Year: 1875

Last evening many of the officers who engaged
in the battle OF Baakava celebrated the anniversary
by dining together at Willis rooms King street, St.
James, when covers were laid for forty persons.
General the Earl Of Lucan, G. c. B., presided, sup
ported by Lieutenant General Lord George Paget,
X. c. b.. Lieutenant General Sir Edward Hodge,
X C. b. ; Major General Sir Thomas Mcmahon K. c. b.
Lord Trcdegar, Lord Bingham, Hon Il. II. Joili(e,
Sir George Wombwell. sc.


After the customary loyal toasts had been given by
the President and cordially responded Lord GEORGE
PAGET rose and proposed the toast Of the evening
''The health Of the chairman He said, g must
ask you 10 permit me to touch on a matter which TO
certain extent, may te considered perhaps affect
myself You all willing, am sure, to do homo. TO
the part which the Light Cavalry Brigade took in
the chargethe TO be forgotten charge-at Bala-
klava and wish TO state here the that
have prevented from being present NJ the banquet
gwen in their honor at the Alexandra Palace II was


matter of far question why the officers o. the Heavy
Brigade not included In the Invitation to that ban
quct. This is not the place, and am not the proper
person dwell the gallant deeds OF tho brgades
Chat day Suffice 1t to say that the services Of tho
brigades associated that could recon-
cile my feelings take any part the commcmo-
ration of the gallant doings OF that day, from
which the Heavy Brigade excluded But because
there was TINS cxclusiveness il did not prevent
from sending my contribution toward the enjoy
ment Of the gallant fellows meeting elsewhere today
although must repeat that did not expect that the
banquet would have assumed the character it did; and


am not quite sure that the presence OF officers such
and in such place is quite in keeping with
that which should have marked the OCCASION | hope
It viii never be supposed that have the warmcst
sympathy with all took part the action that
glorious day; and | am quite sure that no officer
present who belonged to the Heavy the Light
Brigade does not share this feeling with me ! have
nothing TO say than that most cordially propose
the health OF your gallant CHAIRMAN and let drink IL
with three times three These cheers were cnthusias-
tically gwen.


LUcAN's SPEECH


General Lord LucAS, IN responding 10 the toast
said:--l cordially thank you. Lord George Paget,
for the very kind manner in which you
have proposed my health and also Tor the
way in which the toast has been generally re-
ceived | you it affords me the greatest
pleasure to meet my comrades OF something like ffty
years standing. With regard 10 the Alexandra banquet
may say that heard nothing of II until came to
do with IT, as far as its arrangement was concerned but


at observed that the object to bring together
and give honor TO the Light Brigade alone and felt
tins particularly admiring the Light Brigade
do, and feeling also that their achievements tho
great day celebrating be surpas-
sed that branch Of the had bccn neglected
II IS well that eas Of that kind occurring twenty
years ago should bo commemoraed oday.
! have no hesitation IN saying that 1t was
impossible for any body OF soldiers 10 con
duct themselves moro noby, more splendidly than
did the Heavy Brigade in connection with the charge
Balaklava II is probable that they not brought
Immediately into action, the Light Brigade
hut had II not been for the position which they took
and the bravery they displayed the enemy would have
becn able to have burned ships and inflicted meal
culable injury II is therefore feel that their efforts
should have been acknowledged and now therefore
take the opportunity Of bearing my testimony to their
gaantry.


Lord Lucan retired from the chair shortly after
eleven o'clock, and after taking coffee the company
separated.