THE BATTLES OP THE QUEEN'S REIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2265, 29 July 1897, Page 41

THE BATTLES OP THE QUEEN'S REIGN.

INSPECTION OF SURVIVING VETERANS. (Daily Telegraph, May 13). One of the most interesting incidents which will take place in this year of Jubilee will bo the inspection of veterans representing every battle fought during her Majesty's 60 years of sovereignty. This unique event will take place at the Royal Hospital. Chelsea, on the sth July, when the Prince cf Wales, accompanied by the Princess, will inspect the rapidly dwindling remnant of the men who in many lands bore the British flag to victory. The idea owes its origin to Colonel Gildea, chairman and treasurer of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association. A fee will be churgsd for admission to the grounds of the K»yal Hospital, and the money realised will go to aid the nursing branch of this excellent 'and admirably administered association. At tho outset some considerable difficulty was found in tracing the survivors of the early campaigns of the reign. The pension list and other sources of information, however, enablad the organiseru to discover some, and Colonel Gildea is now able to say that he will have in the ranks for his Royal Highness's inspection men who fought in every general action under the British flag since 1837. A sketch of the lives of these old warriors would almost be an epitome of British hiatory dnring the most glorious reign in the annals of Eogland. Ghuzui, Mahar»j»pore, Aliwal, Sobranje, tbe Crimeau battles, the Mutiny, the two China wars, the Maori war, the various South African campaigns, the rebellion in Canada, Afghanistan, Afih&ntee and the Indian frontier campaigns all will be represented. Some of the old heroes have passed by tiro decades the alloted spau of human life, but they are now nearly as full of ardour a» they were 60 years ago, when they first wore the Queen's uniform. It will come as a surprise to most people to learn that there are yet on the active strength ot the army, if one may apply that adjective in this regard, two veterans who enlisted, one in 1837 aud the other in 1838. One of them fills the erstwhile gruesome office of Queen'c Executioner at the Tower. Fortunately, for this old hero, who fought at Gujerat, in th« ladi*n frontier war, all through the Centra '■ Indian campaign aud the ludiim Mutiny, the office of Yeoman gaoler entails 110 lethal function, and his headsnian'i axe rests idly by bi» side. His brother veteraa fills a nominally more grateful office, and he still moves about hale and brisk, sporting the ribbon of the recruiting sergeaut in the good town of Wool wich. Of the first war of the reig,v th Gliuzni War of 1838-39. only one man t>urvive6 to bear its medals. He fought in that campaign, and alao at Maharajapore in 184-3.,,, At Aliwal three year* later he wat» wounded severely, and proudly wears the medal with tha Sobrauje clasp. Coming down later, the survivors beoame more plentiful, and only a comparative few of^ tho applications ©f those who fought in tho Crimea and Indian Mutiny can b& entertained. Nob many of the first Maori war are available, but the c&mpaigus in South . Africa and Ashautee iv the seventies are fairly numerous. Colonel Gildea, however, wants men who fought in the sixties, and, strange as it may seem, cob a single representative of tbe battles fought between 1878 and 1888 has yet been secured. There should be plenty of men who took part in the Egyptian battles uuder the present Commander -in - chief within .easy reach. Cbitral and the last Aahanteo campaign (though co battle took place during the Liter) are also unrepresented. The men who look part in these last-mentioned two are still iv the service, and it no doubt only requires an application to the War Office to secure that Mie.y, too, shall have representatives *t Cheluea in July. Ot Victoria Cross men only two have turned up. One of them is an old fisherman at PeLzance, and he is coming all the way to London to attend his last parade. In addition to the Victoria Cross the brave old Cornißhtnan also has tbe medal for conspicuoui ' gallantry, the Crimean mf dal with three • bars, tbe Turkish medal, *nd the Cross of the Legion of Honour. The old cnan h*s no pension except the £10 a year which accompanies the Bronze Croas, and "he is obliged to win his bread from tbe seas round the stormy Cornish coast. The other holder of the most coveted decoration in tha services is an old Jack Tar who, oddly enough, has not had any > war atsrvice. He won ib away in the South Seaa one day, when a boat's crew of liberty men, of whom he was one, went ashore ou an island inhabited by cannibil savages. The sailors were attacked by the natives, aud this man displayed men conspicious heroism in the ensuing struggle that he was recommended for and received the Victoria Cross. It is a »ad commentary on the way in which our old soldiers and Hailors are looked after to have to state that many of the applications which reach Colonel Gilde* are indited from workhouses or other homes of poverty, and helplessness.- -One of these veterans has had no less than 35 years' service in the regulars, militia, and volunteers, and yet is nob entitled to a pension, and, of course, receives none. Accompanying his application to be allowed to take part in the review, he sent a copy of some very creditable verses commemorative of the Record Reign. In all about 300 old soldiers, together with the Chelsea pensioners, will bo inspected by the Prince of Wales. It is hoped that there will also be on the ground representatives of the various colonial troops that have come over for the Jubilee. After the inspection the Princess of Walei will receive purses containing donations in aid of the nurse's homes, and then the veterans and the Chelsea pensioners will sib down together to an evening meal in the great hall of the hospital. It is propoied to give each veteran a Jubilee pipe and a present of tobacco. The pipes are being made to {1 special design, and will form a handsome and, interesting souvenir for the old men.

Mr T. Palmer, of Mataura, asd Mr J. A. Algie, of Kaitangata, are exchanging plac» as jDOßtnusterie