Another was the celebration of the Prince of Wales’ birthday by an inspection at Somerset House, followed by a Regimental Dinner.
CHAPTER II
Eccentricities.
Looking back from the sober routine of the volunteering of to-day, to this strange period when every one was a recruit, it is only natural that eccentricities should be apparent on all sides. The enthusiasm that pervaded all ranks was, of course, immense, and the amount of drilling done, especially by the Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers was enormous. A golden age was this for the Army Drill-Instructors. Elderly recruits of a nervous temperament hesitated to exhibit themselves in the ranks until they had been privately coached in the initial mysteries of drill, in the seclusion of their own apartments. Uniform was worn on every possible occasion, at drill or on the range. It is said that after one occasion when Lord Bury had appeared at the range in plain clothes, he received a letter from an indignant private, expressing a hope that such a slight would not again be cast upon members of the regiment.
One Rule passed by the Council was that Honorary Members should be entitled to appear on parade in uniform, with a scarlet sash as a distinguishing ornament.
Another Rule strikes us as still more eccentric. Privates when off parade should be allowed to wear a sword similar to that worn by officers, but in a black leather scabbard. What the privates were supposed to want to do with their sword when off parade it is difficult to imagine.
With the close of the drill season the Regiment does not cease to show signs of interesting activity. Whilst in winter quarters it enlivened its repose with various festive gatherings having for their main object the support of the regimental band, which was in want of funds.
Dramatic Performance.
Perhaps the most interesting of these gatherings is an Amateur Dramatic Performance, held at the Lyceum Theatre, wherein the corps exhibited an array of talent, of which it might justly feel proud. The performance was so successful that it was repeated. The following is a copy of the programme:
PRINCE OF WALES’ OWN
Civil Service Rifle Volunteers.
HONORARY COLONEL, H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.G.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, VISCOUNT BURY, M.P.
On WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1861,
WILL BE PERFORMED, FOR THE SECOND TIME, AT THE
THEATRE ROYAL LYCEUM,
By Special Desire,
The original Comedy by CAPTAIN TOM TAYLOR, C.S.R.V.,
ENTITLED:
“A LESSON FOR LIFE.”
| Lord Greystoke | Lieutenant DEWAR | |
| The Hon. Marmaduke Dacre | Under- graduates of St Barnabas College, Cambridge | Captain J. DU PLAT TAYLOR |
| Reredoss | Mr. MILLS. | |
| Horsley | Lieutenant T. ANGELL | |
| Crouch | Lieutenant W. S. GILBERT | |
| Stretcher | Serjeant BAUKE | |
| Vivian | Captain HOOD | |
| Colepepper (Senior Tutor of St. Barnabas) | Captain MILLS | |
| Oppenhardt (A German Jew) | Captain TOM TAYLOR | |
| Basewitz (A Swindler) | Ensign EDMUND YATES | |
| Dr. Vivian (A Country Vicar) | Private R. MORRISON | |
| Mr. Gray (A Country Attorney) | Mr. W. H. LONG | |
| Topham | Lieutenant GARNETT | |
| Murcott | Serjeant WALSHE | |
| Lady Valecrucis | Mrs. STIRLING | |
| The Hon. Mabel Valecrucis | Miss ELLEN TERRY | |
| Mary Ford | Miss KATE TERRY | |
| (By kind permission of A. Wigan, Esq., T.R. Saint James’) | ||
| Nanny Kettlewell | Mrs. STEPHENS | |