167

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

COLONEL THE VISCOUNT MAITLAND _Frontispiece_

FIRST INSPECTION OF BATTALION: HYDE PARK, OCTOBER,
1914 _to face p._ 20

MARCHING AWAY FROM HYDE PARK TO ENTRAIN FOR
HORNCHURCH _to face p._ 28

THE CAMP, HORNCHURCH " 30

INTERIOR OF A HUT, HORNCHURCH " 30

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL H.A. VERNON, D.S.O. " 42

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL E.A. WINTER, D.S.O., M.C. " 50

PRESENTATION OF COLOURS: NIEDERAUSSEM, GERMANY,
JUNE 24, 1919 _to face p._ 66

BATTALION HEADQUARTERS, HORNCHURCH " 80

THE BATTALION PIERROT TROUPE: GERMANY " 80

FOREWORDS

THE SPORTSMEN

Sportsmen of every kind,
God! we have paid the score
Who left green English fields behind
For the sweat and stink of war!
New to the soldier's trade,
Into the scrum we came,
But we didn't care much what game we played
So long as we played the game.

We learned in a hell-fire school
Ere many a month was gone,
But we knew beforehand the golden rule,
"Stick it, and carry on!"
And we were a cheery crew,
Wherever you find the rest,
Who did what an Englishman can do,
And did it as well as the best.

Aye, and the game was good,
A game for a man to play,
Though there's many that lie in Delville Wood
Waiting the Judgment Day.
But living and dead are made
One till the final call,
When we meet once more on the Last Parade,
Soldiers and Sportsmen all!

TOUCHSTONE
(of the "_Daily Mail_").

FROM MAJOR-GENERAL SIR C.E. PEREIRA, K.C.B., C.M.G.

The history of any New Army battalion is a valuable contribution to
the history of the war. This applies particularly to a battalion like
the 23rd Royal Fusiliers, which achieved a high morale and maintained
excellent discipline throughout the war.

At the Front our only knowledge of the New Army before they came
overseas was gained from the Brigade Staffs and Commanding Officers of
the new Formations, who were sent over for short attachment to troops
in the line.

We learnt from them the great difficulties that had to be overcome i