Substandard Soldiers Inspected by Col. Gavin

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“On the morning of Sunday, October 6^th, I attended the inspection of the Royal Scots by Colonels Gavin and Haselden. Col. Gavin spoke to each man, and I told him each man’s disability for which he had been categorised at home. In spite of the fact that they were such a poor lot physically, Col. Gavin told them that they would have to do their bit – and they were told at home that they were only coming out to garrison Archangel! In the afternoon they went off to Ripalova. The signal people got a telephone wire fixed up to Meijnovskaya by evening. There were nine admissions to hospital during the day – no serious cases.”

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