Musketry parties from time to time proceeded to Sandwich, Sittingbourne and Shoreham. The Battalion was also called upon to furnish a guard for the T.N.T. Store, which had been established in the caves at Chislehurst, and a visit of inspection to this guard invariably disclosed something of fresh interest.
Christmas, 1914, found half the Battalion still at Sevenoaks, and half at Sandwich for musketry, and, though some disappointment was caused at first by the edict that no Christmas leave was to be granted, all pulled together to make the best of the circumstances, and, with the kind and generous assistance of friends at home and newly made friends, the day passed off most successfully.
On the 22nd February, 1915, the billets of the Battalion being required for the accommodation of a Battalion of the New Army which was passing through Sevenoaks, the Battalion moved to Margate, where, on its arrival, it was received officially by the Mayor and Corporation, and proceeded to billets in excellent and well furnished houses at the Westcliff end of the town. During the time the Battalion remained in Margate, every kindness was extended to its members, and the visit will always be looked back upon by those who were fortunate enough to share in it (the guard at Chislehurst and the Musketry Party at Shoreham missed it) as a pleasant interlude in the hardships of training for war; the only regret connected therewith being the brevity of its duration.
On the 28th February the Battalion returned to Sevenoaks, only to receive orders on the 1st March to proceed to Tonbridge before 11 a.m. on the day following. During the period at Sevenoaks many warnings of a sudden move, including one to the East Coast for immediate service after the bombardment of Scarborough, which arrived just as the Battalion returned from a twenty miles march, reached the Battalion. Although none of these materialized, they naturally caused uneasiness at the time.
The Battalion left Sevenoaks at 10.30 a.m. on March 2nd, and proceeded by road to Tonbridge, arriving about 1 p.m. At Tonbridge the Battalion occupied billets at the south end of the town, and was stationed here until April 18th, the time being devoted to Battalion training. As, however, it was called upon to furnish guards at Dungeness, Birling Gap and Cuckmere Haven, in addition to that already provided at Chislehurst, the strength was considerably diminished, and there was little opportunity for the Battalion to assemble as a complete unit. In spite of this, steady progress was made in the training, and frequent route marches with full equipment, combined with night operations at intervals, contributed towards the hardening of the men, who were rapidly getting into first-class fighting form. Games were not neglected, and, on Easter Monday, most successful Athletic Sports were held on the grounds of the Tonbridge School, very kindly placed at the disposal of the Battalion for the occasion.
On the 14th April warning was received that the Battalion was shortly to move to Bedford to join a Lancashire Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division, and to proceed overseas with that Division at an early date. The Battalion left Tonbridge at 5.55 a.m. on April 18th, and arrived at Bedford at 9.20 a.m., its arrival creating a most favourable impression.
At Bedford the time was chiefly occupied in handing in old clothing and equipment, and receiving and fitting new. This exchange included new transport—both animals and vehicles—the mixed assortment which had so far served the purpose, together with a large assortment of antiquated and superfluous stores of every variety, having been left behind at Tonbridge.
The long period of training at home came to an end on the 3rd May, 1915, and in the afternoon of that day the Battalion left Bedford to join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.
During this early period of the war, various problems as to how to obtain a sufficient number of men to send overseas and to retain an adequate number to carry on the work in munition factories, seemed to be perplexing the minds of the authorities, the uncertainty as to the right course to adopt having anything but a beneficial effect either on recruiting or training.
At first, returns were called for asking for the number of men willing to transfer from the Territorial Force to the Line Battalions, but this met with little response. Then returns as to how many men would volunteer for foreign service with the Line Battalions were called for, with similar results. Eventually, and happily, it was decided to ask the Territorial Battalions to volunteer for service overseas as complete units. This they did practically without exception. At first each man was given the opportunity of deciding for himself whether he would serve overseas or be transferred to a second line unit for service at home, but, later, only men unfit for general service were posted to the second line.