A BRAVE SOLDIER.

Evening Star, Issue 3621, 30 September 1874, Page 3

A BRAVE SOLDIER.

An interesting presentation of a medal to one of the 43nd (Black Watch) Highlanders recently took place on Southsea Common, in the presence of a large number of persons. After a brigade drill, in which the 42nd, 58th, and the 15th‘Regiments took part, the men formed three sides of a square, when the Lieutenant-General (Sir Charles Hastings Doyle) called for Private Thomas Adams, of the 42nd Highlanders, to whom it had been decided to award a medal for distinguished services in the Ashantee war. The Lieutenant-General read the correspondence which has taken place upon the matter, and also some remarks made by Mr Stanley in a New York journal Those remarks were to the effect that Adams literally led the 42nd into Coomassie, whilst he himself became quite a target for leaden and iron slugs ; but notwithstanding that he bounded on “like a hound well set.” Sir Hastings Doyle said Private Adams was one of the bravest men in the British array, and he ought to be one of the proudest in it. He (Sir Hastings) would give all he possessed to be in his shoes. - Not only was Adams a brave soldier, but he was one of the best behaved men in the regiment. He was, he might say, a brave man, belonging to a proverbially brave corps, and the 42nd ought to be proud of him. He then handed the medal to Adams, who having come to the shoulder was about to rejoin the ranks, when the Lieutenant-General called to him, “Here, my friend, give me your hand.’’ Adams returned, and Sir Hastings Doyle, taking his hand, said, <( I am proud to have the honor of shaking hands with a man like you. I hope you will live long to wear the medal \ and I know that if you are ever on the field of battle again you will act just as bravely as you did at poomassie.’’ The men then re-formed and returned to their quarters. Adams, who is a marksman, is quite a young fellow.