om Ballsbridge--Pembroke Road,
Upper Baggot Street, Lower Baggot Street, Merrion Row, Stephen's
Green, North Grafton Street, College Green, Dame Street, Parliament
Street, and the south lines of quays to Kingsbridge. At different
points, like Baggot Street Bridge, Stephen's Green, and Grafton
Street, the reception was of a most cordial nature, while an immense
crowd in College Green raised deafening cheers as the sturdy warriors
marched past. Enthusiasm reached its height when the tattered colours
of the battalion, borne by two stalwart young ensigns, came into view.
The officers and men appeared delighted with the cordial reception
extended to them on all sides. At Grattan Bridge the band of the
Seaforth Highlanders, which had already delighted a large concourse of
people with some choice selections, struck up a lively air as Dublin's
guests moved past, while a splendid send-off characterised the
entrainment of the battalion at Kingsbridge for Buttevant, co. Cork.

The Railway Company made excellent arrangements for the men, who,
considering their long day and its happy experiences, went through the
ordeal in first-class style. After all, one could scarcely expect less
from soldiers who carry six or seven, or even nine clasps, on their
medal ribbons.

It is right to mention that a number of members of the Army Veterans
Association, decorated with their medals and other distinctions,
visited Ballsbridge, and cordially congratulated the Fusiliers on
their return from foreign service.

On reaching Buttevant, the men will be supplied with new clothing and
granted a general furlough.

* * * * *

Shortly after the reception the battalion was once again supplied with
their home service full-dress head-gear--the busby, and it was with
much gratification that the men wore their new busby hackle for the
first time. This distinction was granted in 1902, when by Army Order
57 it was directed that the Royal Dublin Fusiliers should wear a blue
and green hackle in their busbies: that for the officers to be blue
and green, eight inches long, and that for the non-commissioned
officers and men a similar but shorter one, in recognition of their
services during the war in South Africa. In explanation of the colours
of the hackle it may be stated that blue is the distinguishing colour
of the 1st Battalion ('Blue Caps'), and green that of the 2nd
Battalion ('Old Toughs').

On November 27th, 1903, the r