given: "It is with much regret that Colonel J.F. Everett now takes
leave of the 1st Wilts Rifle Volunteers, after commanding them for
nearly twenty years, and he will always look back with pleasure and
satisfaction to his long connection with them; and though it is with
great reluctance that he relinquishes the command, yet it gives him
much consolation and satisfaction to know that it devolves on the Earl
of Pembroke, the next senior officer, and one who has always shown as a
subordinate officer a perfect example of strict obedience and all other
good qualities which a soldier ought to possess; and who, by position
and knowledge of the military profession, is in every way fitted to
take command of the battalion.
"In conclusion, Colonel Everett begs to thank the officers,
non-commissioned officers, and men of the battalion for their uniform
good behaviour, good discipline, and attention to his orders during
the many years he has commanded them, and he hopes they will always
endeavour by their good conduct and discipline to make themselves more
efficient year by year, and to increase the already good reputation
which they bear.
"By order.
"(Signed) J. Hume, _Major and Adjutant
1st Wilts Rifle Volunteers_."
Finis.
As this account of the raising of a battalion of infantry in the now
well-known and fairly efficient body of men termed the Volunteer
Force of Great Britain is sent to the printers, so once again comes
the rumour of war and the possibility of our being invaded. We are
stronger, better armed, and as a nation generally far better acquainted
with the needs of warfare and how to meet them; but so are those who
not improbably will be opposed to us. The past thirty years have been
thirty wondrous years of increased knowledge in all that concerns
war. Steam has in reality bridged the Channel, when vessels of ten
thousand tons can steam more than twenty miles an hour; and these are
both numerous and well adapted for troopers. Guns have been made far
more destructive, and are effective at immense distances; and armies,
which then were considered terrible in their numbers and might, are now
increased fourfold; and no single thing left untried or unconsidered
which might tend to their capabilities of offence or defence. We may
be better prepared to resist invasion than we were in 1859, but are we
so fully prepared, and are our forces so numerous, so armed, so fully
equipped and so fully provided with guns, hospital comforts, carriage
and commissariat, as would allow of our auxiliary forces being called
upon suddenly to serve and, so serving, to hold their own and keep the
field for a prolonged period?
It is no time to be careful as to what foreigners may impute, or to
defer preparations in deference to their feelings. War in Europe is
imminent, at the door, and war in Europe not improbably means some
nation or nations at war with us. If this be so, we may rest assured
that nothing less than our ruin as a naval and military power would be
attempted.--R.D.G. 1888.
1ST CORPS (SALISBURY) WILTS RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.
Among the first to stir in the matter of self-defence and raising a
corps of rifle volunteers was the city of Salisbury--England's Venice.
Indeed, a rifle corps, consisting of one company and a sub-division,
with its officers and non-commissioned officers, drill and practice
grounds, and systematic teachings, had been established and worked
before many other towns and cities had done much more than think
something really ought to be arranged--of course not by themselves,
but by the Government. However all this may be, the old cathedral city
of Salisbury, so early as May, 1859, had called a public meeting at
the White Hart Hotel to consider the desirability of raising a body
of riflemen from the city; and among those attending the greatest
enthusiasm prevailed. After some preliminary conversation, Mr. J.H.
Jacob, of the Close, was asked to take the chair, and business
immediately commenced. Among those present were many of the leading
county families, as also the principal tradesmen. Indeed the room was
inconveniently filled, upwards of one hundred persons being there.
Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, when T.W. Gilbert, Esq.,
moved, and J. Pinckney, Esq., seconded, a resolution to the following
effect: "That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a
rifle corps be established in this city, to be called the Salisbury
Rifle Corps, and to be under the regulations received from the War
Office."
This resolution was unanimously adopted, as also was a second, moved
by A. Denis Hussey, Esq., and seconded by Mr. James Brown: "That a
committee be formed for the purpose of establishing such, and that they
be empowered to enrol members, receive subscriptions, frame rules and
regulations, and to communicate with the Lord Lieutenant of the county
thereon. That five be a quorum, and that such committee do consist
of Messrs. J.H. Jacob, A.D. Hussey, T.W. Gilbert, J. Pinckney, James
Brown, E.W. Brodie, E. Fisher, John Read, W. Pain, E. Sidford, W.
Fawcett, jun., R. Cobb, N. Davis, with power to add to their number."
At the suggestion of T. Pain, Esq., that the command of this corps,
with the rank of a field officer, be offered to the present chairman,
should the Lord Lieutenant of the county consent to such appointment,
the proceedings were brought to a close. The following was given as
an estimate of about the expenses incidental to any joining the rifle
corps, and receiving no assistance from subscriptions, &c., &c.:--
Rifle (Lancasters) £4 6 0
Suit of Uniform £2 15 0
Chaco and Ornament £0 7 6
Belt and Pouch £1 2 6
--------
Total £8 11 0
In the issue of the _Salisbury and Winchester Journal_ of May 28, 1859,
under the heading of "The Salisbury Volunteer Rifle Corps," the names
of the chairman and committee of the corps were given in full, and a
"Notice" to the following effect was added:--
"The committee being prepared to enrol members of this corps under the
regulations recently issued from the War Office, all persons wishing to
join are requested to forward their names in writing to any member of
the committee, and they will be duly enrolled.
"All members of the corps must undertake to pay for their own uniform
(the cost thereof not to exceed £3 10_s._), to be provided through the
medium of the committee.
"The arms and accoutrements will be provided by the committee from
the funds to be raised by subscription, and will thenceforth be the
property of the corps."
The attention of all the citizens of Salisbury was called to this
advertisement by the editor of the paper, and from this date very many
enrolled themselves as members of the Salisbury corps; J.H. Jacob,
Esq., being appointed captain-commandant, and he afterwards selecting
and recommending the names of gentlemen willing to serve to fill the
subordinate positions. That something more than playing at soldiers
was intended may be inferred from the editorial of the paper in which
the advertisement appeared. It is presumed that the editor not only
appreciated the gravity of the situation, but repeated the sentiments
of those attending the meeting, when he stated the result of inquiries
to be, "the obligation of every member to obtain a fair proficiency
in drill, and to obey the regulations published, and that this could
be done easily by an hour-and-a-half's drill in the morning, say from
7 to 8.30 a.m., and an hour-and-a-half in the evening, from 6.30
to 8 p.m., on consecutive or separate days, as most convenient, so
that interference with professional or other avocations need not be
feared." Shades of the past! "to be done easily." Time was precious,
and men were enthusiastic; and perhaps were circumstances to repeat
themselves, elderly gentlemen and striplings would again be seen very
early in the morning practising judging distances on a common or on
some wild moor, and of an evening setting out in hail, rain, or snow
for the shed, hall, or yard used for drill instruction. There certainly
is not the necessity now for all this assiduous attention, but the
Force would be better for more care being given to these preliminary
drills. The foundation of drills was well laid there, and the result
was greater steadiness in the ranks, and perhaps a greater individual
knowledge of the meaning of certain manœuvres. It would take a good
deal now-a-days to make young England turn out at daybreak to improve
his knowledge of skirmishing and judging distance, or to give up the
sweet saunter on the _pavé_, with a bad cigar in his mouth and the
refreshment derivable from an occasional glass of bitter beer, for one
to two hours' instruction in minutiæ, and an occasional lecture on war
as a science. If skill in the use of the rifle and a thorough knowledge
of the movements of a company in battalion or singly were necessary in
1857 to preclude the possibility of an invading army making progress in
this our island, much more is required now. The use of steam, from the
largest to the smallest vessel, and the enormous speed, sea-worthiness,
and capabilities of these vessels, have thrown twenty bridges across
the Channel, where formerly two barely existed. Our trade has increased
enormously, and as we are dependent on it in many instances for mere
existence, it demands greater attention from our fleets in every part
of the world, and weapons of war are far more deadly. In other words,
war has become a science. Doubtless bravery, or, as Lord Palmerston
had it, "he who could stand a quarter of an hour more beating than
another will win," if the old style of hammer and tongs be adopted; but
we have no right to suppose this. We know that the Germans blundered
very little, and in invading carried all before them. If, in our turn,
we should be invaded or at war, it were well for us to have every joint
in the harness carefully looked to beforehand, and not trust too much
on such a reed as militia or volunteers would be after a "little more
teaching," "some weeding out," and "embodiment." The next European war
in which England is engaged, gives time for none of these processes;
and not improbably the volunteer battalion, made up of scattered
companies, full of half-drilled, ignorant bumpkins or mechanics, with
no great-coats, paper-soled boots, and underclothing spare and worn,
working as labourers in the wildest parts of Yorkshire, or the smelting
works of Staffordshire, will be summoned by telegraph to join the head
quarters at ----, and take part in the manœuvres deemed necessary to
repel an invasion occurring or occurred on the coast. Will men then be
weeded out? Will their poor papery boots, spoiled by the mud of the
first ditch they are bid to hide in? Will their utter ignorance of sign
or signal, of the value of keeping touch, and not acting independently,
stand them instead, and they be sent to the reserve until better
suitable? I trow not. They will be subjected, regular and irregular,
taught and untaught, to the same murderous fire and rigorous treatment.
There will be no time for selection, and the whole nation will rue
the day when they were persuaded into the belief that they were not
likely to be attacked, and that for offence or defence they were amply
provided.
Among the first officers of the company were Captains Jacob, Beverley
Robinson, and Ambrose Hussey, Esq., with Mr. Wyndham Payne, Edward
Fisher, George Smith, C. Brown, W.J. Wilton, as subalterns; whilst the
names of Mr. Walter Clapperton, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Read, Mr. Farrant, Sir
E. Poore, Mr. E. Kelsey, Mr. Sheppard, Mr. Harris, Mr. Aylward, Mr.
Maunder, Mr. Rae, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Farr, Mr. Curtis, as non-commissioned
officers at the same time may be mentioned. Captain Jacob commanded
the company, with its headquarters at Salisbury, and the half company
with its headquarters near Downton, under the command of Lieutenant
Wyndham Payne, and no time was lost after organization in commencing
drills and practices. The records kept are small in amount, giving
no details, and as a rule are merely orders for drills and parades.
"The Company will parade on Harnham Hill, or at the Reservoir at 7
a.m. to-morrow for judging distance drill," or "to-morrow evening for
position and aiming drill at the Market House," appears monotonously
frequently, after the 9th September, 1859, in the Company Order Book.
The corps were present at the review held in their neighbourhood at
Clarendon Park, mustering well, two companies with thirty file each,
and were always well represented at other reviews and battalion drills.
The corps attended as two companies at Durdham Downs, near Bristol,
and doubtless joined in the obnoxious volley firing, at Bath, Southsea
Common, Portsdown, the autumn manœuvres, Royal Review at Windsor, and
Jubilee Review more recently at Aldershot. At the various regimental
camps the numbers have been fairly good, though marching-in strength
was not well continued day after day; but tradesmen, particularly of
a busy city like Salisbury, can ill afford to be much away from their
work, and of these the Salisbury Rifle Corps have been and yet are
composed. The uniform selected was more useful than beautiful, its
cut being after the style as shown in the figures of Noah & Sons in
the ark. Certainly the corps attracted many young men into its ranks,
but the uniform could not have been the source. It however was not
lost upon the London street boy, inasmuch as, when Captain Jacob and
Lieutenant Robinson in uniform proceeded down St. James Street on
their way to the levée held in 1860 for the presentation of volunteer
officers only, one urchin remarked, "Well! if them ain't the ugliest
buffers we've seen yet." A sentiment which (speaking from absolute
knowledge) the captain thoroughly appreciated.
The formation of the various corps of South Wilts into a battalion
with its head quarters at Salisbury, and that city very often used
as a meeting-place for all the corps on battalion occasions, was
perhaps rather advantageous to the headquarter companies, enabling
them to practise field movements, and to acquire more knowledge of
battalion manœuvres than other corps, and at less cost; but it is
doubtful after all. The dispersion of other companies in the midst of
a battalion drill in order to get to railway stations affected them
too, and perhaps a quiet battalion instruction parade on the cricket
ground, with four companies in single ranks of twenty or twenty-four
men each, was more effective and instructive. The Market Hall made an
excellent covered-in place to teach aiming drill or squad, but was too
cramped and supplied with articles of machinery, &c., &c., to make it
thoroughly available for company drill. The streets of the market place
then, as the short evenings of autumn or the dark nights of winter
came on, had to serve the purpose, and drilling became a tremendous
difficulty. Imagine one hundred men in uniform marching through a dense
mass of the _genus_ street boy at every twist or turn they took, and
every order, as given by instructor, captain, or sergeant, echoed and
re-echoed by these detestable small boys. To attempt any drills where
firing (sham) would be shown, such as volley or independent firing,
&c., &c., was the signal for more than usual activity and interest in
the proceedings being shown by the tormentors. With "P'sent," down fell
a wriggling mass in the mud, each shamming to have been shot, and only
rising and running to the flanks as the good-natured riflemen moved
forwards. What were the police about? The police at that day cared not
to interfere in these matters, and a rifleman was too new a thing to be
appreciated or protected.
Owing to the want of any lists of attendance, target practice records,
or extensive cuttings from the local papers, it is a very hard task
for any one to show what occurred in the early days of this corps. It
appears to have shown a strength of 121, forming two companies at the
Clarendon Park Review so far back as September, 1860; the officers
present being Captain Commandant Jacob, Captain Beverley Robinson,
Lieut. Pinckney, Lieut. Sir E. Poore, Bart., Ensign Hussey, Ensign
Fisher, Assist.-Surgeon Cardell, and Quartermaster Smith. At the first
inspection of the newly formed battalion, which took place on the
downs above Warminster, under Major G. Hume, Inspector of the District,
the corps mustered within one of the same strength, viz. 120, Captains
Robinson and Hussey, Lieutenants Fisher, Smith and Wyndham Payne, with
C. Brown, J. Brown, and Assist.-Surgeon Cardell, being the officers
present. About this number the corps remained for some years, gradually
increasing both in efficiency and discipline. The force had become
established, regimental camps were formed, more system prevailed, and
men undertaking the duties of volunteer privates better understood what
would be demanded from them, and reflected accordingly. The enthusiasm
had died out, but the spirit of determination that the country should
not again be left to ignorant self-defence was as strong as ever, and
as corps became more consolidated, so did the members, both officers
and others, fluctuate less. With all this, there was after awhile
throughout the battalion a slow but steady increase of members; and
the Annual Returns of corps composing the 1st Wilts Rifle Battalion
show that, in November, 1869, the Salisbury corps had a total enrolled
of 156, of these 150 being efficients and only six non-efficient. In
1873, at an inspection parade held at Warminster, they mustered a
total of 112. Again, in 1875, at another inspection, they had present
125; though of these 25 were belonging to the band, fairly drilled men
perhaps, but of whose proficiency in anything beyond a musician's duty
no test was made. However, the band was and is a necessity for a rifle
battalion, and to some extent for a company detached. Both Salisbury
and Trowbridge corps furnished the men required for the battalion band,
hence at inspections an undue proportion of these corps appeared to be
bandsmen. In the instance above, Trowbridge also contributed 21 men out
of her muster of 143 to the band. At one time in the volunteer epoch,
the bands were somewhat too numerous; "five-and-twenty fifers and five
fighting men" was not altogether unknown at a muster; but time has
changed all this.
The Annual Returns for 1875 show a total enrolled of 173, of whom 162
were efficients. In 1878, the return is 180, with 176 efficients. The
attendance in camp for inspection in 1877 was 138; and again in 1881,
168, Captains Kelsey and Hodding being in command.
The rifle range of the Salisbury corps was at some distance from the
city, on the London Road, and was a particularly difficult range at
which a good score could be made. The ground undulated somewhat, and
at each range was subject to varying currents of wind; a knowledge of
these and their vagaries was a necessary ingredient in the formation
of a steadily good shot at Salisbury Rifle Ranges. Practice is said
to make perfect, and certainly much practice and attention to detail
turned out very many good shots in No. 1 corps. Among the officers
might be named Smith, Fisher, J. Brown, C. Brown, Hodding, Kelsey,
Harris, Wilton, Wilson; and among the non-commissioned officers and
rank and file, the name is legion. Without mentioning all or even
one-half the number of those who have been large prize holders, the
names of Butler, Wheaton, Manns, Watson, Barnett, Robbins, Calkin,
Perris, &c., &c., are famous.
Prize-winning commenced early, as a Company Order, issued on the 19th
September, 1861, by Lieutenant Fisher, commanding the corps, directs
the band to assemble at the railway station to do honour to Sergeant
Butler, who had won at the county meeting held at Devizes the challenge
cup, value £50, and a silver salver, whilst Sergeant Wilton of this
corps had proved himself to be the best shot of the meeting at 200 and
300 yards, five rounds and Hythe positions, £10 being his reward. Again
in 1862, when the Rifle Association of the county held the meeting at
Salisbury, we find the Salisbury corps holding their own against all
comers, and the Challenge Cup so closely disputed that there was a tie
between Sergeant Wilton, 1st corps; Private Hitchcock, 7th Wilts, 2nd
Battalion; and Sergeant Neate, 7th Company, 2nd Battalion. The shooting
off was in favour of Sergeant Wilton, and amidst the acclamations of
almost all present, the chief prize was declared to be yet held by a
member of the Salisbury Rifle Corps, and with it the salver offered by
the Mayor and Corporation of the City. An unpleasant incident occurred,
which may serve to show how servile was the following of Hythe rules.
The right to possession of the Challenge Cup by Sergeant Wilton was
disputed, inasmuch as he had used his second finger instead of the
fore wherewith to press the trigger, and was not crowned with the bays
until he had satisfied some of the committee and the umpire, that owing
to an injury he was unable to use the fore-finger. "_Tantas componere
lites._" Imagine in these days raising such an objection! Sergeant
Butler won several valuable prizes, shooting at long ranges, 400, 500,
600, and 700 yards, five shots at each distance, and succeeded in
scoring a hit for every shot--a total of 20 hits and 45 points. Among
the officers, Lieutenant Fisher of this corps won the Ladies' and other
prizes. At another county meeting held at Warminster, the shooting
of some of the 1st corps was below their usual quality, or perhaps
that of others was of a higher standard. The President's Prize places
Sergeants Butler and Wilton at 26 points each, and the winning score
at 32; the winner being the gentleman shooting a tie with Sergeant
Wilton on a former occasion, Sergeant Neate, 7th corps, 2nd Battalion.
The change among officers since Mr. Jacob first took the command has
been great. Probably, Captain Hodding, at that time a corporal, alone
remains. The corps has furnished three majors to the battalion--Captain
Jacob on the first formation in 1861, Captain Pinckney in 1872, and
Captain Kelsey in 1885. That the Salisbury Rifle Corps, now A and B
Companies of the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Volunteers, has increased in
numbers and efficiency is shown by a reference to "Returns" of a recent
date. In 1886, the Annual Return, dated 1st November, 1886, gives--A
Company, 92 efficients, 9 non-efficients; B Company, 99 efficients,
6 non-efficients. Total, 190 efficients and 15 non-efficients; and
at a bayonet exercise competition held in camp in August, 1887, the
challenge cup was won by A Company, Salisbury.
2ND CORPS (TROWBRIDGE) WILTS RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.
C & D Companies.
Among the earliest of the towns in Wiltshire to move in the formation
of a rifle corps must be enumerated that of Trowbridge. A large
manufacturing town, it felt how serious a matter would be even an
attempt at an invasion of our shores, and without unnecessary delay
the raising of a rifle corps was determined upon. It commenced by the
formation of a Rifle Shooting Club among some of the tradesmen; but
that this would not meet the occasion soon became evident, and in
August 1859, a public meeting was called for the purpose of raising a
rifle corps, collecting subscriptions, and considering details. The
business habits of the leading gentlemen of the town made them act with
deliberation, and perhaps it was the delay caused by the consideration
of all matters affecting the permanency of the future corps which
placed it as No. 2 in the county. It may be so, but at the same time it
obviated constant alterations and correction of mistakes.