On Kitchener’s
visit It was pointed out to him that the Division was not yet ready for
France, as neither musketry nor machine-gun training had been thoroughly
undertaken - nor had the Divisional artillery been properly trained and
as a result, KItchener gave orders for the Division to move from Seaford
to bordon and Bramshott where the artillery would join the Division and
intensive and urgent musketry training could be given to the Infantry
men.
So plans were made to leave Seaford on September 2. When the advance party
arrived at Bordon they found it a mess. The men of the 22nd Division,
whom the Ulstermen were replacing, had received marching orders at short
notice and many items of belongings were left behind. Sadly the Battle
of Loos was to take place in September and the 22nd Division was hurled
into the fray, where they were to lose very heavily.
Picture
courtesy of David Adams
When the rest of the men arrived, training got underway. It consisted
of an early start each morning, then a rail journey to a station north
of Aldershot and from there the men marched along a sandy track to the
range. Marching along this track raised a cloud of dust which was very
unpleasant for those in the rear of the column and when they reached the
range they would spend their days lolling about, each man waiting to fire
the specified number of rounds which would qualify him for service overseas....so
many rounds at the prescribed distances....and then again to Bramshott
in the evening. All this travelling took up quite a lot of time and effort
which many men found tedious and dishearting which was also due to the
fact of the poor quality of the American ammunition which made accuracy
almost impossible, which meant that men who could ‘shoot the eye
out of a Black Bird at fifty yards’ using a UVF rifle now found
themselves missing the target.
Their training was intensified during the month of September, but generally
it was clear thar the training in all aspects of gun usage, from artillery
through to rifle and machine gun was too little too late.
Preparations were now being made for France and on Thursday 30 September
the Division was reviewed by the King in the company of Kitchener. Any
inadequacies in training were not apparent as the men made their final
complete appearance before leaving British soil for good.
His Majesty warmly congratulated General Nugent, and, turning to Sir George
Richardson, who was present, told him what a fine Division had been given
by his Ulster Volunteers. As the Kings motorcar overtook some of the troops
marching back to camp after the review, the men burst out cheering, so
that the car swept along a loud roaring line - an unrehearsed spontaneous
exhibition of Loyalty.
None of those who were there that day would be likely to forget the physique
or the bearing of that splendid body of men. Its hard to think without
emotion of what the Division was that day and the fate that awaited it.........
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