大象传媒

Part 13. Another change of regiment. Before the Mounted Patrol.

This story is a return to the War a period of high casualties. Once again the lad had a change of address, the First Welch was reduced to a Carter battalion, (Think that鈥檚 what they called it.) a minimum number of people would be left to keep the name alive, the rest of officers and men were sent to other units. Cannot remember whether it was out of choice but he with others were transferred to the London Scottish. He had started off in an English regiment, then a Welch regiment and was now to join a Scottish Regiment. Arrival to the new regiment was very normal, officers from both regiments coming together with the usual saluting and paper work. Standing with the different sections the NCO鈥檚 ready to carry out the detailed moves to settle the men into their allotted bedding down areas in the camp. All other things fell into line, the Private soldier life the same as ever with very little different to food but perhaps salt in the porridge most remembered.
With the change of regiments came the new hat style and the signs to be sown onto the jackets, but most important was the time to get to know the Regimental originals. Things seemed to be going alright, when there was an option which cannot be remembered as a voluntary or compulsory to stay or return to the First Welch. Brigadier Brooks had been successful in the reforming the Welch. The news of the return was double-edged. Being Welch it seemed to be the right thing to do, but there were regrets at leaving his new found friends who had done him the honour of dressing him in the Hoddon Grey uniform. A big effort was made to have the lad photographed in it but failed. It would have been a prized possession, whatever, the main thing to come out of it he had a short connection with another part of British Isles.
The day had come to return, all were formed up to be given a farewell by the London Scottish CO.

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