After another turn in the front line, the 4th SAI leaves the Gouzeaucourt subsector for a couple of weeks of training at Moislains.
Donald takes his leave of the 4th SAI (South African Scottish) Regiment while at Fins on the way to Moislains. Newly arrived from the U.K., Major C.M. Browne takes over command of the 4th Regiment South African Infantry until the return from leave of Lt.Col. D.M. MacLeod on the 29th.
Donald’s own memoirs written in April 1935 record…
Early in 1918 I was sent on special duty to join a force under General Dunsterville in the Middle East. I went through Mesopotamia into Persia thence via Kermanshah, Hamadan, Kasvin to Resht where for a short while I was Military Governor. Thence to the Caspian Sea and, via Lankoran, to the Mugan Steppe in charge of a British Military Mission to keep the Russians and the Armenians fighting against the Turks and Tartars.
This was the mission officially known as the British Military Mission to the Caucasus but commonly known as Dunsterforce. The history of Dunsterforce was written up by Major-General L.C. Dunsterville C.B., C.S.I. in a book called “The Adventures of Dunsterforce” pub. Edward Arnold, 1920. “Secret Army” by Barry Stone is an independent account of the actions of Dunsterforce.
The war diaries of Dunsterforce are available from the National Archives as WO 95/5042 , WO 95/5043 and WO 95/5044.
The men of the 8th KORL were treated to a New Year’s feast courtesy of the Regimental Colonel and officers.
On the 5th Jan, the 8th Battalion King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment paraded in honour of Lt.Col. R.S. Hunt who had been awarded D.S.O. in the 1918 New Year’s Honours.
After a couple of inspections by brigade and Corps commanding officers with favourable comments, Reggie is again asked to take temporary command of the 76th Brigade while Brigadier-General Porter is on leave. The war diaries of the 76th Brigade show that he spent the time visiting units, escorting senior officers and visiting other Brigade Headquarters.
Reggie remains in command of the 76th Brigade for the first two weeks until Brigadier-General Porter returns from leave.
As Reggie returns to his normal command on the 15th, the 8th KORL are once again stationed around Guémappe which is much quieter than the previous visit that the battalion made to the area during the Battle of Arras in April 1917.
After Donald left, the 4th SAI was involved in several notable events leading up to the armistice on 11th Nov.
The 8th KORL enjoy a concert by the battalion’s band.
On the 8th, Lt.Col. A.J.S. James (formerly of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers) arrives in preparation of taking command of the 8th battalion King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment.
Lt.Col. R.S. Hunt takes his leave of the 8th Battalion King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment.
After leaving the King’s Own Reggie spent some time in training soldiers in the U.K. but is then called back into action in Palestine and Syria.
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