ion, but in most cases these expenses are borne by Englishmen without complaint. What with the annual subscriptions of officers, storehouses, sergeants, adjutants, ammunition, subscription to rifle-ground, drill-rooms, &c, the volunteer is highly taxed for his patriotism; and although, as we have said, these expenses are cheerfully borne, we may yet look forward to a judicious pruning down of some of these items as one of the means to ensure the permanency of this invaluable army. There is one other expense which we must not omit to enumerate, and one that we believe the volunteers least of all grudge namely, that which is incurred in the maintenance of bands. Soldiering would be a monotonous thing without music, and so indispensable do we deem it that it gives us pleasure to hear of great improvements being contemplated by the additions now made to the Artillery band. The Rifles have already an excellent band, and sure we are, that if properly got together, there is an abundance of home talent to constitute such a band for the Artillery Volunteers as they themselves would be proud of. [See page 99 of Brett's "All About South Africa" for Lord Robert's praise of Volunteers.]
Promotions The following promotions in the Volunteer Artiller Brigade gad been made: Sergeant Gant was to be Quarter-master-Seargeant vice Payne (resigned); Corporals Jones and Dowsett to be Sergeants; and Bombadier Baker to be Corporal.
A Volunteer Poet. The following song written by Samuel Newberry, of the 4th Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers appeared in the St. Leonards Gazette of Feb 16th"The Royal Navy Reserve Man's Song"
Come all ye jolly bold Reserves
And listen to my song;
'Tis made for the occasion,
And 'twill not detain you long.
It expresses our opinion
And it strives to make it plain
That the sea is our dominion
Which we ever will maintain.
When our noble Queen commands us
We will cheerfully comply;
For "Ready, always Ready Boys"
Is still our constant cry.
And we stick to our opinion
While we strive to make it plain
That the sea is our dominion
Which we ever will maintain.
We will hoist Old England's banner
And we'll keep it flying still;
We will fight for Queen and Country
With a hearty loyal will.
We will publish our opinion,
While we try to make it plain
That the sea is our dominion
Which we ever will maintain.
No ship is like a British ship
That sails the world around;
No land is like Old England's land
Our dear old native ground.
There's no mistake about it
And we'll try to make it plain
That the sea is our dominion
Which we ever will maintain.
