Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/198

194 The regiments that volunteered for the Mediterranean were sent to garrison Malta, Gibraltar, and the Ionian Islands, while the force generally gave its due proportion of recruits to the line as long as the war lasted. The artillery militia had already attained so high a degree of efficiency that Lord Herbert proposed to incorporate the Tipperary Artillery, commanded by the late Lord Donoughmore, with the Royal Artillery. It was obvious, however, that this would injuriously affect the position of the officers of the Royal Artillery, who had qualified themselves by a long course of training and service; and the proposal dropped.

Lord Hardinge also introduced in 1856 the system of Depôt Battalions for recruiting, which have since been superseded by the Brigade Depôts, on the completion of Lord Cardwell's scheme of military re-organisation. He did not live to see the inauguration of the Volunteer movement; but, considering the views he entertained, that a soldier must shoot as well as fight, it is certain that there would have been no more ardent advocate of that powerful defensive reserve of which the country is now so proud. Another regulation which he carried was that of granting Queen's A.D.C.-ships to officers of the East India Company's service. This was prior to the amalgamation of the Indian with the Royal army. It was an honour much valued by those officers, who had hitherto been debarred as Company officers from participation in such a privilege.