n during the last four years.

"The record of the Regiment during the whole of its service will
compare with the services of any battalion in the British Army,
whether in the Somme fighting, 1916, Courcelette, Vimy Ridge, and
Bourlon Wood in 1917, the retirement from the Cambrai salient in
March, 1918, or the recent victorious advance which culminated in the
overthrow of the Germans. In all these operations, in spite of mud,
heat or cold, or desperate resistance, you have always shown the
dogged determination to win.

"It is a fine tribute to the British race that a newly-raised
battalion, without any previous traditions, which are such assets to
regular battalions, should have outfought the German battalions,
trained to war for generations.

"Perhaps your finest record is that of March, 1918, when along a great
part of our front detached Divisions fought their way slowly back from
position to position, facing overwhelming numbers, and an enemy drunk
with the idea that the final victory was theirs; it was then, when
short of food, without rest, short of men, that you showed what you
were made of, and after successive days of retirement you turned and
held the Germans.

"It is fitting that the work of this Battalion should be crowned by
the victorious march to the Rhine, and that your colours should make
their first appearance in a conquered country--a country which has
taken us four and a half years to reach."

+-----------------------------------------------------+
| "GOOD-BYE, AND GOOD LUCK!"--BRIGADIER-GENERAL A.E. |
| McNAMARA, C.M.G., D.S.O., AND HIS FAREWELL TO THE |
| 23RD ROYAL FUSILIERS (FIRST SPORTSMAN'S BATTALION) |
+-----------------------------------------------------+

"GOOD-BYE, AND GOOD LUCK!"--BRIGADIER-GENERAL A.E.
McNAMARA, C.M.G., D.S.O., AND HIS FAREWELL TO THE
23RD ROYAL FUSILIERS (FIRST SPORTSMAN'S BATTALION)

Appreciation of and admiration for the Battalion was also expressed by
Brigadier-General A.E. McNamara, commanding the 99th Infantry Brigade,
when he bade it "good-bye and good luck" on February 25, 1919, when it
left the 2nd Division to join the London Division.

"Owing to the reorganization of the Army of Occupation," he said, "the
23rd Royal Fusiliers, the oldest member of the 99th Infantry Brigade,
is leaving it.

"I wish to place on record my high appreciation and admiration of the
magnificent services of the Battalion while in the 99th Infantry
Brigade.