MUTINOUS BANDSMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

MUTINOUS BANDSMEN.

VOLUNTEERS DRUMMED OUT OP CAMP. A. r.\iNFUL incident occurred on July 24 at the Gailes Camp, Ayrshire, where between seven and eight thousand Scottish volunteers have been tinder canvas for a week. In the morning the band of the Fourth Lanark, a Glasgow corps, refused twice when ordered to accompany the regiment to the scene of the day's ma.nteuvres, and they were placed under arrest in their tents, with the exception of the buglers. Half a dozen men mounted guard over the mutineers, who numbered about twenty-five. The act of insubordination was due to a belief on the part of the bandsmen that they were receiving an inadequate allowance. On the return of the regiment from manoeuvres at lunch time the bandsmen* were drummed out of the camp and dismissed the service by Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, the officer commanding, in the presence of the whole brigade. In a scathing speech Colonel Smith remarked that the baud refused to parade because they seemed to have discovered that bands in other regiments were receiving more remuneration for their services in camp. The band joined as volunteers, and were not entitled to be paid any more than any other member of the battalion. As he had intimated in the morning, he intended now to dismiss them with ignominy. It was most painful to him personally. Such a thing had never happened before in the annals of the regiment, but he could not show any clemency. It had been a most disgraceful exhibition, and he could not overlook it for the good name of the whole battalion.

Bandmaster Jarvis having called out the names of the offenders the men's facings were cut off and the colonel dismissed them "as a disgrace to"the regiment and to the uniform they woie."