Battle of Loos Dinner with the London Regiement
24th September 2016Battle of Loos Dinner with the London Regiement
We support the London Regiment and, every year, they host a dinner to commemorate the Battle of Loos as close to the date(s) of the battle (25 Sept - 15 Oct) as they can. Arriving at their Camberwell Barracks in lounge suit, I felt positively under-dressed compared to the splendid Mess Dress most of my hosts were wearing. Met by Tim, the CO, I gave him a cigar for later and he stood me a g&t - a fair swap I thought. As Guest of Honour I was seated next to Major Bob Brown, our old friend and advsersary from many shooting matches, and Lady Elizabeth Arnold, Deputy Lieutenant for Kensington & Chelsea, both of whom proved excellent company. Sat in front of us was a magnificent bit of mess silver on top of which was a leather football - this was THE football some bright officer threw out of the trench for the men to dribble towards the enemy's massed machine guns during the battle - this was later copied in several other actions of the Great War, but here in front of us was the original and first ball used. The battle was glorious, but not victorious.. as usual the artillery failed to clear the wires, the machine guns were undamaged, and attempts to follow up captured ground (including the infamous Hill 70) not seized upon. Despite brief gains and unparalleled heroism, we basically ended up much as we started, but 20,000 casualties (inc. three Major Generals) the poorer. We had an account of the action after the Loyal Toast and, then the London Irish pipe band entertained us - my ears are still ringing! All that done, the room decanted back to the bar where several fines of port were owed for various sins throughout the evening, however Lady Arnold kindly offered me a lift and deposited me some time around 11.30 within cabs reach of home. Thanks to the London Regiment for a fun evening!