Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-04
THE VETERANS DAY.
"A BAND OF sURvIvQRs-OF EVERY
RATTLE FOUGHT FOR 60 YEARS.
TWO HOLDERS OF VICTORIA CROSS.
Participants in the Egyptian Con-
nict-But One Survivor Remains or
the First General Engagement
During the Reign of the Queen.
ocorrespondence of the Dispatch.)

Correspondence OF the Dispatcn.)
LONDON, June 19.-The most remark
able assemblage of men that England
has ever seen will be on view at the
Royal Hospital. Chelsea, July 9th. on thi:
date the Queen and the Prince and the
Princess of Wales will inspect a body OF
men who, as individuals. have fought II
some one of every battle of consequence
fought since Victoria assembled the
throne. They will form human story OF
British conquest of sixty years. Never in
the history OF any country was there a
gathering Of this sort.
The occasion will be grand garden
fete in the grounds of the Royal Hospital,
witch is under the especial patronage OF
the Prince of Wales. 1t is on this occa-
sion that the review of the pensioners
and veterans will take place When one
considers what q tremendous record OF
warfare these men will represent, II
seems almost beyond belief. The whole
affair Is under the charge or Colonei
Hugh Gildea, who Is chairman ana
treasurer OF the Soldiers and Sailors
Family Association.
When the work OF arranging for the
meeting of these veterans was begun, the
very greatest difficulty was found in trac-
ing the survivors of the early campaigns
Of the reign. The searchers finally turned
10 the pension list, however. which
nroved of great assistance to them 1t
ss now an assured fact that there Will be
An the ranks on July 9Th men who fought
an every general action under the British
Gag since 1887.
A sketch OF the lives OF these old war
riors would almost be an epitome or Brit
fah history during the most glorious reign
in the annals Of England Ghuzni. Mana
raiapore, Aliwal. Sobranje, the Crimean
battles, the Mutlny, the two China wars,
she Maori war, the various South African
campaigns, the rebellion in Canada, Az
Ohanistan. Ashantee, and the Indian
frontier campaigns all will be repre-
sented. Some of the old heroes have
spassed by two decades the allotted span
OF human life. but they are now nearly
as full OF ardor as they were sixty years
ago when they first wore the Queens
uniform. 1t will come as surprise 10
most people to learn that there are yet
on the active strength of the army. If
one may apply that adjective In this re-
gard, two veterans. who enlisted, one In
1877 and the other In 1898 One of them
ais the erstwhile gruesome Office OF
Queens Executioner. at the Tower.
Fortunately for this old hero, who fought
at Gujerat, In the Indian Frontier war,
all through the Central Indian campaign,
ana the Indian Mutiny the office Of Yeo-
man galoer. entails no lethal functions,
and his headsman's axe rests idle by
mis- side. His brother veteran fills
Z nominally more grateful office. and he
still moves about hale and brisk. sport
ing the ribbon OF the recruiting-sergeant
in the Queens good town Of wc-wich.
OF the first war Of the re!gn--the Ghuzni
war OF 1Sss-'3s-only one man survives
10 bear It's medals. He fought in that
campaign. and also at Maharajapore, in
i843 At Aliwai. three years later, he
gas wounded severely. and proudly wears |
the medal with the Sobranjc clasp.
Comins down later the survivors be- |
come more plentiful. and only a compare |
tive few of the applications OF those who |
fought In the cfimea and the indian mu- |
tiny can be entertained Not many OF the |
lIret Maori war are available. but the |
campaigns In South Africa and Ashantce |
IN the seventies are fairly numerous. /
Strange as II may seem. not single rep |
fesentasiye OF the battles fought between
5674 and 1873 has yet been secured. chitral |
and tho last Ashantee campaign. though
- katkla took Ilace d'rjax tia Letter. prA