The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-22 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDG-E OBSERVER.

PRESENTATION TO MAJOR CHARD.

The presentation to Major Chard, R,E., V.C., of a
sword of honour and a gold chronometer in recogni-
tion of his gallant defence of Rorke's Drift, took place
on Monday afternoon in the Guildhall, Plymouth, in
the presence of many thousands of spectators. Upon
the entrance of the Major the gathering rose and
cheered him again and again. He was accompanied
by the Mayor of Plymouth, the Earl of Mount-
Edgcumbe, Earl of St. Germans, Sir Massey Lopes,
M.P., Mr. J. Carpenter Gamier, M.P,' and the
leading men of Plymouth. In the orchestra a string
band was stationed, and this and the large organ played
the National Anthem and "See the Conquering Hero
Comes" as the party took up their places on the
platform.
The Mayor first read an address of congratulation
on the valour and ability displayed by the gallant
officer in the defence of Rorke's Drift, after which the
Earl of St. Germans made the presentation. The de-
sign of the sword is appropriate to the services ren-
dered by Major Chard. The blade, of finest tempered
steel, bears on one side the motto, "Strong to defend
the right, swift to avenge the wrong," and on the
other the following inscription, "Presented to Major
J. R. M. Chard, V.C., R.E., by the inhabitants of
Plymouth and its vicinity in recognition of his gallant
defence of Rorke's Drift on 22nd January, 1879." The
sword was accompanied by an English gold keyless
chronometer watch of handsome design.
After the presentation the band played the grand
march, "Honour to the Brave," dedicated to Majors
Chard and Bromheack .

Major Chard, on rising to respond, was heartily
cheered. He expressed regret that he was there alone,
and that there were none others present who were
with him at Rorke's Drift to share with him the
honours of the day, for he could not but feel gratified
to those brave fellows to whose devoted gallantry he
owed the fact of his existence. All England knew
how those brave fellows behaved, and how one and all
they showed themselves ready to sacrifice their lives
if necessary for their Queen and country. (Cheers.)
The Zulus were an enemy it was some credit to the
British troops to beat. They showed a courage that could
not be excelled by anybody, and their military organi-
zation and discipline might have given a lesson to more
civilized nations. Cruel and savage as they were,
still they were a gallant enemy; and he could not
understand why Englishmen could for a moment have
credited the reports that appeared and the stories that
were circulated of cruelties perpetrated, or at aU
events permitted, by British officers. He did not
think it was necessary for him to say that they were
false. (Cheers.) He bad seen enough of war to value
the blessings of peace, but still they all knew that
wars would happen, and if he was ever again engaged
he trusted he should never disgrace the sword they
had placed in his hands; and if a time of danger and
difficulty did arise, and the odds might appear against
them, he trusted that men like Bromhead, Dalton,
and Reynolds, and the rest of the brave fellows who
were with him at Rorke's Drift, might be with him on
the occasion. (Cheers.)
The Earl of Motint-Edgcumbe afterwards spoke. It
had been said, he remarked, that too much had been
done in the way of recognising the services of the
officers who had been engaged in the recent war. It
had also been said that the Zulu campaign was a very
little war; but all the wars of England were email if
they compared the number of British troops engaged
with the vast numbers composing the armies of other
nations, and the consequence was that great events
very frequently depended upon small detachments
commanded by very junior officers. They felt that
this was an occasion upon which they might con-
gratulate a gallant officer on having had a noble op-
portunity, and of having been able to avail himself
of it. (Cheers.) The defence of Rorke's Drift was a
thing upon which they could fairly congratulate Major
Chard, wishing him joy of his success, and prosperity
in the future. As Englishmen they sought and
desired the opportunity which seldom came of show-
ing men who went forth, taking their lives in their
hands, in the interest of their country and the safety
of their countrymen and fellow subjects throughout
the whole of the civilized world, that they had the
sympathy of those at home, that those who fell were
grieved over, and that those who returned home vic-
toriously and honourably, were welcomed and
honoured. (Cheers.)
Tnis concluded the proceedings, and on quitting the
Guildhall Major Chard met with a very hearty recep-
tion. In the evening he was entertained at dinner by
the mayor.

The Freemasons of Exeter entertained Major Chard
at a banquet on Friday in last week, and presented
him with an address, a copy of which was for warded
him when he was in Zululand. Previous to his de-
parture for the Cape Major Chard, while stationed at
Exeter, was initiated a member of the St. George's
Lodge, the members of which, on the receipt of the
Rorke's Drift news, sent him a fraternal greeting, and
expressed pleasure at seeing the acknowledgment his
services had met with by his promotion and his deco-
ration with the Victoria Cross. The terms of the
greeting were embodied in an illuminated address now
handed to him. Major Chard expressed the pleasure
he experienced when he at the Cape received the kind
axpressions of his brethern of the craft, and acknow-
ledging his indebtedness to them for their great kind-
ness.