The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-05-15 00:00:00

The Annual Visit of the Yeomanry.

The all-engrossing topic in Weymouth during the past
few weeks has been the annual 'bit to our beautiful
watering-place of the Queen's Own Regiment of Dorset
Yeomanry Cavalry. A town's meeting WS/ held, at
which an energetic committee was formed, who at
once set about arranging a programme of sports for
their amusement during their brief stay in our midst.
and in sourer to their appeal for funds, we are glad
to any cur townsmen have liberally responded. On
Friday the town crier invited people to hoist as many
Bags as they amid, so as to give the town • holiday
appearance, but, unfortunately, Saturday mornings
weather could hardly be called "Queen's weather,"
although a few Individuals were heard to call it
° Yeomanry weather,' from the melancholy fact that
their visit is so often marred by unpropitious weather.
A wretched cold drizzle continue-I throgubout the morn,
log. but towards the afternoon the rain teased, but
still it was very gloom? and cold when people began
to assemble along the Front, to give their usual hearty
welcome to their expected viaitors. About half-past
two bugle call' were hued in various parts of the
town, and forthwith people began to bang out their
banners on the outer walle. At three ...'clock our
smart company of Rifle Volunteer. assembled at the
King's Stuns, and reckoning the fife-and-drum band,
they numbered about GO. The officers were Captain
George. Lieut. !dowsed lowen, and Limit Grcves.
I They fell in, and marched away, headed by their
fifes-sod-drums to the Barracks on the Nothe, where
they were put through a smart drill by the offieer in
minium& Captain George. which lasted till nearly
four o'clock, when they made a retrograde movement,
returning and proceeding op the Front until they
came to the Roman Catholic Church, near the Dor-
chester-road, and awaited the arrival of their brethren
in arms, and by this time the band of the 4.0,R,Y.0.
arrived upon the some. The bend this year is the
Bournemouth Town Band, Mr. Byers' band haring
been broken up. Both men and horses had just come
from Bournemouth by train. These went on to the
Bridge Inn, and while awaiting the arrival of the regi-
ment, a little incident occurred with certainly amid
to break the monotony of events, but happily did not
result in the breaking of any tinnea. Ac we have before
said, the band with their horses had just emu by
trek. and coneequendy the hones were rather fresh.
The brood at the time were passing over the railway
bridge, wiles • traintaappetted to pus under the bridge,
which served to etude the drummer's bores, which
broke into • gallop, and from • wallop into • positive
bolt in the direction of the town, sad wohing more
wee aeon of the drummer or the horse. The Portland
Artillery Volunteers had by this time pat I. an
appearance, and • smart, soldierly body of men they
were. They were headed by their capital bream band
of about 20 men, under Bandmaster hillier, and were
under the command of Lieut• Colonel Bliot, the officers
being Captains G. Andrews and Mac Lean, and Lieut.
Heckling. There were 62 rank and file. Independent of
the band, together with Serat.-Major Stone and Beret.
Hinds. About five o'clock the Yeomanry were
descried approaching, and by this time a large number
of people had come out even as far as this end of the
I Dorchester-road. The Yeomanry Band were qui
in their places, but still the drummer was winging,
neither be or his refractory steed haring returned. The
Rifle Voistateers and the Artillery Volunteers were
also quickly in order, but now people missed the
smart body of men (coo Swungs they had been
accustomed to see in ran before. The Artillery
Volunteers of Swanage had notified their intention of
being present as usual, weather and .th.r circum-
stances permitting; but weather did not permit, there
being • thick sea fog daring the greater portion of the
day. therefore Mears. Omens and C.. did not think
it advisable to mad their stammer to Bournemouth as
announced, and, as • natural consequence, it of
eouree did not put in at Sewage to fetch the Artillery.
The various detachments of infantry and cavalry
entered the town shortly After five, in the following
ogler—
Portland Artillery Bond, under the command of
Bandesuter Miller.
The Portland Artillery Volunteers, under the command
of Lient:Colasel Eliot.
The Weymouth Volunteer Fifeand•Drum Band.
Z Company (Weymouth) Bile Volunteers. nada the
command of Captain Genus.
Q.0.R.Y.0. Band, under the leadership of Mr.
Patten.
Queen's Own Regiment of Doreet Yeomanry °aviary,
under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Hambro.
1p this order the smell army proceeded on its way
Into the town, and It is only fair to mention that the
Bournemouth ,Band played remarkably well, em-
sidering the fact that they hew. scarcely ever been an
horseback at all. let slope with their instruments.
As they proceeded on their way its spectator'
increased enormossle, and when they got to St. John'.
the drummer and his home not ill an alitnilanitio,
sad it turned out that since he bad made his soefeli
departare from the vicialty of the Bridge,
he had found his way right down the frost, round
e
at'Attm:re GI AMON and beck Maio to Si.l Jokes