ENROLMENT OF THE SUFFOLK YEOMANRY.
The testing of the so-called rough-riders of London (about 150) on Wednesday, seems to have been a very ludicrous affair. They withstood the medical ordeal fairly well, but when it came to the riding test the result was most inglorious. They were taken to the cavalry barracks in batches, and the scenes which ensued when they were commanded to mount, were in many cases excruciatingly funny. Some mounted on the wrong side, and others who mounted on the right side fell on the other side, and when the trot, canter and galloping exercises were gone through, numbers came to grief. The real test, however, came at the very easy jump. Some seized both ends of the saddle, others clung with affectionate grasp to the necks of their chargers, and so by some extraordinary means passed the Rubicon, but not before some saddles were emptied. There were, of course, a few men who could ride, but they suffered for the sins of the many, and the finale of the London rough riders' visit to Norwich, was that they were marched back to Norwich Station, and entrained for London with thanks, but services not required.
The Essex County Standard, Saturday 6th January 1900
