It was not till January, 1915, that a most important, and as a matter of
fact the very simplest, change in our organisation was made. To be in
keeping with the regular forces, our eight companies were re-organised
as four. This system would always have suited our County battalion even
in 1908, and our only wonder is that it was not introduced before.

When, on the 18th of February, the G.O.C. returned from a week's visit
to France, and gave us a lecture upon the very latest things, we knew we
might go at any time. Actually at noon on the 25th we got the order to
entrain at Harlow at midnight, and the next morning we were on
Southampton Docks.

We left behind at Sawbridgeworth Captain R.S. Goward, now Lieut. Colonel
and T.D., in command of a company which afterwards developed into a
battalion called the 3rd 5th Leicestershire. This battalion was a
nursery and rest house for officers and men for the 1st Fifth. It
existed as a separate unit until the 1st of September, 1916, and during
those months successfully initiated all ranks in the ways of the
regiment, and kept alive the spirit which has carried us through the
Great War.




CHAPTER II.

EARLY EXPERIENCES.

26th Feb., 1915. 16th June, 1915.