the battalion, and Captain the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery of the
Wilton Company accepted the vacant commission; Assist.-Surgeon Bennett
of the Wilton Company being appointed junior assistant surgeon to the
battalion. In No. 1 Corps, Salisbury, Lieut. Kelsey was promoted to be
captain, and A.H. Lush and G.W. Hamilton Gordon appointed lieutenants;
Captain Troyte Bullock resigning his commission in the 8th Corps, Mere.
On Easter Monday a battalion drill was held at Warminster, but sleet,
hail, and rain were against much being done. The attendance was good.
At the mess dinner afterwards held, previous to the time of departure
of the battalion, it was arranged for the annual camp to be held
on the downs as usual, and this took place on the 2nd August; the
regiment marching in only 177, though each day showed an improvement in
attendance.
At the inspection the field return exhibited 553 of all ranks, and the
way the drills were performed, and increased steadiness of all, called
forth much commendation from the inspecting officer.
This year saw the extinction of another company attached to the
battalion--No. 8 Corps--its head quarters at Mere. It was raised in
1859 through the influence of the Chafyn Grove family at Zeals, and
commanded for some time by Captain Chafyn Grove, Grenadier Guards, and
at his death supported, or rather kept efficient, through the influence
and pecuniary support of Miss Chafyn Grove, of Zeals House. This being
withdrawn, the numbers making themselves efficient became gradually
less, and this year saw the battalion reduced to six corps, with their
head quarters at Salisbury, Trowbridge, Bradford, Warminster, Westbury
and Wilton.
If proof were wanting of the value of influence and support from
county families to corps forming part of what was then termed an
Administrative Battalion, this and Maiden Bradley are good instances.
Had it not been for help both personally and by money from the nobility
and gentry of counties, few, if any, county corps could have been
raised at all, nor could they have existed six months. To prevent the
total collapse of the Volunteer Force the Government of the day came
tardily and unwillingly to their assistance, giving with a niggard
hand, but demanding much in return. To meet these demands always was,
and ever has been, a source of difficulty and expense to officers
and men; and where these had not the command of funds there was no
possibility of the corps becoming sufficiently efficient. A capitation
grant, insufficient to cover the expenses of uniform, accoutrements,
rents, practice grounds, targets, and fair wear and tear; a camp
allowance very far below the expense incurred, and limiting the
numbers attending; travelling expenses calculated on an idea that
giving up a day's work and performing walking feats worthy of the
best professionals was a common pursuit among country folk--made the
support of corps such as Mere and Bradley a difficult matter, and
resulted in their extinction. In both these corps, good officers and
non-commissioned officers, added to a great number of men, and these of
a very valuable class, have been lost to the State.
A summary of annual returns ending 1st November, 1875, is herewith
given:--
1st Administrative Battalion Wiltshire Rifle Volunteers.
Summary of Annual Returns, 1st November, 1875.
KEY TO COLUMN HEADINGS:
No. of Corps. A
Maximum Establishment. B
Efficients. C
Non-Efficients. D
Total Enrolled. E
Officers. F
Sergeants. G
Percentage of Efficients to Total Strength. H
+---------------+-----------------------------+---------------+-----+
| | | Certificates | |
| | | of | |
| Head Quarters | | Proficiency. | |
| of +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------+-------+-----+
| Corps. | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------+-------+-----+
| Salisbury | 1 | 200 | 162 | 11 | 173 | 3 | 8 | 94 |
| Trowbridge | 2 | 200 | 168 | 20 | 188 | 4 | 8 | 89 |
| Bradford | 9 | 100 | 59 | 6 | 65 | 2 | 4 | 91 |
| Warminster | 10 | 159 | 100 | 16 | 116 | 3 | 6 | 86 |
| Westbury | 13 | 100 | 60 | 5 | 65 | 1 | 3 | 92 |
| Wilton | 14 | 100 | 77 | 6 | 83 | 2 | 4 | 93 |
| Staff | | 13 | 12 | 1 | 13 | 3 | | 92 |
+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------+-------+-----+
| | | 872 | 638 | 65 | 703 | 18 | 33 | 91 |
+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------+-------+-----+
(Signed) Robert Dwarris Gibney, _Captain,
Adjutant 1st A.B. Wilts Rifle Volunteers_.
The Expenses of the Camp for 1875 were £208
Subscriptions £67
Camp Allowance £59
On the 17th April, 1876, a battalion drill took place at Warminster,
and afterwards at a mess dinner arrangements were made for holding
the usual annual regimental camp on Warminster Down, and accordingly
on Monday, 7th August, the various corps assembled at Warminster. The
"marching in" state was 228. The weather being threatening, no time was
lost in getting tents up, and this was done none too soon, for the rain
fell heavily and continued to do so more or less during the encampment;
Captain Hume, of the 45th Regiment, acting frequently as adjutant owing
to the ill health of Captain Gibney.
A wet camp is never very satisfactory--the canteen takes too much the
place of the parade ground; and it was so now: the lessons in "lights
out" and silence in camp from that time until the first bugle, taught
at the autumn manœuvres, being forgotten.
The inspection return showed 553 on parade, the same number as in
the previous year, but the attention given to orders and general
movements of the men on the parade ground was somewhat below former
years. Certainly the camp this year was decidedly not quite a success.
The cold squally weather drove many home on leave, and kept all from
work; so that the day of inspection saw numbers crowding in from the
district, and not a few, although they had been present all the camp,
very ignorant of their duties. However, the inspecting officer was
satisfied, and repeated his observations of previous inspections.
At the conclusion of the parade, the battalion formed three sides of a
square facing towards a dais, when the prizes won by members of corps
at recent competitions were presented to the successful competitors by
Mrs. Everett, wife of the lieut.-colonel commanding the battalion.
The usual Easter Monday drill for 1877 was held at Warminster on
the 2nd April, and the usual annual camp was held at Homerton Down,
Salisbury. The day of entering being a Bank Holiday, the afternoon was
given to sports, and many a hard struggle at the tug of war came off
between companies during the course of the afternoon. Perhaps, at this
particular exhibition of strength or pulling powers, the Wilton Corps
won oftenest, though Warminster run them very closely.
Next day work began in earnest, and with it the rain; thereby making
everybody useless and uncomfortable. The inspection took place on the
8th, conducted by Colonel Parish, C.B., commanding the depôt; but as
continual hail-storms and rain broke up the parade very frequently,
and necessitated the inspector and his aide taking shelter in the
Grand Stand, it was somewhat hard for him to say how evolutions were
performed; however, Colonel Parish was satisfied, and said so.
After some hours the weather cleared, and the prizes won at the
County Rifle Meeting were given away by the Countess of Pembroke and
Montgomery.
The Expenses of this Camp were £362
Subscriptions £10
Camp Allowance £57
Leaving a very serious deficit to be made up somehow among these
would-be defenders of the country or their friends.
Among the officers resigning their commissions, or lost to the
battalion through the age clause or some other hard and fast rule
being applied, was that of Captain J. Scott, commanding the 10th, or
Warminster Corps, the _Army List_ for 1878 not having that among the
number of names as belonging to the 1st Administrative Battalion Wilts
Rifle Volunteers. To this officer's generosity, zeal, and shrewd common
sense, the Warminster Corps were much indebted, and he was one who
could be ill spared from the battalion. John Scott, of Warminster, was
well known all round, and had become a feature in the battalion, more
especially in the regimental camp. Hard-working, genial, though rough
of speech, doing his own duty thoroughly, and decidedly interested in
such being done by all--Captain Scott was very much missed by being
absent from the camp assembled at Warminster on Friday, the 2nd August,
1878.
The inspection took place on the 7th, the field state showing 637 as
being present, and the attendance throughout the week having been each
day fairly equal. The result was decent drilling at the inspection. The
officer performing this duty was Colonel Jordan, C.B., who expressed
himself as being altogether very much satisfied with the way the
battalion executed the movements it was called upon to perform. Colonel
Jordan said that he "had seen many battalions of volunteers, but a
prettier little battalion than this of Wiltshire he had not seen. The
smart and tidy appearance of the men, and the condition of the arms and
accoutrements, reflected the greatest credit on all the officers and
non-commissioned officers of the battalion, &c."
The rain setting in before nightfall prevented the usual al-fresco
entertainment of singing round the great camp fire. It poured in
torrents, making the camp wet and miserable, and as the tents were
too wet to be struck, and expense was a consideration, the battalion
later on marched down to Warminster, leaving the camp standing, and
each corps proceeded homewards. To strike these tents, pack stores, and
guard the ground during the continuance of the deluge was a new source
of expense to the battalion.
The Expenses of the Camp were £300
Subscriptions £30
Camp Allowance earned £106
Leaving more than the usual deficit.
There being a war scare, and it appearing probable that the country
might be engaged, the following order was issued by the commanding
officer, as being a subject for the consideration of a committee of
officers assembled for another purpose:--"The committee will consider
in what manner the battalion could best offer its services to the
country in case of its being engaged in a foreign war, and to ascertain
what might be the average strength of the battalion available for
permanent garrison duty."
The result was, that it should offer its services as a battalion; and
that, provided pay and the usual allowances were passed, about 150 men
could be permanently guaranteed for general duty. The annual return, as
made up from the returns of corps, showed the effects of the war fever.
In 1877, the total efficients were 598, but in 1878 they rose to 704.
Early in the year 1879 there was the usual Easter Monday battalion
drill at Warminster, and later on the officers messed together and made
arrangements for a regimental camp, to be held at Warminster on the
4th August. It was a wet camp--almost every day rain--thereby limiting
the duration of parades, and the attendance; but discipline was well
preserved, and good resulted to the battalion at large.
On Thursday, the 7th August, His Royal Highness Prince Leopold, at
that time living in the neighbourhood, honoured the officers, and
their wives and friends, with his company at luncheon. He was received
by the commanding officer and the other officers at the entrance to
the mess tent, a guard of honour being on duty meanwhile. His Royal
Highness afterwards attended the afternoon parade, receiving a royal
salute, followed by the marching past him of the battalion. On the 8th
August, the battalion was very closely inspected by Colonel Bythesea,
commanding 38th Depôt, showing a total on parade of 589. The battalion
did fairly well, but the constant wet was against their working smartly
in any loose formations, where individual knowledge, or really common
sense, is brought into play. The "attack" would not have hurt any
but the attackers. Colonel Bythesea remarked that it would be gross
flattery on his part to say that everything which he had witnessed on
that occasion was perfect, and he need hardly tell them, that in many
particulars there was ample room for improvement. The unfavourable
state of the weather, of course, had interfered considerably with the
work of the camp, and might account for one or two of the shortcomings
which he had noticed. He was especially pleased with the state in which
he found the camp, and great credit was due to the battalion on this
account.
The Expenses of the Camp amounted to £318
Subscriptions £30
Camp Allowance £117
This year brought with it the retirement of Major T. Clark, an officer
of very long standing, not only in the battalion but in the Volunteer
Force generally; he having held the commission of a captain in the
Trowbridge Rifle Corps from the latter end of the year 1859 until
promoted major in the year 1862--at that time there being only one
major in the battalion. The long connection of this officer with the
battalion, his constant attendance at battalion drills, camps, and
reviews, and the frequency of his being in command of the battalion,
had made him so thoroughly a part of it that it was some time before
his absence could be fully realized. His genial hospitality, kindness
of heart, and willingness to overcome difficulties, made him loved
and respected by all knowing him well. At an age when most men begin
very much to appreciate the comforts of home, and indeed to whom it
is necessary that exposure to sudden changes of weather be none too
frequent, Major Clark joined the volunteers, and from that time for
twenty years did he give not only his time but very liberally from his
means to the furtherance of the movement. Major Clark knew and did his
duty, and endeavoured to make others do the same. It was through county
and other gentlemen, such as Major Clark, taking commissions which
helped so much to make the Volunteer Force not only respectable, but to
respect itself, and it ever will be so. The Volunteer Force, excepting
when embodied and directly under the command of a general officer,
can never be held together by the rules and regulations of the Army.
The position of the non-commissioned officers, often large traders,
shop-keepers, men of business, &c., and of the rank and file, fathers
of families, small farmers, shop assistants, school-masters, attorneys'
clerks and small tradesmen, preclude their being all governed by
one hard and fast rule and managed accordingly. If the Volunteer
Force, more especially that part of it, whether artillery, cavalry or
infantry, where the majority of the men are country folk, are to be
kept up in numbers and to be an inexpensive but useful addition to the
army generally, then the officers, especially the field officers of
battalions, must be selected men--men of fair wealth and good county
position. W.H. Fowle, Esq., was appointed to the vacant majority.
Head Quarters, Warminster,
_1st November, 1879_.
1st Administrative Battalion, Wiltshire Rifle Volunteers. Summary of
the Annual Return.
KEY TO TABLE HEADINGS:
No. of Corps. A
Maximum Establishment. B
Efficients. C
Non-Efficients. D
Total Enrolled. E
Officers. F
Sergeants. G
Percentage of Efficients to Total Strength. H
+---------------+-----------------------------+---------------+-----+
| | | Certificates | |
| | | of | |
| Head Quarters | | Proficiency. | |
| of +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------+-------+-----+
| Corps. | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H
+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------+-------+-----+
| Salisbury | 1 | 200 | 152 | 1 | 153 | 5 | 11 | 99 |
| Trowbridge | 2 | 200 | 192 | 15 | 207 | 4 | 10 | 93 |
| Bradford | 9 | 100 | 59 | 3 | 62 | 1 | 4 | 95 |
| Warminster | 10 | 160 | 84 | 0 | 84 | 2 | 7 | 100 |
| Westbury | 13 | 100 | 91 | 7 | 98 | 2 | 4 | 93 |
| Wilton | 14 | 100 | 79 | 2 | 81 | 3 | 5 | 98 |
| Staff | | 15 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------+-------+-----+
| | | 875 | 667 | 28 | 695 | 18 | 41 | 98 |
+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------+-------+-----+
(Signed) Robert Dwarris Gibney, _Major,
Adjutant 1st A.B. Wilts Rifle Volunteers_.
There was no Easter Monday battalion drill for 1880, but a committee of
officers assembled on the 12th April at Warminster to audit accounts
and to make arrangements for the year.
On the 31st July, 1880, the battalion mustered in Salisbury and marched
to the racecourse, there to be encamped. The muster was good and the
weather favourable, so much was learned, and none could complain that
spare time hung heavily on them. The battalion was closely inspected
by Colonel Bythesea, commanding 38th Depôt, on the 6th August, and
certainly did well, though the roughness of the weather and high wind
rendered "orders" difficult to catch. The numbers on the parade were
559 of all ranks; not a few of these, selfish as to what might result,
or wrapped up in the belief that they were sufficiently well-drilled
to pass inspection, had not put in a previous attendance during the
whole encampment. At the conclusion of the inspection Colonel Bythesea
remarked "That he had had an opportunity of seeing them unofficially
the day previously, and was then very much pleased with their drill,
more so indeed than on the present occasion. He might tell them that
this was owing to the fact of the men in camp yesterday having been
there since the first day, thereby continuously learning, and making
the battalion to appear to greater disciplinary advantage than it did
to-day. Many of the men who were on the inspection parade this day
only arrived in the morning, not having attended previously." After
a pause he added, "A week's camp did them undoubted good, and next
year he hoped to see an appreciation of this fact in a larger and
more continuous attendance thereon, under their able and energetic
commanding officer, Colonel Everett, than whom none was more earnest
in the welfare of the battalion." The inspecting officer concluded his
remarks by pointing out how well the "attack" drill under Major the
Earl of Pembroke had been carried out, and trusted that more attention
might be given to "individual efficiency." The camp was struck and
despatched early on the morning of the 7th, and all returned to the
various headquarters.
The Expenses of the Camp were £401
Subscriptions received £35
Camp Allowance from Government £349
The Capitation Grant obtained for Efficiency for
the Battalion was £1133
In aid of the battalion funds a grand bazaar was held on the 6th and
7th October, 1880, in Wilton Park, by the kind permission of the Earl
and Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery. The opening day was worse
than wet--a heavy downfall of rain, such rain as precluded the hope of
purchasers, much more distant visitors. Amidst the damp and gloom the
various stalls, laden with really very beautiful, rare, and valuable
articles, were decked out in their brightest, and stall-keepers peered
through the downpour for customers. Here and there damp people showed,
and if not only intent on using the large sale tent for shelter, might
invest a trifle; but it looked bad for the disposal of saleables, and
the bargains were much confined to mutual dealings. His Royal Highness
Prince Leopold and the Marquess of Bath were amongst the patrons.
The patronesses were the Marchioness of Bath, the Marchioness of
Westminster, the Countess of Pembroke, the Countess of Nelson, Lady
Arundell of Wardour, Lady Antrobus, Lady Gertrude Bouverie, Lady Ellen
Gordon, Lady Theodore Guest, Lady Doreen Long, Lady Lilian Paulet, Lady
Octavia Shaw Stewart, Lady Trafalgar, Lady Charles Wellesley, Mrs.
Moberley, Mrs. Penruddocke, Mrs. J.P. Edwards, Mrs. M.K. Marsh, Mrs.
Fane Benett Stanford, Mrs. Fane de Salis, Mrs. Alfred Seymour, &c. The
stalls were held by the Marchioness of Bath, Mrs. Everett, Mrs. Gibney,
Mrs. Kelsey, Mrs. Hadding, Mrs. W.B. Clark, Mrs. Stancomb, Mrs. Wakeman
and Mrs. Ponting; Major Gibney undertaking the gallery of illustrations
and shooting gallery.
Towards the latter part of the day the weather somewhat improved, and
fair faces and importunity relieved the visitors from being embarrassed
with riches. Raffles, shooting galleries on a small scale, were in full
swing, and helped to swell the day's receipts. Next day, as regards
rain, there was not any; fine, but very wet under foot. Nevertheless,
the company of sightseers were numerous, and stall-keepers did a good
business; but it was evident that many had come to buy, and spent their
money without stint. The object was a good one; and at inspections and
other times few there were of any position in the county who had not
accepted hospitality from the battalion. Altogether, thanks entirely to
the generosity and consideration of the Earl of Pembroke, the bazaar
was a success; and with the amounts received from the two bazaars
subsequently held at Warminster and Trowbridge, realised the very
handsome sum of £400.
The _Army List_ for 1881 no longer recognised separate corps. The whole
volunteer force was consolidated, and the 1st Wilts Rifle Battalion was
thus, January 1881:--
_Honorary Colonel._
Bath, Marquis of.
_Lieutenant-Colonel._
Everett, J.F.
_Majors._
Pembroke and Montgomery, Earl of.
Fowls, W.H.
_Captains._
Clark, W.P.
Laverton, W.H.
Adye, W.
Kelsey, E.F.
Stancomb, E.P.
Wakeman, H.J.
Hodding, F.
_Lieutenants._
Clark, W.P., Junior.
Mann, W.J.
Ponting, T.
Hall, N.P.
Allen, W.
Gordon, Hamilton G.W.
Flower, T.
Clark, T.H.
Wilson, R.A.
Wilson, G.N.
Pinniger, H.D.
_Adjutant._
Gibney, R.D. (_Hon. Major_).
_Quartermaster._
Fawcett, W.
_Surgeons._
Bennett, T.J.M., M.D.
Tayler, G.C., M.B.
Lee, F.F., M.B.
_Acting Surgeon._
Hinton, J.
_Chaplains._
Jones, Revd. W.H.
Philipps, Revd. Sir J.E., Bart.
Olivier, Revd. D.
Meyer, Revd. H., M.A.
Cowley-Brown, Revd. G.J.
The officers met at Warminster on the 30th March, 1881, to make
arrangements for the year, auditing accounts, and to consider how best
it would be to act so that the battalion might attend at the Royal
Review to be held, later on at Windsor.
On the 9th July the various companies left their headquarters at some
unearthly hour in the morning, and marching to various stations on the
Great Western Railway, between Salisbury and Trowbridge, were picked
up by the special train and proceeded onwards to Slough. Here they
detrained, and were hastily proved and equalised; no time being lost
in this, as each company had brought with it a "present state," which
was given over to the adjutant on entering the train, and numbers of
companies with their strength, arranged by him previous to reaching
their destination; the strength of the battalion on the occasion being
599. The total number of volunteers present were 52,000.
There were a good many difficulties to contend with previous to the
battalion leaving for Slough. The railway company appeared to be
undecided as to their charges, and somewhat exacting as to where
trains should stop so as to pick up companies. To these magnates,
railway directors, it seemed but a little matter whether a volunteer
regiment or company marched a few additional miles out and home to
join a train which could, but would not, pull up at a nearer station.
Then the feeding arrangements were decidedly precarious; and as men
leaving home about 3 A.M., and not returning until about the same hour
next day, all wearing tight uniforms with little room to stow away
provisions, would be hungry, it was necessary to ensure a supply of
food. Contractors in London had agreed to meet the want, but something
at the last moment occurred to upset the arrangement, and on the day
previous to starting this battalion found itself unprovided for. It
was a very serious consideration. The men, scattered all over the
county, had been given to understand that provisions would be found on
the ground, and there was no time to alter previous arrangements; but
Quartermaster W. Fawcett was a man of resources, and between travelling
and telegraphing overcame the difficulty.