UNITED SERVICE HOME.

377

-which is nearly always the case in Melbourne,— any man or woman unable to work and without friends has to be committed to prison to prevent their dying in the streets from starvation. The old-age pension scheme has doubtless now corrected this; but it was not in operation when I was in Australia, and I found several most worthy old soldiers over seventy years of age unable to work and in great destitution. One man I specially remember, who after being through several campaigns was discharged with a good conduct medal and an exemplary character. Rheumatism rendered him unable to work, and having no friends he had to be committed to prison. I got all the necessary facts together, and wrote very strongly to the papers on the subject of the friendless old soldier, the result being a public meeting in the Town Hall, with the governor in the chair. Some £2000 was subscribed, a beautiful piece of land was given by the colony not far from Geelong, and a United Service home was built for specially deserving old soldiers and sailors of exemplary character who were unable to make a living for themselves, and who had been good colonists in Victoria for not less than five years. A splendid fellow, Major Purchas, formerly in the Victorian forces, gave his services as an architect free of charge: he greatly assisted me with the organisation, and has acted as honorary secretary ever since the home was started. There are now twelve old soldiers and two old blue-jackets in the home, which is maintained principally by the members, officers and men, of the Defence Forces of Victoria. There are no charges for management: the home, under a committee and Major Purchas, being, so to say, self-contained, the actual cost, including everything, is 1s. per head

per day, and extremely well done. The house and grounds are kept in order by the inmates, and have developed into quite a show place. On Sunday the old fellows march to the village church: in their threecornered cocked hats and quaint old Chelsea and Greenwich uniforms, and with their white beards and medals, they make a grand show. It was with difficulty I finished my little speech when, on leaving Australia, I had to say good-bye to them. Of those fourteen, all but one now rest in the old soldiers' corner of the village cemetery.

When the great financial crash came in Australia, Victoria suffered heavily, and reductions of expenditure had to be made. The Defence Forces were the first to suffer, and my beautiful little army began rapidly to diminish. With every one suffering by reduction of income, I considered it right to tender my resignation. I said plainly that I could not afford to live in Australia on less than the pay I was drawing, but if the Government wished to get a commandant at a lower salary I was quite ready to cancel my agreement with them. The Premier very kindly hoped I would remain until the end of my time, which the Government afterwards wanted to extend for six months because of some special meeting. This, owing to urgent business at home, I was unable to agree to: indeed it was full time I left. I had commenced to see things too much through Australian spectacles, and found myself taking too great an interest in political matters. In fact, I was rapidly becoming an Australian, and when I had to say goodbye I discovered that I had insensibly put out roots, the severing of which was decidedly painful. In November 1894 I embarked at Melbourne, receiving

my last salute from a field battery on the shore, the 32-pounders of the old Nelson and the heavy guns at the Heads. The following year, although on the special list, I was retired under the age clause at fifty-seven, and ceased to belong to the army.

On the breaking-out of the South African war I sent in an official application for employment in any capacity, but was privately informed that it could not be managed owing to my rank and retirement. I then offered to go as a subaltern again, but even that failed. Although not so active as I was sixteen years before, I certainly thought I might have been able to hold my own with the boys again, as I could then swing a salmon-rod on the Ness all day, gaff my own fish, and walk four miles home in the evening, with sometimes a couple of salmon on my back; but it was not to be my service days were over. I suppose (although I now lead the quiet uneventful life of a farmer, and almost dread the sound of even a volunteer's bugle or drum, which brings a lump in the throat, reminding me that I am no longer a soldier) I ought to be satisfied, as two of my sons went through harder work in South Africa than I ever had, and my old regiment did so splendidly, remembering "Cymru am Byth," when they got in with the bayonet at Driefontein. My Australian boys also carried the little silver badge of the Southern Cross well to the front, and will, I am certain, ever bear in mind the motto of the Victorian Defence Forces which I gave them for their star-" Pro Deo et Patria."

INDEX.

Allies, infantry of, inspected by Boyne, battle of the, disturbances at