Military.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 October 1893, Page 3

Military.

THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS One of Die most famous regimen! s in the British army is the Coldstream Guards. Its romantic devotion to its first colonel, the renowned General Monk, culminated in the famous inarch from Scotland to London in the year 1660 to restore King Charles IT. to his throne. For this service it was made a regiment of the Guards, and on many an occasion since has kept up its old reputation for fidelity and heroism. A GALLAXT DEED. Two companies of this gallant corps assisted in holding the of Hougomont— the old farmhouse which was the key of the British position at Waterloo —against the flower of the French Army When the farmhouse took fire a young sergeant who had heen amongst the bravest of the brave, turned to his captain and begged to he allowed to leave the ranks for a few minutes. The astonished officer asked his reason, and pointing to the blazing building, the sergeant, with tears in his eyes, said : _ - “ My brother lies wounded in there, and I would like to save him.” “ Go, and God aid you 1” exclaimed the officer. The gallant fellow rushed into the burning pile, and presently returned hearing his brother in his arms, whom he deposited in safety, and again took his place in the ranks, saving his captain’s life shortly afterwards by thrusting aside the musket of a I rench soldier which was aimed within a few inches of bis head. FIGHTING IN HIS SHEET SLEEVES. When General Wyndham—then Colonel Wyndham —led the forlorn hope into the Redan, he was astonished to find at his side a privateof his regiment, Berry, in his shirt sleeves, which were already tucked up preparatory to cooking his company s breakfast. The gallant fellow had slipped away unobserved and joined the storming party on their way, heino- the first into the fort, where he several times saved his leader s life. As, however, he had committed a breach of discipline in going there, his bravery remained unrewarded. CEOSSKI) BAYONETS ELEVEN TIMES IN ONE DAY. Many brave acts were done at lukerman which have never been r corded. The Coldstreams entered the action with sixteen officers and 400 men, and at the end of it had three officers and less than 200 men left. They had held the two-gun battery (which, strange to say, had no guns in it) the whole day against the°°-reater part of the Russian army, and had actually crossed bayonets with their foes eleven times! And when their ammnnitic n failed they hurled o-reat stones at the enemy, clubbing their rifles when they came near enough. One officer poor Captain Ramsden, who was beloved by all — was suddenly surrounded by a whole horde of Russians. His men formed a living rampart around him, and many of them fell dead at Ins feet, amongst them a drummer boy, who, with his small sword, had defended his captain with such energy that the weapon was found broken by his side. Their heroism failed in this object, for the unfortunate officer was bayonetted by the Russians. THEEVV Ills BUGLE AT THE ENEMY A bugler named Price having, when the ammunition began to fail, been ordered to sound the “ cease firing,” was obeying the order when be observed a Russian presenting Ins musket within a few inches of the Sergeant-Major’s head. "Without waiting’ to finish the bugle-call, he dashed the instrument right into the face of the former,causing him to miss his aim. The bullet intended for the Sergeant-Major entered the bugler’s side, and he fell severely wounded. He eventually recovered, and lived for many years afterwards with the bullet in his body ; and when he died

it was found to have worked its way to his thigh. THE DUKE’S SUGGESTION The Duke of Cambridge was present with the Coldstreams throughout that(November day, and when the shot was raining around him, he coolly suggested to the men that they had their bayonets when told that there were no more cartridges. And well theyused them,savingthe Britishforce from unparalleled disaster by their splendid courage and devotion. That feat alone would have immortalized the name of the Coldstream Guards even if a hundred other fields had not made it a cherished possession of the nation so many of them members have fought and died for. This regiment gained the red plumes which it wears for distinguished service in Egypt under Abercromby, and on its colours it bears the Sphinx and such names as Malplaquet,Dettigen,Oudenarde, Barrosa, Talavera, Lincelles, Alma, Inkerman and Tel-el-Kehir. Its Queen’s colour also bears a Union Jack in the corner, on account of its first colonel and founder having been an admiral as well as a general. —The Million.