We now received orders to prepare to embark on the troopship
_Euphrates_ for Portsmouth en route for Aldershot. At Portsmouth we
entrained for Aldershot, and on arrival marched to the same grounds we
occupied eleven years ago. We were again attached to the reserve
brigade. After the season closed we removed to the barracks. About
this time the purchase system was abolished, and officers could get a
commission without paying for it, and those who had paid for it got
their money back.
We were sorry to lose Colonel McKinstry, who had commanded us for the
last ten years. He always took a deep interest in the regiment, and did
all in his power to make us comfortable and happy, and kept the corps
in a high state of excellence. Lieutenant-Colonel Brice assumed
command. He served with the 1st Battalion in the Crimea, and was a
strict disciplinarian but a popular officer. The first act of the
colonel's disposition toward criminals was to recommend the pardon of
Private Welsh, who was mentioned in this book as having stabbed
Sergeant Roe in the barracks at Halifax, and as being sentenced to
penal servitude for life.
The autumn manoeuvres lasted sixteen days. Forty thousand men were to
engage in a sham fight. Our brigade consisted of 2nd Battalion of 17th
Regiment, Tower Hamlets militia and a London volunteer battalion known
as the "Devil's Own"--they were lawyers. This regiment came swinging up
the road, the band, which was a splendid one, playing a familiar tune.
They marched in quarter column, halted, piled arms, and immediately
proceeded to pitch tents and prepare the camp for a two days' stay. The
whole brigade looked on and were astonished at the smartness of the
volunteers in this part of their drills and exercises, and indeed,
afterwards we found nothing wanting in their field work.
Several sham battles were fought and many long and tedious marches
endured. Her Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal family came
down to witness the march past of the two armies who had been engaged
in the sham fights. The strength was 45,000 all ranks.
We returned to barracks to spend the winter, which passed away without
incident. The regiment moved to Salisbury Plains, took part in the
autumn manoeuvres, and at their close proceeded to Plymouth to occupy
the Citadel. We met the 100th Regiment in Aldershot. It occupied the
centre block with the 94th, and, if I remember rightly, Colonel
Grasett, chief of police, Toronto, was then adjutant of the corps.
And now, after many roving years, we were back again at the old spot
where our kindergarten days were spent. Twelve years had passed since
we left and many changes had occurred. True, we earned no honors for
the colors, but we were always ready when the alarm sounded, and
returned with an excellent record. We found Colonel Brice a splendid
commanding officer, always ready to help the regiment in any way toward
their comfort and happiness. The colonel was pleased to appoint me
librarian. We had a splendid regimental library, also a garrison
library, where we could draw and exchange books quarterly.
The next three years were spent in this garrison. We were doing duty
with an occasional field day or route march.
In the fall of 1873, my wife, who was a trained nurse and a native of
Halifax, was taken ill with phthisis, and the following summer I was
informed that she could not live. It was her ardent wish to be taken to
her home to die, and although there was promotion before me, I
forfeited the balance of my service toward pension and took my
discharge. In June, 1874, she finished her last earthly journey when we
arrived at her home in Halifax. She died nine days after our arrival.
In the presence of her mother and sister she passed away, loved by all,
and in the hope of a blessed resurrection.