the Arras Sector in September, 1917, when they were encamped in Blangy Park in the Scarpe Valley. To men who had been through what they had it was, as the narrator says, a delightful change and rest. But rest, although more than well earned, was not accompanied by any slackness or loss of discipline. I was particularly struck by the state of their camp, its excellent order and cleanliness; cooking and sanitary arrangements all that they should be, the men healthy and in good spirits. A rapid recovery after heavy fighting is a mark of a first-class battalion. Colonel Norman Macleod had the good fortune to serve with the Battalion from the day it crossed the Channel till it was amalgamated with the 6th Camerons in June, 1918 (except a short time when recovering from wounds). He commanded it for 15 months, and subsequently commanded the combined 6th/7th Battalion until the end. It would be a record of which any one might well be proud merely to have taken part in the great events comprised in that period, but to have commanded this splendid battalion, and to have been with it from its first raising in Scotland to its victorious entry into Brussels after the armistice, during all the period it was gathering its imperishable laurels and adding lustre to the name of the historic regiment whose name it bears, is an honour which he probably would not change for any other, however high. It is well that such stories should be told. To the survivors of the events they narrate they are a reminder of great days and great friendships. To future generations of Scottish lads they will be an inspiration. H. F. THUILLIER, Major-General. The History of the 7th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Excerpt: 5. Battle of Arras, 1917 Our rest was not for long, however, as we started once more to move north on the 15th February, leaving the Somme area for good. All will look back upon the Somme as a sort of horrible nightmare of mud and water, of scarcity of fresh meat rations, fuel, etc., of long and weary marches up to Le Sars and back again to the camps in "Scots Redoubt" and Metz Wood, where the conditions were almost as bad as in the front line. Not a place where the men could be entertained, not a Y.M.C.A. or other hut within miles of the front line, not a civilian to be seen. The Lewis Gunners had a specially hard time of it pulling their hand carts through the mud and shell-holes. The design was selected at home, doubtless with great care, but they must have been tested on the Guards' Parade or other sound ground. For the work in hand it would be difficult to imagine a worse pattern than that of these carts with their thin iron wheels set close in to the side of the cart and without any guiding pole or shafts. Luckily they were soon abandoned. The cold in the line during the winter was intense. Owing to the muddy conditions the men could not take their great coats with them, but they were now so hardy that this exposure did not affect their health. Now and then an officer was able to "lorry jump" back to Amiens, and spend the evening round Charlie's Bar, or dine at a most excellent restaurant, where the dinners and wines were good and the waitresses pleasing to look upon. In fact, the sight of a woman, however ugly, was a delight. We fitted up at Albert a house which acted as a kind of rest billet for those suffering from slight ailments. The Town Major was always threatening to turn us out, but we contrived to keep sufficiently in his favour to prevent this catastrophe. We managed to fit up a long passage as a drying room, with the assistance of some water pipes which the R.E.'s kindly dumped in the square in front of the house, and which we quietly appropriated during the night. This house proved of the greatest value, as the temporarily sick were employed in washing socks and hose tops, which were dried in this room, so that every night we were able to send up a supply of dry socks, etc., to the men in the line in exchange for their dirty wet ones. No doubt this rest had an excellent effect on the men's health, and saved many from having to go to hospital. The transport were generally in lines about La Boiselle Crater. Sometimes those in the front line imagined that the transport had a "cushy" time. But one is rather apt to think that the "other man" has the best of a bargain. No doubt they did not suffer the casualties of front-line troops, but their hours were long and weary. By night they struggled up with the rations, etc., often through shell fire, their carts up to the axles in mud, and the mules sometimes being nearly drowned by falling into shell-holes, out of which it was a long and weary business to extricate them. During the day they had to clean and feed their animals and collect the rations from the "train." They thus were working practically night and day, in all weathers and during all hours. It was wonderful how the men and animals were able to carry on. We left Contay with regret. This was the first place where we had seen any sort of civilian life for months; and we had just settled down and begun to make friends with the inhabitants when we had to move on. The Mayor came and expressed his regret that we were going away, and told us that the inhabitants had greatly appreciated the good conduct and kindness of the men. We marched to Moucheaux, via Beauval, Gazaincourt, Bouquemaison and Crosiette. Here we settled down once more to train, as we learned that we were to take part in a big attack. This attack was delayed, as it could not take place until the new railway line from Doullens to Arras was completed. We soon received orders that practically the whole of the Battalion was to move to Milly under Major Macleod, to form a working-party on the railway cutting there. The men thoroughly enjoyed this change of employment, which consisted of three shifts of eight hours each per 24 hours, digging at the cutting. There is nothing a soldier appreciates more than to know the number of hours he will be employed and how long he is going to get to himself. He hates being messed about. There was also an element of competition in the work, as the total earth excavated by each shift was duly recorded, and the rivalry between Battalions and "shifts" to reach highest out-put was very keen. At first we had great difficulty with our rations. By some mistake no arrangements had been made for these. The D.A.Q.M.G., when appealed to, said he would indent for us, but that according to the regulations they could not be supplied for 3 days. After the Major had ridden round the country for some hours he found a Railhead Officer, who, realising the situation, and not being quite hidebound to the Regulations, gave us some tins of bully beef and biscuits. Next day the hunt commenced again, and finally Corps H.Q. put the matter right. Theoretically, there is no difference between rations of Corps and other troops, but there is no doubt we never got rations anything like those we received when acting as Corps troops. On 24th February, 1917, the Battalion Headquarters moved to Maizeres, the working party returning from Milly on 2nd March. On the 6th, the Brigade was inspected by the Commander-in-Chief at Ambrine. The Brigade was drawn up in quarter column in fighting dress. The Commander-in-Chief expressed himself highly pleased with the appearance and steadiness of the Brigade, and gave directions that this should be communicated to all ranks. On the 11th March the 44th Brigade relieved the 45th Brigade in support in Arras, the route being by Penin, Tilloy, Hermaville, St. Pol-Arras Road. The sheer destruction of the Boche was very apparent. Before the war the great straight roads had been lined with splendid trees. These for miles he had cut down and left on the road side. Even the fruit trees, for which this district was famous, had all been ruthlessly destroyed. As the Battalion got near Arras the roads became very congested with traffic, and the men had to move off the highway or dodge between traffic in order to get on. By the time we passed under the Baudimont Gate the hour when the troops were allowed out of billets had arrived. The streets were absolutely packed with men and vehicles. Although Arras was practically in the front line the inhabitants remained in their shops, and though shutters were up and no lights could be shown a brisk trade was still carried on inside the shops. One of the peculiar things was that the Boche seldom shelled the town after daylight. If he had done so he would certainly have caused heavy casualties, and as he must have heard the roar of heavy traffic, it is difficult to understand why he did not take this opportunity of doing serious damage. Our first experience in the line at Arras was in the cemetery defences, a somewhat gruesome place, and subject to the usual attentions of the Boches to such a place. One man went to hospital with what seemed to be a small piece of shell in his cheek, but when the M.O. extracted it, it was discovered to be a tooth, apparently belonging to one of the rightful inhabitants! Good shelter was to be had inside some of the tombs. On 18th March "D" Company carried out a raid on the enemy's lines. The zero hour was 2.50 a.m., and Captain W. D. Stuart was in command, along with Lieut. Semple and Lieut. Morton. The 9th and 12th Division co-operated by similar raids on their fronts. The object of the raid was to destroy enemy dug-outs, and to obtain identifications and information regarding the enemy's lines. The raiding party took up position along tapes which had been previously laid out by Captain Stuart. The raiders advanced in two parties (each two platoons) through separate gaps in the enemy's wire. They met with no difficulty in forming up, although an enemy party of about 40 strong had been seen working in front of their wire shortly before. An enemy machine gun kept firing through the gaps in the wire, but this was luckily put out of action by a direct hit from a shell. Both parties succeeded in getting through the wire and entering the enemy's trenches without encountering the enemy. The fire trench was found to be badly damaged, and the control trench, a few yards in the rear, was discovered to be very wide and deep (about 10 feet). The party working to the north came across six dug-outs. Voices were heard in them all. Each dug-out was bombed by means of Stoke shells. Wire frames acting as blocks had been erected in both the fire and communication trenches, and these made movement along the trenches difficult. In most cases the parties had to climb out of the trenches and go round the top. The party working south found ten dug-outs; two entrances had been blown in by the artillery bombardment, the remainder were destroyed with Stoke shells. No dead were found in the trenches, but all dug-outs were still occupied by the enemy. A machine gun in an emplacement was destroyed. No gas cylinders were seen nor identifications obtained. A party of 30 or 40 Boches were seen and fired at as they retired through our box barrage. This was thought to be the wiring party which had been seen earlier in the evening. One of the dug-outs which we destroyed caught fire. The majority of the party returned to our trenches at 3.25 a.m., though one officer and a Lewis gunner, who were carrying a wounded man, did not return till later. The enemy barrage did not come down till 3 a.m., when the support line—Islington Street—and the cemetery were heavily shelled. The enemy put up the usual number of lights, those well behind the line bursting into golden rain. Our casualties amounted to 1 killed, 1 missing believed to be killed, and 35 wounded. Two died of wounds. The following special orders were issued:— "The G.O.C. 15th Division wishes to convey his appreciation to all ranks who took part in this morning's raid, and his congratulations on the success achieved. "The Corps Commander wishes to congratulate all concerned in the preparation, execution and success of the raid carried out by the 7th Cameron Highlanders." The C.O. issued a special order congratulating Captain W. G. Stuart, M.C., 2nd Lieuts. Semple and Morton, Sergeant A. M'Donald, Lance-Corporal J. Kelly and Privates G. M'Lean and W. Marston on the gallant and conspicuous part they took in the raid. A special order was also issued by the Army Commander congratulating the 44th and 46th Brigades on the successful raids carried out during the month. From the 3rd to the 7th of April the Battalion was billeted in the cellars of the Grand Place, Arras, preparatory to the battle. The shelling by the enemy was now considerable, but we only suffered two casualties. Before the attack the Padre held a Communion Service in one of the large cellars, in which many of the officers and men partook. It was indeed a unique and solemn Service. Every now and then the sound of a shell bursting amongst the houses above, or in the Grand Place, would drown the words of the Padre and shake the cellar. At 11.30 p.m. on the 8th the Battalion moved from the cellars down into sewers, along which they travelled to the communication trenches, and so to their assembly trench in front of the cemetery. The Battalion headquarters were in the cellars of a house in Rue de Douai. At 3.20 a.m. on the 9th the Battalion was reported in position ready for the attack. The zero hour was 5.30 a.m. The attack commenced with the 8/10th Gordons on the right, the 9th Black Watch on the left, and the 7th Camerons in support. The advance was carried out behind an intense barrage. The German's first system was gained with slight loss, the Camerons occupying "O.G.1" and "O.G.2." At 7.30 a.m. the attack upon the second objective was commenced. The 9th Black Watch on the left were for a time held up at the Railway Triangle, where there was heavy fighting, and this also prevented the Gordons from reaching their objective. The Camerons were then ordered to support the assaulting battalions, and with their assistance all objectives were gained. About 3 p.m. the Camerons were ordered to relieve the Black Watch on the left. The Battalion was re-organised, "B" and "D" Companies moving forward, two platoons to "Hecq Trench," and two platoons to "Helle Trench." "A" and "B" Companies moved to "Cable Trench," which they started to consolidate about 1 p.m. Orders were then received to proceed eastwards to Feuchy, in support of the 45th Brigade. This move was carried out and completed by 4 p.m. Later it was arranged that the position occupied by us was to be taken over by the 6th Camerons (45th Brigade), and we were to move back to the trenches we had previously occupied. So ended the first phase of the battle. At 12.45 a.m. on the 11th we heard that the attack was to be continued at 5 a.m. At 3 a.m. orders came through from Brigade to move into a position occupying part of the "Brown" line which had been captured previously by the 46th Brigade. This position was occupied by "A" Company on the right, "C" Company on the left, "B" Company right support, and "D" Company left support. At 11 a.m. the Companies attacked in artillery formation, moving half-right for "Orange Hill." As soon as the crest of the hill was reached we came under heavy machine gun and shrapnel fire, which for a time delayed the advance, but the Battalion finally worked forward and occupied a system of trenches about H29 central. About 2.54 p.m. a message reached us that the barrage was to again commence at 2.50 p.m., and the Brigade was to attack at 3. This gave only a few minutes to get the necessary orders issued, but about 3 p.m. the Battalion commenced the attack. Once again they came under exceptionally heavy machine gun and shrapnel fire, but they succeeded in reaching a position running roughly between Lone Copse and Monchy. Here word was brought about 4.40 p.m. that the enemy was reported to be preparing a counter attack, and at once everyone was busy putting the trenches in a state of defence. However, it was stated shortly afterwards that the counter attack was no longer to be expected . . . Please note: to avoid opening the book out, with the risk of damaging the spine, some of the pages were slightly raised on the inner edge when being scanned, which has resulted in some blurring to the text and a shadow on the inside edge of the final images. Colour reproduction is shown as accurately as possible but please be aware that some colours are difficult to scan and may result in a slight variation from the colour shown below to the actual colour. In line with eBay guidelines on picture sizes, some of the illustrations may be shown enlarged for greater detail and clarity. The end-papers are browned and discoloured. U.K. buyers: To estimate the “packed weight” each book is first weighed and then an additional amount of 150 grams is added to allow for the packaging material (all books are securely wrapped and posted in a cardboard book-mailer). The weight of the book and packaging is then rounded up to the nearest hundred grams to arrive at the postage figure. I make no charge for packaging materials and do not seek to profit from postage and packaging. Postage can be combined for multiple purchases. Packed weight of this item : approximately 500 grams Postage and payment options to U.K. addresses: Details of the various postage options can be obtained by selecting the “Postage and payments” option at the head of this listing (above). Payment can be made by: debit card, credit card (Visa or MasterCard, but not Amex), cheque (payable to "G Miller", please), or PayPal. Please contact me with name, address and payment details within seven days of the end of the listing; otherwise I reserve the right to cancel the sale and re-list the item. Finally, this should be an enjoyable experience for both the buyer and seller and I hope you will find me very easy to deal with. If you have a question or query about any aspect (postage, payment, delivery options and so on), please do not hesitate to contact me. International buyers: To estimate the “packed weight” each book is first weighed and then an additional amount of 150 grams is added to allow for the packaging material (all books are securely wrapped and posted in a cardboard book-mailer). The weight of the book and packaging is then rounded up to the nearest hundred grams to arrive at the shipping figure. I make no charge for packaging materials and do not seek to profit from shipping and handling. Shipping can usually be combined for multiple purchases (to a maximum of 5 kilograms in any one parcel with the exception of Canada, where the limit is 2 kilograms). Packed weight of this item : approximately 500 grams International Shipping options: Details of the postage options to various countries (via Air Mail) can be obtained by selecting the “Postage and payments” option at the head of this listing (above) and then selecting your country of residence from the drop-down list. For destinations not shown or other requirements, please contact me before buying. Due to the extreme length of time now taken for deliveries, surface mail is no longer a viable option and I am unable to offer it even in the case of heavy items. I am afraid that I cannot make any exceptions to this rule. Payment options for international buyers: Payment can be made by: credit card (Visa or MasterCard, but not Amex) or PayPal. I can also accept a cheque in GBP [British Pounds Sterling] but only if drawn on a major British bank. Regretfully, due to extremely high conversion charges, I CANNOT accept foreign currency : all payments must be made in GBP [British Pounds Sterling]. This can be accomplished easily using a credit card, which I am able to accept as I have a separate, well-established business, or PayPal. Please contact me with your name and address and payment details within seven days of the end of the listing; otherwise I reserve the right to cancel the sale and re-list the item. Finally, this should be an enjoyable experience for both the buyer and seller and I hope you will find me very easy to deal with. If you have a question or query about any aspect (shipping, payment, delivery options and so on), please do not hesitate to contact me. Prospective international buyers should ensure that they are able to provide credit card details or pay by PayPal within 7 days from the end of the listing (or inform me that they will be sending a cheque in GBP drawn on a major British bank). Thank you. (please note that the book shown is for illustrative purposes only and forms no part of this listing) Book dimensions are given in inches, to the nearest quarter-inch, in the format width x height. Please note that, to differentiate them from soft-covers and paperbacks, modern hardbacks are still invariably described as being ‘cloth’ when they are, in fact, predominantly bound in paper-covered boards pressed to resemble cloth. Fine Books for Fine Minds I value your custom (and my feedback rating) but I am also a bibliophile : I want books to arrive in the same condition in which they were dispatched. For this reason, all books are securely wrapped in tissue and a protective covering and are then posted in a cardboard container. If any book is significantly not as described, I will offer a full refund. Unless the size of the book precludes this, hardback books with a dust-jacket are usually provided with a clear film protective cover, while hardback books without a dust-jacket are usually provided with a rigid clear cover. The Royal Mail, in my experience, offers an excellent service, but things can occasionally go wrong. However, I believe it is my responsibility to guarantee delivery. If any book is lost or damaged in transit, I will offer a full refund. Thank you for looking. Please also view my other listings for a range of interesting books and feel free to contact me if you require any additional information Design and content © Geoffrey Miller
Price: 75 GBP
Location: Flamborough, Bridlington
End Time: 2024-12-25T11:18:09.000Z
Shipping Cost: 22.83 GBP
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return postage will be paid by: Buyer
Returns Accepted: Returns Accepted
After receiving the item, your buyer should cancel the purchase within: 30 days
Return policy details: If any book is significantly not as described, I will offer a full refund, including return postage. All books are securely wrapped and posted in a cardboard container.
Binding: Hardback
Place of Publication: Stirling
Non-Fiction Subject: History & Military
Language: English
Special Attributes: 1st Edition
Author: Colonel J. W. Sandilands and Lieut.-Colonel Norman Macleod
Publisher: Eneas Mackay
Year Printed: 1922
