Book Description

The title page notes that this history has been approved as an Official Record by the Committee of Imperial Defence (Historical Section, Military Branch) and that adds to the pedigree of what is undoubtedly a very good battalion history. The Battalion was raised in Glasgow on 2nd September 1914 as the 2nd Glasgow by the Lord Provost and City with many recruits from the Glasgow Boys Brigade. In May 1915 the Battalion moved to Prees Heath, in Shropshire, where it joined the 97th Brigade of the 32nd Division and sailed for France in November 1915. It served with that brigade on the Somme, on the Ancre and on the Flanders coast. In February 1918 it became the divisional Pioneer Battalion. There is useful information in the appendices: the Roll of Honour (36 officers and 795 dead), Honours and Awards, roll of officers and of other ranks who embarked for France with the Battalion on 23rd November 1915, and a list of officers who served with the Battalion overseas (135). This history is based on the contributions of many who served with the Battalion and the editor has drawn them together to provide a stirring account. The battalion suffered grievously during the first day of the Somme when the 32nd Division attacked Thiepval, and when 16th HLI came out of the line on the evening of July 3rd its casualties totalled 20 officers and 534 other ranks. The chapter describing this is titled The Shambles of the Somme. And they were there again at the final battle at the Ancre in November when their casualties amounted to 13 officers and 390 other ranks. The 16th HLI was with the Army of Occupation. It was a good battalion and this history does them credit.