On Monday, November 9th 1914 two companies of the 7th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, who were training with the Highland Division of the Territorial Force, at Bedford, were given a route march from Bedford to Lathbury. With two field guns, a cyclist detachment, and ammunition vans, they were allowed three hours rest in a field in the centre of Chicheley, where, with some of the men scouring the area for wood for the fires (a quantity enhanced by the labours of a sergeant who, for half an hour, axed at a tree trunk), cooks prepared a dinner of stewed beef and vegetables. Meanwhile, some of the men danced Scottish reels to the music of two pipers, whilst others played leapfrog. The village schoolmaster had kindly lent a ball for a game of football, but unfortunately this burst during the match. Shortly before 4p.m. the march then resumed to Lathbury, where Mr. William Trevor kindly provided billets for the night.