London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
A TRUE STORY OF THE MILISHY.
When I joined, the first story that was told me at mess was a legend connected with the embodiment of the regiment during the Indian Mutiny. It was in a splendid state of efficiency when a second battalion was added to the 24th, and a number of raw recruits were sent to Aldershot to occupy the lines close to where the King's Own Light Infantry (as the Tower Hamlets were called forty years ago) were stationed. On a Christmas Day a quarrel arose between the King's Own and the 24th as to the respective merits | |
186 | of the dinners supplied to each regiment. The 24th ran to their quarters, seized their guns and ammunition and blazed away on their brethren in the Militia. |
The King's Own stood the fire unflinchingly, but did not retaliate. The Second 24th were marched out of camp, and the Duke subsequently informed them that had he his way he would send them to a spot not recognised by the 's regulations. said H.R.H. And off went the Second 24th, and remained away from England many years. Since then the 24th have never met the K.O.L.I.M., but the old feud is kept up, or was until very recently. It would be still, I fancy, a dangerous matter to put the two battalions in adjoining lines. I will undertake to say that the Militia have not forgotten the old quarrel, and I will be bound that the incident, nearly half a century old, is still fresh in the memory of the Second 24th. | |