Page 231 - Reading Mercury

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Sat 2 Aug
On Tuesday and Wednesday last, the remnant of that fine regiment, the Scots Greys,
passed through our town from Aldershot en route to Ireland. They arrived in two
detachments each of which was billeted here one night, the last detachment having
with them the regimental band, which, in the evening played in the Market-place, to
the great gratification of the townspeople, who assembled in large numbers to hear the
performance. It is only about three years ago that a portion of this regiment passed
through here on their way to the Camp at Chobham, and the contrast between their
effective force at that time, and the diminished numbers now forming the strength of
the regiment, affords a sad proof of the fearfully earnest part they took in the
memorable charge a Balaklava, and on other occasions during the late war.
We regret to state that a melancholy interest attaches to this visit, from the
unfortunate circumstances connected with the death of Private Robert Lockhart, on
the Sandhurst Road, the details of which, as stated at the inquest, are given in another
column, and which we need hardly say excited much interest here, great sympathy
being felt for the unfortunate man, who bore an excellent character in the regiment,
and who, after passing through the terrible events of the Crimean campaign with
honour, met his death in so inglorious a manner; and we fear that the feeling
engendered by the occurrence, is by no means calculated to raise in the public
estimation a service which requires such rigour to enforce the necessary discipline in
its ranks. But until the close of the inquiry before the coroner’s jury, it would be
premature to ascribe blame to anyone individually, as it may be found that the system
only is responsible for the poor man’s fate. We are pleased to hear that a subscription
is being raised by the inhabitants to erect a memento over his grave.

On Monday a detachment of the Royal Artillery passed through, and we hear that
th
the splendid corps, the 11 Hussars is expected.

INQUESTS BEFORE RUPERT CLARKE, ESQ.
Death of a soldier on March
On Thursday, an inquest was held before the above Coroner, at the Rose Inn,
Wokingham, on the body of Robert Lockhart a private of the Scots Greys, who died
the previous day, while on the march from Farnham to Wokingham. Considerable
excitement was caused in the latter town, owing to a report that the unfortunate man’s
death had been accelerated by over-exertion forced upon him by the non-
commissioned officer commanding him. Several witnesses were examined, from
whose evidence we glean the following particulars:--
The regiment of Scots Greys had been quartered at Farnham for about three weeks,
and, on Wednesday afternoon last, left for Wokingham. The deceased and five others,
whose horses had sore backs, were placed under the command of Farrier Major Gray,
and started a short time before the main body of the regiment, leading their horses.
For the first three or four miles all went well, but shortly after that distance had been
accomplished, Lockhart complained of fatigue very much, and told the officer that he
had been up all night, with another man and two women, drinking. On passing
Aldershot camp, he had a glass of ale, and when about six miles from Farnham, the
troop were halted for about a quarter of an hour, or twenty minutes. While stopping,
the deceased laid down upon the ground, and at this place drank, according to the
evidence of two or three witnesses, nearly two quarts of water. After starting from this
resting place, there does not appear to have been any general halt called, but the
deceased laid down upon the road eight or nine times, and continued drinking

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