OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 62, 18 December 1871, Page 3

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

MONTHLY INSPECTION PARADE. Ox Saturday afternoon the -whole of the corps on the Thames mustered for commanding oflicers’ parade. The Thames Scottish and the Naval Brigade, headed by the tiles and drums of the latter, and the piper of the former, marched from Grahamstown to the ground near the cricket field, Shorthand, and fell in there to await the arrival of tlio Kiiles. who shortly afterwards appeared, headed by their excellent brass baud, playing wellknown marches. They fell in as follows : Thames {Scottish, 40 rank and file. Captain Murray, Lieut. Robertson, and Ensign Stewart; Engineers and No. 3 11.R.Y., 25 rank and file, Ensign Cock : No. 1 R.11.R. V., 20 rank and lile, Captain Lipsey, Lieut. Lcchner, and Ensign Quinton ; No. 2 11.R.Y., 30 rank and lile. Captain Barnett and Ensign Crick ; Thames Rifle Rangers, 30 rank and file, Captain Williams, Lieut. Rae, and Ensign Carnie ; Naval Brigade, 30 rank and file. Captain Best and Lieut. Basely ; and the Band. Cadets, 40, under the command of Lieut. Gudgeon and SubLieutenant Bascoe. After the different companies had been inspected, the commanding officer presented a number of medals to officers and men who had served | in the Imperial Commissariat during i the campaigns under Generals Cameron 1 and Chute. About fourteen medals in ! all were presented mostly to Volunteers. | On the completion of the ceremony, the : word fours right was given, and the ; parade moved on to the open ground, and i formed in line. They then marched j across the ground in echelon of coin- [ panies. forming line on the right company j when near the road. The word was g'ven to prepare for cavnirv, and the movement j was well ; nd correctly executed. The line then turned to the rear and marched ! across the held in echellon. ; nd got the • word halt,front, prepare to receive cavalry. ; This manouvie was smartly executed, the j different companies forming their squares | smartly and opening fire well on receiving j the word of command, but we noticed in I one oj- two instances that the super-

nurneraries forgot to get into the centre of the squares, and were left out in the cold. If ever they have to repel a cavalry charge we hope, for their own sakes, that this will not happen. The line was reformed, and they broke into open column on No. 1 (Thames Scottish), and marched past twice in quick time. This was done in better time and more correctly than we remember to have seen it on the Thames before. All the companies marched very steadily, and kept excellent time, so that it would be hard to say which was the best. The Thames Scottish, in their new uniform, looked very smart, and as it was the first time that they appeared on a monthly parade with the other companies, they were narrowly watched, but we may safely say that they suffered nothing by comparison, as their marching and deportment would have done credit to many an older corps. After the march past was concluded they all proceeded to Grahamstown, beaded by the bands, and were dismissed near the end of the wharf. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate the whole of the Volunteer force of the district on the manifest improvement they show both in appearance and discipline, and we are glad to observe that the movement is gradually becoming more popular than heretofore ; and, while on the subject, we would say that the Cadet Corps are well worthy of support, as they will form the nucleus of the whole body in times to come, and give great facilities for filling up whatever gaps may occur in the ranks of the various companies, to which they* are attached.