COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 307 



" Captain Waring in a graceful reply said he 

 could wish his successor, Captain Crabbie from the 

 Scots Greys, nothing better than that he should 

 spend the same happy time among the Fife Light 

 Horse as he had done during the past few years. 

 " Major Middleton, who was received with pro- 

 longed cheering, gave ' The Commanding Officer, 

 Colonel Gilmour '. The Major spoke with great 

 heartiness of the services rendered by Colonel 

 Gilmour in volunteering, first as a gunner and then 

 for twenty-one years as a Light Horse man, as 

 testified by the decoration he wore on his breast. 

 The Major urged the rank and file to loyally support 

 the Colonel by influencing as many others as they 

 could to join the regiment. 



" Colonel Gilmour, who was also received with 

 great cheering, thanked Major Middleton for his 

 practical remarks, and further enforced them by 

 stating that only by the co-operation of the men in 

 the direction indicated could he hope to fulfil the 

 position so long held by such a commander of men 

 as Colonel Anstruther Thomson. 



' The proceedings were marked by great en- 

 thusiasm, and the brilliant gathering broke up with 

 ' God save the Queen ' a few minutes past ten 

 o'clock." 



20 



