The men were at first billeted at their homes and assembled daily at Somerset House for preliminary organisation, drill and route marching.
Richmond Park.
After a short period the Battalion went into camp at Richmond Park with other third-line units of the 1st and 2nd London T.F. Divisions, under Brigadier-General C. S. O. Monck. Living together in camp made it possible to commence instilling into the men that sense of military discipline which is the first qualification of a soldier, and progress in this direction soon became apparent. At first the training was necessarily on somewhat elementary lines owing to various causes, such as the want of experienced officers and N.C.O.’s, lack of arms and equipment, etc., but in the course of time, as these disabilities became gradually less and the syllabus of training more systematised, there followed marked improvement.
An early difficulty felt by the Commanding Officer was in regard to senior officers. A number of smart and promising junior officers had been posted to the Battalion, many of whom later on served with distinction at the Front, both in France and Palestine, but at the time they were new to military duties. This difficulty was met to a great extent by the transfer, first, of Major G. W. Turk from the 101st Provisional Battalion, and shortly afterwards, of Major H. D. Lewis from the 2nd Battalion. In August, 1915, when the latter officer was transferred, the organisation of the Battalion consisted of two companies of six strong platoons each.
Captain C. J. Bowen was gazetted as Adjutant, which post he held until August, 1917, when he was seconded for service in East Africa. He was succeeded in turn by Captains R. F. Guyton, W. L. C. Rathbone, M.C., A.M., and F. C. Olliff. The important post of Quartermaster was filled by the appointment of Captain W. G. Hodge, late Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 2nd Battalion, and, except for a period of ten months, when he exchanged duties with Captain A. Toomey, of the 1st Battalion, he remained with the Battalion until the end. It is difficult to overestimate his services: his untiring zeal and efficiency, combined with firmness and tact, have given him a place in the front rank of those officers who have served the Regiment in a similar capacity. He was ably assisted by Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant J. S. McIntyre, until the latter went overseas early in 1918.
The Battalion was very fortunate in its Medical Officer, Captain F. M. Hughes. He endeared himself to all ranks by his kindly interest in, and attention to, all his patients, and when he left for France the whole Battalion turned out to give him a send off. Every one learnt with gratification that he was the recipient later of the Legion of Honour for gallant conduct.
Sergeant-Major G. Weaver was appointed Regimental Sergeant-Major, and was succeeded in 1917 by Sergeant-Major B. J. Jolliffe, from the 1st Battalion.
Barnes.
The Battalion remained under canvas in Richmond Park until the 20th November—the last few weeks under trying conditions of cold and wet—and was then transferred to billets in Barnes. Here training was continued for six weeks under the disadvantages consequent upon the separation of the men at the close of each day’s work.
Hazeley Down.