Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 12th April 1909

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST

The Robin Hood Rifles Veterans' Association have decided to hold a banquet on the 18th June (Waterloo Day), to commemorate the jubilee of the volunteer force, and the invitation is extended to all old members of the Robin Hood Rifles.

Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday, 26th May 1909

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

"SLIGHTING" THE VETERANS

WHY THE OLD WARRIORS WERE NOT AT BULWELL

NO INVITATION

Mr. H.S. Whitby, joint hon. secretary of the Nottingham and Notts. Crimean and Indian Mutiny Veterans' Association, writing in reply to correspondents regarding the non-attendance of the veterans at the opening of the Bulwell Park, says there is only one reason, viz. they were not invited.

It is not the first time (the letter continues) these aged warriors have been slighted "officially". When the statue erected to the memory of our late beloved Queen Victoria the Good was unveiled no invitation was sent to the veterans to be present on this important occasion. The old men said to me, "Would you mind telephoning to those in authority; probably they have overlooked us?"; This I did, and the reply was, "Have these men any uniforms?" I was compelled to reply "No", but remarked, "They have decorations more precious than uniforms. They guarded her late Majesty when a girl, escorted her many times when a woman, fought for her, and won many important battles. Through their efforts her empire was extended". I expressed my opinion that they should be invited, uniforms or no uniforms. However, probably because it was thought their appearance would spoil the spectacular effect (although his Majesty King Edward the VII did not object to inspect them in Derby in their threadbare garments!) they were debarred from showing their respect to one whom they more than loved.

Since that event, thanks to the rich, the middle classes, and the poor the county and city of Nottingham, the veterans have been provided with summer and winter uniforms. Thanks to his Grace the Duke of Portland, K.G., the spot where the remains of the departed veterans are laid has been suitably enclosed, as a mark of esteem to their gallant deeds; Mr. W. Burrows, J.P., has given them warm winter gloves; Councillor and Mrs. F.N. Hobson have generously presented them with boots; and Colonel R. Leslie Birkin, D.S.O., willingly replaced every medal that had been lost years ago, so that each veteran appears in his well-earned decorations. Last, but not least, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Boot have erected at Wilford the "Dorothy Boot Homes", which forms a fitting climax to our efforts for these heroes of a hundred fights, and they are admitted to be the finest military homes in the world.

So to-day it cannot be said that Nottingham has not done her duty to its gallant grey-haired sons, who have done so much for the empire of which every Britisher is proud. Therefore, so long as the public of Nottinghamshire reserve a warm place in their hearts towards these feeble old men their future welfare is secure.

In a postscript Mr. Whitby mentions that Col. C.W. Birkin, commanding the Robin Hood Rifles, has invited the veterans to march with his regiment on Sunday next to the Castle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the same - an act which will be deeply appreciated by veterans and the public.

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 31st May, 1909

ROBIN HOOD'S JUBILEE

MEMORABLE GATHERING IN NOTTINGHAM

Favoured with a fine day for the commemoration of the jubilee of Nottingham's "Renowned Robin Hoods", the scenes on the Castle Green yesterday afternoon were most impressive. A big crowd assembled in the Great Market-place to witness the parade of the battalion, the ranks of which were joined by a considerable number of past members of the corps, together with the whole membership of the Crimean and Indian Mutiny Veterans' Association, who were not prevented by infirmity or illness from taking part.

The old fellows, in charge of Mr. H.S. Whitby, were given the honour of heading the march to the Castle, and were provided with chairs in a conspicuous place on the green immediately to the rear of the preacher, the Rev. H.T. Hayman, the popular chaplain to the battalion, who was accompanied by Bishop Hamilton Baynes, vicar of St. Mary's.

The corps, of whom there were 15 officers and 450 of the rank and file on parade, occupied a large area, one of the boundaries of which overlooks the main entrance to the grounds. Colonel C.W. Birkin was in command; and the other officers of the battalion present were Colonel A.W. Brewill, Capt. and Adjutant C.C. Parkinson, M.V.O., Major P.M. Payne, Captains A.N. Lee, H. Hanson, L.A. Hind, F. Rayner, H. Bradwell, B.H. Baily, F.H. Spalding, J.R. Hardstaff, C.W. Milner, and W.H. Newham, Lieutenants G.H. Black and G.H. Stubington (with the colours), L.L. Cooper, A.M. Williams, and A.T. Mulhall (R.A.M.C.).

Colonel W.H.E. Murray, commanding the Sherwood Foresters Infantry Brigade, attended to present the volunteer long service and the territorial efficiency medals, and other military visitors included Colonel R. Leslie Birkin, D.S.O., Colonel F.E. Seely, Captain H.L. Birkin, and Brigade-Major Mann, the latter accompanying the brigadier.

Amongst the retired officers present were Lord Belper (one of the first majors of the regiment), Sir T.L. Birkin (one of the first captains), the Mayor of Nottingham (Major J. Ashworth), the Sheriff (Councillor E. Mellor), Mr. R. Evans (one of the six to attend the first drill on May 30th, 1859), Ald. J.P. Ford (who attended the second drill), Mr. J. Hind, the Town Clerk (Mr. J.A.H. Green), Colonel J. Wright, V.D., and Captain E.A. Cuckson, together with a large assembly of old members of the corps.

The visitors included - Lady Birkin, the Mayoress, Mr. A. Heymann, Councillors F. Ball and W.H. Carey. The Duke of Portland, Sir Charles Seely, and Colonel A.C. Cantrell-Hubbersty were unable to be present.

A RED LETTER DAY

A shortened form of evensong was gone through, the hymns rendered being "Onward, Christian Soldiers", "Soldiers of Christ arise", and "Fight the good fight". The preacher, who took no text, observed that it was a red letter day in the history of the regiment, and of the city. Fifty years ago that day six men were drawn up, either on the spot or very near to it, who were the first representatives of the Robin Hood Rifles. Of those six men three, he believed, had passed away, two had left the city, and one he was delighted to see present on that occasion. Tracing the history of the regiment, Mr. Hayman remarked that it became very popular, crept up gradually to number 1,000 men, and a few years ago numbered some 1,500 or 1,600, two battalions being formed. In the dark days of the South Africa war it contributed two companies. Last year came the change. At first he was a bit disappointed with the way in which men came forward but the reason for the hesitation was that they were not likely to join until they knew exactly what joining meant. When General Smith-Dorrien and the Lord-Lieutenant of the county had put the case explicitly, the men came forward as he was sure they would, until to-day the regiment was practically full. Mr. Hayman held, in opposition to the opinion of some, that the movement was a Christian act. It was quite true Christianity taught peace in a sense, that they might believe the time was coming when all nations would live at peace. It was true that arbitration was making certain steps on the proper way, that deputations were coming from other countries, and going from this, in order that men might understand one another better, and so perhaps become friends instead of enemies. Above all, they had got the greatest peacemaker in the world ruling over them.

Having expressed the opinion that Nottingham never did herself more credit than when she took her veterans in hand, Mr. Hayman concluded by observing that if they loved God they would love their country; if they did their duty to God they would do their duty to their country; if they fought and worked for God they would fight and work for their country; and he felt they would do it to the best of their ability.

The presentation of the medals to about 70 past and present members of the battalion by the brigadier followed the service, and the rendering of the National Anthem by the band brought a memorable occasion to a close.