Post by Waverley on Apr 4, 2011 14:56:12 GMT 1
Glasgow Remembers ‘ The Green Brigade ’
A Memorial Service was held recently at the Cenotaph in Glasgow’s George Square in memory of the 15th Glasgow Tramways Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. The 15th Battalion were raised in Glasgow in September 1914 by Glasgow Corporation employee Mr. Jimmy Dalrymple, the manager of the Tramways Department. Prior to finishing his shift one afternoon he phoned around all the Tramcar Depots and asked ‘see if any of the men would be interested in joining a battalion made up entirely of men from the ‘Caurs’. On returning to his office the next morning, some sixteen hours later, there was a list on his desk with the names of 1100 volunteers wanting to enlist. It is reckoned that the 15th were the fastest recruited Battalion in the history of the British Army.
Due to the shortage of uniforms in the first few months of the war the tram drivers, conductors and mechanics of the Tramways Battalion were allowed to train and drill in the green Tramways uniforms and were immediately nicknamed ‘the Green Brigade’ by the citizens of Glasgow. The 15th Battalion were ‘blooded’ at the Somme in 1916 and later suffered many casualties at the battles of the Yser (Nieuport) and Passendaele Ridge.In reaction to the German St.Michael Offensive of March 1918 the Allies had to hold the city of Amiens . On the 3rd of April 1918 the 15th Battalion were responsible for the capture and holding of the French village of Douchy-les-Ayette against all odds in a diversionary attack to relieve the pressure of the defence of Amiens ( the First Battle of Villers-Brettonneux) . The 3rd of April later became known as ‘Battalion Day’ for the men of the ‘Caurs and they would meet annually thereafter on the Sunday nearest the date to commemorate and remember their Fallen comrades. During the Great War the 15th Battalion lost 651 officers and men on the field plus 96 officers and 2,233 men were wounded.
Their traditional commemorative service on the Sunday nearest the 3rd of April fell away prior to the Second World War and was duly taken in with the national Remembrance Day of November 11th.However, today the Ayette Day service was re-introduced by the Thistle & The Poppy Society & the Glesga Keelies web site members and despite really dreech and murky weather thirty veterans , plus colour parties , representing the veterans associations of the Highland Light Infantry, the Royal Highland Fusiliers and Central Scotland Parachute Regiment Association laid wreaths and held a minutes silence at the Cenotaph. It will now become an annual event and it is hoped that each year more and more Glaswegians will turn out to remember the Officer’s, NCO’S and Men of the City of Glasgow’s famous ‘Green Brigade’.
“Cheer, boys, cheer, pass along the Beer,
The whisky, soda, and cigars.
And the clo’es were ready-made
For the little Green Brigade
Of drivers and conductors of the Caurs.”
A Memorial Service was held recently at the Cenotaph in Glasgow’s George Square in memory of the 15th Glasgow Tramways Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. The 15th Battalion were raised in Glasgow in September 1914 by Glasgow Corporation employee Mr. Jimmy Dalrymple, the manager of the Tramways Department. Prior to finishing his shift one afternoon he phoned around all the Tramcar Depots and asked ‘see if any of the men would be interested in joining a battalion made up entirely of men from the ‘Caurs’. On returning to his office the next morning, some sixteen hours later, there was a list on his desk with the names of 1100 volunteers wanting to enlist. It is reckoned that the 15th were the fastest recruited Battalion in the history of the British Army.
Due to the shortage of uniforms in the first few months of the war the tram drivers, conductors and mechanics of the Tramways Battalion were allowed to train and drill in the green Tramways uniforms and were immediately nicknamed ‘the Green Brigade’ by the citizens of Glasgow. The 15th Battalion were ‘blooded’ at the Somme in 1916 and later suffered many casualties at the battles of the Yser (Nieuport) and Passendaele Ridge.In reaction to the German St.Michael Offensive of March 1918 the Allies had to hold the city of Amiens . On the 3rd of April 1918 the 15th Battalion were responsible for the capture and holding of the French village of Douchy-les-Ayette against all odds in a diversionary attack to relieve the pressure of the defence of Amiens ( the First Battle of Villers-Brettonneux) . The 3rd of April later became known as ‘Battalion Day’ for the men of the ‘Caurs and they would meet annually thereafter on the Sunday nearest the date to commemorate and remember their Fallen comrades. During the Great War the 15th Battalion lost 651 officers and men on the field plus 96 officers and 2,233 men were wounded.
Their traditional commemorative service on the Sunday nearest the 3rd of April fell away prior to the Second World War and was duly taken in with the national Remembrance Day of November 11th.However, today the Ayette Day service was re-introduced by the Thistle & The Poppy Society & the Glesga Keelies web site members and despite really dreech and murky weather thirty veterans , plus colour parties , representing the veterans associations of the Highland Light Infantry, the Royal Highland Fusiliers and Central Scotland Parachute Regiment Association laid wreaths and held a minutes silence at the Cenotaph. It will now become an annual event and it is hoped that each year more and more Glaswegians will turn out to remember the Officer’s, NCO’S and Men of the City of Glasgow’s famous ‘Green Brigade’.
“Cheer, boys, cheer, pass along the Beer,
The whisky, soda, and cigars.
And the clo’es were ready-made
For the little Green Brigade
Of drivers and conductors of the Caurs.”