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UNDER the system introduced by the General Order of
17th March 1873, the 71st Highland Light Infantry was linked, for the
purposes of enlistment and service, with the 78th Highlanders (Ross-shire
Buffs), the Highland Light Infantry Militia forming the 3d Battalion, and
the administrative battalions of the Elgin, Inverness, Ross and Sutherland
Rifle Volunteers being associated with these. Shortly thereafter the
service companies of the regiment embarked at Gibraltar for Malta, having
previously been inspected by General Sir W. F. Williams, Bart., G.C.B.,
who, in his address after the inspection, spoke of the appreciation in
which the regiment was held by himself, and by the whole garrison and
inhabitants of Gibraltar, for its soldier-like qualities, its smartness
and steadiness on duty, and its general good conduct, and added, "I
myself, personally, regret your approaching departure, and I am certain
that feeling is shared by every one in the place; but I also feel
convinced that you will equally keep up the same good character in your
new quarters. I wish you all health and happiness, and a good passage to
your destination." Major-General Bissett, C.B., commanding the Infantry
Brigade, also expressed "his sincere regret at losing from his brigade a
battalion in such a high state of efficiency," and said that he would
"ever remember with pride his association with so splendid a National
Regiment. In no Corps in the service can there exist a closer bond of
union among all its members than is generated by the high esprit de
corps for which the 71st Highland Light Infantry is so remarkable, and
in the fostering of which most valuable attribute the commanding officer
is so entirely supported by his officers.
"It may appear invidious to mention one regiment in
contradistinction to another, yet the 71st Highland Light Infantry has
been noted in this garrison for its steadiness on parade, and for its
soldier-like qualities on guard, and on all duties.
"The Major-General is convinced that wherever this fine
regiment may be stationed, it will be found in as high a state of
efficiency for service as it is on leaving this garrison; and in wishing
the officers health and prosperity at their new station, he can only hope
that he may some day have the honour of serving with them again."
Malta was reached on the 29th of April, and the
regiment disembarked on the following day, and marched to the Floriana
Barracks, which it occupied till the 1st April
1874, changing then to Fort Verdala. During this time,
and subsequently, the duties were simply those of ordinary garrison
routine, the only noteworthy event being the death of the colonel,
Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Law, K.H. An account of his military career
has been already given near the close of the last chapter.
His successor, Lieutenant-General the Hon. George
Cadogan, C.B., entered the service as Ensign and Lieutenant of the
Grenadier Guards in 1833, and was on duty with that regiment during the
insurrection in Canada in 1838, and also during the Crimean War, where he
was present throughout the siege of Sebastopol, as well as at the battles
of Alma, Balaklava, and Inkerman. From April 1855 till May 1856 he also
acted as Her Majesty’s Commissioner with the Sardinian Army, and for his
services during the campaign he received the medal, with four clasps, was
made a C.B., and a Commander of the second class of St Maurice and St
Lazarus, and also received the order of the third class of the Medjidieh,
and the Turkish medal. During the War of Italian Independence in 1859, he
acted as Military Attache with the Sardinian army, and was again with the
Sardinian head-quarters during the war of 1866.
Except the arrival of drafts from
the depot, and changes from Fort Verdala to St Elmo Barracks (1874), Fort
Ricasoli (1875), Pembroke Camp .(1876), and St Elmo Barracks (1876), the
only events of importance for some time were the annual inspections by
Major-General C. Elmhirst in 1874, and by Major-General Airey, C.B., in
1876, and again in 1877, the latter requesting the Commanding Officer,
Colonel Macdonell, in 1876, to convey to the 71st Highland Light Infantry
"how much pleased and gratified he felt with the appearance of the
regiment at his annual inspection, their smartness at drill, their
neatness in appearance, and the thorough cleanliness and order in the
barrack rooms ;" and adding,
"They are only keeping up their old reputation." In 1877 his report was
equally favourable. In October of the same year Colonel the Hon. Sir
George Cadogan, K.C.B., was
promoted from Lieu tenant-General to General.
Several other changes of quarters
took place in Malta, and on 1st April 1878 the establishment was raised to
1103 of all ranks, an increase due to the threatening aspect of affairs in
the East, and the probability that Britain would have to interfere
actively against the designs of Russia on Constantinople. The urgent state
of matters caused Her Majesty to direct that all non-commissioned officers
and men, both of the First-Class Army Reserve and of the Militia Reserve,
should be ordered to join the headquarters of their respective districts
for regular service, and, accordingly, the depôt companies of the 71st at
Fort George were augmented by the arrival of 270 men of the First-Class
Army Reserve, and of 261 men of the Highland Light Infantry Militia
Reserve, so that everything might be ready for emergencies. Eventually the
active intervention of British troops was not required, but the Island of
Cyprus having been, by a secret convention concluded at Constantinople on
the 4th of June 1878 between the British Ambassador (Sir Henry Layard) and
the Grand Vizier (Safvet Pasha), placed under British protection and
government, the 71st was one of the regiments selected to occupy the newly
acquired territory.
Although the service was one of
peace rather than of war, no accommodation was available for the women and
children, and they had to be left behind, the men embarking, on the 18th
July, in H.M.S. "Tamar," for Larnaka, which they reached on the 23d,
disembarking and going into camp at Cheflik Pacha, five miles from Larnaka,
on the following day. On the occasion of the departure of the regiment
from Malta, the Governor-General, Sir A. Borton, K.C.B., notified his
pleasure in stating that the men’s "good behaviour while in his command
had been favourably commented on by the civil authority," and that the
conduct of the Military Police was "particularly mentioned, especially
with regard to their successful endeavours to prevent collision or
ill-feeling between the soldiers and the civil police and population."
Any
chance of active service having been set aside
by the terms of the Berlin Treaty, the non-commissioned officers and men
of the First-Class Army and Militia Reserves were dismissed and sent home,
the establishment being reduced, from 1st September 1878, to 694 of all
ranks. On 20th July and 28th August, the men on full service moved from
Cheflik Pacha to Camp Dali, where they remained till the 27th of
September, except the A and B companies, sent to Haia Vanaro, for the
purpose of making roads,—proceeding thereafter to Mattiati, and in
December to Larnaka, where, on the 15th, they embarked on H.M.S. "Orontes"
for Gibraltar. That place was reached on the 26th, and two companies took
up quarters on the hulk "Owen Glendower," the rest of the regiment being
sent to the North Front
Hutments.
Early in 1879 changes of quarters
again took place, some of the companies being transferred to Europa
Barracks, and others to Windmill Hill; every one looking forward with
eagerness to the return to England, which had been ordered for the early
part of April. These hopes were, however, doomed to disappointment, for
the relieving regiment having been sent on to South Africa for the Zulu
War, the 71st had to remain at Gibraltar for nearly another year. At the
annual inspection, on the 17th of November, by Major-General David
Anderson, pleasure was expressed at the "clean and soldier-like appearance
of the regiment on both parades, and the smartness and steadiness in all
the movements and drill, in spite of the unfavourable weather.
"The ‘Bayonet Exercise’ in quick
time was admirable, and elicited the warm approbation of the
Major-General, who expressed himself extremely satisfied with the
inspection in every respect, and requested that his thorough approval
might be made known to the men of the regiment." The Field-Marshal
Commanding-in-Chief also considered the confidential report "highly
creditable, and most satisfactory," though the number of courts-martial
was very heavy.
General Cadogan, the Colonel of the
regiment, died in January, and was succeeded by General J. H. E. Dalrymple
from the 108th Foot. General Dalrymple entered the army as Ensign and
Lieutenant in 1837, and was on active service in the Crimean War, where he
was present at the battles of Alma (where he was wounded) and Inkerman, as
well as in the trenches at Sebastopol. For his exertions he received the
medal with clasps, the fifth class of the Medjidieh, and the Turkish
medal. He was also in command of the 2d Battalion of the: Scots Fusilier
Guards in New Brunswick, after the "Trent Affair" in 1861-62.
On the 8th of March 1880, the
regiment, after a service of 11 years and 4 months at the Mediterranean
stations, embarked on H.M.S. "Himalaya" with the welcome route for Home,
arriving at Portsmouth on the 13th of March, and at Granton for Edinburgh
on the 18th, disembarking and occupying Edinburgh Castle the same day.
While in Edinburgh the list furnished a guard of honour to the Queen at
Ballater in the autumn of 1880, and again in the spring of 1881; and
though it had, shortly after its arrival, the misfortune of losing the
services of Colonel Macdonell, who retired on half-pay after having held
command for twelve years, and served in the regiment for more than
thirty-six years, a worthy successor was found in Brevet
Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Lambton, who now became Lieutenant-ColoneL In his
farewell Order, Colonel Macdonell intimated the regret he felt at parting
with officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. "His constant
endeavour," he said, "and pride has been to uphold the high character for
good conduct,
esprit de corps, discipline, and reputation for smartness, which the
Highland Light Infantry has always borne and maintained since it was first
raised in 1777. He now with much regret bids farewell to all ranks, and,
though no longer serving with the regiment, will always follow its future
career with the keenest interest and pride."
On the 26th of May 1881,
the 71st left Edinburgh for Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow, and while there,
owing to the reorganisation of the army in accordance with the Territorial
Scheme, the Battalion became linked with
the 74th Highlanders for the purposes of
enlistment and service, the headquarters being fixed at Hamilton, to which
place the depot moved from Fort George on the 21st July 1881. The 1st
Royal Lanark Militia was added as the reserve battalion, and the grouped
regiments were to be styled in order the 1st, 2d,
and 3d Battalions of the Highland Light Infantry. The uniform was to be
that of the 71st, with the exception of the facings, which were changed
from buff to yellow, the Militia Battalion being distinguished by an M on
the shoulder-straps. In consequence of the reorganisation, the Colonel of
the regiment, General Dalrymple, C.B., was placed on the retired list, but
retained his command of the battalion, and the establishment was altered
to 24 officers, 83 warrant and non-commissioned officers, and 461
privates, including buglers and pipers,—a total of 568 of all ranks,
The only other incidents of
importance in 1881 and 1882 were the removal of the Battalion to the
Cunagh---this taking place on the 16th of November in the latter year; the
annual inspections by General Alastair M’Ian Macdonald, commanding the
North British District
— who
on both occasions found the regiment in excellent condition, "reflecting
much credit on Colonel Lambton, and all ranks under his command;" and the
very interesting restoration of a Pipe Banner which had been lost at
Buenos Ares when the capitulation of 1806 took place. The details are
fully given in the following correspondence, addressed to the
Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief:—
"VALPARAISO,
"CHILE, February
15th, 1882.
"Your Royal Highness,—With reference
to the accompanying communication from M. Santiago D. Lorca, I beg to
enclose a rough sketch, which I have had to make by snatches, of the flag
mentioned in this note. I would most respectfully suggest that the Admiral
on this station should be commissioned to receive the trophy for its
transmission to England by the first man-of-war leaving for home. Under no
circumstances would it be advisable that any one on shore should be
concerned in the matter, for, were it to transpire that M. Lorca meditated
giving up the flag, I have not the slightest doubt but that means would be
devised to prevent him giving effect to his intentions.
"The flag is in an excellent state
of preservation, thanks to the great care bestowed upon it by the Lorcas,
grandfather, father, and son, and I have powerful motives for suggesting
that no time should be lost in securing it in the manner I propose.
"I have the honour to subscribe myself
"Your Royal Highness’
"Most obedient Servant,
"(Signed) WILLIAM SLOX."
M. Lorca’s letter referred to was as follows
:—
"VALPARAISO,
"Chile, February
15th, 1882.
"YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS,—In the British
expedition against Buenos Ayres in 1806, the list Regiment lost a flag,
which came into the possession of my grandfather, Santiago Fernandez de
Lorca, Major of H.C.M. Royal Corps of Artillery (Sagento Major del Real
Cuerpo de Artillera de S.M.C.), who was sent from Chile, at the request of
the Viceroy of Buenos Ayres, in command of the contingent raised in this
country for the succour of that city. On the death of my grandfather the
flag came into possession of his son, Martino Antonio Lorca, my father,
from whom, at his demise, I inherited it.
"My father charged me never to make,
on any occasion, any show of the flag, but to guard it carefully; and
further, that if at any time during my life any member of the Royal Family
of Great Britain should visit Chile, to deliver it up in order that it
might be restored to the regiment to which it once belonged.
"I had entertained the hope that the
arrival of the Detached Squadron at Valparaiso would have afforded me the
opportunity of carrying into effect my father’s wishes; but as there now
appears to be no probability that the young Princes, the sons of H.R.H.
the Prince of Wales, will visit Chile, I have resolved to deliver the flag
for the purpose already mentioned, to a person duly commissioned by Her
Most Gracious Majesty to receive it, in the manner which will be suggested
by my esteemed friend Mr William Slot in a communication accompanying
this.
"In taking the present step I desire
to leave it on record that I am moved thereto out of sincere respect for
the Illustrious Lady who fills the British Throne, and out of esteem for
the Great Nation over which she rules.
"I have the honour to subscribe myself
"Your Royal Highness’
"Most obedient Servant,
"(Signed) SANTIAGO D. LORCA."
Subsequent results are best
described in a letter of 20th June 1882 from Her Majesty’s Chargé
d’Affaires at Valparaiso, Sir John Drummond Hay, which says:—
"I received on the
1st instant your letter of the 11th April last in reference to a colour of
the 71st Regiment in possession of Mr Santiago Daniel Lorca, and the
desire of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge that I should receive
the colour from Mr Lorca. Through the assistance of Mr W. Slox I was
enabled to place myself in communication with Mr Lorca, and on the 13th
instant had the pleasure of receiving the colour. I gave Mr Lorca a
receipt for the colour, and on his intimation that he would feel very much
honoured if H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge would grant him some parchment
recognition of the act, I promised to mention his wish.
"I have packed the colour, which is
in a good state of preservation, in a tin box sealed with the seal of this
Legation, and have addressed it to H.R.H.
"H.M.S. ‘Triumph’ is very shortly
bound to England, and I propose giving the small parcel to Captain Markham
of that ship for safe transmission to His Royal Highness’ hands."
The banner, thus curiously restored
after such a lapse of time, was framed and glazed, and has been hung in
the Officers’ Anteroom. It is of red silk, with a gold fringe, and has,
embroidered on it, the emblems of the regiment along with the rose and
thistle. Considering its age it is in a wonderful state of preservation.
From the Curragh the battalion moved
on the 14th August 1883 to Dublin, where it remained at Ship Street and
Linnenhill Barracks till 1st May 1884, and thereafter at Beggar’s Bush
Barracks till 25th September 1885, when it removed to Belfast, the
establishment having been increased on 1st April 1884 to 608 of all ranks,
and subsequently on 1st April 1885 to 688. In 1884 Colonel Lambton retired
on half-pay. His intimation of the fact to the battalion, in an Order of
24th December, was as follows :—
"Colonel Lambton, on resigning with
much regret the command of the regiment, after upwards of 33 years’
service in its various grades, begs to return his most grateful thanks to
the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates for the cordial
support he has received from all ranks in keeping up its old established
credit in the four and a half years during which he has had the honour of
commanding it. He now, with no small feeling of regret, begs to bid
farewell to all, and to assure them that he will watch the future career
of the regiment, under the command of his successors, with undiminished
interest."
Colonel Lambton was succeeded by
Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Allan, who was, however, only with the
Battalion for one year and five months, before being placed on half-pay.
In his address, in Battalion Orders of 8th April 1886, he expressed his
regret at leaving the regiment; and after thanking all ranks for their
support, expressed his confidence that the discipline and
esprit de corps
which had always existed among them was as
strong as ever, and said he wished to impress on every one the
necessity—seeing the Battalion was for the most part composed of very
young soldiers—of the officers and non-commissioned officers taking "every
opportunity of explaining to their men how important it is for them to be
obedient, and to lead a sober and steady life, so that when their turn
comes to leave the old corps, they may join their friends with good
characters."
The regiment is now under the
command of Lieutenant-Colonel C. T. Wallace, and is still stationed at
Belfast, where the services of several detachments were unfortunately
required in quelling the party disturbances and riots that took place
there during the summer of 1886. |
