The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-07 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDG E OBSEILV E It.

Soul anb Pistria getvf).

ANNUAL DINNER OF THE STOURBRIDGE
VOLUNTEERS.

The annual dinner of the Stourbridge company
of the Ist Worcestershire Volunteer Battalion, was
given
.at the Talbot Hotel on Monday evening last,
when about 100 men, under the command of Cap-
tain Hammond, assembled, and partook of a very
sumptuous repast.
There were also present Majors Wolrige and
Watson, and Messrs. A. W. Hammond, H. King,
A. Freer, C. Webb, J. Williams, F. Grazebrook,
&c.

After grace had been said, Captain Hammond
rose to propose the toast of the evening, and that
was "The Queen," and as the list of toasts was
rather long, he should couple with it "The Prince
and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal
Family."
This was responded to by Major Wolrige, and
drunk with musical honours.
Mr. Alfred Freer then rose and said he had a
toast, and a very important toast, to propose. It
was no less than "The Army and Navy." He was
not going to say what they had done in the past,
but they were thankful for what they had done.
He was sure that the eyes of all were fixed upon
the proceeling,s of those gallant men in the Soudan.
It afforded him great pleasure to watch their pro-
gress up the Nile, by the aid of the maps which
are published in the papers, and he wished them
good luck, and he hoped there would not be many
if anydeaths—(applause.) He begged to couple with
the toast the name of one (Major Wolrige) who
had seen what our soldiers could do on the field,
and he was sure they could do it again. He had
no doubt that the volunteers would be ready to
serve their Queen and country when they were
called upon. He begged to call upon Major
Wolrige.
Major Wolrige, who was received with cheers,
thanked them for drinking the toast. As Mr.
Freer ha) spoken about the operations in Egypt,
he should nes say anything about it. He spoke
regeriling the camel corps, and said he had ridden a
camel himself. As he said at a volunteer supper
not long ale, a ride on a camel was a most un-
pleasant thing. He could only describe it by
someone tutting his Laud down another's throat
and turning Lim inside out. Maki g a few remarks
abeut Cul nil Burnsby (All honour to the dead) he
said that their C ,lonel was like him, always being
where there was danger, and ia the thick of the
fight Ile observed that the operations in Egypt
wow shroaded in mysle y and doubt. Refer.ing
to the volunteers he said there was no doubt that
they were Low absolutely part and parcel of the
British Army, and he hoped they would remember
that,
The next toast "The Field and Staff Ofileers of
this Regiment," was proposed by Mr. F. Graze-
brook. He said he was sure sled, t: e officers had
fulfilled their duties in a very creditable manner.
This was d:unk amid the singing of "Ha is a jolly
good fellow."
Major Watson, in responding. said Major Taltnit
had asked him tcaexprees his sorrow at not being
able to be pressna He could corroborate want
Major Wolrige leal said concerning thei
With regard to the battalion, he said they had had
it good many drills during the year. The inspee
qua was very s itisfactory, and the way in which
they stood tee heat on the hottest day of the whole
pew, showed that there was no lack in the Isla
taboo. He had bet n asked to propose a west, an
filet was "The health of the I company." He was
plea-ed to see so many old facts still in the corn-
Lamy. The company was incteased in numbers;
an I he hoped they would assist Captain Hammond
in keeping up the efficiency of it; and try and
m ke t:le company sec. nil to nane in the battalion.
Ile was pleased to hear of the iner ace, and he
uased them to try and get all their friends to
join.
Capt-i in Hammond, who was received with cheers,
respanded. Du• ing the course of a few remarks he
,ntionsd that Vie la-t year had nst been ase ry
evantfal one. The number for the past year wee
86 T! ey hid a few more now, and he hap •LI Lu
bring ia Up tie le;0. This year the Mat tini Henri
would be substituted for the Snider ; and it
was absolut, ly necessary that they sheu'd be picked
up at cnce, as the: e was a difference between them.
lie hoped they would attend so as to be vile to
lea nto use them as soon as possible. He would
suggest to the yetthges members that there was
now a good iipprtunity for teem to try and get
iuto the a iooting team. He thanked them very
mach for the heaety manner in which they had
druuk the toast.
The next and list toast, "The visitors and the
subscribers," was proposed by Captain Hammond.
He said they must know, and he knew, that the
company could not be kept up by the capitation
grant, and it then depended on the subscribe's.
He was sory to say he had had two refusals from
former officers of the company—Major Walker and
Captain Grhsvenor, 31,ijor Walker told him that
he hoped the company was in the same efficient
state as wh nhe left it. He should ask them to
drink the toast heartily, and he should couple with
it the names of Mr. Webb and Mr. H. King.
'the toa-4 was drunk and the company sang
sidi mu •11 heartiness, 'They are jolly good
fellows."
Mr. Webb thanked them for acknowledging the
tos,t in each a hearty manner. He was always
very much pleased to be present at those convivial
meeting,. Although he had not been an acting
metebsr, he had been an honorary member for the
past 24 years. From them establishment of the
volnateers he had watched them, and he had
nodeed th it during the past year there had been
an iacrea.e of 5,000 He again thanked them for
the way they had drunk his riealth.
Mr. Kiag said, as a visitor, it gave him much
plea Lure ts be present that evening. About 26
he was a ful private under Captain Foster; and
alth ush be did not then contribute, he was very
eleasel to state that he was now an henorary
member. Malting a few allusory remarks about
Egypt,- he said when they thought of the little
band fightitig its way to Kartoum, it must thrill
their harts to know that they were part and
parcel of that British Army.
C,ptain Hammond said he had omitted to state
that if there was anyone who as not thoroughly
e(licjiet in the use of the Martini Henri they
w nil mot be allowed to take part in any of the
field drills.
The remainder of tie evening k, as p issed ser'
pleasantly. Selections were played by the bun
several of which sang some glees in capital ,tyle
Corporal Dancer, of the Worces:ershire Regiment,
sang "The Midshipmite" in a creditable manner,
for which he received an encore, and reTonded to
it by singing "The definition of a kiss."
We might mention that the catering was excellent
an I gave great satisfaction. There was a plentiful
supply of victuals, which were all of first-class
character; and the way in they were served reflects
Krcat credit on all concerned.