Dundee and The Great War of 1914-1919
The Great War - Reminisciences
By A.J.A. Samuel
To the undying memory of the Officers, N.C.O's and the men of the 7th Fife Battalion Royal Highlanders (Territorial Forces) Black Watch, I dedicate these works, comprising as they did, a unit of the immortal 51st (Highland Division). They arrived in France on May 2nd 1915, and I need say no more. The world at random know the rest. You who read my lines think, but pass on no remarks on the writer, as he is 'no high flying son of a Duke' but one of yourselves, one of the 51",
Yours sincerely, A.J.A. Samuel, (late 9th Black Watch, B.E.F.)
'Beaumont Hamil'
November 16th, 1916.
The night previous had been as dull and heavy. Dawn was only some two hours distant, but we knew we were to have some mist. Half an hour before the kick off found us at our jumping off positions in the front line. We could scarcely see twenty yards in front of us for the whole valley of the Somme was enveloped in a thick fog. Two large attacks had been launched at old Fritz some months previous but what disappointments for the allies. K.O.S.B's Newfoundlanders lay strewn in heaps over in no mans land. Bleached bones covered in khaki uniforms. Fritz had been in wait for them. Our 'Get ready!' goes. What a barrage! Thousands of big guns of every description open up and belch forth a hundred different sorts of death and destruction into the German lines. What's that shrill blast? The whistle! Forward sweeps the unflinching line of bare knees and swinging tartan. A stretch of 150 yards and we are at his barbed wire, then through into the his first line. The struggle is short but sweet. Gerry is mostly in bed or at breakfast and gets the surprise of his life. Up goes his dirty hands in surrender. And we carry on Owing to enemy machine guns waiting on our own supports moving forward, etc, our objective was not finally reached till 5.p.m. What a victory for the Highlanders! Fritz said he had waited for us coming for 10 days but never expected anybody on such a misty morning. But, those silly Jocks care not for weather, so Beaumont Hamil fell!
A J.A SAMUEL.
'Jamie Nicoll'
Now I am going to tell you a story
Of how a hero fought and died.
How he struggled along, from dusk till dawn,
till he dropped down by my side.
He was only Council carter
one of the many unknown,
Till he listed up, at Belgiums cry,
In the ranks of Dundee's own.
In July sixteen he landed
At the base to 'do his bit',
And never a grouse escaped his lips
From then till the day he was hit.
Jamie Nicoll was his title,
And there in Newport town
He left a wife and kiddies five.
Gone forth without a frown.
T'was the 21st of March, sir,
When the whole world read with gloom,
Of the German attempt to break us
With gun, and murderous bomb.
The gas hung thick around us,
Jim stood there in his place.
He'd still his smile for everyone
Though we stared death in the face.
T'was then that he thought of the homestead
Near Newport's rocky shore.
Said Sam, "you'll write to the missus
If I see them no more".
Poor lads, they lay in dozens,
Covered with sand and sod.
I left Jim for but a moment,
To engage in prayer with God.
I shall never forget that prayer,
A few simple words, not class.
"My God if it be possible,
This cup from me let pass".
We heard the distant whistle
Of things we hold in dread
For the deadly mortar and whizzbangs
Death all around do spread.
The ground vibrated near me.
It seemed as hot as toast.
Then I realised one had landed
Right into Jim Nicoll's post.
My reeling senses I gathered
Then like a madman flew.
Caring not for death or disaster.
When I reached his side -I knew...'
Sir now they are in Gods keeping.
In the care of King of Kings.
And they are living in the shelter
of his everlasting wings.
British women cease your wailing,
Though your best you are forced to give.
Who falls if Britain stands upright,
Who dies if England lives?
So, that's the story ended now.
This is all my repertoire.
But let me answer till I meet him,
'Jamie Nicoll au revoir'.
A. J. A Samuel.
'Roll Call After Battle' (Arras - St Pol Road)
Nights shadows had lowered upon us
and each man beneath his load
seemed to think the miles had lengthened.
Of the Arras- Cambria road
Twas the night that followed battle
And if I remember right
The village bells were sadly chiming
O'er the country side that night
You could scarcely term us soldiers
We were scattered well nigh dead
Longingly we wished for billets
Where we would be clothed and fed
When we heard the cry 'fall in boys'
Twas the voice of John Cargill
For he was our gallant Captain
When we took grim Greenland Hills
One by one die scattered remnants
Of the 7th Black Watch lined up
For all we knew it was the 'roll call'
To see who had drunk the bitter cup.
All was hushed, yes, not a whisper
Save the whining of the shells
And the sound of breezes wafted
Of the sweet toned village bells.
Robertson - Wilson- Melville - Stewart
Not an answer did we hear
Lieutenant Gowans, then no wonder
Strong Cargill, he dropped a tear
Slater - Gunn - McGuire and Barber
Jock Buchanan and Joe McGill
Then their comrades knew too clearly.
They a soldiers grave would fill
Oh yes, awful, is a roll call.
No sadder sight for human eye
But the last roll call will be brighter
When we answer, 'Present', in the sky.
A.J.A.Samuel.
In Memorium
'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me, and thy rod shall comfort me'
'In loving and imperishable remembrance of my chums and brothers in arms of 9 Platoon, 1/7 Royal Highlanders, who, by a shell bursting through the roof of their billet at Bray (Arras) on St Patricks Day 1917, were ushered from time into eternity, in the twinkling of an eye.'
Sergeant William McCarrick - Dundee
Corporal David Ramsay - Newburgh
L/Cpl John Smith - Glasgow.
Private Thomas Burke- Lochgelly.
Private James Hollybon - Manchester.
They were interred in the British Military Cemetery at Aubigny, and the 51st Divisional Cemetery at Moreuil the latter in sight of the scene of calamity.
A month later at the Battle Of Arras 9 Platoon was murderously bereft of the following heroes;-
Sergeant Fred Brown - Strathmiglo.
L/Cpl John Buchannan- Crossgates.
L/Cpl James Eadie - Dunfermline.
Captain John Cargill - Leven
Private James Picken-Stearton, Ayrshire.
Private William Bell- Hawick.
Private JohnAylott- Glasgow.
Private Peter Watson- Dunkeld.
Private William Wright -Kirkcaldy.
Private Joseph McGill - Dunbeath.
'Someday we'll understand'
Iain D. McIntosh, 2022