NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2884, 23 September 1916, Page 3

NATIONAL RESERVE

o — - AN OLD SOLDIER HONOURED. t , — 3 A graceful recognition of tho 'past : services to-tho Empire of a most ' worthy soldier has been made by the . ' Dominion Council of the National Re- '_ servo in specially bestowing'the badge . of honorary membership upon Colour--1 Sergeant S. Atkins, lato of the. 2nd . Seaforth Highlanders, still living, in re- ) tircment in 'Wellington'. The veteran ) was born in 1824, and entered the Army iu 1842, in tho 11th Regiment of Foot. Ho was transferred to the Seaforth Higblanders in 1845. For the l following fourteen years lie" saw much - active war service. In the Persian - War,: under Sir James ho was ' engaged in tho battles -of Kopscbab > and Mohumera, and tho expeditions on J tho Airvraz. During the Indian Mu- " tiny ho served through all the stirring ' scenes of battle under Sir Henry Haver lock, was at the Relief of Lucknow, ( the passage of tho Ganges at Cawn- . pore, defence of the Residency under I Sir James Outram, at Alumbagh, and , was through the,campaign iu Roliilcund ■- and the battle of Jiareilly under Sir Colin Campbell. He was severely woundefi at Lucknow. The veteran received medals and clasps for the- Persian War, India, modal and clasps, including Trticknow, medal. for long service and good conduct, and a medal for 1 meritorious scrvico in the field, for which ho is still drawing tho Imperial pension. On retiring from tho Army ho was presented with testimonials and a silver cup\by the officers and noncommissiotfeu officers of tho regiment in which ho served. Subsequently he served ten and a half years as staffsergeant of tno Border Battalion, R.V., under Colonel Sir George Douglas, and Mtrjor C. S. Plummor. Now, having reached tho patriarchal age of 94, ho is still halo and hearty, and clear in intellect—a splendid examplo of a soldior.