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82 Old Memories of East-Bourne. [Chap. VI.
Probably East-Bourne numbered amongst its inhabitants 50 years ago survivors, naval or military, of the Great War, though I do not recollect them. I do, however, remember often having heard from the lips of an old family servant, who died at The Gore in 1856, at the age of 86, many tales of the alarm inspired amongst the previous generation by the Emperor Napoleon L, whose colloquial name was always, she said, " Old Boney," which name was used in terrorem over naughty children; never, of course, over me, because I was what was called "a good boy."
One old veteran of the Napoleonic Wars who lived at East-Bourne was Benjamin Elliott, who died at Seaside on February 4, 1876. His tombstone at the Cemetery bears the following inscription :—
" In affectionate remembrance of Benjamin Elliott, formerly 95th Regiment (The Rifles). Died February 4, 1876, aged 91. He was present at the following battles—Roleia(l8o8), Vimiera, Corunna, Almeida, Busaco, Fuentes de Honor, Badajoz, Albuera, Barrosa, Pyrenees, Pampaluna, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Orthez, Toulouse, Quatre Bras, Waterloo.
' I have fought the good fight,
■ I have finished my course.
■ I have kept the faith, "
The spelling of some of these names is not correct.
I may here add that in August 1863, I met on Ryde Pier an old Trafalgar sailor with whom I had many talks, both nautical and religious ; for somebody had got hold of him shortly before, and he professed to be a Roman Catholic.
Just before my grandfather's appointment to the living of East-Bourne, or to be quite precise, in the month of October 1809, the Jubilee of George III. was celebrated. East-Bourne contributed according to its means to this interesting national event, and some years ago I came upon the following account of what was done here:—
"The visitors and inhabitants of this fashionable watering-place anxious to show their loyalty and attachment to our most gracious and beloved Sovereign, celebrated his accession to the throne in a most distinguished and spirited manner. The Royal Artillery and Royal Surrey and Shropshire regiments mustered at one o'clock in a field near the Sea Houses and fired a feu-de-joie which was answered by the Martello Towers along the coast, beginning at Beachy Head and ending at Hastings. Two hundred and seventy wonien and children belonging to the Shropshire were feasted in the barrack square with roast beef and plum pudding, the band of the Shropshire playing ' God Save the King.' The Lodge of Druids assembled together to dine at the King's Arms and in the evening the Shropshire and Surrey officers and a numerous party dined and concluded the day with a ball." |
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