The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-09-27
Early Feats of Londoners


other city in the kingdom.
Early Feats of Londoners
In 1854 the citizens presented Ed j.
ward ii with 25 men at arms and soc
archers. all attired in similar uniforms.
TO serve with his army then in France.
and six years later that gift was sun
plemented by further one of a fleet
OF $50 sail. with 1900 men on board
bound for the same destination
III August. 1916, they raised and
completely equipped a regiment of 1000
men for Henry VIII to serve in France;
whilst 40 years later. in the reign of
GOOD queen Bess they sent consid-
cradle number of men to helm the
Dutch against the Spaniards.
In 1883 the city supplied and
equipped 1000 men to assist in placing
Henry of Navarro upon the throne of
France; whilst In 1896 the lord mayor
twice raised 1000 able bodied men, COM
pietely armed in less than ~ hours. to
proceed to the relief of the French in
oalais which was then being be-
sleged by the Spaniards.
In the first year of the seventeenth
| century 500 soldiers were raised for
service in Ireland; and in 1924 the cit
lzens provided and armed 1000 men.
"hom they placed at the disposal of
James | for the campaign in Ger
many.
1t Is further recorded that 'in 1914
there was a great muster in the city.
the King having appointed after har-
vest a general muster all England over.
Then did the citizens show themselves
very forward in practicing all points
OF war and military discipline. And
for the we'll managing of this muster
the lord mayor and commonalty an
pointed 20 captains to be selected of the
most active and able citizens; and
unto each of them he allotted 800 shot
and pixies viz: 5000 in all being for
the most part householder bravely fur
nished"
In 1910 the city raised $500 men for
CHARLES | to serve against the Scots.
Operations in Restoration
In the year of the restoration there
were in the city of London and its IN
critics six regiments of trained bands.
SIX regiments of auxiliaries and one
regiment of horse The 10 regiments
OF loot consisted of so companies and
as each company comprised not less
than 200 men, the whole totaled moro
than $4,000 soldiers, whilst the regi-
fneht or horse consisted of six troons.
each containing 100 men. Charles TT
regarded this force as being so highly
useiui, not only to the city but also
Tor assuring the safety Of his own per
son, that he sent to the guildhall a
commission of lieutenancy appointing
several distinguished men to act as his
lieutenants in London. giving them the
same power that the lieutenants of the
counties in England possess.
on June 80, 1903. the common coun-
Gil agreed to request from the home
secretary to furnish 500 men for the
army of reserve. fixing the proportion
to be furnished by each ward and the
rates to be paid 1t was decided tn
mobilize tho different corps in four
divisions: st. Pauls royal exchange
northeast and southeast. Further, II
was resolved to form associations of
all inhabitants from Is to as years OF
age, for drill and discipline; whilst
those who were more than as were en-
rolled as special constables
On July 26 5000 leading merchants
assembled at the royal exchange. who
We're addressed by the lord mayor in
the following spirited words:
I'VE are determined to stand by our
King and our country We are fight
ing for that constitution, that system
of society. which Is at once the noblest
monument and firmest bulwark of civ
ilization. We are fighting for them
dependence of nations. even of those
who are most blindly Indifferent to or
lfate, or most Jealous of our pros
perity."
The oath of allegiance was admin
istered to the men under the dome of
st Paul's: to officers individually, and
to the privates six at time.
No account of the patriotism of the
city, however brief. would be complete
without reference to the raising of the
city of Londons imperial volunteers.
"the lord mayors own" in 1899 for
service in South Africa. The entire reg
| iment, consisting of 81 officers and
1875 men. total 1889 (of. whom 81 were
killed. 81 wounded and 155 invalided)
was sent out at the expense of the cor
poration the city merchants, and the
public generally.