Blackhall Camp - Formation and training: Difference between revisions
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{{11th Battalion (history nav)}}
[[File:Grandstand at Blackhall Racecourse.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The grandstand at Blackhall]]
'''Blackhall Racecourse''' was the location of the [[The Lonsdale Battalion - an introduction|11th Border Regiment (Lonsdale)]] Battalion Headquarters in Carlisle, Cumberland. It was the primary site used as a base of operations during the initial formation, recruitment drive and training of new soldiers before they were shipped overseas to fight in France and Belgium from 1916–1918. The Lonsdales at Blackhall was a decision based on several qualifying points, ultimately sanctioned by the Territorial Association. The site was required to have enough space for training in drill, manoeuvres and parading, and there had to be allowances for accommodation and office space.<ref name="david-carter">David Carter (2014). ''Carlisle in the Great War (Your Towns & Cities/Great War)''. Pen and sword Military. pp.34–35. ISBN 978-1783376131</ref> Blackhall was able to fulfil every requirement for a suitable military training ground.
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==Commanding the Battalion==
[[File:Percy Wilfred Machell, Commanding the Battalion.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Percy Wilfred Machell]] Commanding the Battalion]]
Choosing the right officer to command any battalion has to be a carefully considered decision. Lord Lonsdale asked retired colonial officer [[Percy Wilfred Machell]], C.M.G. if he would consider returning to a position of command. Machell had spent much of his military career in Egypt, having served in the Nile Expeditionary Force, the Egyptian Army and Egyptian Coastguard, among others. When asked, he was living in his substantial retreat at Crackenthorpe Hall, near Appleby, Westmorland. A return to the military would shake the foundations of a quiet country life but he accepted and was granted the temporary rank of Lieutanant Colonel, which was eventually Gazetted on [[15 October]], 1914. By this point though he had spent his first month in post at Penrith, where he had made his headquarters, but on [[17 October]], "along with the Orderly Room Staff and Lieut. and Quartermaster Dawson, moved from Penrith to Blackhall and in a very short time the organisation of the four companies was in full swing." <ref name="lons-booklet" /><ref name="lons-england" /> Machell's prior knowledge of command enabled a structured and order approach to getting the required job done. He was by no means a cold and emotionless man, instead he was considered a caring man and was respected among his men. During October and November there was much "spade work" to be done. All manner of duties were done by himself in the early months. He was constantly busy with preparations having no Company Officers until his Adjutant, Captain [[P. G. W. Diggle]] of the [[6th Border Regiment]], was appointed on [[3 December]].<ref>The position of Adjutant was later appointed to Lieut. M Gordon.</ref><ref name="lons-booklet" /><ref name="lons-england" />
Even with the help of his Adjutant, Lt-Col. Machell continued with his duties in training the border men, many of whom had not even seen a soldier before their recruitment. He knew training and discipline would have to be drilled into them to make them capable, fighting men. Discipline, however, should not be confused with punishment as he says "I have to act as drill-sergeant and buck and bark vociferously to get up to a high standard....Men take the talking well. It is much better than punishing....Far better make a man than break him." <ref name="lons-england" /> It is not difficult to understand why officers and men alike revered and saw him as a capable commander, the man that would lead them to the battlefields of mainland Europe. Major Diggle writes about Lt-Col. Machell describing what kind of a man he was when it came to his work in maintaining the high standards in training of the men:
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{{Quote|text=Every detail had to be taught by him, for the officers, with very few exceptions, knew no more than the men, and had to be taught themselves before they could teach. The simplest orderly-room work, such as making out ‘crimes’, ‘guard reports’ and ‘detail’ etc., were done by him until the adjutant was appointed, and he always checked each of the returns personally. All attestations were made out, and recruits personally approved by him, while the separation allowances claimed his particular attention. He organized the feeding of men (the messing gained the name being the best in the Command); he arranged for hutting, the clothing, the water supply, the lighting and conservancy of the Camp, and he it was who averted a strike that threatened over the wages question among the men engaged to build the huts. These activities alone would have occupied the activities of six ordinary men, but in addition to all this the C.O. was constantly on parade, training and smartening up both officers and men, drawing up the programmes or work and seeing that they were carried out.|person=[[P. G. W. Diggle]]|source=[[Record of the XIth (Service) Battalion (Lonsdale) - In England]]}}
From his adjutant's praise of a man that was passionate about his duty, it seems clear-cut that Lt-
==The Battalion reaches full strength==
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At 1am on [[23 November]] 1915, the Lonsdale Battalion left for France with the rest of the 97th Brigade, now under the command of Brigadier-General Jardine, on board the steamer, the ''[[Glossary:Princess Victoria (ship)|Princess Victoria]]''. Their time at [[Blackhall]], Prees Heath, Wensleydale and Salisbury Plain had come to and end. The previous months' training would now have to be addressed in real combat situations, putting into practice the skills and tactics they had developed over the previous year. To stay alive and come back home to [[Glossary:Blighty|Blighty]] would have been the first, and last, thing on their minds as they sailed towards the unknown in a war that was to last another three bitter, long years.
==See also==
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*[[Quotes by P. G. W. Diggle]]
==References / notes==
<references />
[[Category:Battalion history]]
[[Category:Locations in the UK]]
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