Of course there must be a limitation in number. A Private is therefore
allowed one wife; a Sergeant, two, and a Sergeant-Major, three; with an
additional spouse to individuals in each rank on completion of three
years’ exemplary service. When I heard of the regulation my early
aspiration for a military career recurred strongly. Forgetting the
question of race, I reflected that I might rise to be a Sergeant-Major in
the Northern Nigeria Regiment.
The regiment has English officers, who are attached for five years. They
are assisted by non-commissioned officers from home, locally styled
Colour-Sergeants, with a Sergeant-Major as senior. They supervise the
barrack-square drill and instruction, which is given by the native
non-commissioned officers, who, as has been indicated, can attain the
rank of Sergeant-Major.
The guns are carried on the men’s heads. As a faithful attendant at many
Military Tournaments in London I declare I never saw a smarter bit of
work of its kind, either by the best Royal Horse Artillery battery or by
picked men of the navy, than was witnessed on the drill ground at Zungeru.
At a whistle signal from the battery commander, Captain Maclaverty,
the men advanced about 50 yards, with the guns, in pieces, on their
heads. On the signals, “Halt,” “Action Front,” the several parts were
put together and brought into action, firing four rounds. The guns were
then broken up, the sections hoisted on the men’s heads and retired to
the original position. All this was done with the rapidity and precision
of bluejackets, without the slightest flurry or confusion, and, from
beginning to end, carried out in well under a-minute-and-a-half.
I had taken a kinematograph apparatus from England and secured moving
pictures of the operations, so there was the double test of time by watch
and the amount of film used.
The battery can, however, from the halt, walk a distance, put the guns
together and fire a round in less than 30 seconds; in fact, anything
longer is considered bad. The movement specified is that of firing
case-shot to repel cavalry attack.
The projectiles used are: shrapnell shell, 12½ lbs., effective at 3,400
yards; double common shell, 18 lbs., effective at 2,000 yards; case, 15
lbs.
The white personnel of the four guns I saw at Zungeru—the remaining
two were at Sokoto—was made up of a Captain in command assisted by
a Subaltern, and a Sergeant-Major, whose chief work was that of
Quartermaster-Sergeant. Further, there were the native Sergeant-Major and
other black N.C.O.
Gun-carriers are enlisted for two years, and actual gunners for six
years. Re-enlistment is allowed. The native Sergeant-Major has 15
years’ service. Though recruiting can be direct into the battery, the
artillerymen are drawn mainly from the gun carriers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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