Drummed Out.

Manawatu Herald, 18 October 1902, Page 3

Drummed Out.

■Writing on August 29th, the Londop correspondent of the Argus says: The spectacle of a soldier being drummed out of the British Army is

happily of very rare occurrence but. it was witnessed last Monday nigh*. Daring the stay of the Indian troops at Hampton Court a large number of their Coronation medals were stolen. These souvenirs bad been presented by the King but a few hours before, and the men’s distress, though in a sense childish, was worthy of their loyalty. For a time they were in a state of consternation. But the medals were soon recovered, and the culprits who stole them were captured T hey turned out to bo two of the guard in charge of the native camp, one named Richards, and the other Oskett, .both belonging to the Fourth Middlesex, the Duke of Cambridge’s Own. The King took a personal interest in, the case, and as soon as he heard of the theft he wired to the colonel of the regiment expressing a hope that the news was unture. Oskett turned King’s evidence, and the court-martial sentenced him, as well as his companion, to be drummed oit of the Army, Richards to have the further punishment of six months’ Imprisonment. On Monday night the regiment was paraded at Aidershot, the sentences were read to the men, and the provost-sergeant stripped them of their uniforms, and made them put on civilian dress. They were then escorted by a few policemen to the police barracks, the band of the regiment playing them off'to the tune of the “ Rogue’s March.”