of the Battalion sit round and
tell of the things which are theirs, which they won also at great
cost, their prowess in the field will not be among the least; for it
played no insignificant part in the making of the Battalion which,
although disbanded, has remained, both in name and in comradeship,
still the Seventeenth.

THE R.S.M.

Any history of the "Seventeenth" would be incomplete without a passing
reference to James Kelly.

Chosen at the inception of the Battalion out of a large number of
applicants, and appointed Regimental Sergeant Major, his selection was
amply justified by results. He had seen much service in The Royal
Scots, and active service in South Africa, where he was
Colour-Sergeant of his Company and where he gained the D.C.M.

A man of commanding appearance, always very smartly turned out, he set
a fine example to all ranks and speedily infused the real military
spirit into the rank and file. During training at home and on service
in France he did splendid work, and to him is due in no small measure
the high standard of efficiency and discipline maintained in the
Battalion. In manner somewhat brusque, but of a tender heart withal,
he was the friend and confidant of nearly all the Officers, N.C.O.s
and men, and when off parade the best of good fellows.

DAVID S. MORTON,
_Lieut.-Colonel._

A REMEMBRANCE.

Do you hear it, all of you, and remember. Listen!

"Markers outwards turn. Quick march."

"Up, number four. Look sharp. That'll do."

"Markers, steadi-i-i-i-i----."

"Right turn."

"Fall in." And then the final great roar of--

"Stop all that yammering." And how quickly it stopped, too.

Do you remember it, and who said it? Of course you do, just as clearly
as I myself do. You remember those early mornings, too. The sleepy
chatter stilled in an instant to silence. And all those other days,
too, when custom had made it imperative on all parades, it was part of
us and our ceremonial.

[Illustration: Lieut. and Q.-M. (formerly Regimental Sergeant
Major) JAMES KELLY.
_To face page 84._]

[Illustration: Mrs. DAVID S. MORTON,
Convener of the Comforts Committee.
_To face page 85._]

The repeating of it to ourselves conjures up the history of those
never-to-be-forgotten days and carries back our spirits to commune
with all those gone before us.

I say it to myself oft