Hull Packet & East Riding Times
30 Jan 1880
'Everybody's Column'

THE HULL ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS

AN OLD VOLUNTEER draws attention to the remarks of Lieut-Colonel Commandant Humphrey at the annual mess dinner of the sergeants connected with the Fourth East York Artillery Corps. "The brigade", he says, "was never in such a good position as it is at the present time". This fact is more striking when it is considered that only a few months ago a certain few predicted that whole batteries would resign en masse. The men have stuck to their commanding officer as soldiers should do, and there is every prospect of a most successful future for the corps. I did not expect that it would so soon have recovered from the effects of the serious "disturbances" which were experienced last year, and it was with no small pleasure that I read the encouraging speech of Colonel Humphrey.

Last year at the present time the muster roll was 300 below the proper strength of the brigade, and this year only 150 recruits are required to make up the 960. I am told, also, that in the number of non-commissioned officers who hold certificates for proficiency there is also a considerable increase, and that the drill season for the current year has opened with a greater briskness than has previously been the case.

There is no doubt that the success of the corps at Shoeburyness did a great deal to upset many of the differences which were caused by the action of some of the officers last year, and clearly disproves a charge that the brigade was inefficiently handled. The brigade became more popular, and one and all worked heartily to keep up that esprit de corps which should always reign in the ranks of the volunteers.