(To be conchided.) ESPRIT DE CORPS.
I am quite aware that this is now out of date, and that in these present general service days, every subaltern is expected to be equal-
ly at home whether leading his troop, commanding a gun-boat, or driving an aeroplane. At the same time, following the lead of a bold advertiser who states that no home can be complete without a gramophone, I state that no regiment can be a really good one without esprit do corps.
It is perhaps nowhere in greater evidence than at our chief public school, Eton. And the fact of having been at that school forms a link which binds men together all over the world, no matter where or under what conditions they meet. I choose Eton as my example, not from any wish to detract from other schools, but sim-
ply from the fact that, having spent six years of my life there, I am better qualified to speak about it. Now the whole of your leisure time there is spent in friendly rivalry between the dilferent houses, at cricket, football, rowing, racquets, running, etc , and your one ambition
is that your own house should be the best. If in your turn you prove good enough to representthe school in any of these sports, then you strive with all your might and main
to bring your school out on top. That is the whole essence of esprit de corps. What were the last words of Geddes as leading his men in the charge he fell riddled with bullets ‘2
You probably all have seen the picture, and underneath it are his words, the Eton motto, “Floreat Etona.” His last thought was for the school he loved so well. To my mind this spirit cannot be too carefully fostered. Love of your regiment should be your first and last thought.
Do not, however, confuse esprit de corps with that egregious conceit which usually precedes a fall. By which 1 mean that state in which a team will sometimes take the field in the full belief that their opponents will bow down to them at once. This state is responsible for many an overthrow. It is sometimes called over-confidence. In a regiment, as at a school, the chief point is that the rivalry must be friendly, so that although there may be any amount of rivalry between
squadrons,
when the time
comes to play for the regiment, then we should act as one united whole, whether it is in inter-regimental games in peace time, or in the stern realities of war, for the honour and glory of our regiment. During the last ten years, I can call to mind forty old Etonians who have served in this regiment, and of these no less than eighteen are still serving. This in itself is largely responsible for the fact that esprit de corps is by no means dead in the Old Royals, as men who have been brought up to believe in it, will not
Ten fired, best eight to count. by 23 points.
MUSKETRY. " A ” and “ "' ” squadrons have concluded their range practices, and, considering the violent weather, have done fairly well. The latter squadron returned the bigger percentage of marksmen, but this is probably partialsions of the targets, which are generally considered to be more favourable for the better class shots. In any case, both squadrons have been unfortunate in the matter of climatic conditions, scarcely a day passing
without high winds 0r sandstorms occurring. The members of the Sergeants” Mess Rifle Club have won three good matches, and al~ though it is not surprising they should prove superior to the Corporals’ team—considermg
the latter are marksmen of much less expenence—-it is certainly creditable that they were able to administer two consecutive and decisive beatings to a picked team of sergeants of an infantry battalion, via, the Durham Light Infantry. The scores are detailed below. The only spoon shoot we have to record, gale took place on the 27th ultimo in a perfect
0f wind and was naturally productive of poor
bear the brunt of the lighting. Hence the allimportance of the regiment being welded together with one common object in view, the honour of that regiment. E. DE. 0,
Scene : Orderly Room. Subaltern, whose name not infrequently figures in leave book, giving evidence in minor offence case, to C. 0., “Sir, I er—happened to be at stables yesterday, and”—“No ! really?” interrupted the C. 0., enthusiastically, “I congratulate y011 ’
Match fired on 30th May. Distances—200, 500 and 600 yards. Weather fine. Royals.
readily cast it aside ; but, on the contrary,will
regiment, and not the individual which has to
Royals won:
D. L. [.
ly due to the recent al‘~-rations in the dimen-
introduce it wherever they go. The people who decry esprit (Ze corps are those who either were never at a public school, or else since joining the army have made a point of placing their own individual advancement before everything. Needless to say these are the people who succeed, but do not let us IOse sight of the fact that it is the
53
Sergt. Rankin S. Q M. S. Beall Sergt. Thompson Sales S. S. I". Reynolds
.. .. .. ..
s2 89 79 '76 433
S. Q. M. S. Abbott
..
84
R. Q. M. S. Sykes Sergt. Mitchell Collingwood Whittick
.. .. .. ..
81 ST B3 T4
Total
...
Royals won-
by 57 points. Sergeants return match with Corporals, f]... (l on 28rd May. Weather good. SERGEA NTS. Sergt Sales
,,
CORPORALS. ,_
(3,5
Wilson
..
'71
.
Yeates Allchin Huggins
.. .. ._
75, 31 75
..
Shaw Day
.. ,_
73 68
..
Simpson
.,
so
,. .
Darling Perks
.. .,
(3:: (35
Corp]. Workman
..
..
Mitchell
1st spoon, compiled 67, and owing 3, was left
S. Q. M. S. King
..
with 64 to count. S.Q.M.S. Abbott did better
S. S. l". Reynolds S S. M Allen
..
leaving him level with his opponent. Firing 3 shots each to decide first and second, Far rant came out the better. Match fired on Durham’s range on l6th May. Distances—200, 500 and 600 yards.
Total
Ten lired, best eight to count.
.. .. .. .. ..
with 79, but had to concede 15 points, thus
Wall
,.
Colr.-Scrgt. Neal Sergt. Shaw Elliott ,, Wickenden ,.
E
S. Q. M. S Abbott Sergt. Rankin B. Q. M. S. Sykes Sergt. Thompson Bunker ,,
scores. Sergeant-Farrier Farrant, the winner of
Band-Master Bind Colr.-Sergt. Newman .. . Sergt. Binham ., HOWe Stanley ,,
m ,.. »1 (p w y.
His first care should be his
horse.
THLB EAGLE
a:
horsemaster.
EAGLE
I
THE
w 6.6
55'
Total
‘ .
J '
“a
Total
Ten fired, best eight to count. won by 57.
.. 71-3
Sergeants
CRICKET.
Weather unfavourable. SCORES :
Royals
.
cricket— Although the evening practice on the
U- L.dl. Servt. Saun ers ,_ “5 Stanley Colr.-Sergt. Newman ,. . Sergt. Shaw
~ '7. ' ,1] ligatglilifii 5mg. n pson ., Thom S. Q. M. S. King.r
.. .. ..
Scrgt. Collingwood
..
Band-M aster Hind
Lamb
..
Sergt. Howe
Q M. S. Sylros b Reynolds
..
COL-Sergt. Neal
..
Sergt. wan
’
foivi. s. Beall r
'l‘otal
.
..
..
King
..
.,
Elliott
..
.:
mornareen has long ceased, each Thursday reason being E:ng witnesses a match, the ly raging usual are s that whilst the hot wind mg, they even early and noon during the after be really to gy ener ient suffic up work do not annoying until 9 or 10
Total
the early
morning is
am.
Consequently
qu1te possmle,
and.