CHAPTER XV.
Volunteer Reviews, 1864, 1876—Mobs in the Park—Funeral of Queen Caroline.
The next review in the Park was also of Volunteers, 21,743 in number, who were inspected by the Prince of Wales on 28th May, 1864. After the inspection, the Prince, who wore the uniform of the Honourable Artillery Company, took his place at the head of his corps. The following is from The Times, 30th May, 1864:—
“The Royal carriages, meanwhile, had drawn up close to the flag-staff, and, as they took their position, His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, accompanied by Major Elphinstone, R.E., came forward and joined the party. Shortly afterwards, the Duc d’Aumale and the two gentlemen by whom he was accompanied, were perceived in the reserved seats by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. They were at once conducted within the enclosure, and, having paid their respects to the Princess of Wales, remained to witness the march past.
“First in order came the Hon. Artillery Company, a body which can trace its pedigree back to a time when there was no standing army in England; and whose ancestors, the old Train Bands, ranged themselves sometimes on the side of the sovereign, and sometimes against it, but always on the side of liberty. Next, marched the representative corps of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and the brigade closed with a battalion raised from those distinguished Civil servants who act as the wheels on which our social machinery revolves. The Prince, wearing the uniform of Colonel of the Hon. Artillery Company, with the blue riband of the Garter, was warmly cheered, as he rode past in advance of his brigade; and, having gracefully saluted the Commander-in-Chief, took up his post on the left of General Pennefather, where he could be seen to advantage by the different regiments as they passed.
“It is no new thing to say of the Hon. Artillery Company that they are hardly to be distinguished from the corps d’élite, to whose uniforms their own so narrowly approximate; but, on Saturday, conscious of their added dignity, they put forth special efforts to justify their ancient renown. Oxford University came tripping along merrily, to the music of Faust—a little short in the step perhaps, but that may have been the fault of the band—with a somewhat novel look imparted to their ranks by the bright blue colour of their caps and stockings. The Cambridge men enjoyed the advantage, as far as appearance is concerned, of those knowing Zouave gaiters, which, on parade, replace the ‘cardinal’ stockings. In other respects the University Corps were on a footing of perfect equality, and, in every respect, worthy to be included in the new formation of infantry of the guard. Lord Bury, the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Civil Service Regiment, was warmly greeted—a tribute apparently personal, as well as complimentary to the fine regiment under his command.
“The Cavalry Brigade, composed of the 1st Surrey Light Horse, the 1st Middlesex, and the 1st Hertford Volunteer Cavalry, formed, in the aggregate, a squadron of nearly one hundred. The horses, for the most part, were exceedingly good, but many of them had either not been accustomed to march in line, or were disconcerted by the music of the band. Cavalry, at present, is scarcely one of the elements of strength in the Volunteer Service, and it would be well if, occasionally, means could be taken of enlisting the co-operation of the Yeomanry. The military effect of Volunteer reviews would be much heightened by their presence.
“The Artillery display was very imposing. This has always been a favourite branch of the service; but, in spite of their previous knowledge of the subject, the public were surprised to find how large a proportion the Artillerists bore to the general force under arms. In addition to the six light guns which had gone past with the Hon. Artillery Company, in the Prince of Wales’s Brigade, 20 others of heavier calibre were now paraded in charge of the 1st Administrative Brigade, the Middlesex Artillery Volunteers, commanded by Col. Creed, and the 3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers. The bearing of the men and their general equipments were highly creditable to all concerned; and, not content with mere efficiency, some of the batteries borrowed a hint, as to style, from the Royal Horse Artillery, and horsed their guns exclusively with animals of one colour. In addition to what may be called, for the sake of distinction, the Service Artillery, there was a complete Brigade of Artillery Volunteers, armed with carbines only, numbering close upon 2000 men.