7 
On 24th May, the Queen’s Birthday parade was held on the Common instead 
of in the Citadel, and the militia took part with the regulars for the first time for 
many years. The R.A. fired the Royal salute from two batteries of six 9-pr. 
R.M.L. guns drawn up on either flank, and in the march-past drew the guns past 
with drag-ropes, there being neither proper horses nor harness available. 
The R.A. Sheerness have been very successful in their cricket and polo matches. 
At cricket it is creditable to be able to record victories against such teams as the 
R.M.L.I. Chatham, the Royal Navy Sheerness, and the Royal Artillery Shoe- 
buryness, are able to produce. At polo three matches out of four have been 
won—two against Woldingham, and one against a second team from Woolwich— 
but the first match at Woolwich was lost. During the last week of June the 
R.A. Officers held a series of entertainments, commencing on Wednesday 27th 
with an “ At Home 33 on the Well Marsh, with a cricket match against the 
R.M.L.I. Chatham, in which the R.A. ran up a good score of 207, winning 
by no less than 170 runs on first innings (Mr. Byron, 52 ; Mr. Oldfield, 12 ; 
Corporal Davis, 52; Gunner Shaw, 15). A portion of the R.A. band played 
during the afternoon, and a large number of guests were present. This was 
followed in the evening by a most enjoyable dance in the R.A. Mess, which had 
been tastefully decorated for the occasion. The music was furnished by the 
R.A. band, and dancing was kept up with great spirit till 2 a.m. On the follow¬ 
ing afternoon a gymkhana was held on the polo ground, described in a local paper 
as “the Indian game of Gymkhana !” the events including a polo ball race, egg 
and ladle, thread and needle, ball and bucket, white tie, and run, walk, and lead 
races, which attracted a large concourse of spectators. On the following day, 
Friday, the R.A. (all officers) met the Royal Navy, on the Well Marsh, at cricket, 
winning by 42 runs. Major Pratt contributing the top score of 42 ; Major 
Thackeray with 23, and Mr. Oldfield, 20, gave valuable assistance; Mr. Cairnes 
repeated his performance against the Royal Marines by taking six of the 10 
wickets. “ The week 33 ended on Saturday with a polo match against the Wold¬ 
ingham Polo Club, which also ended in a victory for the R.A. by 13 goals to six. 
Capt. Humphreys received a severe shock by a fall during the first five minutes 
play, and had to be carried off the field. His place was taken by Major Pratt, 
the remainder of the team being Mr. Byron, back; Capt. Persse, 2; and Mr. 
Cairnes, 1. 
On Friday, the 20th July, a second team R.A. Woolwich visited Sheerness for 
a return match against the R.A. Sheerness, when a very evenly-contested game 
was played, the home team eventually winning by six goals to five. Teams— 
Woolwich : Mr. Pirn, 1 ; Mr. Head, 2 ; Mr. White, 3 ; and Mr. Aldridge, back. 
Sheerness: Mr. Cairnes, 1; Capt. Humphreys, 2; Capt. Persse, 3 ; and Mr. 
Byron, back. 
OBITUARY, 
Colonel C. H. Campbell (late Bombay), retired, died at St. Leonards, on 19th 
May. He joined the Bombay Artillery as 2nd Lieutenant, 12th June, 1858 ; 
became Lieutenant, 27th August, 1858 ; Captain, 8th January, 1870 ; Major, 
31st December, 1878; Lieut.-Colonel, 18th June, 1884; and retired with the 
honorary rank of Colonel, 25th January, 1886. 
