FAMOUS REGIMENTAL HOMECOMINGS.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 372, 17 December 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

FAMOUS REGIMENTAL HOMECOMINGS.

The recent demonstration in the streets of London, on the occasion of the return of the Grenadier Guards from Omdurman, recalls the still more famous pageant of October, 1882, when the Lifeguardsmen who had taken part in Sir Garnet Wolseley's campaign agaiost Arabi Pasha rode, in a sort of quasipublic triumph, through some of the principal thoroughfares of the metropolis. This home-comiug was an exceptionally brilliant affair. The streets were lined with cheering thousands. The windows of the houses along the Hue of route were packed with pretty faces. Aud many among the greatest and noblest of the laud assembled at Whitehall to do honour to the sunburnt giants- who, at the midnight action of Kassassin, no less than at the crowning glory of Tel-el-Kebir, had so bravely upheld the ancient traditions of the gallaut Brigade of Guards.

But these two instances by no means exhaust the list of famous regimental home-comings. Old citizens of Edinburgh grow enthusiastic when they recall the welcome accorded, shortly after the suppression of the Indian Mutiny, to the Black Watch. Every man, woman, and child in Scotland's capital came out in gala attire to do honour to the gallaut corps, whose deeds of " derriug to," it was rightly held, reflected glory upon the whole Scottish race. The cheering aud enthusiam were simply indescribable. Every shop was closed. All business was suspended. And it is whispered that more " whuskey" was consumed that day than on any other occasion within the city's history. Another memorable—Edinburgh, homecoming was that of the Gorioa Highlanders, which took place some few years later. On this occasion the country for miles around was stripped bare of flowers. The colonel's charger we arc gravely informed, almost broke down beneath the wealth of wreaths and other floral emblems showered upou him ; while there was not to be found in the ranks a single soldier whose musket or shako was not decorated in a similar manner.

Most people will probably elect to accept the first portion of the above statement with reserve. And rightly so, too. But there is no doubt about the absolute correctness of the second. Indeed, so loaded were the men with blossoms, that an cuvious old Forty-seconder likened it to a " walking flower-garden." Another declared that they looked more like May-day merry-makers .thin soldiers. While yet another cried out banteringly: " Eh, mon, but this is nothing to what it. was when we cam' hame. We could na rnak' our way through the crowd." To this gibe a 92nd man quickly retorted. "You should have sent for us to clear the way for you, as we have often doue before.'' Strauiro enough, very little enthusiasm was aroused by the return of Wellington's victorious legions after Waterloo, Tho streets of Portsmouth were lined with people, but for tho most part they were sullenly silent,' aud other towns and cities followed suit.

The fact of the matter was tho country was sick of " glory," while the masses of the people were profoundly discontented with the powers that were. At Southampton, where the Brigade of Guards dis embarked, a single half-hearted cheer was raised. But the uttercr thereof was quicklv silenced. "Shut thee mouth, man,"" cried a yokel standing near. "Don't 'eo know it's the like of us as feds and clothes they chaps P" Very different was it after tho Crimea. Not only tho people of the metropolis, but the entire nation seems to have gone delirious with delight. The celebration culminated on May 29th, 1856, when business was entirely suspended throughout London, and tho Queen in person met and thanked her returned heroes in St. James's Bark. Executions trains ran from all parts, and at night tho streets were quite impassable owing to tho crowds that assembled to view the illuminations and fireworks.

These latter were tl.B finest that up till thou had boon seen in England. Tho Queeu herself gave the signal for the display to cormncueo by firing a blue-light on the roof of Buckingham Palace. This signal was repeated by tho discharge of a. mortar in the Green Park, aud stimultaneously from this place, from Hyde Park, from Primrose Hill, and from Victoria Park fens of thousands of rockets stats, and coloured shells soared high into the air. The display lasted for two hours during which time the greater portion of the metropolis was as bright as day. At Plymouth, on June 21, 18GS, the troops returning from the successful Absy siniau campaign had a grand reception. Winchester, too, distinguishnd itself on tho same occasion by the hearty wolcome it extended to the 3rd Dragoon Guards. The streets were gaily decorated; the Cathedral bolls wore rung, and .the gallant corps was received at tho station by the mayor and corporation, arrayed iu their official robes of office. Iu tho evening there was a grand banquet to all ranks, and this probably was the item in the programme that appealed most strongly to the sturdy troopers.

Tho home-coming of the regiments engaged in tho Ashantce War of 1874 was marked by a notable incident. Tho entire army was eutertained at a dinner by the Queen at Windsor. It is not often that ono hears of an army dining together, and the catering must have taxed even the resources of a Sovereign's kitchen. Nevertheless, everything went off without a hitch. -Separate sets of tables were reserved for each regiment; the non-commissioued officers dining all together in one huge marquee and the officers in another. Prior to the banquet there was a review aud march-past, Sir Garnet Wolseley, as he then was, leading. Of course, the Royal borough was en fete. Yet another notable home-coming was that of the Guards' Camel Corps from the Soudan, in the summer of 1885. The Queen had the transport Australia specially stopped by signal off Cowes, and the men brought ashore and paraded in front of her. After inspecting them, Her Majesty placed herself iu front of the long line of sunburnt heroes and said : "My offioers, my nou-commissioned officers, and my men, I am very pleased to see you here, and to welcome you back to England. I thank you for all you have doue." The corps afterwards re-em-barked and proceeded to Portsmouth, at which place a fresh ovation awaited it.