The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-01-03 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS AT THE VERNE.

High up, on Use great Verse Citadel, that frowns
over all the rock of Portland, and the waters for miles
rouni, the garrison, mainly consisting of the Prince
of Wales' Own Regiment, kept the joyous season of
rhristmas with deooratioes and religious servicee, and
heating, as did the drilians who have prisoners to
watch. The gallant regiment, lehare honours include
the memories of tarries' rendered at Tourney, Bhurt-
Pore, Common., Jaya, Waterloo, fiebsitojx.l, New
Zealand, Afghanistan, and various parts of India
beside, are especially proud of the colours presented
to them In the latter country by his Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales, and from which time they re-
ceived their title of the Prince of Wale,' Own Regi-
ment, their lecrlisatlon helm West Yorkshire, and
their emblems the White Horse of Hanover, prancing,
and the Royal Bengal Tiger, In the ast of charging.
The.. names and objects appeared plentifully in the
clemmtions of the rooms, sometimes cut out in gold
or silver foil, end often pasted with considerable
artistic skill. There wise the service on Chri.tmas
morning, when the garrison whe could be spared from
other duty attended, and the Rev. J. S. Shelton,
curate, preached. After church the Christina' dinner
was an elmittlant and euneptaene one, lateladbg the

until hot joints, supplemented by fat poultry, and
followed by splen ii pudding., with itadance of
home-brewed. Col. Barry Drew, 0 8., Col. Stuart.
Cid. [Hobson, and other officers and gentlemen went
the round of the various room., and saw that the men
were well femted, and the latter received them with
hearty applause.
Civilians who wanted to ifltgect the handworlcof the
soldiers in the decorations of e great c molested and
white-wad:aid room., had enough t chome from, for
there are eight campaniei, all of which were adorned,
and the first honours for decorstione were awarded to
K company, 15,., A. Company winning 10s. nue
were certainly by far the bee', ant we should have
been puttied to decide between them; but of the rest
G. Company very deservedly were highly commaadrid.
The drummer 'is roam was decked by Corporal
Robinson, with intersecting chains of bri.tht oniours.
"A Merry Christmas and Happy New Yost,"
"Sums.* to Adjutant Mills." A star of aesserals and
bayonsta,orossed, WM displayed in gold over the mantle-
plumb and here were the Union Jack and a white
ensign bearing the reaimental bon or,, name I before.
The windows were hung with curzains in red, green,
and white.

—Bat-til:r;rn.—Although about half of the band were
on furlough, yet Privates Carey and Thacker had made
the casemate nay. "Band of the P.kcs A Wales
Own Went Yorkshire Regiment," the tiger, "God
Save the Queen,"" SUMO'S to our Colonel and Lady,"
"AU Itch to our Chirf." "Welcome to our Colonel
and Offi00111." "Welcome to en, Adjutant," were
among the designs and legends. There were beautiful
fl see, and the Star of India diaplayed in band swords.
The honours, the coloured curtains, and the gay
fratoons, made it a pretty pia,.
D Company.—Privates Mansell (the cook) and
James were toe workers here, and they showed the
Queen's, and regimental colours and honours on the
end walls, while the nuns@ were displayed around the
room—here wan • blazing nos in g 'ld (perhaps •
Persian &sign) with "Merry Chriatmaa and Happy
New Yew' In way letters, twang you wise banner, KM
up was " V.R." in goid, and • legend wishing " Long
Life to our Colonel," the adjutant. who is in charge of
this company, and Limit. Heigham, also leer, wished
health and happiness. The windows were curtained,
and various fringes hung here and there, and among
the desisns was • star formed of swords and battle-ages,
and the White Horse.
B :omosny.--Sergt. MoZwen and Private Allston
here led the °mutiny In "litany Happy Years
to colonel Drew and" Merry Christmas to Captain
Puri i .." Blue banners, with the other bores and tiger,
the honours, end Prince of Wales's plume, were prom's.
male displayed, and then you saw the wishes expressed
for " Happiness sod Swam to Lieut. Fry," • Best
Wishes to Writ Swains," the Prince of Wales's phsme,
and great stars male of real bayonets mid deadest
rods.
_ _

Company's room was decorated by Corporal C
assisted by Lance-corporal Whetstone and Privete
Taylor. In red letters, adorned with gold sad on •
green ground, was "Merry rhristm as end Ha py Nrs*
Year to All ;" the matt "Nest wipers tertent," le
silver letters, with the White Hone iutd Ti-r. and hi
lame letters " India," for the regiment 'erred 28 years
In India, and were at the cantors nf the maid*.
fortress of Bhurtpore. "Lone Life and Success' were
wished " to Capiain Butler," "G d Blass the Prince
of Wales," and " A Hearty Webxons to our Colonel,
Berry D ew, C. B. were displayed along the walls.
G Company.—This had won third honours, being
highly is ammended. The mottoes included —" Suitosse
t th- Officers of the P.W.0., ()eclair' T. M. Robin-
son, Lieut.. Wemyss and Salmonson," were displayed
on a brood coloured band in ornamental let era, end
with another band of red sod green spirally arranged
round it most artistically. Shields of coloured paper
how around the room, hearing legends, "Happy New
Year," an I "Merry Christmas" were wished in gold
letters, coloured festoons hung in every direction, and
under a fine ;dome of feathery; was th ; anivemal ed.&
—" Lang life to C Ita-ry Drew." The work
hal haen ,Inne by Colou—Sergeant Kenyon, weiLed
C oporal Brooke, and we congratulate them on the good
taste d;..,lave I. .

—II 6.. in-pan— y:—Wo nnw come to the room, for the
derairsti..n of which the first prise we. given. Colour-
Sergeant Bate. and Sergeant Greener° al be ben the
dec retor.. and had exhibited rend managensent and
style. Atoned the room were ahields, on which woos
ambles qt.rl the honours of the ragiment one 17 one;
over the fireplace WWI "Sec ampere terrent ' on a
broad riband, sod on the south w.. 11, a very spirited
drawing of the White Bores galloping on r elm. At
the harA of the room we-e a I 'rim crown, with V.R„
and plums of (Where with" XIV., Prmos of Wales's
Own ;" .tars formed of reel arms were over another
fireplace. and a most spirited painting of the Bengal
Tiger pouncing down from his leap. The lamps were
encl sad in came of colon!. id parr. and titer. were
stars of ar,,,e nye.. the door. 'Long life and Pros-
writy to Captain K. G Pigott," and "Success to oar
officers," were among the legends. Besides presenting
the p-i.e on Monday morning, the Col mei also
specially eked that these decorations might be kept
up.. in order to show tham to some friends.
. .

A Company the second prise room, had
hsen artietirallv adorned hy Corporal Nairn, assisted
be Sergeant Cooper and the whole of the company.
Here was a very large and handsome "Merry
Christmas and Happy hew Year to you all," and a
great abondance of other liven beside, doi-g ge,st
cre it to the profetrional ablity of Corporal Nairn,
wh we understand. wa, an artist when in civil
lir,. before he entered the service. At the end
of the rem, were 'Success to Lieutenants Vox, Mac-
Adam. and Woonves, and on the other ewe °Now of
Wales' Own," "Sue., to Major Van Heythesuren,"
and "God iave the (been," In l-tters of gold. A very
Popula legend WM over the fireplace—" Long life to
(lol•eel Drew and his lady; Hero of Pofwor X°441."
" Defeo. not nefianne" was on the end wall, arid
tinier a fine White Horse "Nee a.pera *errant" A
star of b.vooet., the Quven'e and rerimental colours,
were among the objects, and very interesting wraith.
figoree citing the shcoting aversge of this, the best
shooting company in the regiment, though the artist
had rather undereatimated the numbers, which
should he 131.71 ; the hest judging-distance company
beiur also designated by the great silver spectacles,
and we learn that A Company is pre-eminent for
both shooting and judging distance. Over the fireplace
were dna/imp which at first deceived us, being Do
naturally drawn ; they consisted of a cliolk, vases, cup
of coffee and glass. end on going out we discovered the
Masonic an I Oddfellowe' arms _ _

After the si.tht of this "A. 1" Co.'s ronn. vs had
seen enough, and if there are any othor specialities In
the remaining rooms their decorators mu.t exams our
absence.

We have to acknowledg. the courtesy of the gallant
Sergeant-111'j r, and of Paymaster-Servant Ryan
who assisted no in the inspection of the rooms.