REGIMENTAL ANECDOTES IN PEACE AND WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 14

REGIMENTAL ANECDOTES IN PEACE AND WAR.

j By A RECRUIT OP 1855. A GALLANT DRUMMER. During the Rebellion in IT9S a drummerboy was taken prisoner by the rebels, who endeavoured to make him serve them as a drummer, but ou receiving orders to beat his drum which he carried, he leaped ou It, breaking both its heads, exclaiming, "The King"s drum shall never be beaten for rebels."' It has been inferred that Moore had this lad's? loyalty in his mind when he -wrote his "Minstrel Boy." A LADY SENTRY WASTED. Sir Charles Napier, who as a major in the 50th Regiment marched under Sir John Moore, tells the following incident: —The major was once standing in the streets of Lisbon looking at a very pretty woman, who was at a window, when someone gently laid hold of both his ears, saying, in a joking tone, "Ah, caitiff' I have caught you. What right have you to look at such an ugly woman ns that? I will put yon under arrest." Turning round, the major found it was the Commander-in-Chief. "I will thank you for the punishment, sir," said Major Napier, "if yon will place the ugly old woman over mc as senj try." A CAUTIOUS TO*___ Winston S. Churchill, M.P.. in his book, "London to Ladysmith," tells of an mii cldent which took place at Spion Kop, whe-re Genera! Uart discovered a soldier sitting safely behind a rock aud a long way behind the firing line. "Gocvd afternoon, my man," he said, in his most ncr- , vous, apologetic voice. "What are you doing [ here:'' An officer told mc to stop here, sir,"' replied tbe soldier. "Oh! Why?''. "I'm a third-class shot, sir." "Dear mc." | said the general, after some reflection; "that's an awful pity, because you sec you'll have to get quite close to the Bocra to de> any good. Come along with mc and I'l find you a nice place." And a monrnful procession trailed off to the Arms line. A DETERMINED COMMANDEK. The 79th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders has a long and brilliant career, and its history relates an episode In its early life. Military men and the country generally are well aware of War Office interference. So far back as 1796, the then military authorities had a desire to draft the men of this gallant corps, aud send them to other regiments. Colonel Cameron was at that time in command, auel on the first intimation of this scheme being mentioned to him he at once waited upon the Duke of York, who was Commander-in-Chief, aud in a respectful manner, remonstrated against this new order. Colonel Allan Cameron had the love ot bis men at heart, and waxed warm on his subject, and told the Com-mander-in-Chief that neither he-nor the "King danr" draft the Cameron men. "Well," said the Duke, "they will be sent to the West Indies." Tli« commanding officer wrathfully exclaimed. "The Kin;; may send ,us to b if he likes, and I'll march at their head., but he d.-.nrna draft us." And up till the present day the Cameron Highlanders are as proud of their tartan and fearlessness of their then commanding officers as any of the battle names on thedr colours.

In the year 1797 Colonel Mackenzie Fraser com_3i=.aed the 78th, Highlanders nn its first active service 'in India. The rank and file were "hearty all Highlanders, and the commanding officer adopted a very simple mode of punishment. He always threatened to send to a defaulter's- parents an account of his misconduct, and this was enough to prevent the commission of eTen a slight military offence, thns showing that a sense of dnty is not extinguished in the Scottish solider by absence from home. This incident mnst have been in the mind of Sir Colin Campbell wben at the battle of Aima he told the Highland Brigade — "If any soldier leave the ranks to cary wounded comrades his name shall be stuck up in liis parish church." HE "WAS FOND OF HONEY. "- After the battle of Talavera. Lord. Wellington issued orders against plundering, and on one occasion the soldiers were in the habit of stealing beehives from the gardens rennd about. The Commander-in-Chief, riding out one morning, saw a soldier of the 88th at a little distance running rapidly in another direction, with a beehive on his head. The Duke galloped after him, shouting. "Stop, stop, yon rascal!" The soleller had partly covered his head and ears with his greatcoat to prevent the bees from stinging him, and could neither see nor hear who -iras pursuing-, nor the words that were addressed to him. He thought it was one of his comrades, and kept trotting on, while Wellington followed after. "Where did you get that beehive?" roared he in a voiete of thunder, as he approached. "I got it behind the hedge, yonder," replied the man, still without halting or looking back; "there are plenty more; but, bedad, I'd advise you to make haste if yon want one, or they'll all be gone." THE HONEST 71st COEPORAL. At the battle of Vimiera, Corporal McKay, of the 71st Highland Light Infantry savea the life of a French General named Brennier, who was on the point of being killed by men of another corps. The corporal had him taken to the field hospital and car«l for. The French officer orfercd McKay his watch, which the HighUnder refused. The Highland Society "ot London, on hearing the particulars, rewarded the corporal's hnmanity and honesty by presenting him with a gold mclal.