ley, gent., to be cor. by purchase, vice Blaine, promoted. 6th Dragoon Guards-Arthur Rickards, gent., to be cor. by purchase, vice Marriott, promoted. 6th Dragoons-Cor. William Joseph Power to be lieut. by purchase, vice William Valentine King, who retires; Gage Charles FitzRoy, gent., to be cor. by purchase, vice Power. 9th Lancers-Charles Harvey Palairet, gent., to be cor. by purchose, vice the Hon. E. F. J. Preston, promoted. Arthur 14th Hussars-Capt. Nassau Bolton, from the 56th Foot, to be capt., vice H. Bradley, who exchanges. 17th Lancers-Wilfrid Brougham gent., to be cor., by purchase, vice Arthur Bampton Donnithorne, who retires. Royal Artillery-Staff Assist.Surg. George Scott Davie, M.D., to be assist.-surg., vice John Michael, deceased. 5th Regiment of Foot-Edward Le Marchant Trafford, gent., to be ens., by purchase, vice Booth, promoted. 14th Foot-Ens. Lonsdale Kirkpatrick Howat, to be lieut. by purchase, vice Stephen Watson, who retires; William Knox Barrett, gent., to be ens. by purchase, vice Howat. 15th Foot-Lieut. Arthur Heaton to be capt. by purchase, vice George Joseph Maunsell, who retires; Ens. Charles Kennedy Brooke to be lieut. by purchase, vice Heaton; Ens. Delves Broughton, from 63rd Foot, to be ens., vice Brooke. 16th Foot-Staff Surg. William Armstrong to be surg., vice Surg.Major William George Swan, placed upon half pay. 30th Foot-Capt. Pelham on appointment to the army on the 25th June, 1858, should have been described Pelham Thursby Pelham. 38th Foot-Ens. Walter Sinclair to be lieut. by purchase, vice Dyas Ringrose Lofthouse, who retires; Ens. Francis Charles Burton, from the 56th Foot, to be ens., vice Sinclair. 49th Foot-The surname of the ensign transferred from the 66th Foot, on 10th ultimo, is Humfrey, not Humphrey. 52nd Foot-Lieut. Henry Synge to be instructor of musketry, vice Lieut. Adair, appointed adjt., Nov. 17. 56th Foot-Capt. Henry Bradley from the 14th Hussars, to be capt., vice A. N. Bolton, who exchanges; John Rollo Harriman, gent., to be ens. by purchase, vice Burton, transferred to the 38th Foot. 60th Foot-Lieut. Ashley Fellowes Terry has been permitted to resign the adjutancy, in consequence of his transfer from the 3rd to the 1st battalion, Nov. 18. 62nd Foot-Lieut. Lorenzo G. Dundas to be capt. without purchase, vice William B. Davenport. deceased, Nov. 7; Ensign John Boughey to be lieut. without purchase, vice Dundas, Nov. 7; Ens. Killegrew R. Berkeley Wodehouse to be lieut., by purchase, vice Bouggey, whose promotion by purchase on the 10th Nov. 1865, has been cancelled; Gent.Cadet Robert Alfred Poole, from the Royal Military College, to be ens. without purchase, vice Woodhouse. 63rd Foot-William Courtney Harrison, gent., to be ens. by purchase, vice Broughton, transferred to the 15th Foot. 66th Foot-Capt. F. William Benwell, from the 100th Foot, to be capt., vice A. Trigge, who exchanges. 87th Foot-Lieut. Arthur Howard Southey to be capt. by purchase, vice Ernest Augustus Dundas Widdrington, who retires; Ens. Hyacinth Daly Devereux to be lieut. by purchase, vice Southey; Francis Charles Annesly, gent., to be ens. by purchase, vice Deve of musketry, vice F. Markham, appointed provisional lieutenant instructor at the School of Musketry, Fleetwood, August 2. DEPOT BATTALION. Capt. Henry Kelsall, 16th Foot, to be instructor of musketry, vice Capt. Tarte, appointed adjt., Nov 23. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. Assist.-Surgeon George Nicol Irvine, M.D., from the Royal Artillery, to be staff assist.-surg.. vice James George Stewart Mathison, deceased. Staff Assist.-surg, Morgan Stanislaus Grace, M.D., has been permitted to resign his commission, Staff Assist.-Surg. John Joseph Verdon has been permitted to resign his commission. The surname of the staff assist.surg. gazetted on the 12th Sept. 1865, with the date of the 31st March, 1865, is Hanrahan, and not Haurahan, as stated in the Gazette of the 10th Oct. 1865. CHAPLAINS' DEPARTMENT. The Rev. F. F. Thomson, B.A., chaplain of the fourth class, to be chaplain of the third class, Oct. 1. The Rev. Charles Moore, B.A., chaplain of the fourth class, to be chaplain of the third class, Oct 15. MEMORANDUM. Major and Brev. Lieut.-Col. Hew Dalrymple Fanshawe, half pay, unattached, has been permitted to retire from the service by the sale of his commission, in accordance with the Horse Guards Circular Memorandum of the 15th February, 1861. WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, Dec. 15. BREVET. Major-Gen. Sir Henry Knight Storks, G.C.B., G.C M.G., to have the local rank of lieut.-gen. while in command of the forces in Jamaica. THE MILITIA GAZETTE. WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, Dec. 12. COMMISSION SIGNED BY THE LORD WARDEN. Royal Cornwall and Devon Mines Regiment of Militia-F. Charles Bullmore, gent, to be surg, vice Michell, resigned; Nov. 25. WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, Dec. 15. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS LIEUTENANT. Edinburgh City Artillery Regt., of Militia-Lieut. Robert H. Mackintosh to be capt., vice Pelly, promoted; Dec 6. 2nd Regiment of Royal Surrey Militia-William Clement Cazalet, Esq., to be lieut., vice Pontifex, promoted: Dec 6. Westmoreland and Cumberland Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry -Cornet Lord Kenlis to be capt., vice Harrison, resigned; Dec. 2. Christopher Wyndham Wilson to be cornet, vice Lord Kenlis, promoted; Dec 2. Timothy Fetherstonhaugh to be cornet, Smith, resigned; Dec 2. MEMORANDUM. vice Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept the resignation of the commission held by Capt. George Beresford Deare in the West Suffolk Regiment of Militia; Dec. 9. 4th Regiment of West York Militia-Walter Michael Aubrey Barnes, gent., to be lieut., vice Waud, promoted; Nov. 2. THE VOLUNTEER GAZETTE. WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, Dec. 12. QUEEN'S COMMISSION. 2nd London Rifle Volunteer Corps-David Scott Dodgson late Lieut.-Col. in Her Majesty's Indian Army, to be adjutant, from the 9th March, 1865. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS 8th Northumberland Rifle Volunteer Corps-Major James C. Anderson to be lieut.-col. Captain B. J. Thompson to be major, vice Anderson, promoted. John J. T. Walker to be capt., vice Thompson promoted. Thomas Bell to be captain. Assistant-Surg. J. R. Lowndes to be surg. John Tait Mackay to be assist.-surg, vice Lowndes promoted. The Rev. C. Thompson to be hon. chaplain. 1st Berwick-upon-Tweed Rifle Volunteer Corps-Robert Douglas to be capt.; Dec. 2. 4th Middlesex Artillery Volunteer Corps-J. Bertrand Payne to be capt.; Dec. 4. 29th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps-Lieut. Israel Mark Wade to be capt.; Dec 2. 48th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps-Thomas Alfred Dorsett to be hon. quart.-mast.; Dec. 1. 14th Norfolk Rifle Volunteer Corps-Lieut. R. Burroughes to be capt; Dec 7. Ens. Boardman Charles Silcock to be lieut., vice Burroughes, promoted; Dec. 7. 1st Herfordshire Light Horse Volunteer Corps-Cornet John Slack Taylor to be lieut.; Nov. 28. OOMMISSIONS SIGNED BY HER MAJESTY'S COMMISSIONERS OF LIEUTENANCY FOR THE CITY OF LONDON. 2nd London Rifle Volunteer Corps Lieut. Richard John Courtney to be capt.; July 19. John Craske Webb to be capt.; July 19. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS 25th Staffordshire Rifle Volunteer Corps Frederic Drewry Mort, gent., to be ens., vice Heath promoted; Nov. 25. The following Appointment is substituted for that which appeared in the Gazette of the 20th Oct. last:- 7th Staffordshire Rifle Volunteer Corps-John Allen Bindley, gent, to be ens. vice Ratcliff, promoted; Nov. 25. The following Appointment is substituted for that which appeared in the Gazette of the 28th ultimo: 8th Hampshire Rifle Volunteer Corps--Frederick Fox to be ens., vice Baker, promoted; Nov. 25. The following Appointment is substituted for that which appeared in the Gazette of the 28th ultimo : 22nd Norfolk Rifle Volunteer Corps-Lieut. John W. Davy to be capt.; Nov 20. WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, Dec. 15. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS 13th Essex Rifle Volunteer Corps-Francis Davey to be lieut., Dec. 5. 1st Hertfordshire Light Horse Volunteer Corps-B. Lancellotte to be cor. vice Taylor, promoted; Nov. 28. 42nd Kent Rifle Volunteer Corps -Robert Wheeler, gent, to be ens., vice Monckton, deceased; Dec. 8. 1st Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps-Lieut. Richard Anderton to be capt., vice Promoli, resigned; Dec. 5. Joseph Johnson Bennet, gent., to be ens., Dec. 1. Liverpool Irish Rifle Volunteer Corps - James Milner Walker, gent., to be lieut., Dec. 5. 23rd Somersetshire Rifle Volunteer Corps-Henry Dyne, Esq., to be capt., vice Sandford, resigned; Dec. 11. 2nd West Riding of Yorkshire Artillery Volunteer Corps-Capt. Thomas Pierson to be major; Nov. 3. First Lieut. Rowland Hibbard to be capt., vice Pierson promoted, Nov 22. 40th West Riding of Yorkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps-The Rev. Henry Partington, M.A., to be hon. chap., vice the Rev. John Cordeux, resigned; Dec. 8. MEMORANDUM. 5th West Riding of Yorkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps-Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of Capt. J. Barker bearing the designation of Capt.Commandant. 2nd East Riding of Yorkshire Artillery Volunteer Corps Sir D'Arcy Widdrington Widdrington Legard, Bart., to be capt., vice W. H. Fife, resigned; Nov. 25. MEDALS AND DISTINCTIONS OF THE ENGLISH ARMY. In the present day, when the custom of giving Medals as a reward for service in the field has become so common, a few notes on these and similar distinctions may not be unworthy of attention, more especially as like most other matters of Military detail the historical particulars of the subject are few and difficult to ascertain. To begin the subject at its earliest point, we find certain distinctive marks of honour were commonly in use in Eastern armies before the earliest days of Rome. Armlets or bangles, the prevailing ornament with most wild tribes, were no doubt the primitive form. The coronet or torques was an adaptation of the same ornament to the head. These are said to have been common in the Persian armies in the days of Cyrus. From the same source, no doubt, were derived the crowns of honour in use among the Greeks and Romans (corona) in later times. A similar practice is said to have existed among the Celtic nations brought like many other of their customs doubtless, from the East. In the Roman armies, however, besides the practice of conferring crowns of honour, and armillee or bracelets, another practice existed which is not so generally known, that of bestowing large medals or rather medailions, which under the name of phalera were not only given as rewards in the public games, but also for deeds of valour in the field. When the practice of wearing decorations on the breast was first adapted, we cannot say. Virgil (Eneid 9, 358.) refers to it, but most likely he alludes to a custom prevalent in his time, not in the days of his hero. Some of these phalere have come down to us, and save in size, closely resemble modern medals. In the University Museum at Bonn there is, or was, the monumental tablet of a Boinan soldier who is pourtrayed with five phaleræ, two on each breast and one at his neck, suspended all apparently by small chains. In later times, we find honorary distinctions taking the shapes of badges or devices to be carried on the helm or shield, whence we derive our modern crests and armorial bearings. The arms of the Errol family are an ancient and good example of this kind; according to the old chronicles when the Danes invaded Scotland in 980, there was an engagement at Longearty near Perth, in which the Scots King Kenneth 3rd was routed. John de Luz and his sons (the ancestors of the Earls of Errol) were ploughing in a field hard by. Seeing the Scots flee, John and his sons put themselves in a narrow pass and stopped them with the ox gear, bidding them turn back for loons and cowards. They did so, and the Danes thinking it a reinforcement, turned and fled. Kenneth gave John de Luz as much land in Gourie as a falcon flying from his wrist should measure before it perched, U. S. MAG. No. 447, FEB. 1866. M Hence the Errol crest is a falcon, and the supporters two husbandmen carrying ox yokes. The arms of the Devonshire family of Tripp are another and far later example, the scaling ladder in bend borne by them, being commemorative of the seige of Boulogne in the days of the 5th Henry, and having been bestowed much in the same way as the Victoria Cross would be in the present day. "This atchievment," says an old writer, was given untoe my Lord Howard's fifth son at Bullogne, King Harry the Fifth being there did ask how they took the town. Howard answered, I tripped up ye walls.' Saith ye King, And Tripp shall be thy name, no longer Howard,' and he honoured him with a scaling ladder for his bend." Again the Lanes of Staffordshire whose ancestress, Mistress Jane Lane saved the life of the 'merry monarch,' bore a dapple grey horse sustaining a royal crown with his fore feet, as a crest, in memory of the deed. This practice has continued to the present day, there are few officers in either service who have received marks of distinction, but have had their arms added to in all manner of absurd ways, under the name of honourable augmentations.' The strange mixture of sea, palm trees, ruined vessels and naval crowns in the Nelson arms, and in those of Lord Exmouth are well known examples. The Hussars of the old 18th in somewhat uncomfortable positions, adopted as supporters by the late Lord Londonderry, and the Highlanders chosen by the late Lord Clyde when advanced to the peerage, are also examples in point. We cannot refrain from noticing here a specimen of military heraldry of the last century which we found in a work (on the North American plantations) about eighty years old. It would appear that some of the older families in New England and Virginia set great store on coat armour, and strove hard to obtain it, when not already entitled thereto. A similar furore exists in some of the older colonies at the present day, (in Jamaica to wit) although it is generally gratified without in the slightest way consulting the College of Arms. The crest, however, to which we refer, we commend to our readers' notice for its magniloquence, the family adopting it had, we presume, obtained a commission for some member of it. Crest. On a mound vert, an ensign of the Queen's Rangers in full uniform, in his hand a drawn sword, in the distance a battery with the British colors flying, all proper. To return, however, to our subject. Some of the orders of knighthood which have been established in Europe at various periods, have also for some centuries become species of rewards for merit only. The generality of Continental orders having been bestowed only in the more exceptional cases of general officers, scarcely need notice here, the late Duke of Wellington, our readers most likely |