Our Volunteer Soldiers
At the time of writing this portion of Local History, the readiness of our volunteers to go to South Africa and the ability as well as bravery there displayed in a war of great magnitude fully justified the remarks of the St. Leonards Gazette, twenty-eight years ago. That journal of the 18th of January, 1862, had the following editorial[a]:-
When our Volunteer army was first organized, two years ago, there were many prophecies that the movement would soon collapse; that all might go well for a time, but that young men would soon tire of playing at soldiers, and so on. More than two years have now elapsed since the formation of our Volunteer army was commenced, and it should not be unreasonable to take account of our resources; the more so as a cry has been raised on a very slight foundation - namely that the enthusiasm which so quickly filled up the muster roll has shown some signs of abatement. As applied to the volunteers themselves we believe the alarm is without foundation; but it is true, and not very surprising, that the outside public do not show the same amount of interest or furnish the same measure of support as was freely tendered at the outset of the movement.
Some uncharitable people have designated the resignation of Volunteer officers as "The White-Feather Movement", and those who have done nothing to support them are saying "Oh, we knew it wouldn't last." The assertions that fear of being called upon to meet an enemy has influenced these resignations is nonsensical. The reason of the falling off may be stated in a few words. First and foremost, the apprehensions of a war with France has subsided. A renewal of the apprehension would bring forward every man who had been in the force, and they would, no doubt, rally round their former comrades. But, without such an unnecessary expense and an obstacle in the way of social enjoyment. The number of drills a volunteer must appear at before he can claim to be an effective might now, we think, be reduced. All the volunteers have some knowledge of drill, and need not, therefore be required to work as hard as if they were ignorant of it. Be that as it may, there is no reason, we believe, to complain of the willingness of our own men to continue in well-doing. The efficiency and general smartness of our own men - the Hastings and St. Leonards Volunteers in both services, is but little, if any inferior to any other corps in the kingdom; and if there is a little less enthusiasm just now, it is because of that efficiency, coupled with the belief that the rudiments having been mastered, a moderate amount of drill only is required to make them what they profess to be. There are, of course, many expenses attendant upon the membership and training of volunteers, all or any of which in many countries would prove an insurmountable banner to their oganiza-
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