6 
that can be claimed to-day is in a great degree due to the reputation which lias 
been built up during the last 100 years, and handed down to us by those who 
have gone before, and we also know that it is to history we must look as the 
source of that esprit de corps which is the best foundation for discipline. This 
year is not only the centenary of ££ C” battery, but it is the centenary of the 
Horse Artillery, and that event was celebrated in London this summer by a dinner, 
at which His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief presided. Four Troops, 
“A,” ££ B,” “C,” and “D,” were formed in 1793, Troops ££ A” and ££ B” on 
the 1st January, C£ C” and “D” on the 1st November, but we share with the 
C£ Chestnut Troop” only the distinction of having preserved our designation with 
an unbroken record of service from our formation to the present time. I have 
just received the following telegram from the ££ Chestnuts ” : ££ Chestnut Troop 
send £ C 5 Troop best congratulations on their centenary.” They have not 
forgotten the links which bind us together. (Loud and continued applause). 
The Horse Artillery first saw active service in Ireland during the rebellion of 
1798, when they were represented by ££ A,” ££ B” and ££ C” Troops, and were 
engaged at the battles of ££ Ross (Wexford) ” and ££ Vinegar Hill.” ££ C” Troop 
was next employed on active service in the Peninsula, and disembarked at 
Corunna in 1808 to join a force then acting in Portugal under Sir John Moore. 
The theatre of war was soon transferred to the North of Spain, when they took 
part in all the subsequent operations, including the actions of Benavente and 
Sahagun, and they helped to cover that famous retreat to Corunna, when the 
British Army, though hard pressed by an enemy immensely superior in numbers, 
successfully embarked, having accomplished the object of the expedition. The 
Crimea was the next scene of our war services, when ££ C” Battery was engaged 
at the battles of the Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman. It also took part in the 
siege operations before Sevastopol, and in the autumn of 1855 accompanied the 
Cavalry Brigade on an expedition to Eupatoria, against the enemy’s line of com¬ 
munication. I am proud to be now able to read a telegram which I have received 
from General Lord Roberts:—‘ £ My heartiest congratulations to the officers, 
non-commissioned officers and men of c C’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, on 
completing its centenary. May the coming century add to its glory.” Although 
it may not be our lot to have opportunities of adding to those laurels in the field, 
yet I believe that under all circumstances its traditions in our hands will be fully 
maintained. I shall now, in as few woids as possible, tell you the manner in 
which it is proposed to mark the event of our centenary. A general feeling exists 
among all ranks—past and present—that something should be instituted to form 
a permanent record of this day. On the advice of Colonel Whinyates, General 
Pretyman, and my predecessor, Colonel Knox, a scheme has been adopted for the 
endowment and maintenance of a fund to be called a ££ Centenary Fund,” which 
it is proposed to devote to the following objects :—(1) The encouragement of 
games, mounted sports, and anything that tends to foster a soldier-like spirit and 
promote a high tone in the battery; (2) to charities, with certain reservations. 
It should be recognised that the fund is not intended to be a purely charitable 
one, but is meant only for the benefit of those men (including their families) who 
support it, and who, in the event of any special necessity requiring relief, are 
further willing to help themselves as far as possible; (3) to assist deserving men 
in starting in civil life through the means of military institutions. In this con¬ 
nection it should be understood that any attempt to follow them in their after 
career is undesirable, as tending to encourage improvidence, and having regard to 
the obvious difficulties of determining the merits of their cases; (4) to the pur¬ 
chase of a Centenary Challenge Cup for the purpose of recording annually the 
name of the “best man-at-arms” in the battery of the year. This cup, kept in 
the Officers’ Mess, will be an interesting record of the results of the mounted 
