Part 1

Produced by Al Haines

[Frontispiece: James Lusk]

JAMES LUSK

B.A. (CANTAB).; CHEVALIER DE LA LÉGION D'HONNEUR; CAPTAIN AND ADJUTANT 6TH BATTALION THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES)

LETTERS & MEMORIES

OXFORD PRINTED FOR B. H. BLACKWELL BROAD STREET MCMXVI

This little book has been written, in the first instance, because some of those who knew James have asked for it. And, secondly, it has been written for the sake of the Children whom he loved--the children of his Sister and of his Brother--who may ask for it one day, though they will never know how much they are the poorer for his passing. And, finally, it has been written to the greater glory of God, Who so wondrously fashioned his life, that it seems to us, as we look back upon it now, to have been 'a swift and shining track straight to the Goal.'

M.T.L.

OXFORD, _December_, 1916.

CONTENTS

Prologue

I. Falkirk, August, 1914--March, 1915

II. Early Weeks in France, March--June, 1915

III. Festubert, June--November, 1915

IV. The Last Weeks, November and December, 1915

Epilogue

NOTE

Most of the letters which compose this book were written by Captain Lusk to his Mother. Grateful acknowledgement is due to those who have allowed us to use other letters and Magazine Articles. In many cases it has not been possible to ask for this permission, but we venture to believe that, could we have done so, it would have been granted. We are especially indebted for encouragement and help to Lieut.-Colonel T. Martin Kay, lately commanding the 6th Cameronians.

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

James Lusk was the elder son of the late John Lusk, Dunavon, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, his mother being a daughter of the late David Colville, Motherwell. He was born at Broomhouse, Lanarkshire, September 19th, 1878, and received his early education at Uddingston School and the West of Scotland Technical College, Glasgow. He entered St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1903, and took his degree in the Mechanical Sciences Tripos in 1905. He rowed in several Lady Margaret Crews.

After taking his degree he returned to Scotland, and entered the Firm of Messrs. David Colville and Sons, Ltd., of the Dalzell Steel Works, Motherwell. At first he occupied the position of Assistant Works Manager, and later became one of the Directors of the Firm. Those associated with him in a business capacity have characterized him as 'an exceptionally able and clear-headed man of business.' In collaboration with Professor Barr, he carried out an important and valuable series of tests on High Tensile Steel in the Glasgow University Engineering Laboratory. He designed a Slide Rule for the calculation of weights and areas of steel, which is of great assistance to those employed in Rolling Mills. In the designing of new Plant his experience was of great benefit to the Firm. He was a member of the Iron and Steel Institute, and an Associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and a member of the West of Scotland Iron and Steel Institute, of which at one time he was a Vice-President. His relations with the men at the Works were always of the happiest, and one of his colleagues wrote to Mrs. Lusk on the night when the news of his death reached home,--'There will be many sad hearts in the Works tomorrow.'

James Lusk was not a man who liked publicity in any form, nor yet one who cared to talk much of the deepest things. But after his Father's death in 1913, he loyally tried to carry on the tradition of service which was handed down to him. The Council of the Lanarkshire Christian Union passed the following minute in February, 1916:--'We desire to minute our great sense of loss which we have sustained in the death of our esteemed member of Council, Captain James Lusk. He was a man of the utmost integrity, who at all times exhibited a true Christian character. His was a life not of words but of deeds, and he made the great sacrifice on the field of battle in the performance of his duty. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."'

In the Obituary columns of the _Temperance Leader_ of January 15th, 1916, it is noted that 'Captain Lusk .... has been a life-long abstainer, and a member of the Scottish Temperance League since his boyhood.... In the case of Captain Lusk and that of other brave lads who have fallen in this cruel war, it has been clearly demonstrated that a man may be a brave soldier and an efficient leader on the battle-field without the taint of alcohol.'

James Lusk probably felt that the young men and boys of the great busy town of Motherwell had a special claim upon his time and thoughts. He was President of their Dalzell Highland Pipe Band, and also a Director of the Junior section of the Motherwell Young Men's Christian Association. What his fellow-workers thought of him must be told in the words of a fine 'Appreciation,' contributed by one of them to their _Young Men's Magazine_, January, 1916:--

'Some years ago, when we had erected our suite of rooms for the working youths of the town, and had chosen about a dozen of these youths to act as Directors of this Junior Section along with several of our Senior Members, we looked around for two or three gentlemen who could be invited to join this newly-constituted Board, and who would bring distinction and character and personality with them into the midst of these working lads.

'Greatly daring, having heard of his interest in such work, we asked Mr. James Lusk, B.A., Cantab., to come and help us. He readily consented, and to all our subsequent meetings he brought in rich abundance the qualities and influence we so much desired. Our members came at once in contact with a very perfect Christian gentleman. His gentlemanliness, his courtesy, his kindliness, and a certain air of courtliness with which he surrounded himself as with an atmosphere, all exerted a pervading influence on the lads in the section.

'There always are and always will be certain qualities, as Arnold of Rugby told us long ago, to which we must ultimately stand cap in hand; and to the fine distinctive character of James Lusk our members rendered instant homage. His personality, as we have said, had its influence. The football-loving Juniors who thronged our rooms grew up, and many of them migrated elsewhere, where the conditions under which they played their game were not so wholesome as in the Institute of the Motherwell Y.M.C.A. It is within the writer's knowledge that many of these young fellows found it very much easier to resist the temptations to which they were subjected, just because at an earlier period they had been permitted to associate to some extent with such a man as James Lusk....

It was no surprise to us at the Young Men's Institute to learn in these latter days that the men of his Regiment paid homage to his virtues and character, as our juniors had done; neither was it any surprise to us to learn that he resigned his position on the Staff to go with his own men. That was just _his_ way.....

'There were other characteristics of his which left their imprint on some of us who were associated with him in the Y.M.C.A. Young Men's Institute. One of these was his enthusiasm. His enthusiasm was one of the earnest enduring kind that had been nourished down in these depths where visions and passions dwell, and out of which truth and beauty come because of the ever-growing and ever-deepening knowledge of life. We believe it was out of the wells that he had dug deep in his own heart, that there sprang that eager desire to help these lads with their football clubs, their gymnastics, their orchestras, their book-club, their holiday-fund and their Bible and Mission Study Circles, for he was quick to realize that all these things helped to the making of manly men.

'Another truth his association with us constantly reminded us of was the fact that it is as a rule the best disciplined, the best tutored and the best educated minds that achieve the finest results. He was a clear and incisive thinker, and when his problems had passed through that acute mind of his, they were quickly assorted out into their elemental and component parts.....

'Many words will not enable us to put on record our deep abiding respect and our great admiration of the quiet, modest, lovable disposition of Captain James Lusk, of the very great abilities he possessed, and of the strong, brave, bold, fearless soul that dominated and shone through it all, and made him eager to serve alike his Go, his King and his Country. It will always be one of our safely-guarded and treasured memories that we had the honour of associating with him, for he was one of the very finest types of an Officer and a gentleman that ever we have known.'

Captain Lusk took a Commission in the 6th Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), T.F., in November, 1908, and was gazetted Lieutenant, July 31st, 1910. The Cameronians are the successors of the fighting Covenanters, and the 6th Battalion are men of the district in which Captain Lusk's home had been, the districts of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge,--names which arouse grim memories of valour in every Scotsman. From the first he took a keen interest in the efficiency of the Regiment, and gave of his best to its service. One never thought of James as a soldier in those old days, though no doubt some aspects of the work always appealed to him. But the strength of his character as an Officer, then and later, was not in any love of fighting, but in a strenuous self-forgetfulness and a keen desire to do well the thing that was wanted.

He was in Camp with the Battalion at Ayr at the end of July, 1914, when the thunder-clouds of the impending storm of the European War began to gather black and lowering. From the date of mobilization, the narrative of Captain Lusk's life may be followed in his own letters, which form the groundwork of the present volume.

To James Lusk, as to many another, the great call for service and sacrifice seemed to be just what he had been waiting for. It gave him his opportunity for the exercise of a devotion and a heroism which those who knew him best had hardly dreamed that he possessed.

One nearly related to James has succeeded with remarkable felicity in putting into words what we had been vaguely feeling. We quote at length from his letter to Mrs. Lusk after her son's death:--

'It was a great privilege and a sad pleasure to read those precious letters about James, which you kindly sent. I wish to let you know what impression they made on me, for they have set me a-thinking about him and his life, now that it is ended here, so greatly to our grief.

'I confess that these letters were a revelation to me. I thought that I knew James pretty well, but these letters from entire strangers up till a short time ago to him and to us, all revealed more to me about him than I was prepared for. James, as we all could see, was reticent on the higher things of heart and life, as many Scotch people, myself included, are; and his little hesitation in utterance doubtless made him more so than he naturally was. I once, as I thought, had a glimpse of his inner nature. It was when I met him first at Dunavon after his father had passed away. He and I happened to be coming together round the house at night from the back. He, with his usual consideration and helpfulness, took the old man's arm to guide me along the paths. We naturally fell into an intimate talk, the darkness perhaps helping us both. I spoke to him about his father's eminent goodness, and of the precious example left by his life to all of us. He responded with hearty appreciation, which seemed at the time to give me a peep into him, which was pleasing, if not unexpected. Probably other friends of James had similar experiences at times. But these letter-writers appear to have seen quite clearly what others saw but dimly. They made acquaintance with him at the great period of his life, and in circumstances fitted to brush aside all formality and conventionality. It was the War that did it. The War, with its reality and sternness, has evidently been both developing and revealing the badness of some persons and nations, and the goodness of others; and it seems to have developed as well as revealed the strength and the beauty of James' character. It seems to me as if we saw the tender buds peeping at times timidly out of the ground, while these strangers saw the flowers in full bloom and sweetness. The charm of what they saw won the respect, the admiration and the love of both his inferiors and superiors. And how glad they evidently were to tell, in sincerity, not in flattery, what they had seen, to you, to whom what they wrote was sure to be more than it could be to any other person in the world! They wanted to tell his mother what an impression her son's gallantly and high-toned character had made upon them who saw him at his best. They have helped us to know James better than perhaps any of us, even you, knew him before; and that new knowledge is well fitted to raise him high in our loving memory. Had it not been for the War, his good qualities would have been shown by degrees in other ways. Had he lived long, as we all hoped that he would, his life would have been doubtless a prosperous, honourable business life, a life of strict integrity and much usefulness, in which he would have been an influence for good among his workmen and others. But God ordered things otherwise. A great crisis in the country's history, the greatest indeed in the world's history, occurred, and the call came for defenders of Right against Might, of high ideals and liberties, and James was ready and obeyed the call of duty, not counting even his life dear to him, and that supreme sacrifice in the great cause was required of him.'

A few of the letters referred to are inserted among Captain Lusk's own at the points to which they relate; a larger number will be found at the end of the book. It remains to gather together here some stray leaves which are too precious to be lost, from the wealth of appreciation which was showered upon his Mother after his passing.

Of his military efficiency:--

'He was a good soldier.'

'An exceedingly capable, thorough and conscientious Officer, and we all liked him. He was straight always, and fearless to a degree.'

'If ever a man did his job thoroughly, he has done his.'

Of his kindliness:--

'I will always remember James Lusk's kindness to me about five years ago when I lost my mother, and those were the kind of things he was doing daily.'

'I cannot tell you of a third of the kindness he showed me during my stay in Motherwell, nor of all I heard while there of many acts of kindness and thoughtfulness he did to others, of which no one heard anything.'

'I expect he went through his days doing so many kind things that he did not look for thanks.'

Of the many attractive sides of his character:--

'His bravery and his gentleness.'

'His quiet consistent Christian life at home, and his self-sacrifice and heroism abroad.'

'His sweet playing, so like his spirit.'

'Every day there is some reminder of him--even the toys on the nursery floor which _he_ had given.'

'To us who knew James and his never-tiring work for the Highest, it may perhaps seem that he would _rejoice_ in giving even his life, if it had to be. James had a greater power for sacrifice than anyone else I know.'

'Those of us who are so proud and glad to have known him, and to have come into touch with his passion for whatsoever things are lovely, will feel a new pulse now of the tide of calm and beauty he inspired; and in the memory and fellowship of his brave and quiet spirit we dedicate ourselves again to the service of life.'

I

FALKIRK

August, 1914--March, 1915

I

FALKIRK

August, 1914--March, 1915

Immediately after the declaration of War on the ever-memorable August 4th, 1914, the 6th Cameronians were sent to Falkirk. On August 7th Lieutenant Lusk was appointed Transport Officer of the Battalion, and in those first days of hurried preparations and dispositions, his work was to scour the country-side for the necessary horses and carts. The experience of the future months justified his selection of horses, and he used to display them with pride to his friends in their field at Bantaskine.

Then followed the routine work of training and camp life. Here is Lieutenant Lusk's account of the day's work:--

AUGUST 16, 1914.

I get up at 5 a.m. and parade the men of my transport section at 5.45. Then at 6 o'clock they water, groom and feed the horses. Breakfast at 7, then get ready for the day's work. On Friday we were out on the road from 8 till 2 p.m. (fourteen miles), and after that we have to bring the regimental rations from the station to headquarters, and then distribute them to the various schools where the different companies are billeted... Everyone must be in at 9.30 p.m., when the roll is called. Discipline is being more rigidly observed than at camp, but everybody is quite cheerful under it.

But before much time had passed an important decision had to be made, and two letters to his Mother will show the spirit in which Lieutenant Lusk made it:--

AUGUST 23, 1914.

A good many Territorial regiments, including our own, have been asked if they--or at least some of their number--would be willing to serve abroad if required. It is generally considered very unlikely that Territorials would be sent to any places of real importance if they volunteered to serve outside of the British Isles. I have felt quite sure that you would wish me to go wherever I was most needed, and it makes little difference whether that is at home in this country or elsewhere, and so I have told them that I for one was quite willing to serve abroad if it was required. I have had no hesitation at all in saying this, because I have felt so clearly led to the view that it is the right thing to do in case it should be necessary, and I know that you will feel the same.

AUGUST 29, 1914.

Our contribution to the Foreign Service Battalion, consisting of five officers and about 240 men, went off to their new station to-day--they are only a few miles away. It was with mingled feelings that the rest of us watched them go, but our turn may come later, and we must be willing to go where we are most needed.

This 'Foreign Service Battalion' was never actually sent out, so Lieutenant Lusk lost nothing by not being chosen for it. During that first winter of the War, his work was in Falkirk, and during most of it, it was that of Staff Captain to the Scottish Rifle Brigade. He took up these new duties on November 6th, and resigned them on March 9th. The reason of his resignation was that a short time previously his own Battalion had been told that they would shortly be sent abroad without the rest of the Brigade, and he wanted to go with them.

A few extracts from his letters illustrate the life of that winter:--

OCTOBER 23, 1914.

It is difficult to overtake all that seems to be before me waiting attention just now, but I am well and glad to be able to do it.... It will be some little time before I take up my new duties at Headquarters.... The Headquarters' Staff consists of:--Brigadier-General S. W. Hare, commanding No. 3 Brigade Area, (including S.R. Brigade; Royal Field Artillery; Army Service Corps; and Field Ambulance Corps): (2) Captain E. S. Girdwood (Brigade Major): and (3) your unworthy brother (Staff Captain). So you see I shall have dealings with all these different arms of the Service.

NOVEMBER 12, 1914.

I am writing in the office of Brigade Headquarters at the Crown Hotel. It is a very comfortable room with a fire in it, and five tables and a sideboard, with no end of papers spread on them all. There are two Orderly Room clerks always writing or typing something, and they always like either the Brigade Major or the Staff Captain to be in the room, or at least on the premises. There are three telephones. One direct to Sir John Spencer Ewart's room in Edinburgh (Commander of the Forces in Scotland); another direct to General Egerton at Bridge of Allan (Commanding the Lowland Division); and a general telephone, which is kept going most of the day. There seems to be an impression now that the 6th will not go for some time, and that they have changed their minds about sending it without the 7th and 8th: but this may be only rumour; it is difficult to tell when no one seems to know, not even the Generals themselves.

FEBRUARY 21, 1915.

There has been some rumour of the possibility of the 6th going out without the rest of the Brigade, and if they do I mean to resign my Staff appointment and go with them. They may not let me give it up, but it is considered unlikely that they would refuse to release me if I wanted to go.

MARCH 14, 1915.

We had a nice Communion Service in the Parish Church this afternoon. I played the organ, and it was a real pleasure to play the things that I like so well. Just before the Service began. I played 'O Saviour of the World.' _I do like it_, and it does so remind me of other days and other places. Then we had Psalm 46 to Stroudwater, Paraphrase 35 to Kilmarnock, and Paraphrase 2 to Salzburg, then the National Anthem, and then I played Bennet's 'Lord now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace.' I chose everything myself, and there was no one to say that they liked what had been chosen or the music, and it all meant a great deal to me.

MARCH 18, 1915.

We got a message this afternoon that the 6th Battalion will leave Falkirk for Southampton on Saturday, the time will be given us later. So at last we are released from home service, and are to be given an opportunity of more real usefulness; may we be found faithful when our turn comes. Nothing else seems to matter quite so much as that. I don't trust myself, but of course I mustn't try to do that, but trust Another.

Side-lights upon the thoroughness of his work, and his happy relations with those whom he worked with, are afforded by letters from other people.

The Town Clerk of Falkirk wrote after his death:--'I can tell you he was highly esteemed in Falkirk.' Another gentleman in Larbert, who had come into contact with him while he was acting as Billeting Officer for his Battalion in the district, wrote:--'His business tact, his high sense of honour and duty, and withal the kindly and courteous manner in which he conducted all his affairs, made it really a pleasure to meet and do business with him.' Yet another testimony comes through a friend:--'When Harry was at Grangemouth, where James had been for some time, he found his memory there very fragrant.' And an Officer in the R.A.M.C., who had been associated with Captain Lusk at that period, wrote to him to France some time afterwards:--'I had a call the other day from an Artillery Brigadier (formerly in Bridge of Allan), and in conversation he expressed the opinion that the Stenhouse Muir Stables were about the best that had been put up anywhere. I thought you would like to hear this.'

Finally, one has glimpses into a happy little circle of friends which formed itself during that winter, among whom James had his own place. There are some treasured memorials of some of these friendships:--I always felt one could never be in contact with him without feeling one was near a very noble character.' 'He has left a beautiful and blameless life.' 'No one can have known your son and not go through life feeling the better for that knowledge.' 'Somehow at once one felt his goodness and strength. It helps one to be better, I think, just to look at and think about a friend like Captain Lusk.'

II

EARLY WEEKS IN FRANCE

March--June, 1915

II

EARLY WEEKS IN FRANCE

March--June, 1915