The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-12 00:00:00

PRESENTATIOR 01P COLOURS BY THE PRINCE

OP WALIII.

(From the Preursan's Journal
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales may be
mid to have terminated his military career at the Curragh
Camp by the graceful and interesting ceremony which he
performed on Tuesday, of presenting to the 36th Regiment
• new and handsome stand of colour*, to replace the old
and tattered banners under which the 36th have fought so
often and so nobly. From hie arrival at the Qu-ragh Camp
to pursue his military studies, and obtain • practical
acquaintance with the soldier's duties, his royal highness
was attached to the first brigade of infantry, commanded by
Colonel the Hon. H. H. Percy, consisting of two regiments
I —the Grenadier Guards, and the 36th—and it was with
I muds gratification that the latter regiment learned that
his Royal Highness intended to take his leave of them,
for the present, at all events, by publicly presenting
them with a new stand of colours. The ceremony took
place at one o'clock, in the neighbourhood of the Prince's
quarters. The day was gloriously flue, and, under the in-
! spiriting sunshine, all the picturesque features of the
estop, as it stood on the elevated portion of the vast green
plies that stretches towards Kildare, came clearly under
view and enabled the spectator to enjoy the scene under
the most favouring circumstances. The 36th Regiment
was paraded by the bugle call in the square where their
quarter. lie, and were then marched, with bands playing,
to the ground where they were to receive their new colours.
Thin the regiment, focused of eight oompaniee, of 34
files each, was drawn up in line, under the coa-
-1 mend of its colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel Hort. In
front of them was the saluting flag, near which, crossed
on piled arms, were the new colours, folded and in came
The ground was kept by a party of the 3rd Light Dragoons,
who encircled the regiment and the spectators, which were
numerous, and had taken up a position near to the flag.
Amongst those present were General Sir George Brown,
the Commander of the Forces ; Major• General Ridley
Commander of the Dublin Division; Brigadier•Gesterai
Gordon, each with a brilliant staff of officers ; Lady Scott,
Lady A. Russell, the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. Ridley, the
Misses Lasielles, Mrs. Blaine, &a The wives and children
of the soldiers in camp were also present, grouped in the
very best position to witness the proceedings. His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, accompanied by his Excel.
piney the Lord-Lieutenant, the Hon. Robert Bruce, Col.
Koppel, and • large staff of officers, arrived at the saluting
flag in front of the long line formed by the 36th Regiment.
The Prince of Wales wore the full uniform of • colonel, and
the military personages;wore their full uniforms also; his
Excellency was attired in private costume. The distin-
guithed party haying taken up their position at the flag,
the regiment presented anus, and the band played "God
save the Queen." His Royal Highness having signified his
wish that the ceremony should take place, the companies
wheeled up in three-eighths of • circle; two soldiers ad.'
vanoed from the centre company to within ten paces of the
new colours, which were under the charge of the senior
sergeants of the regiment. The Rev. Horace Wheeler, junior
chaplain tothe forces at the camp, then read the usual prayers
over the newcolours, after which they were unarmed and ex-
panded by firevet-Colonel Hallithy and Major E. C. Butler.
The senior ensigns (G. C. l)onsegriea and C. B. Bond),
bearing the old colours, then advanced towards the flag.
His Royal Highness advanced to meet them. Having seen
the old colours handed to the colour-sergeants in waiting,
his Royal Highness took the new colours, and handed them
to the ensigns, who received them kneeling.
His Royal Highness mid—Colonel Hort, officers, non•
commissioned officers, and privates of the 36th Regiment—
It affords me very sincere gratification, after having served
for some months in the brigade to which you belong, to pre.
sent these colours to you. Be assured that I shall ever look
back to my intercourse with yourselves and the various corps
composing the fine diverion assembled In this camp with feel-
ings of umniugled pleasure, and I gladly avail myself of this
oppc rtuoity of expressing my thanks for the cordial welcome
given me oo my joining the ranks for the purpose of obtain.
ing a practical acquaintance with the duties of your noble
profession. Time will not admit of my entering into • de-
• unmade' of all the valuable services rendered by
your regiment to their sovereign and country. From the
year ITO% when it was raised in Ireland, the birth-place of
so many gallant soldiers, until the close of the war in 1815,
your records might almost form au epitome of the military
history of the empire. During that period the 36th served
with marked distinction in Europe, Asia, and America
throughout many of the most brilliant campaigns in which
our armies have been engaged. It was repeatedly named in
very honourable terms by Cornwallis and Wellington, and
other eminent commanders, and has on all occasions nobly
vindicated its title to the motto inscribed on your banners,
and of which you are so justly proud. To a regiment that
has already achieved such a reputation and is now in so
high a state of efficiency, under the able manual:el of
Colonel Hort, these colours may, indeed, be safely entrusted,
and I feel convinced that whenever the opportunity shall
arias, you will show yourselves worthy of the memorable
eulogy once pronounced by Lord Cornwallis upon your gal-
lant corps :—" That they furnished a conspicuous proof that
discipline and valour in soldiers, when directed by zeal and
capacity in officers, are irresistible."
Colonel Hoar replied IA follows :—" May it please your
Royal Highness.—ln the name of the officers, non-commis-
sioned officers, and men of the 36th Regiment, I beg to
tender you our most sincere thanks for the great honour
you have paid us in thus presenting our colours to us, and
also for the very flattering manner in which you have
spoken of the services of the regiment. I venture to assure
you on this auspicious occasion that every one of
as, of all ranks belonging to the regiment, will
always look back with pride to the fact that the 36th
formed part of that brigade with which your Royal
Highness commenced your military career. I would
ask the attention of your Royal Highness to the medallion
of the face of the old colours. That medallion coven the
shreds of the old colours which the regiment bore in the
Peninsula under the command of the greet Duke of
Wellington. lam certain, should our Sovereign require us
to fight her battles in the held again, that those new colours
unfurled today will be borne to victory as the old colours
were by the brave men who fought and conquered under
them. Again allow me to thank your Royal Highoess for
the honour you have paid us.
The ensigns, holding the colours, then exhibited them to
the regiment, which saluted them by presenting arms, drums
beating the point of war rod bugleesouading the salute. The
centre sub-division was then wheeled outwards in slow time, I
and the new colours trooped down the line. The flank
companies at the same time were wheeled into position, 1
and the word given to stand at ease to all except company i
No. 1, which was composed exclusively of men who had
been in the ranks when the old colours were presented to
the regiment many years ago. This company, marching to
the tune of the "British Grenadiers," reached the pile of
crossed anus and there deposited the old colours, which
were saluted for the last time with all the honours, and
then conveyed to the rear, the heed playing "Auld Lang '
Syne." The regiment then closed the ranks sod brake into
open columns, which marched mat the flag, whore the
Prime, the Lord-Lieutenant, and staff were stationed on
horseback, twice, first at slow time and then at quick
time, saluting on each occasion and the bands playing, after
which the regiment repaired to quarters and the spectators
dispersed.
His Royal Highness, the Lord-Lieutenant, the Com-
mander of the Forces, HOD. Mr. Bruce, Colonel Koppel, the
staff, and all the officers of the 36th Regiment partook of
luncheon at the quarters of Colonel Hort. The health of
the Queen, the Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales, and the
other members of the royal family were proposed and drunk
with all the honours. His Royal Mahone visited the huts
of the soldiers and their families to see that they were en-
joyieg the feast prepared for them on the occasion, and
afterwards returned to his own quarters. The sergeants of
the 36th Regiment entertained the sergeants of the Grenadier
Guards at dinner in the evening. His Excellency the Lord-
Lientmant, the Commander of the Forces, and Captain
Ellis, A.D.C., returned to town by the train, which arrived
at the Kines.bridge at five o'clock.