"On Wednesday last, the solemn and imposing spectacle of a military funeral took place in this city, the late Serjeant Major of the 14th Light Dragoons having been interred with full military honours:
"The mournful procession walked from the Cavalry Barracks up Longbrook -street, through the High and Fore-streets, through North-street, unto St, David's church-yard.
"The charger of the deceased followed the corpse, appropriately caparisoned, and the remainer of the troop of the the regiment, together with the depot of the 75th foot, accompanied by the officers, attended. The band preceded, and played the Dead March in Saul, through the city."
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What a treat was this for the hat-doffing burghers of Exeter and their tender-hearted wives and daughters!: The dragoons, on foot for once, in their gorgeous uniform, with steps solemn, mournful and slow, marching through the town looking imposing, the infanteers slow-marching (better!) behind, the Serjeant Major's coffin, (on a gun-carriage?) the caparisoned charger,no doubt looking mournful, all to the the music of Handel echoing throughout Exeter.
The little boys, OK, some little girls too, must have loved the drama of it and followed the procession all the way to St, Davids . They went home with 'Saul' ringing in their ears.
Nowadays the profile of the military in Exeter is so low that a snake could crawl under it. For the last two years the City has scraped together only a handful of regular servicemen in uniform to attend the Northernhay memorial-service (and that in the shadow of vulgar Winter Wonderland construction.)
Sic transit gloria mundi.
Source: The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 26th December, 1840.
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