Redmires
On December 5th 1914, the Battalion moved to Redmires, a cold damp wind-swept moor 1000 feet above sea level. When they arrived they were first tasked with finishing building it; the 60 foot huts that housed them didn't even have windows. The training there was arduous; endless drills, rifle practise, trench digging, marches, and the weather conditions this all took place in were so harsh that that several men died.
The camp at least served to toughen them up; by all accounts the fitness of the battalion was noticeably greater than the rest of the brigade. The camp also helped begin the process of forging a bond between the men. As winter gave way to Spring and the conditions eased, it was decided to move the battalion to a new location to continue their training. This decision was not exactly met with joy; having worked hard to get the camp inhabitable and having endured tough conditions throughout the winter, the battalion had been hoping to reap the rewards as summer approached.