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England. Serving in Ireland in 1922, it was the last regular Battalion to provide a
guard for Dublin Castle, while in 1926 it was the last to evacuate Cologne this involv
ing the hauling down of the Union Jack from the G. H. Q. building, and handing over
the keys of barracks. This flag is now in the possession of the Officers' Mess.
On April 16th last 117 years since it last entered the county the Regiment
started from Lichfield, where it is now stationed, on an historic march through
Shropshire and Herefordshire, and on April 25th, in the presence of an immense
gathering, H.R.H. The Duke of York presented new colours in the Quarry, Shrewsbury,
where, in the same grounds, the first 85th Light Infantry Regiment had received its
first colours in January, 1760.
In connection with this latter ceremony, it is interesting to relate that after the
trooping of the old colours, they were received on behalf of the Old Comrades (numbering
over 2,000) for escort to the Regimental Depot, by three Ex-Warrant Officers, all of
whom were on parade at Lucknow in January, 1877, when they were presented by the
Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, whose ancestor helped to form the existing
Regiment.
E. W.
THE second official Public Schools O.T.C., Battlefield Tour, took place from April
27th to 30th last, and the arrangements were again entrusted to the capable hands
of the Ypres League in co-operation with the Officers Training Corps Club.
This Tour was another great success and all who had pleasure to take part were
much indebted to the organisers for the care taken to ensure our comfort and interest
throughout. In consequence of activities at many of the schools in preparation for
Jubilee Celebrations, our numbers were smaller than last year, nevertheless, some
seventy officers and cadets assembled at Victoria Station on Saturday morning, April
27th, all in buoyant mood and greatly looking forward to their forthcoming adventure.
The party, as a whole, were in the charge of Major E. Montague Jones, O.B.E., T.D.,
M.A., Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, O.T.C., Club and a member of the Ypres League
Committee, with Mr. O. Mears from the League Headquarters as business manager for
the Tour.
Alighting from our reserved compartments at Dover, we proceeded to board the
Belgian s.s. Prince Leopold with slightly mixed feelings as to the nature of the trip ahead
for in the distance we could observe a somewhat turbulent sea. Any doubts on this
point were quickly dispelled, for we were soon tested by a strong north-easter and
rough passage, but the Captain apparently considered our comfort by hugging the coast
from Calais to Ostend, incidentally affording us an excellent view of Dunkerque and the
battlefield of Nieuport. I am afraid the motion of the boat had proved a little too much
for quite a number of the party, but once on terra firm, it was amazing how quickly
spirits revived.
On reaching Ypres, again our headquarters, the party was equally divided between
the Hotel Skindles, Station Place, and the Hotel Splendid and Britannique, Grand Place.
The writer can vouch for the excellence of Skindles Hotel, and he has no reason whatever
to believe the other hotel was not as good. Following a refresher in the way of a wash
and brush-up all appeared ready and eager for the inviting dinner prepared, after which
a quiet saunter was made round the famous old city prior to congregating at Skindles
for an illustrated talk by the official lecturers to the Tour. The War Office extended us a
great favour by so kindly granting special permission to Lt.-Colonel Sir Colin Jardine,
Bart., D.S.O., M.C., and Major H. Redman, to accompany the Tour and our sincere
thanks are due to these two officers for the efficient and highly interesting manner in