The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-08-23
BRlTONS WILL RETURN VISIT.
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Companies Of
London and Boston to be Encamped at
the Jamestown Exposition,

Ancient and Honorable Artillery Companies o
London and Boston to be Encamped at
the Jamestown Exposition,
NORFOLK, VA.-Among the many ma
tional and foreign organizations to at
tend and participate in the grand military
display of the Jamestown Exposition, to
be held on the shores of Hampton Roads
in 1907, will be the Ancient and Honor
able Artillery Companies of London and
Boston, two of the oldest and mos: hon
ored organizations in the world.
Some time ago, invitations were sent
out by Mr.. R. H. Sexton, chief of the De-
partment of Congresses and Special
Events, inviting the Boston company to
attend the Exposition. The department
has recently heard from Col. Sidney NJ
Hedges, in command of the organization
stating that they would be glad to par.
ticipate in the military display at the
jamestown Exposition and would bring
with them the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery of London.
Some years ago the Boston Artillery
were entertained in London by the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery of that
city and at that time the Britishers prom.
ised to return the visit as soon as practi-
cable. Realizing the splendid opportun.
ity afforded by the jamestown Exposi-
ton, the Boston Company have invited
the London organization to pay them a
visit in 1907 and take in the military
celebrations at the Mer-C Centennial.
The Ancient and Honorable Artillery
of London is the Oldest organization of
its kind in Great Britain, dating back to
the year 1887, antedating the "Royal Yeo-
men," however, by only few years.
During the civil war of England from
1912 to 164S, this organization sustained
the House of Parliament with great effect
and later in the Lord George Gordon"
riots the company was called out in de-
fense of the Bank Of England. In later
years the Artillery 1T London has be.
come more of social organization, in
which only the very best blood Of Eng
land is represented. The military fea.
lures are still retained, however, and the
company has its regular weekly drills at
Finsbury and yearly encampment at
Moorfeld.
Members are elected to the organiza.
tion by the ballot of a committee known
az the "Court of Assistants" The fees
are two guineas annually, with an initia'
tion fee of Eve pounds. Since the year
1s49 the officers of the organization have
been appointed by the Grown, but prior
to that date the positions were obtained
by inheritance, the Oldest son receiving
the commission upon the death of his
father. The colonel of the company ap.
points his own non-commissioned officers
from the ranks.
In its first years, the organization was
composed of companies of artillery only,
but in later years it has taken in several
other branches of the service, retaining
its original name, however. The corps
numbers about 800 at present and is COM
posed of six companies of infantry, a
troop of light cavalry and company of
veterans, the latter corresponding very
closely to our army retired list.
The Ancient and Honorable Artillery
of Boston was organized in 1887, just a
hundred years later than the London Ar
tillery, of which it is model. This Or
ganization is composed of the descend
ants of commissioned officers of the Col
onial and Revolutionary armies, and, like
the London Artillery, was originally a
purely military organization, but in later
wears has become one of the most fash
ionable social bodies of the country.
These two rival organizations, camped
side by side next year at the Jamestown
Exposition, will indeed furnish novel
and impressive sight.