Yesterday, Dominion Day, was an important day in Whitby. There was a grand review of the 34th Battalion, Ontario Volunteers, now at their annual drill in the town, and there was a presentation of a stand of colors by the Ladies’ of Ontario, and there was a crowd of between five and six thousand persons, embracing all that was brilliant and beautiful, and gallant and gay in the county – and many that might be praised, with equal candor, from outside the county. But the weather was exceedingly sultry – the excessive heat being the only drawback to the general enjoyment. The thermometer stood at 90 in the shade air. This, which was a terrible trial to others, appeared however to be disregarded by the hardy boys of the 34th who engaged in all the arduous evolutions of the day’s review with an alacrity that must have appeared truly astonishing to the steaming crowd of spectators. It was about three o’clock when the parade formed and after various movements which (perhaps for a very good reason, we do not undertake to describe, the battalion formed into line, and afterwards into three sides of a square – the drums being placed in the hollow. The interesting proceeding enclosing and presenting the colors next Presentation of Colors to the 34th Battalion took place. One bore the letters XXXIV – meant of course for the 34th Battalion, and surmounted by a crown. The others – the regimental – was not quite ready, and bears the motto – a fitting one for volunteers – “Ready with our lives”. Both are splendidly worked in silk, and the total cost for their procurement, contributed by the generosity of the ladies’ amounted to upwards of $200. They were received by the senior major and senior ensign of the Battalion – Major Wallace and Ensign Anderson, of the Uxbridge Company. In making the presentation, Mrs. T. N. Gibbs, in a very distinct and audible tone, and with most correct enunciation, read the following address: “Lieutenant Colonel Fairbanks, Officers, Non -Commissioned Officers, and Volunteers of 34th Battalion, of the Province of Ontario: The pleasing duty has been assigned me, of presenting you these beautiful colors, on behalf of the ladies of the County of Ontario. They are given as a trifling mark of the esteem in which the volunteers of the county are held, as well as a faint recognition of the zeal and alacrity displayed by your Battalion, in common with their comrades in arms, in mustering for service at the front in June 1866, and proceeding thither when the soul of this peaceful and happy land was invaded by a band of lawless marauders.
Presentation of Colors to the 34th Battalion
It is at once the privilege and the duty of manhood to defend the soil, the homes, the altar, the throne and the hearths of the country, it is ours to watch and wait, and pray for those who go gallantly forth to turn away the danger from ourselves and our children – ours to send you forth with our own best wishes, and a prayer to God for your success and safety – ours to welcome you home with such hearty welcome as true soldiers who have offered their lives for their country, ever deserve.
It was not your fortune to meet the invading horde, which fled at your approach, or to share that more immediate danger of the Toronto and Hamilton volunteers, but we know that you went forth to meet them with no laggard step; we know that you would not have shrunk from the encounter had their place been yours.
You did your duty in the position to which your military chiefs led you. If we feel neither all the pride nor all the sorrows of those “who listen while they weep,” to the praises of the glorious fallen of the Queen’s Own and 13th we have cause for thankfulness that your presentation and safety were not due to any false shrinking from danger.
Presentation of Colors to the 34th Battalion We feel that you have saved us and your country truly and well.
In this, as in still higher matters, “They also serve who wait.” Take these colors, and if you are again summoned to arms, think that your wives, mothers, sisters, children and fellow country-men, call you to duty to fight for us, as well as your country, and send you forth, fearing much, and trembling much for your safety, knowing the heart aches, which apprehended misfortune brings, but in humble reliance upon Almighty God, that he will vouchsafe you his protection in the midst of perils incurred in such a cause. We trust, however, it will be long (if ever) before your services may again be required.
We feel that the past is a guarantee for the future, and that should you be again called to duty, you will be found ready as one man “To spring to arms” and if need be ‘ready with your lives’.
We rejoice that the County Council has responded to the invitation of Government, and made suitable provision for perfecting you in your drill, by the erection of large and commodious drill-sheds throughout the county and made a liberal grant for the purchase of instruments for a Battalion band.
Presentation of Colors to the 34th Battalion
That you may long be spared to enjoy the blessings of free government, under the benign rule of our beloved sovereign, Queen Victoria, and in honor unfurl these flags, is the sincere prayer of those behalf I now present them to the Battalion.”
Lieut-Colonel Fairbanks, in returning thanks said that the present occasion of the presentation of colors to them was not the only one on which the ladies of Ontario deserved the thanks of the volunteers. It was not the first one on which the volunteers received from them the kind recognition of their services. When, in 1866, the volunteers left the comforts of their homes to do what was their duty-to defend their country-the ladies of Ontario were assiduous in providing them with home comforts, and in every way encouraging them by acts of kindness and consideration. It was true that no blood was then shed by the 34th Battalion; but they were as ready to be the first in the front as to accept the position then accorded them. And he assured the ladies, on behalf of the officers and men under his command, that had the occasion afforded them the opportunity, the men of the 34th Battalion would not shirk from doing their duty. He felt the great compliment paid them by the presentation of the colors, and he, without any vain glory, assured them that when duty called, those colors would be defended and
Presentation of Colors to the 34th Battalion
supported in the field without a stain by those who had the honor of receiving them.
Rev. J. D’Arcy Cayley, incumbent of All Saints, Whitby, next approached, and in impressive terms consecrated the colors after the usual formula prescribed by the Church of England. Three cheers were given, the band struck up God Save the Queen, and the interesting ceremony of trooping the colors was conducted. After this the Battalion was put through various revolutions, marched past, wheeled open column, marched past double quick, etc. Col. Fairbanks commanded, the other field officers being Major Wallace, Major Foreman, Captain and Adjutant Jones, Major Warren, the junior major of the Battalion, was we regret to write, unable to attend in consequence of the severe injuries he recently received. Everything passed off without accident, and in a crowd of more than six thousand persons, we never saw better order preserved.
A grand military promenade concert, took place in the large drill shed in the evening and we can only say that it gave great pleasure and delighted all who attended it.
We should not forget that a lacrosse match between picked players of the Whitby lacrosse club was played in the interval between
Presentation of Colors to the 34th Battalion
the “breaking off” of the volunteers and the concert, and afforded much amusement as well as insight to this national game to the spectators.
