“The Brigadier wishes to thank all ranks of the Brigade for their loyal co-operation and unflagging zeal and keenness during the Annual Camp this year, more especially during the week’s bivouac and hard marching, which was a severe test to untrained troops and in which the Brigade acquitted itself to his entire satisfaction. He attributes this success in a great measure to the fine spirit and soldierlike pride which has ever distinguished the Grey Brigade, and has once again successfully brought it through a trying time. He hopes and thinks that, though the work has been hard, the results have been great, and that all ranks are more fitted to take their part in active service should the necessity arise.”
A Regimental Athletic Club was formed with the twofold object of securing the best possible representation in the Territorial Sports and Marathon Race held annually in June and of fostering athletics from a military standpoint throughout the Battalion. The Committee did valuable work, and as the result of its labours the Regimental Team was enabled to take a high place in the Marathon Race.
This year the Regiment had to mourn the loss of its Honorary Colonel, His Majesty King Edward VII. He had been associated with the regiment over the long period of fifty years.
Major R. B. Hughes, who had been Quartermaster to the Battalion since the early nineties, was compelled, much to his regret, to resign his appointment this year. The regiment felt at his departure a regret equal to his own. Quartermaster-Sergeant W. H. D. Clark succeeded him, and the ability and hard work which he put into the arrangements for the Annual Camp contributed in no small degree to the success of that outing.
The announcement that the Regiment had been honoured by the appointment of the Rev. Canon Herbert Hensley Henson, D. D., as its Chaplain was received with gratification by the Battalion. Canon Henson had been approached because his church—St. Margaret’s, Westminster—is regarded as the church of Parliament and the Civil Service.
1911.
The Easter Training this year took place at the Guards’ Depot at Caterham. The opportunity thus afforded to the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Battalion to see the course of instruction through which a recruit of the Regular Army had to pass was most valuable.
The Battalion was called on to furnish a number of detachments in connection with the Coronation festivities this year, and acquitted itself well throughout. The Major-General in command of the Division expressed his entire satisfaction with the way in which the various duties were performed. As the personal gift of His Majesty on the occasion of his coronation, the Coronation Medal was awarded to the Commanding Officer, the Officers Commanding the detachments, the Quartermaster, Regimental Sergeant-Major, the senior N.C.O. and senior Private.
Annual training in camp took place at Dover. The political situation at home and abroad was not all that might be desired, and amongst all ranks was the feeling that before the camp terminated the Battalion might be called on for more serious work than that usually carried out on these occasions. Not until the Battalion had entrained for return to London could it be said that the tension had relaxed. The Major-General in his remarks on the training said that he noticed with pleasure the very good work done by all units, work which showed a distinct advance on any previously performed. He referred to the satisfaction given him by the cheerful way in which hardships, which resulted from the unavoidable stoppage of railway transport, had been borne by all ranks.
The Regiment furnished a detachment consisting of 1 officer, 1 N.C.O. and 4 men to attend the investiture of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales at Carnarvon on July 13th, 1911.