Wastage

That was the heading for a page in the war diary for the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders. Upon reading it, I was horrified. I mean, I understand the necessity for keeping track of the manpower of a military unit, and how it increases or decreases. To refer to it as wastage rankles a bit with these 21st century eyes. But that is of course not correct either; my attitude towards history is to view it through the eyes of the time. And during the Great War, a man's life was not worth much.

Wastage for Month of November 1915

	Officers		Other ranks
	Decrease	Increase	Decrease	Increase
Killed + missing	-	-	4	-
To Hospital, sick	3	-	100	-
To Hospital, wounded	-	-	14 (1 died)	40
From Hospital	-	1	-	40
Reinforcements	-	-	-	14
Others	-	-	6	-
TOTAL	3	1	124	54
	Net: 2		Net: 70