Our Headquarters were divided into platoons or sections, each under an officer, with a senior officer in command of the whole. Thus signallers were under the Signalling Officer, runners and observers under the Observation Officer. Each section had its own battle position in defence of Headquarters, and "stood to" morning and evening in these positions under the command of their officers. If Headquarter rations had been left to the four Companies to provide, and there had been no fighting organisation, it would have led not only to great discomfort but to considerable danger, in the event of a successful attack by the enemy, such indeed as that which occurred in March, 1918. One is glad to know that this fact was generally realised towards the end of the war by Higher Authority. It was often found difficult for old serving soldiers, especially Q.M.'s, to change the routine which has almost grown a part of themselves, but in the 7th Battalion we were lucky in having able Q.M.'s, who were always willing to adopt any scheme that was for the comfort of the men.
We cannot close these notes without stating our profound and deep respect for the officers, non-commissioned officers and men who served along with us in this splendid Battalion. They suffered appalling hardships, especially in winter, living in trenches half filled with freezing mud, often without a shelter; they performed prodigious feats of work for long hours and for days on end; they advanced and conquered despite the most terrible barrages, the men carrying on by themselves after their officers and senior non-commissioned officers had become casualties; they had, moreover, successfully withstood the shock of one of the most terrific attacks which the Germans were able to bring against them. Again and again the Battalion was annihilated, but there were always plenty of recruits ready to uphold the honour of the Regiment. As was once said of the Cameron Highlanders in another great war: "Such troops may be annihilated, they can never be defeated." Nothing better reflects the fine spirit of the young men of Scotland, and their patriotic decision to defend their country at all costs, than the fact that the heavy casualty lists proved the best recruiting sergeant. Justly proud in the knowledge that time cannot wither, nor the centuries deface, the glorious memory of these heroic achievements, every officer, non-commissioned officer and man, whose honour it was to serve with the 7th Battalion, derives his highest pleasure and his truest satisfaction from the reflection that he performed his duty; that he "did his best" in the most critical period which the homeland has ever been called upon to face, and that he and his comrades have written a golden page well worthy of its place in the noble records of their famous and beloved Regiment, the
"Queen's Own" Cameron Highlanders.
HONOURS AWARDED.
OFFICERS WHO SERVED WITH THE BATTALION.
Anderson, D. 2nd Lieut., posted 4/12/15, a/Captain 21/10/16, transferred T.M.'s 5/2/16, killed April, 1917.