COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 301 



Masters of Foxhounds of the century. All this 

 would be handed down to many generations. In 

 asking them to drink Colonel Thomson's health that 

 night, and in making a presentation to him in their 

 name, he might, however, in a word, call to their 

 recollection that although the historian of their 

 regiment, with becoming modesty he did not state 

 the fact — the fact no less existed — that had it not 

 been for the active part played by Colonel Thomson 

 in i860 the Fife Light Horse never would have 

 existed, and, might he not most truly add, had it 

 not been for his never-ceasing devotion to its interests 

 ever since, the regiment, which now stood unique 

 and alone at the head of the Volunteer service of 

 the country, would long ago have ceased to be. 

 But in the case of every one present, it was unneces- 

 sary to refer to the records of the regiment to feel and 

 recognise that the Fife Light Horse had had for more 

 than thirty years a commanding officer not in name, 

 but in fact. The smallest detail had received his con- 

 stant care ; in times of difficulty his resource had 

 made easy what to many other commissioned officers 

 would have appeared insuperable. Yes, he said again 

 that it was to those traits of character — all so great, 

 but so rarely to be found in one man — that so many 

 of them were able to meet as they did that night, 

 members of the Fife Light Horse. The knowledge 

 that Colonel Thomson was still to maintain his con- 

 nection with the regiment as its Honorary Colonel 

 had lessened to the members, as he thought it had 

 lessened to Colonel Thomson himself, the sharpness 



