ith interest.

Within a week our Brigade found itself at Dunfermline, and a few days
later we were at Leven, with two companies on duty at the docks at
Methil. The Leven companies did uninterrupted training, the Methil
companies uninterrupted guards, and to the credit of the latter no one
was drowned on these inky nights in the docks. It was there one night a
small but gallant officer was going his rounds. One sentry was posted in
mid-air on a coal shute, and to challenge persons approaching his post
was one of his duties. On the approach of the officer there was no
challenge, so to find the reason of this the officer climbed up the
ladder and found the sentry, who explained he had seen something "right
enuff," but thought it was "one of them things they tie ships to"--in
other words a bollard.

The Army authorities had not then become prolific publishers of training
pamphlets; training therefore was in accordance with the Red Books
previously published, which meant that we trained for open warfare.
Bombs, Trench Mortars or Rifle Grenades we never saw, still the training
was invaluable and we became a very fit battalion.

All ranks have happy memories of the many kindnesses shown there by the
good people of Leven and Methil, but in spite of the pleasures of home
soldiering, being then enthusiasts, we thought we had been forgotten and
longed for orders to proceed overseas.

Early in May, 1915, we gathered that we would soon be going abroad. It
was then we heard that our Division would be known as the 52nd (Lowland)
Division, and our Brigade, consisting of ourselves, the 6th and 7th
H.L.I., and the 5th A. & S.H., as the 157th Infantry Brigade.
Anticipating our move, the G.O.C. Division, General Egerton, lectured
the officers at Markinch on warfare in France. He referred to us
embarking on the greatest adventure of our lives; to many attending the
lecture it was also their last. In spite of the lecture we found
ourselves bound for the East.

On May 19th, Major T.L. Jowitt, Captain J.D. Black and eight subalterns
with their trusty batmen left Leven for the South and they were lost to
us for a month. This was owing to limited boat accommodation. The
Battalion, under command of Colonel F.L. Morrison, moved from Leven on
May 24th, with, we think we can say, the best wishes of the inhabitants.
The next day found us at Plymouth boarding the _Transylvania_ for her
first voyage as a troopship. The transport section under Lieu