As regards the men required for munitions, the fact that the Battalion was drawn from an area in which the Barrow works of Messrs. Vickers were situated, caused great difficulty in obtaining the necessary number of men to recruit its ranks up to war strength. In addition to this, the constant withdrawal of men—chiefly those formerly employed by Messrs. Vickers—who had already undergone a lengthened period of training, and of whom several had become efficient N.C.O’s, was a severe handicap. The result of these conditions was that the Battalion was not sufficiently up to strength to proceed overseas with the remainder of the Brigade, the units of which commenced to leave Sevenoaks during the second week in February, 1915.
This caused much chagrin and disappointment, which was, however, somewhat mitigated by the confidence in the efficiency of the Battalion manifested by the higher authorities in entrusting to us so many onerous and responsible duties and, eventually, sending it overseas when very considerably under strength, and at a time when the situation in the war area was extremely tense.
The route was via Folkestone and Boulogne, the transport having proceeded in advance via Southampton and Havre. The channel was crossed in the dark, darkness still prevailing on arrival at Boulogne, and deluges of rain added to the discomforts of disembarkation. The remaining hours of the night were spent in the camp on the top of the hill, a wind-swept place where the Indian tents, at that time, provided poor shelter.
After breakfast the following morning (May 4th), the Battalion started off down the other side of the hill to the station, and here joined the train conveying the transport from Havre, speculation as to its destination being somewhat rife. So far as the railway journey was concerned the destination proved to be Berguette, from which station the Battalion marched to Ham-en-Artois, and joined the Brigade.
Here the Battalion had its first experience of close billets in a foreign land, and those to whom a barn, with some hay or straw in it, was allotted, considered themselves literally, as well as metaphorically, in clover.
In these early days of the war everything was exceedingly primitive, not only with regard to the billets, but also the food and feeding arrangements. However, stout hearts and good spirits overcame all difficulties, and the time for which all had been waiting so long, viz., to get overseas, having at last arrived, the realization of this ambition caused all hardships and discomforts to be accepted cheerfully.
The Battalion remained at Ham until the evening of May 6th, when it moved via Busnes, Robecq, and St. Venant, to Calonne-sur-la-Lys, to form a reserve for the Fromelles show. A long distressing march was carried out by the Brigade in darkness and rain lasting throughout the night, during which progress was frequently delayed by other troops at cross roads, railway crossings, etc.
At Calonne the billets were very similar to those at Ham, the Headquarters being established in an old Mill House. Whilst here the Battalion thankfully made acquaintance with the baths improvised for the troops, and the opportunities offered for a change of clothing. The members also had their first introduction to Indian Native Troops, units of the Meerut Division coming in to rest and refit during the time the Battalion was at Calonne. The town was well within the sound of the guns at the front, and at night the sky was brilliantly illuminated by their flashes.
On 13th May the Battalion moved to Meteren (in readiness to proceed to Ypres), via Merville, Neuf Berguin and Vieux Berguin, taking over billets from the Canadian Royal Field Artillery. Whilst the Battalion was in Meteren the first Artillery of the New Army to arrive in France passed through, and the Horse Show provided thereby provoked the admiration of all beholders.
May 19th saw the Battalion move southwards once more, through Bailleul and the two Berguins, to La Gorgue, near Estaires—another long wet night march. Here it occupied the filthiest billets so far met with. Large numbers of both officers and men were allotted the buildings, including the Chapel, of a Convent School, the floors of which were inches deep in mud, whilst the grounds surrounding the buildings seemed to have been used for some time as the town refuse tip.