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Updated: May 1, 2025
"We must have a new sergeant-major," said the old martinet to his adjutant in the orderly-room. The post was vacant for the moment through the promotion of its late holder to be quartermaster. "Yes, sir; the sooner the better. The difficulty is to choose." "I have been thinking it over, Smallfield, and have decided to promote Hyde. Send for him."
The recruiting sergeant was in those days dressed much finer than any field-marshal of this degenerate, railway era; in fact, the Horse Guards always turned out to the sergeant-major of the Royal Military Academy of Woolwich, when that functionary went periodically to the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, to receive and escort the young gentlemen cadets from Marlow College, who were abandoning the red coat and drill of the foot-soldier to become neophytes in the art and mystery of great gunnery and sapping.
Constant and violent attacks of coughing kept the invalid from sleep, until the staff-surgeon prescribed morphia for her in fairly large doses. The poor woman was near death; why should not her last days be lightened, her last sufferings relieved? He cautioned the sergeant-major as to the danger of the drug, warning him to be careful in pouring out the doses.
I fear the average Sergeant-Major would have beaten Dolores within a week of matrimony, but I strove to make loss, discomfort, and disappointment a discipline, and music, silk dresses and daintiness an aesthetic re-training to a barrack-blunted mind.
Goguelat and I slept in the same squad, which greatly simplified the business; and a committee of honour was accordingly formed of our shed-mates. They chose for president a sergeant-major in the 4th Dragoons, a greybeard of the army, an excellent military subject, and a good man. He took the most serious view of his functions, visited us both, and reported our replies to the committee.
Moberly, Company Sergeant-Major Cairns, and Guest the latter by volunteering in daylight to run the gauntlet of the German snipers back to Headquarters greatly distinguished themselves in the task of maintaining this exposed position during the night of August 22 and throughout August 23.
"A joke's a joke, but when you said you would come I naturally expected you would keep your word." "Keep my word?" repeated the sergeant-major, almost choking with wrath. "I stayed there in that lonely cottage from twelve to three, as per agreement, waiting for you," said Mr. Farrer. "You were not there," shouted the sergeant-major. "How do you know?" inquired the other.
An assorted collection of craftsmen, NCO's, a sergeant-major and a lieutenant was assembled one day together with their vehicles and other paraphernalia; they set off across the desert to a location that I believe was only a map reference. After two days the lieutenant had to admit that he was completely lost and so were they all.
The sergeant-major looked impatiently for some sign of the doctor's arrival. The other two wounded men seemed in less serious case. The bombardier regained consciousness as the brandy touched his lips; he took a good mouthful, and answered the sergeant-major's question as to his condition with: "All right, sir. Only my left leg feels a bit queer. I must have given it a wrench."
It did not improve the temper of the officer commanding the battery, so that the men suffered as acutely as ever under the Sergeant-Major. But it stopped the road for that day. I seemed to see that road going on in a dream. Another working party came along next day, with clay pipes and got to work; and next day and the day after.
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