The history of the 1st Batt. Wilts Volunteers, from 1861 to 1885Gibney, R. D. (Robert Dwarris)
History
The history of the 1st Batt. Wilts Volunteers, from 1861 to 1885
Gibney, R. D. (Robert Dwarris)
Great Britain. Army. Wiltshire Regiment. Battalion, 1st -- History
The annual prize-meeting of the Wilts Rifle Association was held this
year at Warminster, and proved to be a great success. The excellent
range and the more central situation of the town enabled competitors
from both battalions to enter the lists in goodly numbers. The custom
hitherto had been that the meetings should be held alternately at
Salisbury and Devizes, but it was considered advisable to alter
this arrangement, and owing to the judgment and decision of the
local committee, consisting of Lieutenants Scott, Ingram, Smith,
Quartermaster Toone, &c., all went off admirably.
The 1st Administrative Battalion Wilts Volunteer Rifles possessed very
many good shooting men, but in this respect were certainly inferior
to their companions in No. 2 Administrative Battalion. One thing, the
2nd Administrative Battalion were several corps and many men stronger,
and on the whole possessed greater facilities for target practice. The
President's prize, a prize of thirty-five guineas given by the Marquis
of Bath in certain portions at various distances to the best shots, was
taken chiefly by competitors belonging to the second battalion; but Mr.
Poynder's grand prize of a piece of plate value fifty guineas, open
to all Wiltshire volunteers and yeomanry, was won by Colour-sergeant
Jefferys of the 6th Maiden Bradley Corps, after making a tie with
Private Martin of the 10th Warminster Corps, the scores being:--
300 yards. 500 yards. 700 yards. Total.
Jefferys 13 11 14 38
Martin 16 13 9 38
The score at the longest distance deciding the prize.
Mr. R. Long, of Rood Ashton, M.P., offered a prize to be given to the
best shot of either battalion: each corps sending one competitor, when
Sergeant Baker, 7th Wilts, 2nd Administrative Battalion, was declared
the winner. Lieut.-Colonel Everett and Major T. Clark gave prizes,
but these went to the 2nd Administrative Battalion, as did similar
prizes given by Lieut.-Colonel M.F. Ward and Major Perry Keene; but the
prizes offered by Lieut.-General Buckley and Major Penruddocke fell
to Sergeant Graham, 2nd Corps, Trowbridge. The challenge cup, value
£50, with a piece of plate valued at £25, given by the inhabitants
of Warminster, was unfortunately lost (after tie shooting) to the 1st
Battalion, being given to Corporal Nott, 5th Corps, 2nd Battalion,
whose score of 41 was equalled by Lieutenant Wakeman of the 10th Corps
and Corporal Purton of the 1st Corps, whilst Sergeant Butler of the
1st, and Sergeant Harris of the same corps, came next in order, and
this out of eighty-one competitors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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