Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-02

when. in 1870 its affairs were taken ho,a
of by capable, energetic officers and WAS
recruited to a strength that had hitherto
been unheard Of 1t mustered 6.ooo men OF
all arms. and became a great factor in the
military life OF the British capital. In To-.
the company was given a grant of land al
Moorgate where a large armory built
for the members which is occupied by the
organization to this day. The drill ground
Is one of the finest In the world. and the
work of the men is the work of real sol
dierS not volunteers.
Includes All Arms of Service.
The organization includes among its men,
bershp. as stated, the representatives of all
arms of the service and musters for drill
one regiment of infantry. two battalions OF
artillery sharpshooters, mounted infantry,
sappers and sgnalmen. and has besides a
full complement of machine guns. 1t is the
premier volunteer military command of the
old world. and the members are not play
soldiers by any manner of means. They
have participated In the all the great wars
in which England has been engaged since
their organization was formed. with the
exception of the war of the revolution, which
resulted in the independence Of the United
States. The company was regarded dts
tinctly home guard at that time, and was
not. sent to the new world. although Eng
land was forced to the necessity of hiring
soldiers to do the fighting here for her from
other countries.
lie Ol men lllCiuueu III tie tDt1-
pany has varied as the times have demand
ed their services. Thus II Is shown that
while in 1872 the number was 5000 In the
days of the "roundheads' and the revolI-
ton led by Cromwell the Ancients furnished
| almost 1000 soldiers from the trained
bands" of London. In this war the An
clients fought with Cromwell and. curiously
enough. against their commanding officer.
Charles l.
The command is unique In the military
establishment of Great Britain. IN the Off
cial gazette it comes before the regular
army and its commanding officer has al
ways been one of the reigning family.
King Edward the Seventh is at present
captain general and colonel commanding.
as the high-sounding title reads. 1t IS
not known who the first commanding
officers were, but from the time of Charles
| the First. who himself captain general
and colonel, the list includes James the
Second the Prince of Orange, Prince George
of Denmark. George the First, George the
Second George the Fourth, William the
Fourth, the Duke of Sussex Prince Albert,
Queen Victorias consort, and the present
king, who was chosen for his office while
Prince of Wales.
Roll Of Distinguished Britons.
On the muster rolls of the company are
to be found many ancient and honorable
British names. among which are those of
Prince Rupert, the Duke of Monmouth
General Monk and the present commander,
pro tempore. the Earl of Denbigh, who ac-
companies the detachment which arrived III
Boston as commanding officer. The organ
ization seems to have been unfortunate in
its distinguished officers, for ii fought
against Charles the First throughout the
| war that resulted in his capture and execu-
| ton and one of its most brilliant exploits
was the repulse of Prince Ruperts cavalry
| at the second battle of Newbury, Rupert
| being a member of the organization at the
| time though leading its enemies.
| An old nv hp \
| which has stood the test of more than two
| centuries of storm and wind, is filled with
| historic relics of the company's past the
| organization has adopted the custom of
| changing its uniform to conform with the
| prevailing style in the regular establish
| ment. and it therefore has in its possession
| most unique collection of old military
habliments which are of great intrinsic as
| we'll as historic value. The last time any
members of the company saw active serv-
| ice was in 1900. when a portion of the or
| ganization enlisted under the Earl of Den
| bigh for the Boer war. The earl Is one or
| the most distinguished noblemen of Eng
| land His family traces its ancestry direct
| ly to Rudolph of Hapsburg of the Imperial
| Austrian family. and is regarded as one OF
| the most powerful Roman Catholic families
| in Europe. The detachment which visits
! the United States includes 165 men, and IS.
| as stated, under the command of the Earl
| of Denb!gh.
The Boston Company.
| In the recital of events surrounding the
| arrival of the London Ancients and the re-
| capitulation of the facts of their history.
| the record of the Boston Ancient and Hon
| orable Artillery, the Oldest and most unique
| military organization in the United States.
| is brought to attention. This company was
| organized in 1855 and was tirsa known
| as the Military Company of Massachu-
| sets" The charter for its organZa ton
| came directly from the King of Englond,
| and its membership included forty original
! members of the Ancients of London. Its
| first commanding officer Robert
| Keakne. The armory Of the Boston Anci-
| ents is the third story of old Faneuil Hall.
| The company has been quartered here since
| 1743.