5 
India for the year 1892-98, given by our most distinguished late Commander in 
India, General Lord Roberts, and I shall not fail to notify to his Lordship the 
circumstances of this presentation. We all know that unless a battery can shoot 
it is useless, and the importance of efficiency in this respect cannot be overrated. 
But it must also be able to move, and get to the right place at the right time. 
“ C ” Battery can do both. I remarked at the battery Balaclava Sports that the 
men rode particularly well, and that the horses were in splendid condition. I 
wish the battery every success at the approaching camp at Gurgaon, and hope 
they will again be successful in coming out at the top of the tree. I regret very 
much that the battery will shortly be leaving my command. I have known it for 
the last two years, and have always found that whatever it had to do it did well. 
In the evening the N.-C.-O.’s and men were entertained at dinner, and were 
afterwards joined by Major-General Lewes, Brigadier-General Pretyman, Colonel 
Turnbull and the Officers R.H.A., Colonel Maxwell, Colonel Paley, Mr. Bignell, 
Major Kitson, Captain Stokes and Captain Gosset. Mrs. Turnbull was also 
present, accompanied by several ladies.. 
Major Rochfort, commanding the battery, proposed the first toast of the 
evening, which was drunk with all the honours, the entire company singing “ God 
save the Queen,” to the accompaniment of the 18th Hussars’ band. 
Colonel Turnbull proposed the health of “C” Troop in the following terms :—- 
Generals Lewes and Pretyman, Major Rochfort, Officers, N.-C.O.’s and Men 
of “C” Troop,—I consider it a high honour to have been here this evening—-the 
“centenary” of your grand troop. You will soon hear from Major Rochfort the 
good service your troop has done in times past, but I am sure that if any of your 
forefathers were present here to-night they would be proud to see the condition of 
the troop as it is now. In the presence of the Inspector-General and the General 
Officer Commanding, it would not be becoming in me to say too much about what 
I think of the state of the troop, but I hope they will permit me to say that it is 
second to none. (Loud applause). In these days accurate shooting is everything; 
as Prince Kraft said, a battery is no good unless it can hit. “C” Troop has 
proved that it can do this by winning the Commander-in-Chief’s prize last year 
for the best shooting 12-pr. battery in India, and I wish you luck this year at 
Gurgaon. General Pretyman has honoured you to-day by presenting the Cup, 
and by being present here this evening, and I am sure your pleasure has been 
increased in having received it from a Horse Artilleryman of the General’s experi¬ 
ence, who has the welfare of our proud service at heart. We all regret that you 
are leaving Umballa, but what is our loss is Meerut’s gain. My time of soldiering 
is nearly over, but I can honestly say that I am proud to have had under my 
command “C” Troop during my last year of service in India. I will not detain 
you longer, but feel quite sure that as long as your fine troop has Major Rochfort 
in command, and such officers, non-commissioned officers, and men as I see here 
to-night, you will keep up your proud record whether in peace or war. I wish 
you one and all every luck and prosperity. (Continued cheers.) 
Major Rochfort, in response, said :—- 
Colonel Turnbull, Ladies and Gentlemen,—On behalf of “C” Battery I rise to 
thank you for the honour you have done us. I hope this battery will continue to 
deserve the high character Colonel Turnbull has given it. He has spoken in very 
flattering terms, and these expressions, coming as they do from one who has served 
so long in the Horse Artillery, is so devoted to its interests, and, if I may be 
permitted to say so, knows so well what Horse Artillery ought to be, are a very 
high compliment indeed. I know that amongst other batteries we have met in 
India we always thought his old troop “T” was very hard to beat. It is right 
that on this occasion, when we are celebrating our centenary, that I should review, 
if only in a few words, the history of this battery. We know that any efficiency 
