G.0.C's Farewell Nov. 8.
'To-day the Ist Bu. The Wiltshire Regt, march out of their barracks for the transport, Neuralia, the 2nd Bu. The Argyll and 'Sutherland Highlanders march from the \Neuralia to Great Western Road. barracks, where the two battalions will' be together for exactly, one hour, Slight alterations have been' made in the arrangements for the marching of the. battalions, Yesterday the Neuralia arrived from Hongkong, bringing with her the Highlanders, one er two details, and a draft for the Queen's Regiment in Tientsin. She also brought with her Major-General Sandilands, general officer commanding, China command, who is paying his farewell visit to Shang-fai. In February he hands over his command to Major-Gener 0. G, Barrett, an Shangh old The Neuralia, does not leave Shanghai until Thursday, and she Will take with her, in addition to The Wiltshires, and Major-General Sandilands, a home going draft of the Queen's Regiment from Tientein, as Well as a rear party {the Lincolnshires and one or two details.
"Since its arrival in, Shanghai_on January 80, The Ist Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment has gained. a very estimable place in. the social ind sporting life of the" Settl ment and much regret will be felt today at the departure for Singapore, Particularly has the Regiment amed supremacy in all branches Gf sport, Its teams have won all the League football matches, and with the exception of one drawn match, all the hockey matches. During the summer only one cricket match was lost, by a short margin.
This record finely upholds the name the Regiment, has. previously created for itself in the field of sport. In 19211922 the battalion won the Irish Command Football Cup, the Athletic Championship, and the Army Football Cup. Two years later the Wiltshire team was again the winner of this coveted trophy, and in the years 1027-1920 carried away the Garrison Athletic Cup each year.
'Though there are older rest ments in the British Army that the Wiltshire Regiment, not one has a finer record of service to King. and country, or has proved its devotion and' loyalty under conditions of greater stress and anger. This fine old corps, on whose colours are emblazoned the Following battle honours: other company had been dispatched to the West Indies, where it so: much active service and won the ind, highest reputation for discipline and courage.
Whilst one portion of the Regiment was thus earning a good name in the West, an other detach ment won undying fame for an Jachievement that has no pari {the history of the Army.
Treland in 1758, and a detachment iwas stationed "in the dilapidates castle of Carrickfergus, near the Antrim coast.
This detachment was comprised almost entirely of young recruits, who were being trained, when sud-Jdenly a fleet of French' men-of-war appeared off the coast, and x force fof aver 1,000 French" troops was landed under the command of the notorious Thurot, a Frenchman who had earned an unenviable name as privateer. "This force immediately proceeded to attack Carrickfergus Castle, which was almost in ruins jand not fit to stand a siege, there being breeches in the walls 20 feet wide.
But the gallant little garrison was by no means dismayed by the fact that they were outnumbered by ten to one, and had no guns and very little ammunition for their muskets, They had no thought of surrender, but after firing away, their ammunition they even used the buttons off the coats as bullets, and. then met their assailants with bricks land stones and the bayonet. feommemoration of that heroic de~ fence the Regiment was permitted ito wear on their buttons a "splash" lor dent.
The Regiment was engaged for some. time afterwards in training Jand dispatching drafte of infantry tothe British Army in Germany, and in 1764, was dispatched to the West Indies, where it served for five years, during which it suffered severely from fever, and incurred riy casualties during a constant [state of warfare among the islands.
On trouble with the Colonists. in America breaking out, the 62nd Regiment was dispatched to join General Burgoyne's force destined for the defence of Canada. When in 1775 the American Colonists de-Jelared war to assert their indepen-
1 all. the five' continents. of the world, hax a history of which all ranks are justly proud.
'The Ist Battalion of the Wilt. shire Regiment was raised in 1756 Torbay at, the commencement of the Seven Years' War as a 2nd Battalion of the 4th Foot (now the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster).
Tts existence as a 2nd Battalion was a brief one, and in April 1768, it was given a separate existence the 62nd Regiment of Foot.
On being raised the 2nd Foot was given a uniform of scarlet with yellowish buff facings, their white lace having three stripes, two blue and one straw-coloured. "A. pattern of this lace was found in 1917 at Windsor Castle, and was presented to the Ist Battalion by order of His Majesty King George V-'The coming into existence of the: Regiment as a separate corps was: quickly followed by some arduous service, four companies were draft. ed to the Royal Navy to serve as Major Thomas Hardy _sailed the game year (1758) with Boseawen's Fleet for the St. Lawrence, where it rendered steadfast and loyal service
ship. under elreumstances of great hard It is interesting to record that, a memento of the services, thus rendered with the Fleet "Rule, Britannia" is still played on special sceasions by the bands of the Regiment. 'These companies also won, for' the Regiment its first battle honour, that of Louiburg (1758). Then three of these com panies joined Wolfe in time to take: part in his historical capture of Quebec and the decisive battle which followed, which for ever settled the question' whether Canada should be raled by England or France. The Jdence, the G2nd formed part of the British Army that opposed them.
On June 8 1776 at the Battle of Trois "Rivieres, the 62nd captured the opposing" General with—his Sta and over 200 men, and enrn-Jed their unofficial title of "The Springors" by their activity in the pursuit. 'The next yea Battle of Stillwater, the 'Regiment made four bayonet' charges, and lost four officers killed with the colours before success crowned their efforts. After the action General 'Burgoyne rode up to the Regiment with the greeting "Well done, my. bravo Springers' and compliment-led them on the the 62nd bore which brought the Jeampaign to a conclusion.
Returning home in 1780, the Regiment, in_1782, was given the title of The Wiltshire Regiment, a title it has maintained Jover since with great credit to itself_and honour to the county. Haying been reorganised and rejeruited to strength, the Regiment. }was in 1791 dispatched to the West Indies again, where it saw service in the Maroon War, at San Domingo ind elsewhere in those fever-infested islands, Active service and sickness, had reduced the Regiment to a mere. skeleton when it received orders to return home in 1798, In the Egyptian Campaign of 1801 the Regiment did duty at Alexandria and Rosetta, and in 1806 the Regiment went to' Sicily and it was during service in the Mediterranean that it adopted the Maltese leross as"Regimental badge.
In 1809 the Regiment was engaged in the reduction of the Islands of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.