[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") Sin,—In the article published
in the Spectator of October 25th, in which you generously give credit to the Brigade of Guards for good work done in South Africa, there is an expression which does not affect your main contention, but which reflects unjustly on a body of selected men. The expression is :— "The admitted inferiority on active service of those appar- ently model non-commissioned officers, the drill-sergeants of the Guards." Are you quite sure that the drill-sergeants were admittedly inferior on active service to the other non-com- missioned officers of the Brigade ? My own experience with regard to every conceivable kind of work (very far removed indeed from "drill ") which drill-sergeants were called upon to do in South Africa is quite the contrary, and I believe the
experience of the other commanding officers to be the same.— I am, Sir, lec., A. E. CODRINGTON, Colonel, lately commanding 1st Bath. Coldstream Guards.
[The confirmation we have been able to gather from trust- worthy sources is strongly in support of our contention, but we gladly publish Colonel Codrington's letter and his loyal defence of his subordinates.—ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
