World War I & the Great Depression - Robert Lindsay Mackay's First World War Diary by ReadWorks 0:00 / 3:41 recruiting poster for Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 1914 These passages are selections from the First World War Diary of Robert Lindsay Mackay. Mackay was from Scotland, an American ally. He was an officer, or leader, with the 11th Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from 1915 until the end of the war. 30th. July. My 21st. birthday. Champagne Dinner at night. Had to go away at 11.30 p. m. with my 50 Argyll stretcher-bearers. Got them on the move and moved up towards the 'show' which would begin in a few hours time. Another officer and 50 men of the 13th. Royal Scots now joined my party so I had 100 men. Got to Bivouac Camp. We were now all ready for the show. Felt things strange of course. Although I had by this time begun to dread this corner of the earth I did not feel the least bit afraid. In previous shows I had gone into action feeling that I would come out again. This time I had no such feeling. Felt, almost knew, that I would not come out again. Did not, however, leave any addresses or messages behind because I believed it unlucky…. As we marched along, I felt quite cheerful, in spite of this somewhat melancholy reflection, and would not consciously have wished myself anywhere else. Soon, I became so engrossed, that I lost every outside thought, and could only think of the present business. No regrets for the past, and no fears for the future worried me…. Wed. 1st. Aug. My H. Q. are in the Ecole. The men are in a cellar, indescribably filthy, with an awful odour and three inches deep in water. Here they have to rest, sleep and eat if they can. I should be down with them but preferred risking it above ground in a tin hut (which was constantly being bombed) behind a broken down wall. A pip-squeak could have finished it and me. I've read so many descriptions in newspapers of the ruin and desolation caused in this war. Famous literary men have tried their powers of description and all (with the possible exception of Gilbert Frankau) have failed to convey the repulsiveness and awfulness of the scene. The Ecole was one of these places - That's all! Began work at 3.15 a. m. - a cheerless hour. It was raining I think. Moved up. Searched ground up to Blue Line. Terrific rain, heavy and prolonged. Ground churned up. We could scarcely move one foot after the other. Our job was to carry down wounded. This is my first job as a bearer. I hope to goodness it is my last - prefer going over the top. Heard about the Battalion. MacCallum killed. I'll have to write to his girl. Also Leitch and D. R.Cameron, Gray and Robinson and Sinclair wounded. 21st. …. Our casualties were 15 killed and 20 wounded, including the five officers. Very expensive this, for a day's outing. Relief completed in hopeless confusion. Back to Bn. H. Q. at 3.30 a. m. Arras at 4.45 with Stark. Bed at 6 a. m. Really tired. Question:
Explain why the author thought it was unlucky to leave behind addresses or messages when going into battle. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.