Quotes by J. H. Cowie
The following quotes are by (former retired NCO, ex-Colour Sergeant) J. H. Cowie, Training Reserve Battalion Captain. Cowie acted as Battalion Sergeant Major from 1 October 1914, to 20 May 1915.
Training is the Order of the Day[edit | edit source]
From early morning to dusk physical training, preliminary manual drill and movements were practised. The training was handicapped, however, for a long time by the lack of rifles, even those for drill purposes only.[1]
Making the Lonsdales a 'Real Fighting Unit'[edit | edit source]
Training was preceding all this time at full pressure, the men becoming keener and keener as the work became more strenuous. The D.P. rifles[a] (12 rifles with ammunition were sent from the private rifle range at Wemyss Castle)[b] and in addition to musketry practice, route marches and manœvres on a limited scale were in the orders of the day; in fact no opportunity was lost in making the Battalion a real fighting unit.[1]