MILITARY
G
(Contd.)
stay behind; but we have nevertheless looked with the most genuine interest on the way you have acquitted yourselves.
"It certainly is a magnificent thing for a regiment that one battalion should have been serving for twelve months, doing hard work in South Africa, and another battalion of the regiment should be doing equally good work in the north of China. It is a very proud thing indeed for a regiment to have such a record as that. I am not going to detain you any longer, only I wished to welcome you here. I know there are other welcomes that will be given, but it was my pride and privilege to be able to be the first one to welcome you back into the command.
"One last word. I am certainly not against the men enjoying themselves thoroughly, but I cannot help remembering that there are a good few of your comrades left behind who have found graves in the north of China. All honour to them.
They died, some on the field of battle, some from wounds received in battle, and many from sickness the result of the hard work and privations they endured.
For the mercy of the Almighty God has shown every one of you who are listening to me, I ask you to show your gratitude for the blessings vouchsafed to you by taking your pleasures discreetly. Now men, we have been standing in the shadow of the statue of the Empress-Queen, whose servants we are proud to think we are. Take your helmets and join with me in giving three cheers for Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria."
The request was acceded to with great enthusiasm.
On the call of the General, the band then played the National Anthem.
General Gascoigne having intimated his desire to march at the head of the regiment to the barracks, the men formed up and marched off to the strains of the drums and fifes, the band of the regiment taking the lead later with "Men of Harlech" and the regimental march. A number of their comrades gave the men a hearty reception on entering the barracks.
In the barrack square General Gascoigne exchanged greetings with the officers.
The men were dismissed immediately, and were served with a cold collation.
In the evening a reception was given in the Sergeants' Mess, at Murray Barracks, to the returned N.C.Os. The catering, it is interesting to note, was in the hands of Thomas' Grill Rooms, a former restaurant of the Colony which has been referred to in a previous article.
Over eighty sat down to an excellent repast, which was followed by an enjoyable smoking concert. Colonel Bertie was among the officers attending the smoker, others present including representatives of the troopship Salamis which had brought the Royal Welch Fusiliers back from North China.
The Colonel in the course of a speech said he thought he could say with certainty that sanction would be obtained for "Peking" being inscribed on the Regimental Colours. This sanction was duly given.
By Submission to King Edward VII the regiment was permitted on October 29, 1902 to bear the distinction "Peking, 1900" upon its colours.
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