The Third Company, Second Hants. Volunteers: Dinner and Presentation of Prizes at the Audit House: The members of the third company of the 2nd Hants (Southampton) Volunteers assembled at the Butts at Mill, brook, on Saturday, to contest for prizes, some of which had been presented by their newly- appointed captain (Mr. J. H Cooksey, J.P.), Mr. Sheriff Davis, Ensign Keane, Private Collings, Private Stratton, and others. In the evening the company were entertained by their captain at the Audit- house, when a large number sat down to a substantial dinner, supplied by Mr. Brixey, of the Southampton Club. Captain J. H. Cooksey preside; he was supported by Sir George Brooke Pechell, Bart, (the lieutenant- colonel of the 2nd Hants Rifles), Captain R. O’Shea (the adjutant of the corps), Captain R. G. Bassett (5th company), Mr. G. N. Cooksey, Lieutenant Le Feuvre, Dr. Dayman (hon. surgeon) Deputy- Purveyor Taylor (Netley Hospital), Ensign Keane, Mr. Pinsent, Mr. J. D. Hubbarde, Mr. Falvey, &c. Colour-Sergeant Marshall, Private C. C. Smith, and Corporal Scovell were the vice-chairmen. Immediately in front of the chairman were placed the handsome prizes shot for that day, and which were to be presented to the successful competitors. The tables having been cleared; the Chairman briefly proposed “The Queen,” followed by the “Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family,” and the toasts were received in a manner peculiar to Volunteers. Mr. Falvey, in proposing “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” said he was sure there was no true English, man who did not take the greatest pride in the three services. In every quarter of the globe the men they had sent as their representatives had carried out their “duty nobly and well; on many a well-fought field they had done their duty and all that was required of them, and he was sure that their fellow-countrymen would never forget their services on such occasions as the present. With regard to the navy, however much shipbuilding had changed, he could say that the British sailors would still show that they had the manly pluck which characterised them in former days and that they would be found as ready in the future to do their duty as they had been in the past. They had now established another auxiliary to the other services in the Volunteers, and he thought they had particular reason to be proud of the 160,000 men who had risen up of their own accord and volunteered to be the defenders of the interests of the nation. (Cheers.) Captain O’Shea responded for the army, and said they knew perfectly well that they had done great and noble deeds, and he was quite sure that they were ready to do so again if they were called upon. (Cheers.) Deputy Purveyor Taylor also responded and complimented the Volunteers on the high state of efficiency they had obtained. Captain Bassett said if the time should ever come when the Volunteers might be called upon to act with the army, he trusted that they would not be ashamed of them as an auxiliary force. If there was anything wrong it would be through not attending drill, and therefore he hoped that every member would attend so as to make himself as efficient as possible, for they would then show that they had as an auxiliary a well-drilled body of men. (Cheers.) There being loud calls for Mr. G. N. Cooksey to respond for the navy, that gentleman rose and said he had much pleasure in responding for the navy, and he was pleased to find that his brother was an army man. (Cheers.) For the last three years he had taken a great interest in the boys of Her Majesty’s navy, and he had entertained upwards of 1,000, the first lot being those belonging to the Eagle, Commander Strode. All he could say was that he was a regular navy man, and he only hoped his brother would do as much for the army as he had done for the navy. (Cheers.) Lieutenant Le Feuvre said he had very great pleasure in proposing the next toast. When he mentioned the name of Sir George Pechell (cheers) he was quite sure that they would sympathise with him in the few remarks he might happen to make in introducing it to their notice (Cheers.) Sir George Pechell had been with them for about nine months, and he thought they would agree with him that when he came, he had a very difficult task before him. It was in March when he was first appointed, and it was some time before this that Colonel Grimston left. They would all agree with him that during the interval that elapsed during the time the corps was without a colonel they did not make much progress, but during the last eight months they had made some progress, and he could not help thinking that it was very satisfactory. No. 3 Company had been without a captain, he might almost say, daring the whole of his existence. (Hear, hear.) They had a captain for some three months, he resigned, and they had another for about six months, and therefore he could say that during the three years they had been constituted they had been without a captain. (Hear, hear.) They were indebted to Sir George Pechell for giving them Captain Cooksey. During the time the Colonel had been with them he had had plenty of uphill duties to perform, and he had had many difficulties to contend with. During the last month he had been trying to alter their constitution — endeavouring to make them independent companies. They had now been three years as a consolidated battalion, and he thought that, however much it might do for other places, in Southampton it had not been a success. They wanted the corps to go forward as an administrative force — as independent companies, — and as such he was sure that they would not only prosper but exist as an entirely new force. Sir George Pechell had communicated with the Lord. Lieutenant, who was favourable to his views, but there was some misunderstanding with the War Office. However, he was making further efforts on their behalf, the effect of which would be that they would all be independent companies. (Cheers.) They wanted to be a little more independent — (hear, hear), — and it would be a great deal better. He begged to propose the health of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Pechell (Loud cheers.) Lieutenant- Colonel Sir George Pechell on rising to respond, was received with loud cheers, which were renewed again and again. He said he had great pleasure in meeting them there that evening at that hospitable board, and he did so because he considered these regimental messes, as he might term them, were calculated to do a vast amount of good and bring about a deal of good feeling, and he should like to see them held more frequently. (Hear, hear.) He felt grateful to them for the sympathy shown to him, and the manner in which he had been received by the Volunteers since he had been in command. When he first came among them, when he was quite a stranger, he found there were many difficulties to be met with and overcome. Many people told him he had undertaken a business which he would never overcome, but he set to work at once to do what he could; and now, taking all things into consideration, he might say that they, for it was not all due to him, were in a more efficient state than when he took the command last March. Lieutenant Le Feuvre had referred to the change which he had tried to affect. He had seen the Lord- Lieutenant, who had seconded him in his views, but the proposal had been refused at the War Office in consequence of some mistake or cause which he could not understand. He had however gone to the War Office and seen Colonel McMurdo, and he hoped that now they would soon be independent companies. (Cheers.) Lately he had had the painful and disagreeable duty of attending at the Townhall and appearing against men for not paying their subscriptions, and he was compelled to do his duty, or else they would all have been lost according to the regulations. He did not think it was fair to the members of No. 3 Company, who had paid up all their subscriptions, and members of other companies, that these men should be allowed to pay nothing at all. (Hear, hear) It was a very unpleasant duty, but still he felt that he could not do justice to other persons if he allowed them to pass without paying anything. (Hear, hear.) Their financial affairs had not been in a very prosperous state, through causes which he need not allude to there, as they were well known to them. They had a meeting of the officers some time ago, and they then undertook to raise a sum of money among themselves. The cost of the range at Millbrook still hung like a millstone around their neck, and it seemed to paralyse all their efforts; but still he believed they should be enabled to work through it. (Cheers.) He was told at the War Office that if the alteration was granted the corps would have to strike off all their old debts before an alteration could take place, but he thought that if they all worked together, they might soon do that. Let him again thank them for the sympathy evinced towards him since he had been there. He had had a difficult game to play; when he looked back upon the eight or nine months they had been working together he might say that he had done his duty, and that the corps was now in a more satisfactory condition. He relied upon their sympathy at all times, for unless the officers and men went along with him, he could not go along with the conviction that he had their sympathy and good feeling. (Cheers.) He would not trouble them any longer, but should the alteration take place he should take the opportunity of calling them together and considering the matter. Sir George then resumed his seat amid loud applause. Mr. Pinsent proposed “Success to No. 3 Company.” Although he was not a Volunteer himself, he had much sympathy with them, and he had a son who was a member of the company. He wished them every success, and he thought that as long as they continued to do their duty and attend to their drill, they need not fear being invaded. (Cheers.) Ensign Keane said he thanked Mr. Pinsent for the high compliment they had paid them, and also the other gentlemen who had received the toast in such a kind manner. Lieutenant Le Feuvre had gone into a sort of history of the third company; but he did not think they were quite in such a state of disorganisation when Sir George Pechell took the command as he had made out, and he was sure Sir George would forgive him in saying that they gave him (Sir George Pechell) Captain Cooksey. If they were to take that evening as an omen of the success of No. 3 Company, he was sure that the future would be bright and prosperous. … (continues) … The Third Company, Second Hants. Volunteers: Dinner and Presentation of Prizes at the Audit House: The members of the third company of the 2nd Hants (Southampton) Volunteers assembled at the Butts at Mill, brook, on Saturday, to contest for prizes, some of which had been presented by their newly- appointed captain (Mr. J. H Cooksey, J.P.), Mr. Sheriff Davis, Ensign Keane, Private Collings, Private Stratton, and others. In the evening the company were entertained by their captain at the Audit- house, when a large number sat down to a substantial dinner, supplied by Mr. Brixey, of the Southampton Club. Captain J. H. Cooksey preside; he was supported by Sir George Brooke Pechell, Bart, (the lieutenant- colonel of the 2nd Hants Rifles), Captain R. O’Shea (the adjutant of the corps), Captain R. G. Bassett (5th company), Mr. G. N. Cooksey, Lieutenant Le Feuvre, Dr. Dayman (hon. surgeon) Deputy- Purveyor Taylor (Netley Hospital), Ensign Keane, Mr. Pinsent, Mr. J. D. Hubbarde, Mr. Falvey, &c. Colour-Sergeant Marshall, Private C. C. Smith, and Corporal Scovell were the vice-chairmen. Immediately in front of the chairman were placed the handsome prizes shot for that day, and which were to be presented to the successful competitors. The tables having been cleared; the Chairman briefly proposed “The Queen,” followed by the “Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family,” and the toasts were received in a manner peculiar to Volunteers. Mr. Falvey, in proposing “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” said he was sure there was no true English, man who did not take the greatest pride in the three services. In every quarter of the globe the men they had sent as their representatives had carried out their “duty nobly and well; on many a well-fought field they had done their duty and all that was required of them, and he was sure that their fellow-countrymen would never forget their services on such occasions as the present. With regard to the navy, however much shipbuilding had changed, he could say that the British sailors would still show that they had the manly pluck which characterised them in former days and that they would be found as ready in the future to do their duty as they had been in the past. They had now established another auxiliary to the other services in the Volunteers, and he thought they had particular reason to be proud of the 160,000 men who had risen up of their own accord and volunteered to be the defenders of the interests of the nation. (Cheers.) Captain O’Shea responded for the army, and said they knew perfectly well that they had done great and noble deeds, and he was quite sure that they were ready to do so again if they were called upon. (Cheers.) Deputy Purveyor Taylor also responded and complimented the Volunteers on the high state of efficiency they had obtained. Captain Bassett said if the time should ever come when the Volunteers might be called upon to act with the army, he trusted that they would not be ashamed of them as an auxiliary force. If there was anything wrong it would be through not attending drill, and therefore he hoped that every member would attend so as to make himself as efficient as possible, for they would then show that they had as an auxiliary a well-drilled body of men. (Cheers.) There being loud calls for Mr. G. N. Cooksey to respond for the navy, that gentleman rose and said he had much pleasure in responding for the navy, and he was pleased to find that his brother was an army man. (Cheers.) For the last three years he had taken a great interest in the boys of Her Majesty’s navy, and he had entertained upwards of 1,000, the first lot being those belonging to the Eagle, Commander Strode. All he could say was that he was a regular navy man, and he only hoped his brother would do as much for the army as he had done for the navy. (Cheers.) Lieutenant Le Feuvre said he had very great pleasure in proposing the next toast. When he mentioned the name of Sir George Pechell (cheers) he was quite sure that they would sympathise with him in the few remarks he might happen to make in introducing it to their notice (Cheers.) Sir George Pechell had been with them for about nine months, and he thought they would agree with him that when he came, he had a very difficult task before him. It was in March when he was first appointed, and it was some time before this that Colonel Grimston left. They would all agree with him that during the interval that elapsed during the time the corps was without a colonel they did not make much progress, but during the last eight months they had made some progress, and he could not help thinking that it was very satisfactory. No. 3 Company had been without a captain, he might almost say, daring the whole of his existence. (Hear, hear.) They had a captain for some three months, he resigned, and they had another for about six months, and therefore he could say that during the three years they had been constituted they had been without a captain. (Hear, hear.) They were indebted to Sir George Pechell for giving them Captain Cooksey. During the time the Colonel had been with them he had had plenty of uphill duties to perform, and he had had many difficulties to contend with. During the last month he had been trying to alter their constitution — endeavouring to make them independent companies. They had now been three years as a consolidated battalion, and he thought that, however much it might do for other places, in Southampton it had not been a success. They wanted the corps to go forward as an administrative force — as independent companies, — and as such he was sure that they would not only prosper but exist as an entirely new force. Sir George Pechell had communicated with the Lord. Lieutenant, who was favourable to his views, but there was some misunderstanding with the War Office. However, he was making further efforts on their behalf, the effect of which would be that they would all be independent companies. (Cheers.) They wanted to be a little more independent — (hear, hear), — and it would be a great deal better. He begged to propose the health of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Pechell (Loud cheers.) Lieutenant- Colonel Sir George Pechell on rising to respond, was received with loud cheers, which were renewed again and again. He said he had great pleasure in meeting them there that evening at that hospitable board, and he did so because he considered these regimental messes, as he might term them, were calculated to do a vast amount of good and bring about a deal of good feeling, and he should like to see them held more frequently. (Hear, hear.) He felt grateful to them for the sympathy shown to him, and the manner in which he had been received by the Volunteers since he had been in command. When he first came among them, when he was quite a stranger, he found there were many difficulties to be met with and overcome. Many people told him he had undertaken a business which he would never overcome, but he set to work at once to do what he could; and now, taking all things into consideration, he might say that they, for it was not all due to him, were in a more efficient state than when he took the command last March. Lieutenant Le Feuvre had referred to the change which he had tried to affect. He had seen the Lord- Lieutenant, who had seconded him in his views, but the proposal had been refused at the War Office in consequence of some mistake or cause which he could not understand. He had however gone to the War Office and seen Colonel McMurdo, and he hoped that now they would soon be independent companies. (Cheers.) Lately he had had the painful and disagreeable duty of attending at the Townhall and appearing against men for not paying their subscriptions, and he was compelled to do his duty, or else they would all have been lost according to the regulations. He did not think it was fair to the members of No. 3 Company, who had paid up all their subscriptions, and members of other companies, that these men should be allowed to pay nothing at all. (Hear, hear) It was a very unpleasant duty, but still he felt that he could not do justice to other persons if he allowed them to pass without paying anything. (Hear, hear.) Their financial affairs had not been in a very prosperous state, through causes which he need not allude to there, as they were well known to them. They had a meeting of the officers some time ago, and they then undertook to raise a sum of money among themselves. The cost of the range at Millbrook still hung like a millstone around their neck, and it seemed to paralyse all their efforts; but still he believed they should be enabled to work through it. (Cheers.) He was told at the War Office that if the alteration was granted the corps would have to strike off all their old debts before an alteration could take place, but he thought that if they all worked together, they might soon do that. Let him again thank them for the sympathy evinced towards him since he had been there. He had had a difficult game to play; when he looked back upon the eight or nine months they had been working together he might say that he had done his duty, and that the corps was now in a more satisfactory condition. He relied upon their sympathy at all times, for unless the officers and men went along with him, he could not go along with the conviction that he had their sympathy and good feeling. (Cheers.) He would not trouble them any longer, but should the alteration take place he should take the opportunity of calling them together and considering the matter. Sir George then resumed his seat amid loud applause. Mr. Pinsent proposed “Success to No. 3 Company.” Although he was not a Volunteer himself, he had much sympathy with them, and he had a son who was a member of the company. He wished them every success, and he thought that as long as they continued to do their duty and attend to their drill, they need not fear being invaded. (Cheers.) Ensign Keane said he thanked Mr. Pinsent for the high compliment they had paid them, and also the other gentlemen who had received the toast in such a kind manner. Lieutenant Le Feuvre had gone into a sort of history of the third company; but he did not think they were quite in such a state of disorganisation when Sir George Pechell took the command as he had made out, and he was sure Sir George would forgive him in saying that they gave him (Sir George Pechell) Captain Cooksey. If they were to take that evening as an omen of the success of No. 3 Company, he was sure that the future would be bright and prosperous. … (continues) …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0420 India: Henry John Pinsent: 1812 – 1894