Bedford Highlanders
Recruitment
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When the Highland Division arrived in Bedford the
majority of its component units were below strength and
as a result, tremendous efforts were put into recruiting
additional men. In addition to signing-up volunteers in
the traditional recruiting areas in Scotland, the
Division welcomed all-comers regardless of whether they
could claim Scottish ancestry. Many Bedfordshire men
decided to join the kilted ranks and the Seaforth and
Cameron Brigade were particularly successful when
recruiting in London.
This photograph shows new
Seaforth recruits in Bedford Park in late summer 1914.
In the background can be seen another group being put
through their paces by the drill sergeant. The message
written on the back of this post card reads:
"This is taken in Bedford Park where we drill. The one
on the left of card is our Officer and the one on the
right our Sergeant. They are both fine chaps. Remember
me to Bob and your mother & also all the girls at 49.
Cecil"
It was not unusual to see new drafts of
recruits parading in civilian clothes at this time. Such
was the speed at which the Territorial Force had
mobilised, many of the troops arrived in Bedford with a
mixture of uniform and kit due to demand outstripping
supply. There is an account of one group of soldiers
visiting a photographer's studio in Bedford to have
their portraits made. With only one full set of uniform
available to them (kilts, spats and glengarries were in
particularly short supply), they had to swap and change
between shots!
(photo: courtesy of Richard Galley)
"Like all other units at this time, the Battalion
was hard put to it for clothing and equipment. The
regimental tailors could not turn out kilts quickly
enough to clothe the new drafts... Indeed the unit when
paraded at full strength must have been a curious
looking collection of men in every stage of clothing and
equipment."
'History of the Fourth Battalion The
Seaforth Highlanders', Lt. Col. M.M. Haldane, 1927
This portrait of an unnamed soldier of the 5th Seaforth
was taken by photographer J.T. Welch of 6, Midland Road,
Bedford. The man's attire suggests that he is a new
recruit and that the only pieces of uniform he possessed
at the time the photograph was taken were great coat,
shoes, spats and Glengarry (although one suspects that
this may have been borrowed for the purposes of the
photograph).
(photo: courtesy of Richard Galley)
Page last updated: 30th May 2014