RIFLE BRIGADE,
1871.
On the recovery of His Royal Highness the Colonel-in-Chief from his dangerous illness in the winter of 1871–2, Sir George Buller, Colonel-Commandant, addressed the following letter to the Comptroller of His Royal Highness’s household:
‘23 Bruton Street, Berkeley Square, March 5, 1872.
‘Sir,—I have the honour by the desire of Lieutenant-Colonel Manningham-Buller, and the officers of the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, to request you will be pleased to lay before His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifle Brigade, their most respectful and sincere congratulations on the recovery of His Royal Highness from His late dangerous illness, and in which congratulations I beg to add that I most cordially concur.
‘An unavoidable delay has occurred in the transmission of this address of the officers of the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade in consequence of the letter on this subject having been sent to my house in London, and not forwarded to me, by error.
‘I have the honour to be,
&c. &c. &c.,
‘(Signed) George Buller.
‘General, Colonel-Commandant 1st Battalion
Rifle Brigade.
‘General Sir William Knollys, K.C.B.
&c. &c. &c.’
To which the following gracious reply was received:
‘Marlborough House, Pall Mall, March 9, 1872.
‘Sir,—I have the honour to inform you that in compliance with your request, I have laid before the Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifle Brigade, the congratulations which you have been good enough to forward of Colonel Manningham-Buller, and the officers of the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, on His Royal Highness’s recovery from His late dangerous illness, with your own cordial concurrence in them.