HISTORIC COLOURS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 11

HISTORIC COLOURS

RIFLE VOLUNTEERS

EARLY tfIIUTARY RECORDS

FIEST FLAG PRESENTED

Some early history of Wellington, which dates back to the formation of the Welington Bine Volunteers in 1860, is represented by the Colours ■which were presented to the- Wellington Eifle Volunteers, and which are to be - laid up in St; Paul's Pro-Cathedral tomorrow, with other colours belonging to the Wellington Begiment. The manner in which the Colours have- come into the possession of the ' Begimeiit is interesting. They have been handed over by Mr.-J. F. Mills, of Ixarori, in whose possession they havo been for a number of years. Mr. Mills 's father (Mr. E. W. Mills) joined the volunteers' in 1546, at the age of 1(3 years, as one of a small company under Mr. , George Allen, .which patrolled tho outskirts of tho youug settlement. Later Mr. Mills joined 2vo. 1 Company Wellington Rifle Volunteers, and rose to the position of captain, which he held till tho corps was disbanded in'lß73. Ho was afterwards appointed to No. I Company of tho Militia as captain, and his name is on the retired list. When the Wellington ltiflo Volunteers were disbanded the Colours went into Mr. Mills's keeping; and they have been in the possession of his family over since. From now on they are to rest) in honour, with the other Colours o.f the Wellington Regiment which were 'presented ,to the (then) Ist Ballation Wellington Eifle Volunteeers, the predecessors of! the Ist Battalion of the Wellington Begilnent, by Mrs. Samuel Brown, Mayoress of Wellington, in 1887: *Tho Wellington Regiment was presented with new 'Colours last March by Mrs. G. iA. Troup, Mayoress, acting on behalf of the ladies of Wellington, who raised the funds. The old Colours, which were presented to the Wellington Eifle Volunteers, are in a state of good preservation. The colours have faded somewhat, but the- green siik on which the words "Wellington Rifle Volunteers," and .the motto, "Nee Tiniide nee tcmere," are worked, retains: something of its 'original shade. (A photograph of tho Colours appears on page 17 of to-day's "Post.") These Colours, which were presented by the ladies of Wellington,-, arc the first regimental colours in existence in Wellington. They might be aptly described as a tangible record of the birth of the Wellington Eeginient. FORMATION OF COMPANY. The history of these old volunteer companies makes interesting reading. Eeeords at 6.H.Q. show that there ap-pears-to have been a volunteer company of some sort —as distinct from the Militia which was a semi-permanent organisation^ the Wellington Batallion being created' on 11th April, 1845 — from about 1843. The duties of this ■volunteer unit appears to have been a combination- of constabulary, fire ■brigade, and military, in that order of importance. (The Volunteer Act of 1805 defines a volunteer corps as a squadron of cavalry, a battery of artillery, a company of infantry, or a fire brigade.) The Militia were the purely military organisation, their .present day descendants being the Eoyal New Zealand Artillery' (regular soldiers), who arc the direct descendants of the Armed Constabulary, who in turn sprang from th Militia. • The, first vohinter unit which appeared to exist for purely military purposes in Wellington was No. 1 Company, Wellington Hiie Volunteeers (the owners of the flag). They came into being on 4th June, ISSO, and their officers were: Captain Stephen Carkeek, Lieutenant William Seed, and Ensign Charles William Schultz. The same year saw the creation of the Hutt Eifle Volunteers, on (ith August; and the Taita Eifle Volunteers, on 18th October. Mr; Mills was appointed a captain in the company on Ist March, 1860. "MILITARY ARDOUR." In reference to the formation of this company, old records show that on Oth April, 1860J v meeting was held at the Wellington Athenaeum of people concerned in the desire to form a volunteer corps. Mr. J. M. Stuart presided, and on (the motion of Mr. T. Pilcher, seconded by Mr. J. Kainsay, it wassre"soivoci: "That the style ana title of ;the proposed armed association be the Mo. 1 Company of the Wellington Volunter Eifles." . "Altogether," says the newspaper report of the 'day, "it was one of the most, enthusiastic meetings held in Wellington. The rumours to which we have referred (Maori troubles) evoked such an outburst of military ardour that but' little difficulty would havo been, experienced in obtaining names for a second, if not a third, volunteer corps." Tho report adds that the first sergeant was fi. Barry, the second sergeant C. Ward, third sergeant E. L. liigpen, and the fourth sergeant T. W. Pilcher. That company, it goes on to relate, continued in existence until the end of the Maori troubles, and then the D Battery (22nd July, 18(57), and after it the City Biflcs , (29th October, 1807) came into existence. It is clear from records that the military aidour aroused in 1860 did not hold the company together after 1873. On 30th' May, 1873, tnere appears the following paragraph in the "Jdvcning Post': —"For some time past No. 1 Vmuuteer Bine Company has been coustantly dwindling; latterly it has been practically moribund, and it is now a thing of the past.. At the official parade last Monday not _ a single member officer, or private, put in an appearance, and accordingly the company has been formally disbanded." In "The Post" of 31st May- appears the following paragraph:—"Yesterday's 'Gazette' contains a notification that the officer administering the Government has been pleased to discontinue the services of No. 1 Company, Wellington Eifle Volunteers, and that the commissions of its officers have lapsed." The official parade referred to was probably the parade held in connection with the celebrations of the Queen's Birthday, which was observed as a holiday on. the Monday, and noi on the actual day, Saturday, 24th May. No doubt the disbandment of the company was regretted by some, but it was probably only natural, for tradition, it must be remembered, says that old soldiers never die—they simply/ fade away.