YOUNG FELLOWS IN EPAULETTES, EXETER, 1842

 "Why don't the Tory tradesmen who supported Sir W. Follett so handsomely, memorialize the learned knight to get the head quarters of the regiment stationed here fixed in Exeter?

"The head quarters being here would cause the circulation of a great deal of money - cavalry officers are generally gay.   They accept of invitations, and make liberal returns.  The young ladies of the great houses, make up parties to meet them, and make excuses to come into Exeter a-shopping, and don't break their hearts if they encounter any of the light hearted aggravating young fellows in epaulettes.

"The servant maidens content themselves with the rank and file, but the ladies are not less fond of the society of the officers, and this general attachment of the damsels of all grades to the killing fellows, high and low, causes a circulation of money very serviceable to a country town.

"The tradesmen must, therefore, feel the advantage of having the head quarters here.and we wonder how it is that they have not bestirred themselves in the matter. 

"The head quarters were decapitated, it is generally believed, from this city because Bishop Philpotts would not let the band play on Sundays.  Could they not come to a compromise, and play psalm tunes?"

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This from a column in The Western Times echoes a general opinion in the city that the headquarters of the cavalry should have been Higher Barracks in Exeter and not, as it was, in Dorchester.

Note the wonderful social distinction: ladies for the officers, servant maidens  for the rank-and-file.  It was unthinkable that there might be other outcomes.

It is a shame that soldiers and royal marines don't get to strut about Exeter in their number-one uniforms any more.   It is said that the wearing of uniform in public was suspended for health-and-safety reasons at a time when the IRA were up to mischief.  We have become a nation of angst-ridden pansies.  

I happen to know that the custom of inviting officers to social evenings persisted in the United Kingdom at least until 1961 when the regiment in which I was serving received a request to supply 'two subaltern officers' to a dinner party from a local father of 'young ladies'.  It was a charming custom, satisfactory to all parties.  I doubt it happens now.

There seems some evidence that Bishop Henry Phillpotts, wrongly spelled above, really did cause Exeter to lose the headquarters by objecting to the Sunday concerts.  In any case most of the readers of The Times were willing to believe anything written to his discredit.

Source:  The Western Times, 26th February, 1842.