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Lancaster Gazette 19 June 1858
The Yeomanry Cavalry
In our last week’s Gazette we announced the arrival in the county town of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry Cavalry for the usual period of training. The troops marched in on Friday towards afternoon, and in due time the men were all quartered in their billets, preparing for the duties of the drill field on the following morning. Head-quarters, as we stated last week, were at the King’s Arms Hotel.
On Saturday morning the troops assembled in Dalton Square, and at eight marched to the commodious drill ground at Scale Hall. Unfortunately the remarkable thunder storm of which notice is taken elsewhere came on, and very soon after the heavy rain with which the storm was accompanied began to fall. Its steady continuance is well known, and before long every officer and man was completely drenched. Nevertheless, the duties of the field were preserved in just as if the weather had been more propitious, and it was nearly two o’clock before the corps returned to its quarters in the town. After the storm the weather resumed its wonted summer pleasantness, and in the evening the admirable band of the regiment delighted large numbers of our townspeople by playing in front of the mess-room at the King’s Arms. A finer band is not to be found in the service, and for its proficiency the greatest possible praise is due to Mr Elwood, the accomplished band-master of the regiment. We may as well state here that during every succeeding evening the lovers of music were enabled to enjoy a repetition of the treat afforded on Friday.
Sunday was a lovely day, and the church parade of the corps was as usual a sight of which the county may always feel proud. It is needless to say that the members of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry are a remarkably fine body of men, and when assembled in their neat appointments and presenting the particularly clean appearance for which British soldiers are remarkable, no troops could possibly look more imposing. It was so on Sunday last in Lancaster. With the exception of two or three on the sick list, every man was present at parade and engaged in divine service at our Parish Church, where prayers were read by the Rev. E. Pedder and a sermon preached by the vicar, the Rev. Canon Turner. We has the pleasure of seeing the corps on their return from church, and it was very gratifying to us to observe how truly soldier-like was its bearing, as it marched through our thoroughfares, headed by its excellent band. Marching by sections, the effect was very imposing, as that formation provides so fine a front. The corps was under the command of Major Langshaw. Great crowds of people accompanied the troops on their march from the Parish Church into Dalton Square.
On Monday at eight drill was resumed on the ground at Scale Hall, under the directions of Major Langshaw, and it was continued unremittingly till past midday. It was astonishing to see how at that early period the troops had been familiarised with the different movements. We make this observation, because it is now two years since the corps was last called up for training, and it will be imagined that in the interval the usual percentage of ordinary casualties would be greatly increased, and that a good many recruits, and a large portion of horses would have to undergo the necessary preparation. It also happens besides, that a very considerable portion of the officers have newly joined.
In the course of Monday Colonel the Earl of Ellesmere arrived in Lancaster and took command of the regiment.
On Tuesday an interesting event took place on the drill ground, previous to the commencement of the usual duties. The reader is aware that the noble colonel of the regiment awards medals for the best shots in the corps. The various troops compete for these pleasant rewards every year, and this year the trial of skill at the respective head quarters of each troop resulted in leaving the following as the best of each troop respectively:- Serjeant Speight, the Furness Troop; Private Smith, Bolton troop; Serjeant Taylor, Wigan Troop, Private Heaton, Rochdale Troop; and Private Gregory, the Worsley Troop.
On Tuesday the final trial of strength came on, and each competitor having had his five shots, the following score was the result:-
The silver medal was therefore won by Private Gregory, to whom in the course of the day the Earl of Ellesmere presented the reward of his skill. The medal itself is extremely beautiful. On one side we have the duchy shield flanked by two Lancashire roses; on the other a regimental emblem consisting of crossed carbines and helmet. The whole is in high relief and admirably executed. The medal is suspended by a rich blue ribbon, and is deposited in a handsome morocco case lined with velvet.
On Tuesday evening a brilliant ball was given to his brother officers by T. Howitt Esq, at his residence in Queen Square.
On Wednesday drill was resumed with unabated perseverance, and as the weather continued magnificent each day, the troops were enabled to get in with comfort as well as success.
Thursday was the day of inspection, but alas, the weather, which up to the evening of the previous day had smiled so propitiously on the training, assumed the most gloomy of aspects. In fact it was the old story over again. In these parts, a week of hot summer is sure to generate a good deal of electric matter; then comes the usual thunder storm, and those visitations are seldom unaccompanied by rain and that in good quantities. So it was on Thursday. The morning opened very suspiciously, but it was about eight o’clock before the clouds gathered up in full force. Then the lightening flashed and the thunder growled; and the dense masses of cloud began to descend in heavy showers. In point of fact, there was only one shower, but that was of about six hours duration, and it was just within that period that the field day operations were to take place. It was really quite distressing to see the rain pouring down incessantly on the troops. In about a couple of hours, however, it had done its worst. There was not an officer or man on the ground with a dry thread on his back. At twelve o’clock the arrival of the Inspecting Field Officer, Colonel McMahon, C.B., of the 5th Dragoon Guards, was announced. The gallant officer, who shared in the glories of the charge of the heavy brigade at Balaclava, wore numerous orders, and brought with him his own orderly. The colonel was accompanied by Cornet Fazakerly, of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own, who acted as Aide de Camp on the occasion; and Capt. Lane of the 1st Duke of Lancaster’s Own Militia.
The troops saluted as usual, then Colonel McMahon inspected the ranks, front and rear, after which, as usual, the marching past took place. The regiment passed in slow time by squadrons, and afterwards by threes, and then at the trot by troops. In consequence of the state the men’s appointments were in by reason of the rain, the sword exercise was necessarily omitted.
A variety of field movement were then gone through with precision, just as if the sun had been shining, and the weather the reverse of what it really was. Indeed we never remember seeing more prefect steadiness throughout the whole of the various movements. These consisted of charges by squadron, and in line, retiring by threes, alternative troops &c. echelon movements, changing of front and so on. At length the general salute was given, and then Colonel McMahon addressed Major Langshaw, and the officers and men. The gallant officer, we understand, spoke with strong feeling. He alluded to the unfavourable circumstances under which the movements had taken place, and highly complimented the corps on the gratifying manner in which, not withstanding the state of the weather, it has done its work. He said emphatically that he should have the pleasure of making a favourable report to head-quarters of the great efficiency of the regiment.
This address must have been highly pleasing to the regiment, when we reflect on the circumstances to which previous allusion is made respecting the long interval that has elapsed since the last training, the new material to be delt with, &c.
After addressing the regiment, Colonel McMahon had divers movements performed in order to test the efficiency of the captains of the troops and other officers. All seemed to afford the gallant officer perfect satisfaction.
The state of the regiment as regards bodily comfort may be easily imagined. In the early morning troops had turned out in the most beautiful order. All the appointments were as bright and clean as the most serious attention could make them, but all this necessary smartness was rendered unavailing against the incessant downfall. Belts and gloves were no longer white, and plumes clung tenaciously to the well-washed helmets. Nevertheless, we have intimated, officers and men looked a cheerful as if the sun had been shining on their handsome appointments.
On the return of the regiment to town, it was accompanied by the inspecting field officer, who, with Major Langshaw, rode at its head.
The weather made a great difference in the particulars above alluded to but it also made a great difference in our record of the day’s proceedings. Under other circumstances, it would have been our pleasing duty to enlarge on the assemblage of handsome equippings, on the collection of beauty and fashion assembled as usual to great the spectacle, and on the various incidents which, when the weather is fair, makes an inspection day one of the most brilliant things that can be imagined. With all that, however, we have this time nothing on earth to do. Our occupation is gone. There were only half a dozen carriages on the field and of equestrians and pedestrians there were few indeed. These, of course, gratified their curiosity at the expense of their personal comfort; for besides the continuous drench from above, the sod was so saturated with moisture as to defy shoe-leather of whatever kind of description. In these respects the day was one of pure disappointment. If the weather had been only tolerable the ground would have been covered with the hundreds of sight seers who invariably collect on such occasions to do honour to the county yeomanry, of whom they feel justly proud. In other regards, and these, practically speaking, the most important, there was nothing to lament. The regiment displayed its efficiency to the perfect satisfaction of the proper authority, and the work of Thursday, though performed in the midst of a pitiless down-pour, will procure for the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry a handsome report at head-quarters. On this result we, who have always felt great interest in their well-doing, must heartily congratulate both officers and men.
In the course of the afternoon, Colonel McMahon, who was engaged to inspect the Lancashire Hussars, at Southport, yesterday, and therefore could not prolong his stay in Lancaster, took his departure by train for the south.
On Thursday evening the Earl of Ellesmere, and his brother officers, entertained their Lancaster friends at a most sumptuous banquet, in heir mess-room, at the King’s Arms hotel. We speak of this entertainment as a banquet, because that is truly the most appropriate phrase we can apply, and we are sue the entertainers will only be much to gratified if we take the opportunity of extolling the liberality and good taste displayed by the establishment of the King’s Arms in preparation of one of the handsomest dinners ever given in Lancaster or elsewhere. There was no delicacy which money could obtain that was absent from the board, and the elegance and abundance which characterised the whole spread was the admiration with all who had the pleasure of being present. Not only was the dinner itself admirable, but the waiting was most perfect, leaving the guests nothing to desire on the score of comfort. A superb dessert followed the dinner.
For the honour of the town, it affords us pleasure to allude thus to the excellent way in which things are done at our chief Lancaster hotel, and we are sure that Lord Ellesmere and the offices of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own will afford to us their ready sanction in further informing Mr and Mrs Sly that their entertainment of the corps at head-quarters, has afforded the highest satisfaction to every officer in the regiment, all of whom seem fully to appreciate the efforts made to render their sojourn in all respects comfortable. They one and all declare that in no inn in England could their wants have been more carefully or more liberally provided for.
During the entertainment the band of the regiment played, highly to the gratification of the guests and to a large assemblage of delighted towns-folk in the street, and at all the neighbouring windows. Following is the programme of music performed:-
Yesterday morning at half past eight the regiment paraded in Dalton Square previous to departure. Notwithstanding the rough treatment from the weather the day previous, all the officers and men appeared in the most perfect trim, belts as white as snow, scabbards shining, and so on, the perfection of military order. At nine the two squadrons comprising the Bolton, Wigan, Rochdale and Worsley troops, marched under the command of Major Langshaw, for Preston, where they would halt for the night, proceeding, each troop to its respective head-quarters, this day.
Of the excellent conduct of the men in quarters during their stay in Lancaster it is hardly necessary to speak. That conduct on this occasion has been what it ever was- orderly and soldier-like in the highest degree.
Of the courteous bearing of the officers all their numerous Lancaster friends will join us in making the most kindly acknowledgement.
On behalf of the town, to the regiment at large, we did a most cordial farewell for another year.
Following is a list of the officers present with the regiment in Lancaster:-
Lieutenant Colonel the Earl of Ellesmere
Major Langshaw
Captains John Fletcher, the Marquis of Hartington, John Jackson, the Hon. Algernon Fluke Egerton and William Edward Royds
Captain and Adjutant C. Berkeley Molyneux (late of the 4th Light Dragoons and one of the Balaclava Light Brigade)
Surgeon Thomas Howitt, Esq
Lieutenants Le Gendre N. Starkie, A.E.H.G.G. Vicount Grey de Wilton (1st Life Guards), and Charles Patrick
Cornets Geo. T.R. Preston, John, N. Fazakerley, and Chamberlayne Starkie
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