5 
PLYWOUTEH. 
THERE is no intention to perpetrate a joke, but the present weather would damp 
the spirits of the most energetic officers. The barometer may show what it likes 
but the practical record is three fine days since the 14th November. Christmas 
week has been an intermittent deluge. So much for the weather. 
The Regiment is doing fairly well in football; indeed, 15 Western has one of 
the leading teams in the ‘‘league”’ matches. This is in a great measure due to 
the play of both the full backs @umour says that one is a professional). It is a 
pity that more of the young officers do not play. Lieutenants Hanna and 
Westropp are the chief exponents of the game among the officers. 
To those who know the neighbourhood there are few more charming spots than 
the moors above Tavistock. There is situated an excellent golf club, which is 
‘ most generous to officers of both services, so that golf, which in many places is 
rapidly becoming an expensive luxury, is here a cheap amusement. Nearly all the 
officers R.A. are members, and this is probably the reason which led Col. Dalton 
to present a handsome cup to the head-quarter Mess to be competed for annually. 
The day of competition was unfortunately of the very worst, yet some good 
scores were handed in. Major Mansel, the winner, almost reached his best form 
—93. Major Haines, Captains Mostyn, Molesworth, Robinson and Callwell, and 
Lieutenants Westropp, Scott, Belcher, Chamier, Disney-Roebuck, and Riach were 
among the competitors. Had it not been the leave season, this creditable number 
would have been considerably increased. 
Our friends at Weedon and Newbridge might look with disdain upon hunting 
in this district—chiefly moor and woodland, but we have our good days, notably 
“* Boxing-day ’’ when there was a good old-fashioned long hunting run of over 2 
hours, with the Dartmoors in a rideable banking country, in which the gunners 
were well to the fore. 
Major Hickman and the officers 15 Western gave a most enjoyable little dance 
at Fort Efford lately. The Mess establishment and officers’ quarters were com- 
pletely metamorphosed by tasteful decorations and the result was eminently 
successful. But we do not live for amusement entirely. 
A lecture upon the ‘‘ Nile and its Tributaries’? by Colonel Watson, C.M.G., 
R.E., arranged by the R.A. Institution, was largely attended. The officers R.A. 
were ‘‘ Ai Home” and gave tea to all comers. 
Numerous officers, including General Sir F. Forestier- Walker, Colonel Walkey, 
R.A., etc., were present at Colonel Dalton’s able lecture, on “The Battle of 
Austerlitz.” 
There are few changes in the garrison. The Sierra Leone detachment with 
Captain Norwood and Lieutenant Curme proceeded to Sierra Leone on the out- 
break of hostilities with Ashantee. We take this opportunity of thanking Lord 
Mount Edgcumbe on behalf of the Regiment for his hospitality. A magnificent 
supper, including all the luxuries dear to the heart of “Tommy,” was provided by 
-him for the detachment the night before its departure and was served by his own 
servants. There was in the profusion a pheasant to every two men. 
Thanks to the energetic exertions of Major and Mrs. Perrott a comfortable 
recreation room has been erected at Maker, which is a great boon to the Western 
Section (or the part of it there stationed). 
Lieutenant Walker took a draft to Halifax, where he experienced the hospitality 
of the regimental Mess there, and of Colonel Anstruther, who was most kind; he 
also brought a draft back. 
Captain Carleton is taking a draft round the West Indies. We regret to hear 
that he is in quarantine off St. Lucia. 
Captains Callwell and Robinson with Lieutenant Westropp are tobogganing at 
Davos Platz, 
12a 
