286 REMINISCENCES OF 



times he had spent with the regiment." The gift 

 consisted of a silver cup beautifully chased, and he 

 had to ask the members to show their regard for the 

 Colonel in handselling the cup by drinking from it as 

 it was passed round. The cup bore the following 

 inscription : " To Colonel John Anstruther Thom- 

 son on his retirement from the service. From the 

 Forfar Light Horse. loth October, 1895." 



In reply. Colonel Thomson said : He had had the 

 honour of being the guest at many complimentary 

 dinners, and had received many valuable and valued 

 testimonials ; but he had never found so much 

 difficulty in replying as he did that night. When 

 last he addressed them he had the honour of being 

 their commanding officer, but now things were 

 changed, and he was there merely as a civilian, 

 though he was permitted to wear the uniform and 

 retain the rank. He deeply regretted having to part 

 from them. One of the regulations of the Volunteer 

 force was that commanding officers had to retire at 

 the age of sixty, but he had been allowed to go on 

 for seventeen years longer. He was grateful to the 

 authorities, and trusted that their confidence had not 

 been misplaced, for the regiment was in a higher 

 state of discipline now than it had ever been. 

 According to the Volunteer regulations he had sent 

 in an application every year for permission to retain 

 the command for another year. The General now 

 commanding the Northern District had forwarded 

 the application without recommending it. Therefore 

 in due course he was gazetted out. He had enlisted 



