Health Warning

Finally made it out of the office for a wander around Winchester at lunch time and my are there some lovely shops, a whole store of Kath Kidston, LK Bennett, Russell and Bromley etc etc.. My lunch hours could prove very enjoyable expensive. Perhaps I'd better stay at my desk.

The gravestone above is in the Cathedral graveyard. The text reads:

In Memory of
THOMAS THETCHER
a Grenadier in the North Reg
of Hants Militia, who died of a
violent Fever contracted by drinking
Small Beer when hot the 12th of May
Aged 26 Years.

In grateful remembrance of whose universal
good will towards his Comrades, this Stone
is placed here at their expense, as a small
testimony of their regard and concern.
Here sleeps in peace a Hampshire Grenadier,
Who caught his death by drinking cold small Beer,
Soldiers be wise from his untimely fall
And when ye're hot drink Strong or none at all.

This memorial being decay'd was restor'd
by the Officers of the Garrison A.D. 1781.

An honest Soldier never is forgot
Whether he die by Musket or by Pot.

The Stone was replaced by the North Hants
Militia when disembodied at Winchester
on 26th April 1802 in consequence of
the original Stone being destroyed.

And again replaced by
The Royal Hampshire Regiment 1966.

Let that be a lesson to you!