The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-01 00:00:00

ANNUAL DINNER or vim STOURBRIDGE
VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS.

On Mon lay evening last, the men forming the above
corps assembled in the Coin Exchange at verve o'clock,
for drill, preparatety to having their annual dinner.
They were put through their drill by (hr Captain and
Lieutenant. The company mat through the manual,
platoon, and bayonet exercises iu a vi ry smart way.
Whilst the men wore at drill Colonel Keight arrived in
the room with the Adjutant, to inspect the men. On his
entering the men gave a geueral salute. Colonel Knight
afterwards inspected the men, and pamed a very high
aneseanin upon them for their efficiency.
After drill the men marched to the Armoury and' de.
posit.' their Arms, and from thence proceeded to the
Vine Until, where a plain tint ex,ellent npri..3.l Man pro-
vided by host Richards. The chair wan occupied by
Captain Waffier, aupported on lain right by Cabinet
Knight, tad on Ids left by the Rev. 0. taillianks, Chap.
lan to the eorp.. The viee.elieir w,Ol oceupied by Lieut.
Welker, purported on hu, right by Captain Pitt, and on
his left by Sereennt Prrry. Ample justice limier been
done to the slimier,
Captein Walker • rose to propose " the health of the
Queen "—(cheeria. In wiling an, he referred to the un-
settled state of the country, awl hoped those present
would prove loyal, and, should their services ever be
reneired. they would give the Feuians such a dressing
that would make them tremble.
'The Chairei in nest gave •• the health of the Prince
and Pancras of Wales, awl the rest of the Royal Family."
The Prime, was a Colonel of two volunteer regiments,
and no donbt took a great intermit in Caton. Hindu the
list time they hail met, his Royal Higlineas had paid a
vieit in this county, eri whieh oceasiiiii the volunteers
twee's' a enard of honour. and the Prince expressed
greet mitiefection at their ellisieney—feheer.).
'The Rev. O. Oilbanke next propoaed "(lie Army and
Navy." In doing no he referred to great advantages ae.
ereing to yonng men from joining the corps. It Mid a
a tmelenev ta make them smart and waive. Tha speakor
also referred at soorne kligth to di iris dime by the army
and ilea). at Trafalgar mod °tiler places. The toast was
drunk I kraat cheering.

he Chairman expreused hit meet that tbo AdjotAnt
was not prerent to reply to that toast. Tim Adjutant
wow very utiwell or he would have been with them ; hut
notwithstanding that be had ovine to the tuspeotiou to
do W. duty, and be wishod no Gould Lave remained Cab
them lonver—(chearrl

Mr. A Freer said as an honorary member he had been
allowed to prop°. tioi next toilet, i• the Bishop, Clergy,
and Minister,' of all denominations." If,, had been an
honorary member iif the Stoorbridge Corps since its
formation, and had watched it with great intereet from
its youth to the present insuagenimit under Captain
Walker—(cheers), If his (the epraker'st duties were
never more irksome than they had been, they would hot
be very laborious ; but their motto was •• Defence, not
defiance." and wont be prepared to inert any thing that
&night come. The time may some whim the corps may
be called upon to ae, if it ever altisold be was tpitta sure
the men would be prepared to do th..ir duty to Mc baiek•
hone. The ladies also pieced great reliance in the corps,
sad put great confidence in then, for pridectioo. Should
the time ever arrive for them ti act he should he Wad to
placc himself no une amos.g thent—(cheere)—itild lie wee
quite sure the worthy clitiplisin would do his duty is
administering to their emote.

Colonel Kr7ig-Itt 'rose au-.l;Taid he had great pleasant in
proposing the 'lett toast, which was " the health of the
Lord Lieutenant of the County—(great elteming)—a
team man who is a near neighbour, and from leis ii orth
leas made himself endeared end respected. Lord Lytiele
his in the heed of the Volunteer moveinent icc Wurceas
terehire, and it is owing to him that it is in its present
poe.tion. When it was first heard in Worcestershire of
the Volunteer movement, it ran right through ell the
country, and it was in a great measure owing to Lord
Lyttelton that the volunteers had reached the position
they MM. He hod seen a brother of his lordship who
had just received n letter from hint, and he was then
latent hal' way On his journey to New Zeeland. lie was
bleed to soy his lerdship tees quite well, and hoped to be
Leek in April—(great cheering).
Lieutenant Walker proposed t• the Lealtias of Colonel
Knight and Staff Officers." They had all known the
Colonel so long that they had become thoroughly aware
of his capabilities an HO officer. The Colllllel was One Of
the first volunteers in the county, and had done all that
he could for the corps generally lie was quite sure they
were always glad when he was at the head of the bathe
Icon, as they were certain to hava goml drilla ; and if
they attended to him they would not be far behind any
other eorps—(ebeers). lie hoped the Colonel would be
able to commend them for a long time—(lmar, hear).
As regarded the Majors they did not see so much of
them, but wheat they were on the field they did their
duty well. There woe another officer whom they did
often f,CO. Ile referred to the Adjutant—(great cheer.
ing). Ile very much regretted his absence, and he had
no doubt they all did, for when Ite was pretlefif they were
Imre to have le beth r tettendance than at any other time,
and if they did not kik/ their ditty he ((Ire Adjutant) would
tell them of it pretty plainly. There was anther °nicer,
the (Mader-master, who provided for the contimny.
They all knew that wheat on the field a glass of good
hear was very acceptable, and he would propose that
their health, be drunk with "tore. times three "—(great
cheering).
Colontl Knight replied and said he never felt happier
than when 1.17 sat riding at the bead of the volunteere.
It woo quite tami that lie was one of the first volunteere,
and if ever the time came that the volunteer. should be
wanted, he hoped to he tho first there—(alicers). At one
time a good many remark, were made about th• pet•
holly tratteanisu volutiteers, but he was very glad to say
that they had some of the lineet young men in the
country among them. He believe/ there were upwards
of 160,000 volenteere. The Colette' also spoke at 110016
length ou the advantage of boys being drilled at school,
and while he was on his lens he said that he should pro.
pose "the health of Captain Walker "—(great cheering).
lie considered Captain Walker • self 'made soldier, on*
who had risen from th• ranks to his present position, and
he had Captain Wolrige's word that the British Army
does not COULIIiII a better or more ellisietut soldier than
Captain Walker—(great ohoering). The toast was drunk
with three times three.
Captain Walker replied at some length. In the coarse
of his remarks he said the Colonel had woken of him in
very Battering terms. Ile did not take to himself all the
credit the Colonel had given him; hat this he was quite
sure of—he had tried to do hie duty. If be bad failed
it was because he otosid not help it. He could only Kay
that if ever the time should arrive—he hoped the corps
would stick to him—he would take them to • place where
it w.tuld be wartn—(cheere). The Chairman also referred
to an alteration that was proposed to be made in refer.
ewe to the army and volunteers, and hoped that tioverne
anent would not make a separate array of thorn, hut
beintz one grill ral army.
Other toteds followed, and a pleasant evening was
spent.