The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-27 00:00:00

LORD CHELMSFORD AND THE
VOLUNTEERS.

General Lord Chelmsford, G. C. B„ and Colonel Sir
Charles Russell, V.C., M.P., at the recent prize
presentation of the 46th Middlesex, held at St.
James's hall, Loudon. Colonel R ertledge, the com-
manding officer, stated that the regiment, which
is now clothed in scarlet, numbered 784 men, of whom
767 were efficienr. The officers and non-commis-
sioned rfficers, with but few exceptions, were
thoroughly efficient and most attentive to their
duties. During the past year several new officers had
joined, and the battalion had the pleasure of attaching
to itself as chaplain the Rev. Canon Farrar. After
some further observations, the prizes were distributed,
Mrs. Routledge performing the presentation. Captain
Bearne received the three-star badge as "beet shot"
of the regiment. The chief prizes were taken by Cap-
tain Knight, Sergeant Edwards, Sergeant Bucklaud,
Sergeant Simmoncla, Surgeon Jackson, Private
Edwards, Colour-Sergeant Collings, and Corporal
Hoffman. These and many other prizes were given for
skill with the rifle; but,in addition; some prizes of small
value were given to some who had given six, seven, and
eight times more attendances on parade than are re-
quisite to count for efficiency. The most interesting
presentation was made by Sir Charles Russell to Mrs.
Routledge, and consisted of a silver challege cup won
by her nom nated marksman, Sergeant Simmonds.
Some laughter was caused by the winning of a large
wax doll by the best shot among the married men,
and of a wedding-ring by the best shot among the
single men, but this latter prize is only received on the
condition that the winner joins the ranks of the
married within 12 months. After the presentation,
Lord Chelmsford, who was received with loud
cheers, proposed the thanks of the assemblage should
be given to the lady who had so gracefully distributed
the prizes. He expressed his own thanks for the
privilege they had allowea him of being present at a
gathering of Volunteers, in whose force he took the
deepest interest, and he was glad to see, by the large
assemblage in that ball, that the force had not lost one
iota of the popularity it received on springing into
life 20 years ago. If he had not taken a direct
personal interest in the Volunteer force in England
it was no fault of his, as out of the last 20 years
he had spent no less than 16 on foreign service,
Cheers.) Although he had been so long absent from
England, he had watched the career of the Volunteers
with the deepest regard, and those who would carry
their minds backs to what the Volunteer force had
once been, and could contrast it with his present con-
dition—a condition well represented by the smart
regiment in that hall—would admit that its progres-
sion bad been extraordinary. The present position
of the force showed that hasty and sweeping mea-
suns of reform were not always advisable but
that a steady progress day by day was the surest
way to perfection, He had been asked by Colonel
Routledge to give his own opinion respecting
the course the Volunteers should observe in order
to go. on improving in the future as they had
done in the past, and in consenting to do so he pro-
mised that his remarks would be directed to the force
generally, and not to any particular regiment.
" Discipline" was the word which comprised the whole
duty of toe soldier, whether that soldier was in the
Rsgular, the Militia, or the Volunteer service. Under
the term " disciplioe " was comprised the obedience to
lawful command—a sine qua non in a body of armed
men, for without it they would be simply a mob. Then
it included good conduct in all, a thorough knowledge
of a soldier's duties, a good shot, and a good drill, and
a thorough che6rfulne,,4 in all the circumstauces of a
soldier's life. Those Volunteers who had taken part
in camps of instruction had found that soldiering was
not all "beer and skittles." They had to encounter
wet weather, with all the discomforts of a field-day,
and to meet this a Juan with a soldier's spirit must be
as cheerful under adverse circumstances as even Mark
Tapley had been. (Laughter and cheers.) The soldier
must have due respect to ccnstituted authority, in
whatever form it might be brought before him. He
must be self•reliant, for each man must feel himself
to be as good as his comrade, and twice as good as
any who could be opposed to him. In his opinion
there was much good done to the Volunteers by these
camps of instruction, and he urged that the force
should be drilled with the regulars as often as pos-
sible.

Lori Chelmsford next gave his experiences of
the Vulunteer forces in South Africa, and he was
glad to observe, he said, that the Anglo. Saxon race
in South Africa had not degenerated by change of
climate. He had received the greatest possible
assistance frcm the Volunteers of the CApe Colony
and of Natal. In the Caffre War of 1878 he had a
very large number of Volunteers under his command,
from all parts and in all conditions of instruc-
tion ; but he found those who had been enrolled for
some time very readily picked up their duties
in the field. This was especially the case
with the Natal Volunteers, who were thoroughly
organized and drilled. He bore testimony to
the great personal sacrifices which these Volunteers
made in order to perform their duties—sacrifices of
both time and property. In his concluding remarks
Lord Chelmsford said that many people imagined if
the Volunteers of these islands were called out on
active service their duties would be confined to getting
behind intrenchments and firing away at the enemy—
so long as the enemy stayed within reach. His
opinion, however, was that no defence could be a
proper defence unless it was combined. with an
offensive movement in return. It was easy
to stand in a sheltered trench, but when
the time came for a regiment to advance over the
open to the attack, then was the moment when
the steadiness given by discipline was required; and
if the Volunteers desired to take their place side by
side with the regulars, they must be prepared by drill
to move with regularity and steadiness in the face of
an enemy. 1:1e trusted that England would never have
to repel an invading form); but, sh)uld contingencies
arise, he was sure, from what he had seen of the
Volunteers, that they would gain that glory and dis-
tinction which they coveted more than any other.
(Cheers)
Sr Charles Russell, as the honorary colonel of the
regiment, acknowledged the vote of thanks for Mrs,
Routledge, and the formal proceedings closed.