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An Historic iR&gaement.

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An Historic iR&gaement. COLOURS OF THE ROYAL PEM- BROKE FU/itLEEIlS. LAID UP AT ST. MARY'S CIIUROH. j AN IMPRESSIYE SERVICE. j il, t k, l i l. An interesting ceremony was witnessed at St. Hary's I Church ou Sunday last, when, in the preeonce of a large congiegation, the colours of the Royal Pembroke j Fuzileers" (better known as the Royal Pembroke Militia), which were entruttad to the honour of the Regiment by King George III., WGI.) ]aid up in tbat historic building. During the past century thecolouis j have been in charge of the officeu, non coin m issioned officers, and men. In the absence of Lord Cawdor, LOld Lieutenant of the county, the colours were handed over by Col. Willis, the hon. colonel of the itegiiiient. "HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT. The Royal Pembroke Fuzileers," now in process of disruption owing to the exigencies of the seivice, has had an eventful history. It was established in 15S8, and had a standard of flower damask gold and silken fringe, and bore the motto For God and King. In 1(j\¡7 the strength of the regiment was the Colonel being Sir Thomas Stepney, Bart The Troop 01 Horse War) commanded by Capt Arthur Owen. It has been difficult to trace the regiment during the subsequent GO years. Several Acts were passed affecting the militia service, but the force appears to have only occasionally been called out for training, and so to have fallen pracbcli\y into abeyance. In 1757, George 11., an Act was passed for The better ordering of the Militia," etc., which resulted in the revival of the Regiment. The London Gazette," 29th July, 17oS, contains a letter (dated L nidshipping, 21st July, 17oS) from Sir Win. Owen, But ILM.'s Lieutenant for the County of Pembroke and the Town and County of Haverfordwest, directing all persons qualified, aud willing, to serve as officers, to rutet at the Angel Inn, Haverfordwest, on Tuesday, the lo August next, by 10 o'clock in the forenoon." Shortly afterwards the full number of officers was appointed. From this date (17.)8) the Regiment has had an unbroken continuity of existence. During the French revolutionary wars and the Irish rebellion the regiment was one of the first to volunteer, and under Lieut. -Col. J. Colby, was among the first 13 ttnhtia regiments which embarked for duty ill suppressing the rebellion. Xo record is, unfortunately, obtainable of its services in Ireland, but, according to regimental traditions, an active part WHS tikcii in two or more engagements, the regiment sustaining lojses in killed and wounded. On completion of its tour of duty in Ireland the regiment returned to England, and was disembodied at Haverfordwest in 1802, after uine years' continuous service. After the presentation of the Colours sometime in 108, the regiment went under nuiLercjs designations. In 1810 it became the The Royal Pembroke Milita (Rifle Corps), which title was retained until its conversion into Garrison Artillery in ISoO, as The Roval Pembroke Artillery. In 1878, when war seemed imminent widl ltussh, the mllitia reservists belonging to the regiment were drafted into the Royal Artillery on mobilisation. In 1SS2 the regiment became The 4th Brigade Welsh Division, Royal Artillery, and three years later the headquarters were removed from Haverfor(i west to Fort Hubbetstone, Milford Haven. The official title of the regiment was again altered in 1880 to The Pembroke Artillery (Western Division, R A,) In 1902 the title of the Militia regiment was altered for the last time into "The Pembroke Royal Ganison Artillery (Militia)," and the concluding training of its Militia service was completed on the 1th July, 1008. The following day the unit was transferred to the Army Reserve under the designation of The Pembroke Royal Field Reserve Artillery." All the officers and the great majority of the men accepted the new conditions in the earnest hope that this offspring of the old Corps would continue to exist as a separate unit, and while fully maintaining the inheritance of its honourable Militia traditions would find, under the new and expanded obligations of service, greater opportunities of utility in the service. In consequence of the re-organisation of the Royal Field Artillery under an Army Order, dated IGth March, 1000, the Pembroke R.F.R.A., now loses its identity on being absorbed by the Reserves of "The Royal Regiment of Artillery." Under the title of the Royal Pembrokeshire Militia the Regiiuent had 15 successive colonels. SUNDAY MORNING'S SERVICE. I Sunday morning's service was among the most memor- able held at St. Mary's Church, and accommodation could not be found for all those who desired to gain admission. At half-past ten the reveille souuded, and the local Territorial Company, comprising the Haverford- west and the Narberth units, assembled on the Castle Square under the command of Capt. W. J. Jones. Shortly afterwards a brake arrived with the permanent staff, including Sergt.-Major Richardson, Hakin, in charge of the colours. These were then takll charge of by two lieutenants, and the Territorial Company, headed by the baud, and preceded bv the regimental goat, proceeded to St. Mary's Church. Outside the church were lined up the Territorials, while near the War Memorial were the Haverfordwest Boys' Brigade, under Sgt.-Major Pearce, and the officers bearing the colours were received at the enhance by the Vicar, Churchwardens, and choir, the procession pro- ceeding up the church to the singing of Onward Christian Soldiers." After the singing of the hymn, Fight the good fight," Col. Willis, who was accompanied by Col. Cope, Capt. Houston, Capt. Price, Lieut. H. W. Wynnait, Lieut. Spice and Lieut. Quarter-Master Black, handed over the colours to the vicar, He". John H. Davies. In doing so the HOD. Colonel said that on behalf of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Pembrokeshire Militia he handed the colours over to the safe keeping and custody of the Vicar and Churchwardens of St. Mary's Church. He hoped the colours would be an incentive to future generations to show the same patriotism as the Pembrokeshire Militia had shown in the past. The Vicar accepted the colours "as a token of faithful service and duty well performed." lie tiicii handed them to the churchwardens, Messrs L. II. Thomas and Herbert J. E. Price, who laid them on the altur rail. Addressing the congregation, Archdeacon Williams, after pointing out that members of the congregation had the privilege of belonging to the greatest Empire the world had ever seen, said the men of Pembrokeshire had rendered loyal service whenever they had been called upon, whether at home or abroad. In 1808 they volunteered to serve in the Peninsula war, and in 1858 they volunteered for active service during the Indian Mutiny. Those colours which had been handed over to the custody of the church would be treasured by the Vicar and Churchwardens with a reverent and jealous care. They would remind future generations ot their individual responsibility as members of the great British Empire who, regardless of their personal inconvenience and discomfort, were ever ready to render faithful and loyal service for God and King. The National Anthem was then sung, and after the Vicar had pronounced the benediction an impressive service closed with the trumpeters sounding the Last Post.

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