This is the leading thought in this book about Soldiers—it is meant to keep alive the bravery of youth in the experience of manhood. The editor of the book is very sensible of the incompleteness of the work. He knows that it is defective in many places, but it is honest. A good many of the papers were written by one who was then far away on a foreign station doing brave service; some of the papers are the work of dead hands. The articles have been put together as carefully as circumstances would allow, but there has been an anxious care on the Editor’s part to retouch as little as possible the work of absent contributors. He offers the book to the Boys of England—not as the best piece of work that can be done—but as a volume they will read with delight and keep as a souvenir of pleasant hours. He is of opinion that anything which helps to make Boys more in love with true courage is good work done—he believes that bravery excites bravery, just as iron sharpeneth iron; and so he has confidence in this book being useful—a record of brave deeds that shall make its readers echo the words of King Harry—
“If it be a sin to covet honour
I am the most offending soul alive.”
CONTENTS.
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| I. | OUR SOLDIERS AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [1] |
| II. | THE GUARDS, OR HOUSEHOLD TROOPS OF ENGLAND | [14] |
| III. | THE ENGINEERS | [24] |
| IV. | THE ROYAL WELSH | [40] |
| V. | OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS | [54] |
| VI. | OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS—(continued) | [64] |
| VII. | OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS—(continued) | [84] |
| VIII. | OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS—(continued) | [93] |
| IX. | OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS—(continued) | [107] |
| X. | THE PIPERS OF OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS | [123] |
| XI. | COLONEL BELL AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [139] |
| XII. | COMMANDER (NOW CAPTAIN) FIOTT DAY, R.N., AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [149] |
| XIII. | LIEUTENANTS MOORE AND MALCOLMSON AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [158] |
| XIV. | CAPTAIN W. A. KERR, SOUTH MAHRATTA HORSE, AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [168] |
| XV. | PRIVATE HENRY WARD, V.C., 78TH HIGHLANDERS | [176] |
| XVI. | LIEUTENANT ANDREW CATHCART BOGLE, V.C., 78TH HIGHLANDERS (NOW CAPTAIN 10TH FOOT) | [193] |
| XVII. | DR. J. JEE, C.B., V.C., SURGEON; ASSISTANT-SURGEON V.M. M’MASTER, V.C.; AND LIEUTENANT AND ADJUTANT HERBERT J. MACPHERSON, V.C. | [207] |
| XVIII. | “LUCKNOW” KAVANAGH AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [221] |
| XIX. | LIEUTENANT BUTLER AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [236] |
| XX. | DR. HOME AND DR. BRADSHAW AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [244] |
| XXI. | ROSS L. MANGLES, ESQ., V.C., BENGAL CIVIL SERVICE ASSISTANT-MAGISTRATE AT PATNA | [257] |
| XXII. | CAPTAIN HENRY EVELYN WOOD, 17TH LANCERS | [272] |
| XXIII. | SAMUEL MITCHELL AND THE VICTORIA CROSS; OR THE GATE PA AT TAURANGA | [285] |
| XXIV. | ENSIGN M’KENNA AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [299] |
| XXV. | SERGEANT MAJOR LUCAS, OF THE 40TH REGIMENT, AND THE VICTORIA CROSS | [313] |
| XXVI. | THE HEROES OF THE VICTORIA CROSS IN NEW ZEALAND | [322] |
| XXVII. | THE NAVAL BRIGADE IN INDIA | [334] |
| XXVIII. | THE VARIOUS RANKS IN THE BRITISH ARMY, AND HOW TO DISTINGUISH THEM | [347] |
| XXIX. | A GRAND REVIEW | [362] |
| XXX. | A SOLDIER’S FUNERAL | [376] |
