The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-20 00:00:00

ANNUAL VOLUNTEER REVIEVb .:7.

HAGV:, PARK.

On Monday last, the Annual Review .I the rest Bat.
talion of Worcester,' 're Rile Voluttteeren took Pia" I°
Haglev Park. The :ay beimg fine, there was a good
number preaent to wi.ness it. The companies began to
assemble in the Park at one o'clock, and before two 10
communes were assembled; the erlotdo strength of the
battalion numbering 678.
Colonel Knight. M P.. was in corn and, and hie staff
consieted of First Major .D. le Smith, Second Major
t Hon. C. CI. Lyttelten, M.P.. Cepteim and Adjutant Viol.
rife; and Lieutenant Jobsee wa, acting as Quarter-mae-
ter. The reviewing officer was Colonel Roche. Lord
on fell iwn"ataltsloire":,
Roche gene.
aL attendancell
atealut
dt Lord-lieutenant
ii:feoranr: h; ocf,.boiathtaeaeli .firad a
rehatute. The hattelion was tie u put through a noteb-r
of revolutions, the volley firing being remarkably geed.
At the close of drill the men Went Attire/Wed by
Colonel Roche, who said he had made a most minute
esamination of them that day, end he meet tell them
honestly that it was net half so satisfying as might have
been expected. eapeeially in reference to their arms,with
the exception of two eompelliett. He must tell them that
he mune there for a thorough innpectiou and examination
an every respect He did net wish to flatter th,in. for
they did not desire it; for they then might soy Oh.
the reviewing officer is only humbugging no !.' ft was
almost needlexa for him to say that, if they desired to
be good soldiers it was necessarry that great attention
shoutd be paid to tie ir drill. eo moubt mime battalions
get on v. ry will without no very tcneh attention. hut hi.
would tell them, as an old seater, that if they melted to
get on very well they would have to pay all the attention
they poesibly could to their drill. When drilling they
-hotild not let their minds wander, nor a word allowed
to be spoken in the ranks; neither ought they to be
.00king about therm as ow' or two eompenies had been
during that atty. lf their noses were tireppmg off, and
tney were carrying their imme with their right hands,
they ought not to raise their left hands to put them oil
•tgalli, lie had inspected many hattaiiebs, but their arms,
generally speaking—he would honestly tell them—were
tne worst he bad ever seen. He did not blame the men
so much themselves, but he blamed the drilletergeants
exceedingly. Ile would warn thin that if he found the
arras in Sti^h a state again he should write immediately
to the War Office, and accmint them with the fact. It
was not right for them to be allowed to get into such n
filthy state, because it was part of their duty to see that
.hey were kept clean. Mier five years' experience he
cori.d say that he has never met with a battalion whose
*cm. were so unprepared for use. At the Queen required
their services for the defence tot the country he knew
they would come ferwt.rd in their honourabie position,
out they could not do 60 with entiefaetioe no lung se they
were inefficient, with their arms to improper order.
they would shortly get breech-loadere. and they most
mite care that they were kept clean, and not allow them
oh. neglected like the present arms. With regard ti
their battalion drill that day be was very fairly satisfied.
rhey appeared to have paid a little more attention to it.
there were, lie knew, a great number of recruits, but
that ought not to interfere with their drill so very meet.
He inspected a battalion • short time ago—sin., the end
Battalion of the Derbyshire Lee Volunteers—in which
mere were • great many recruits. but their drill was the
nest in the whole country ne had peoted for their
care and steadiness. If as officer gave the wrong Wurti
of command, he most correct hiuiself, bat the men must
remain steady. By • man foolishly talking to his cons.
rade he might throw out the whole company. Therefore
they ought net to utter a word. It wait a great advent.
wge to them in having the support of the Lord•Lienten•
ant and the gentry of the surrounding country. There
were still many ways in which the Volunteer movement
might be assisted and kept up by the support of the
fleet!). He would not detain them to pain, out many
otteile wbich were required, bit be would write to Colon.
Knight about them. They were all aware what was tee-
tng piece the other aide of the water, and it behoved
tltem were particularly to be ready. if required ; for the
nation that was tonnes ready would have melee., Chance
of getting int. war. After an experience of five years
as inspector of Velnnteers he could Say that tee more
he saw of them the more he appreciated them. They
were commanded by officers who paid a moat anxious at.
ientiou to their duties, and he constituted tee Volunteer
Mecca most useful one, Red did honour to tin conetry ,
awl he was quite acre they would not turn Mete backs
open their country. He Omuta have pleaaure it report
iig feeoursbly Cl them, wits the exeeption ..f Oleic arms
bete was nothing more particularly he could entice
titter that ItDil•COMIX1100.10nen Akers were tar) intelligent
it, and knew emery gait of teeir duty, Many of then
,ad 0.00 in the fere., along time. therefore it was only
mr that they Actual leeru toe men tinier them true
trill, and make them acqueletea with every part of
teem bay.
Lord Lytteltoo then next addressed the battalion. He
remarked that they would not orippoee what he bad wit•
neared and heard that day Was with perfect satisfaction
He had always seen from the newspapers that the inupeet
ug otter minutely inspected the arms and accoutre.
meats, but he thought they never had done so mite the
preseut year. He was exceedingly gelid that it had been
Aoue so this year; although it was certainly rather pain.
at to hear the renialks that had been made by the in.
'porting officer upon the state of their arms. He heard
itequeut completes in the ranks during that iespectiou
that some of the arum bad been neglected for a consid-
erable time. It behoved them to pay attention to what
be been said in reference to their arms. They had
eiten informed that they would Keenly be supplied with
tresh weapons, which they would receive in perfect cote
down, and he hoped they would continue to keep them
di that good condition. Colonel Roche had spoken with
eeverity of the driti sergeants, who,, more important
,uty it was to attend ti the arill and arms. He trusted
limy would give special attention to the subject. The
reviewing officer eats well pleased en the whole, and he
,Lord I yttelton) had wished that they might have hada
little more time for preparation for that review; however
the movement, had been fairly gone through. As farm
ue could gather from Colonel Roche'e remark+ he was
satisfied with what had been done. He (Lord Lyttelton;
took the opportunity of speaking to the officers privately
adore the commencenieut of the review, and told them
diet he hoped that they were they awake and alive to the
Importance of keeping them in an efficient date at the
present moment, and to he able, if required, to aasist in
one lilt et!
would
dd great th pmhe • her:ya t
7ti ;
remitting an invading army. They were aware of some
ave
ut
of toe events that had taken place upon the eentinent
dwaenur e gto the
attackedpast week,
b
melees, they would be required as one of the reserved
I tomes of the country, and they
notice ; therefore it would be rather a actions meter, and
would involve them in some heavy responsibilities if they
were found inefficient, as the ether great nations of Eu-
rope were tn the blithest state of efficiency; it therefor,
ri gutted that the Veluuteer force of the country should
Ire kept in the utmost state of efficiency-00ml cheers).
Ceititiel lemmata M.P.. then addressed the batten.,
ii
ad ii
&Rattle:le
h:ealhat
great
care
rbr:n; b
roo t,de
the
:aowaloni:
ona
ay, this
ns:ma.audurteupw. eci
tp,n ehshel tonedoenhdpti 1.,
pt:heH.adi
ote: ttsiwhht
.vah:
he.; acreyh,vgaotitll;.'
movements flail nut with satisfaction. idenr:rue:ficeaedreedn'tie
in gaining the victories through the efficient state of the
ccc linens. The reeiewiug orbecr bed brought news
wateu tnot receleed at :medley teat the Prusidans had
wen ?mother great battle—(loud cheend. He hoped if
tile) anoul.s be galled out that they would show e;egen,
wee they could du. He hoped they would attend to
the,r drill well until the settetment of harope. ter re,
one knew 110 W soon buglanu mei) be drugged unto the
War. Idetore that Volueteer Movement was eslehhehra
would have been dithemt to bare got 10,000 or 40.00 e
hieu together for war purposes. It wee of the utmest
mipunanee that they should redouble their attendance
at time sad make themselves perfect. He hoped evert
ciplitits and officer wouirl take care that the eergeauts
were perfect in their dunes as far as possible. He hoped
sacs eergeaut would attend well to bin company. and en-
deavour to make teem very efficient He was eery much
efinged to them for su bilge a muster, and he hoped they
wuted not be larking in any Meg if they were called on't
th figot for their eves sad couutry—(loud cheers).
he battalion was then diemiseed, after being kept on
the field about three hours. The various companies then
marched oft the groom& to the mill.), elation for