BACK TO KEIGHLEY--I BECOME A VOLUNTEER
When I got home to Keighley, the authorities were busily engaged in
forming a corps of Rifle Volunteers in the town. The commanding officer
was the late Captain Busfeild Ferrand, of St. Ives, Bingley. I was asked
to enlist by sergeant (afterwards captain) Henry Wright (now magistrate's
clerk at Keighley), but objected at first, as each Volunteer had to
purchase his own clothing and accoutrements. However, I was told that if
I would join I should have my uniform, &c., free; and I believe I am
correct in stating that I was the first in the Keighley corps to have my
outfit on these terms. I became a Volunteer. At this time the gentry of
the town and district took a great deal more interest in the Volunteer
movement than they do to-day. Tradesmen, especially, readily joined the
corps, and it was not long ere the first Company was filled up, and a
second Company started in the town. Entertainments were frequently given
by the officers.
CAPTAIN BUSFEILD FERRAND GIVES A BANQUET
One of these popular functions was given by Captain Busfeild Ferrand. It
took the form of a splendid banquet, which was served at the Devonshire
Hotel by mine host and hostess, Mr and Mrs Cheeseborough. (Mr
Cheeseborough was subsequently the superintendent of police at Keighley).
The fact that the banquet cost the Captain over 1 pound per head may
afford some idea of the scale of its magnificence. The guests comprised
the gentry of the neighbourhood, and also many from a distance. Several
military officers of high rank were present--Colonel Wombwell, Captain
McMurdock, &c. The Rector of Keighley (the Rev. W. Busfeild) was among
the guests; also, his two sons, both of them officers in the Army. "After
a sumptuous repast," as the newspapers have it, Captain Busfeild Ferrand
rose and proposed the health of the Queen, eulogising the excellent
qualities of Her Majesty. The Captain was a very loyal subject, as may be
judged by the severity of his threat--that if any Volunteer present did
not drink to the health of the Queen he would have him struck off the
rolls. The Rev. W. Busfeild proposed the "Army and Navy," and, in the
course of a felicitous speech, mentioned that he was the proud father of
two sons who were now officers in the Army, and of another who was in the
Navy--a sentiment which was applauded to the very echo. Other toasts were
honoured, and speeches made, and throughout the proceedings the greatest
enthusiasm and good feeling prevailed. There was one present whom I shall
always remember--the late Mr George Hattersley, the founder of the firm
of George Hattersley & Sons, and the father of Alderman R. L. Hattersley.
Mr George Hattersley was a volunteer in the days of Wellington and
Bonaparte, and was one of the--if not the one--oldest Volunteers present.
"Our comrade, Mr George Hattersley," was toasted with musical honours and
great cheering by the whole company. During the evening Captain Ferrand
gave some very interesting and laughable anecdotes about his military
experiences, especially as a Cavalryman during the Plug-drawing and
Chartist Riots. He told us that his uncle, Major Ferrand, had commanded
the Bingley corps of Volunteers, and Captain Ellis, of Bingley, the
Keighley detachment. The time had come to pass, however, when they had
exchanged places, Captain Ellis being placed in charge of the Bingley
section, and he (Captain Busfeild Ferrand) taking the place of his uncle
at Keighley. The Captain went on to tell us how he had a military "head"
when he was a boy, and caused roars of laughter by saying he had
frequently bestridden a donkey grazing in the field, and set off on the
"war path," imagining himself some great general. Throughout, the
proceedings were almost inconceivably brilliant and enjoyable, and it was
well after the "wee short hour beyont the twal" when the National Anthem
was sung.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD DAY AT YORK
The first field day the Keighley Volunteers had was at York. We formed
part of the West Riding Battalion, and the object of the gathering was a
grand review by the Duke of Cambridge. Unfortunately the day was a very
wet one, and, in consequence, the review turned out a failure. In those
days the Volunteers were not provided with great coats, and a torrential
downpour soon wet every man to the skin. Reviewing under these conditions
would have been decidedly uncomfortable and unsatisfactory; consequently,
the whole battalion was dismissed, and told to seek shelter in the best
places they could find. The Keighley detachment went in batches into the
city. Drill-Sergeant Chick would have me to go with him into the nearest
tavern. The drill-sergeant was a remarkable man in his way, and over a
glass of ale he declared, with an unblushing countenance, that he had
been in some parts of the world where it had rained ten times heavier for
twelve months at a time than it was doing that day. Of course, I, in my
modesty kept quiet, and did not challenge the veracity of the statement
of this wonderful man. Yes; there were some "fine" boys among the
Volunteers in those days. We had some very popular non-commissioned
officers who were very kind to us, which made it a pleasure to serve
under them.
REVIEW AT DONCASTER
The next review was at Doncaster, shortly afterwards, when the day was
about as hot as it was wet on the occasion of the abandoned review at
York. The commissariat was ample for every man, but it was generally
thought that an improvement might have been effected by substituting
something for the "cayenne pies," _alias_ pork pies. Each man had a lb.
pork pie and two pints of beer allowed. The pies were hotly peppered, and
we all declared that they would have given a dog the hydrophobia. Then
the pint pots for drinking ran short--a cruel occurrence on a hot and dry
day. Only half-a-dozen of these drinking utensils fell to the Keighley
detachment, and they fell into the hands of six of the "smartest" lads in
the whole corps--Privates Billy Bentley, Jack Thom, John Hargreaves, Ned
Thretten, Jack Wilkinson, and Long Stanhope. I, for one, badly wanted to
quench my thirst, but was unable to do so, for the above-mentioned six
brave soldiers stuck to their guns--that is, their pint pots, manfully,
and there was no prospect of a drink until they had fairly "put the dust
down." At last, however, I managed to get a pot, but had it taken from me
as I was drinking. Captain Thomas Blakey went up to Private Bentley and
asked, "Are you a married man, Bentley?" "Yes," replied Bentley. "Have
you got any family?" "I have," said Bentley. "Well," said Captain Blakey,
"you'd better take a dozen of these pies home to your children." "Does ta
want me ta give 'em t' hydrophobia? Why, I wodn't give 'em ta t' cat!"
But at this stage "Fall in" was sounded. The parade went through with
satisfaction, and the review was as much a success as that at York was a
failure. General McMurdoch was the Commander-in-chief, and he specially
commended the Keighley corps for the march past and volley-firing, and
said his comments would be forwarded to the proper quarter.
AN AMUSING INCIDENT ON THE HOME JOURNEY
The time came round for the respective regiments taking part in the
review to turn their faces homeward. The detachments from the Keighley
and Bradford districts entrained together. Every man was crying out of
thirst, and at Normanton one of the officers, belonging to Skipton, had
the train stopped. How we blessed him for it! We detrained in a body, and
rushed to the big pump on the platform (used to fill the locomotive
boilers). The water was turned on, and, besides quenching his thirst on
the spot, each Volunteer filled his water-bottle. This was a "movement"
which took some time to execute; and it was, I must say, very considerate
of the station officials to allow us to spend so much time to have a
cheap drink. Major W. L. Marriner and Quartermaster Barber Hopkinson (of
whom I shall have something further to say afterwards) were with us, both
doing their best to pacify their men until they could have their thirst
slaked. Quartermaster Hopkinson "had his hands full" in looking after his
"boys." Well, the soldiers, having all got their bottles filled with
water, re-entered the train, and the journey forward to Keighley was
accomplished without further incident calling for notice.
THE DRILL-SERGEANT'S DISMISSAL
When the Volunteers reached home there was the inevitable reaction--the
"review" men had "a drink at t'heead on 't," and another, and another;
and for two or three days they were to be seen straggling about the
streets. There was one disagreeable incident that occurred to mar the
pleasant termination of the review, locally considered. That was the
dismissal of Drill-sergeant Chick from the regiment at the instance of
Captain Leper, who was the adjutant for the Bradford and Keighley
divisional corps. The drill-sergeant's offence consisted, it appeared, in
"speaking when not spoken to." I have previously made mention that the
Keighley corps were complimented by the commanding officer for their
march past and volley-firing. When making his remarks, General McMurdock
wanted to know the name of the corps. Captain Leper (a Bradfordian)
replied, "Bradford, sir." Sergeant Chick, in his enthusiasm, and knowing
that they were his own men who were alluded to, shouted, "No, sir; it's
Keighley." This "flagrant misconduct" on the part of a subordinate
incensed Captain Leper--this was seen by the "wicked" impression on the
captain's face--who was not long in telling poor Chick that he had been
dismissed the regiment. This was a hard blow to the drill-sergeant, who
had drilled his men so that they marched as one man; but, to Captain
Leper's credit, let it be said that he subsequently endeavoured to get
Sergeant Chick re-instated. The dismissal, however had gone through the
oracle of the Horse Guards, and to withdraw was impossible. Captain Leper
then found employment for him at Bradford in looking after the
orderly-room, &c., and with his remuneration from this source, and a
small army pension, the ex-drill-sergeant managed to live in comparative
comfort.
A DRILLING INCIDENT
Volunteering at Keighley went on in its own quiet and peaceful way. I
might, perhaps, mention one incident which took place while the Keighley
companies were drilling in the old Showfield one Saturday afternoon.
Lieutenant (or Ensign, I forget which for the moment) Joseph Craven, of
Steeton, was in charge of a squad of us. Now, Mr Craven was somewhat
corpulent--there was no mistake about that, and marching about under a
hot sun was clearly not accomplished without great exertion and copious
perspiration. The members of the squad soon comprehended the position in
which their drill-master was, and they determined to give him "quick
march." When he gave the order "Quick march!" from the front, the "boys"
did march to some tune. Their commander soon found it necessary to step
from the front, and he was left a good distance behind. But he soon
discovered their little "game," and proved himself "quite up to their
trick." By calling out "halt" at intervals, he found himself able to keep
up fairly well with the men. In his next drills he was considerately
allowed by Captain Busfeild Ferrand to go about on horseback. Mr Craven
was known among us as a very genial and sociable officer, and he enjoyed
the respect and esteem of those under him. There were circumstances,
however, which caused his retirement from the Volunteer corps, after a
comparatively short service.