COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 239 



troop, who had three times volunteered in defence of 

 his country. He was a member of the Fife Yeo- 

 manry, disbanded in 1827, and also in 1837, and Fife 

 Light Horse, raised in i860. When a discussion 

 took place whether the uniform of the F.M.R.V. 

 should be grey — like most of the Volunteers — or 

 red, John Carstairs of Smeaton said, "If ye mak' 

 it grey, ye'll be like a troop o' millers. I maun 

 ha'e a red cote, or LU no join ! " It was therefore 

 decided the coats should be red. 



" We turned out on the day of the review at 

 eleven o'clock, and proceeded to take up our places 

 in the Queen's Park, in accordance with the following 

 order : — 



"'Major-General Lord Rokeby, K.C.B., com- 

 manding First Division. Fife Mounted Rifle Volun- 

 teers to take post on right of line. Major, the Earl 

 of Rosslyn ( Lieutenant-General) commanding. Hour 

 of marching — one o'clock. Entrance — Old London 

 Road. Strength — officers, 9 ; non-commissioned 

 officers, 12 ; privates, 72 — Total, 93.' 



" The weather was beautiful, but the dust was 

 very bad, and the men's faces became quite black. 

 We were formed in close column, each troop told off 

 as a squadron in single rank. 



" At last Her Majesty appeared with an escort 

 of the 13th, cantering very slowly, and all well in 

 hand. She drove all down the line. Lord Rosslyn 

 was the first volunteer in Scotland who marched 

 past Her Majesty, followed by Lieutenant Cathcart, 



