Tuesdays and Fridays twice, and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
once, thus meeting the convenience of most members of the corps. These
drills were well attended, and by the time the Government long Enfield
muzzle-loading rifles were sent down in the early part of June, the
9th Corps had fully mastered the outlines of company drill, and dined
together soon after on the occasion of more correct enrolment being
carried out.
Becoming more assured, they now paraded with their band and drilled
in public, and had the usual church parades and class sermon; then
marching over to the neighbouring town of Trowbridge, they were
instructed in the outlines of battalion drill by Major Lawson.
The men of the 9th Wilts not being aware that eventually rifles would
be supplied to them by the Government, and being anxious to compete
for prizes with other corps, in many instances from an early date they
had provided themselves with weapons, generally Enfields, of the usual
bore and shape, and with these constant practice was being made at
the ranges; so that by the summer, when challenges between corps were
frequent, and prize meetings being held, not a few of the officers and
men had become good shots and held their own wherever they entered. The
ground selected as a practice ground was an easy one to shoot over,
the steep turfy hill against which the targets were placed forming
an excellent background; but by whom the said range was passed as a
rifle range deponent sayeth not. He could not have been to Hythe, or
had much notion of the erratic flight of an elongated projectile, or
of the difficulty even the best-drilled soldiers in the service find
in avoiding accidents, where your line of fire extends across sundry
footpaths, a canal, and a railroad. That there were no accidents is
attributable more to good luck than good guidance. The shorter ranges
across the canal were tolerably secure. A red flag, much shouting,
and an occasional despatch of one of the squad to the dangerous point
managed to stay man, woman, or child from running into danger, and
informed the cursing bargee of his being cared for; but when it came
to long distances, where shouts and signals were unheeded, or where
the height of the trajectory was deemed safety sufficient, then came a
question as to whom was the sanction of this being used as a range due.
The Great Western Railway Company evidently for very many years
troubled themselves not about such trifles as bullets through their
carriages, for on the edge of the line was a firing point, where,
_of course_, the firer was able to check himself instantly should an
express or other very fast train or engine suddenly cloud his vision.
Be all this as it may, the corps both drilled well and shot well, and
from an early date up to the present time sent forth steady and good
shots. Amongst these may be numbered Assist.-Surgeon, afterwards Hon.
Major, Wm. Adye, winner of the Officers' Challenge Cup at Devizes,
silver claret jug, various vases, &c., Sergeant George Adye, Sergeant
Neale, Corporal Davis, Privates Scutt, Reddrop, Merrett, Chas. Adye,
Wallman, &c.
At most of the reviews and at all battalion drills, the Bradford Corps
have put in an appearance, and as a rule mustered well in proportion
to their strength. Their first appearance at any large gathering was
at the review held in Clarendon Park, Lord William Paulet commanding,
in September, 1860. They mustered forty strong, Captain Pickwick,
Lieut. Forster, and Ensign Beavan being the officers, and were attached
to the battalion commanded by Major G. Hume, Assistant Inspector
of Volunteers. In November of the same year they were inspected by
Major G. Hume in the Broad Field, and out of the sixty men on the
muster-roll, exclusive of band, fifty-four rank and file presented
themselves on parade. All the officers were present, and the inspecting
officer complimented them upon the way they drilled, and upon the
soldier-like look of the company; some twenty men of the Trowbridge
Corps, under Captain Clark and Lieut. Clark, kindly keeping the ground
during inspection. The year 1861 saw all these scattered corps made
into a battalion, with one lieutenant-colonel, one major, one adjutant,
as the staff thereof, and from this date the attendances of corps
beyond their own head quarters was limited, and certain arrangements
made by which drill attendance could be verified, and more correct
returns of efficiency and strength sent up to Government, on which a
capitation grant might be founded. There were some brilliant ideas
exhibited by the War Office authorities as to the expenditure of this
grant. The adjutant was to combine paymaster- and interferer-general
with his other duties, and only pay the amount earned by a corps to
that corps on its showing an exact voucher for every item, and as the
grant could be carried to accounts past or present, it was hard work
for the secretaries of companies to get one item which would fit in
exactly for the whole grant earned, and in the adjutant's hands, or
to make half-a-dozen smaller items to do the same thing, so vouchers
were made up to suit the purpose. In other words, a cooking process was
required to enable a corps to receive its dues.
The uniform selected by the Bradford Corps was an excellent one--of
course fitting the body too tightly; but this screwing in a man's waist
and throttling him with a stock was considered the proper thing to do,
and even yet has a value in some elderly gentleman's view of the smart
soldier. In olden times a man was supposed to carry in a knapsack on
his poor back all that was necessary, and that the protection of any
particular part of the body from heat, cold, or wet was making him
into a mollycoddle; so they sent him to Canada and India with a shoddy
coat buttoned across the chest, and sloping off into two tails in the
cutaway style, and bade him wear for six months in the year woollen
trousers, nice and long, so as to cover his hideous ankle boots and
to pick up the dirt, and for the other six months, ducks, as these
washed. The Rifle Movement ended these and various other absurdities.
When officers commanding battalions and companies discovered that
things wore out quicker than necessary, that other things were only
an unnecessary expense, and that the men themselves observed much
latitude in the regulations, then they appointed committees to consider
matters, and adapted the clothing and very many other things connected
with drills and target-practices to the change brought over the whole
military system by the introduction of arms of precision. Freedom of
action, greater mobility, more self-reliance, and a thorough knowledge
of his weapon and skirmishing, was a volunteer discovery, and after a
while the drill, if not the dress; but the whole organization of the
British army has been changed and improved. The mud-colour with red
facings of No. 9 corps, with a neat shako, was, and is, if made of a
looser fit and knickerbockers instead of trousers, the proper colour
and cut for a rifleman's wear. The black of the Rifle Brigade and the
term Rifles being utterly absurd, as all are now Rifles, and of all
colours the most visible, near or far away, the black bears away the
palm. With this battalion, as all had to be of one colour, it was well
not to adopt any colour in use by other corps, but the day will come
when the black will be discarded, and perhaps then the mud-colour or
khakhee of the Guides in India will be selected. The helmet is a bad
headpiece, rolls about, cannot be laid on, and is hot and clumsy. The
straight-peaked low kepi gave greater shade to the eyes for aim-taking,
and was smarter-looking and far easier kept on in going through woods,
low jungle, &c., than the spiked invention from Germany. At the first
inspection of corps as a battalion, which took place at Warminster on
7th November, 1861, by Major Gustavus Hume, Assistant-Inspector of
the Volunteers, this company mustered fifty-nine; Captain Pickwick in
command, with Lieut. Forster, Ensign Beavan, and Hon. Assistant-Surgeon
Adye. All did well, and the inspecting officer gave them great credit
for doing so well with so short a time for training. A very heavy
hailstorm coming on did not improve the drill, and few were sorry when
the trains arrived at the station by which they could return home. The
7.15 train saw Trowbridge, Bradford, and Westbury corps returning, but
those lower down the line had far longer to wait. It was ever thus for
a battalion drill; the trains never fitted in, and whilst some part of
the battalion would arrive at midday to parade at 3 p.m., another could
not be present until past the drill hour. If a late hour was fixed for
the general assembly then the hurry to catch the last train made a
general scramble to be off break up the parade.
The ladies of Bradford were nothing behind their sisters elsewhere in
helping forward the Rifle Movement, and by bazaars, county and local
prize-giving for shooting encouraged very many of the men to practise
careful shooting. The earliest record of a subscription being got up
from the ladies of Bradford for this purpose is in September, 1861,
when Mr. T. Taylor and Mr. J.C. Neale were the collectors. The money
obtained allowed of a handsome silver cup being purchased, and smaller
sums distributed in prizes. The distances were short, but they were
beginners, and allowance had to be made for blundering. The terms being
easy, though the entrance as a competitor depended on his subscription
to the funds of the corps, so, with or without knowledge, a majority
of the company appeared at the targets. The highest scores made at
the two distances selected, viz., 200 and 300 yards, were those of
Sergeant Neale, total 13, Private Reynolds 13, Charles Adye 13, W.
Mager 12. The whole day was occupied in the business, and the band,
with refreshments, helped to break the monotony, for it must have been
monstrous stupid for onlookers, these many hours of blundering. Being
Britons, a dinner at "The Swan" was necessary to mark the occasion, and
there, with Captain Pickwick in the chair, supported by Mr. Forster,
Mr. Beavan, and Assistant-Surgeon Adye, and various other gentlemen
not immediately connected with the corps, each proposed the health of
another, and drank "The Ladies" with great enthusiasm.
It will not be here out of place to show how great is the improvement
in shooting now-a-days. Formerly the values of a hit were very high,
three being obtainable for one shot, and yet here is the result. To
quote from the local trumpeter, "at 300 yards most beautiful shooting
throughout."
300 yards. Total.
---- 5 shots 2 2 1 2 2 9
---- " 2 2 2 1 1 8
---- " 1 2 1 2 1 7
---- " 1 1 2 1 2 7
---- " 1 1 1 1 2 6
The riflemen of Bradford could do better than that now.
Again, at even lesser distances it seems that men such as Captain W.
Adye, Sergeant G. Adye, Sergeant Davis Privates Scutt, Chas. Adye, &c.,
at 150 and 200 yards, seven rounds each range, half targets, hits and
points added, 25, 34, 38, 33, 40, 33 were the highest scores.
In October, 1861, a challenge was sent to the neighbouring corps at
Trowbridge, to be shot off on the Bradford ground; five rounds at 200
and 400 yards, twelve on each side. The highest score on the occasion
was made by a Trowbridge man, Private Thomas, he making 15, not once
failing to hit the target. On Bradford side, Captain Pickwick, with
one miss, made 13, and Private Scutt, without missing, scoring 14. The
match was won by Bradford by 14 points. On the return match, shot off
on the Trowbridge practice ground, Bradford again proved the winners
by 9 points. The shooting was bad on both sides, Private Scutt of
Bradford, with no misses and 15 points; Private Thomas of Trowbridge,
one miss and 13 points; Private Packer, no misses and 13 points, being
the only men doing even tolerable practice.
The Bradford Corps next year challenged those of Melksham, twelve
picked men to be on each side, 200 and 400 yards, five rounds at each
distance, hits and points; and Bradford were victorious by 39 points,
Sergeant Wheeler of Melksham, without missing, making a score of 22,
and Private Young, with one miss, a score of 21, whilst Sergeant G.
Adye, without missing, scored 24, Private Wallman 27, Reynolds 22, and
Captain Pickwick 21.
At the county meeting held about the same time none of the Bradford
men won prizes. Many shot well, but with the magnificent shooting
of Messrs. Ward, 5th Wilts; Butler, 1st Wilts; Graham, 2nd Wilts;
Fisher, 1st Wilts, to become a prize-holder was a very difficult
thing. However, Private Scutt showed that he, as well as many others
in the 9th Corps, knew how to use a rifle. Soon after this Lieut.
Forster tendered the resignation of his commission, and Mr. A. Beavan
was promoted to the vacancy, and afterwards William Adye, Esq., M.D.,
resigning the hon. assistant surgeoncy, was appointed ensign vice
Beavan promoted.
The review at Durdham Down, near Bristol, was attended by this corps,
with Captain Pickwick and Ensign Adye as officers, three sergeants,
and forty-one rank and file. Not improbably they joined in the volley
firing, so terribly destructive of all discipline and tradition,
indulged in by most of the volunteers on this occasion, excepting of
course by the virtuous few who, upon becoming aware that to do such
a thing was held in holy horror by cocked hats, hastened to let the
British public know, through the local papers, that not only were
they innocent, but knew a soldier's duty too well to be caught thus
napping. Later on, with the other corps composing the battalion, they
were present at Lansdown, near Bath, Portsmouth, Portsdown, Windsor,
Jubilee Review at Aldershot in 1887, and at the Autumn Manœuvres in
1872. At every regimental camp the corps mustered well, and struggling
with very many difficulties, have kept up their numbers and efficiency.
To their late Captain, Hon. Major William Adye, they are much indebted,
as indeed to his family generally for constant support and useful
help. Among the earliest to join the corps were Dr. Wm. Adye and his
brothers George and Charles, all of whom worked with a will in the
cause, and set an example to many of punctual attendance at drills and
obedience to all orders received. Dr. Adye, resigning the assistant
surgeoncy and becoming ensign, eventually commanded the company,
retiring as hon. major in 1886, whilst George and Charles Adye both
became sergeants, and for the many years they remained in the corps
had very few their equals, either in knowledge of all drills or at the
targets as steady and reliable shots. On Captain Pickwick retiring
from the post of captain, his place was taken by a gentleman living in
the neighbourhood, Buonaparte Wise, Esq., but his remaining with the
company was brief. He did not quite understand the men, and it is very
certain they did not understand him. He joined too at a wrong time,
when financial troubles were more or less prevalent among all volunteer
corps, and when a complete change of system was seen to be necessary.
Some misunderstanding occurring, led to the resignation of Captain
Wise, as also Lieut. Beavan; their places eventually being taken up by
the promotion of William Adye, Esq., to be captain, E.M. Davis, Esq.,
to be lieutenant, and Mr. T.W. Dunn as ensign. The annual returns of
effectives in this company have been fairly good. Taking them roughly
in an enrolled total of 82, they shewed 74 efficients in 1868. In 1870
the enrolled strength was 77, and efficients 66. In 1875, enrolled
65, efficients 59. In 1878, enrolled 68, efficients 60; and in 1886,
enrolled 91, efficients 87. The strength of the company at the annual
inspection of the battalion in camp at Warminster in 1886 was thus:
One captain, Captain T.H. Clark; one lieutenant, Lieutenant J. Adye;
one sub-lieutenant, Lieutenant Barton; five sergeants, one bugler,
fifty-five rank and file; total, 64.
No. 10 CORPS. WARMINSTER RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.
It was not until late in the year 1859 that the good people at and near
Warminster called a meeting to consider the best methods for raising
a rifle corps at Warminster and in its neighbourhood. It was not the
custom of Warminster, as a rule, to let other towns go ahead of her
in matters of any great moment, and her doing so in a thing of such
interest as the defence of the country remains unexplained. She was
struggling into being with her rifle corps, when Trowbridge, Maiden
Bradley, Salisbury, &c., were well on at target practice and judging
distance drills: but she lost nothing by delay--not improbably gained,
having thereby avoided some of the mistakes and unnecessary expenses
incurred by beginners. The corps raised eventually was numbered 10 in
the county of Wilts, and was known at home as the "Jolly Tenth," but in
the battalion, and throughout the county generally, as a rifle corps
second to none in real efficiency, and both in its officers and men
possessing a smartness and cohesion somewhat unusual.
On the 5th December, 1859, the following notice of a public meeting to
be held at Warminster was posted in the town and neighbourhood:--
Volunteer Rifle Corps
For the
Town and Neighbourhood of Warminster.
A Public Meeting
Of the Inhabitants of the Town and Neighbourhood
Will be held
At the Town Hall, Warminster,
On Saturday, the 10th December, 1859,
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
To take into consideration the expediency of establishing and
organising a Volunteer Corps, and to make arrangements for carrying
the same into effect.
(Signed)
Bath,
H. Thynne,
William Temple,
Joseph Everett,
John Ravenhill,
Nath. Barton,
John Davis, Junr.,
George Temple,
H.G. Biggs,
_Magistrates acting for the Division of Warminster_.
The Marquis of Bath will take the Chair.
In accordance with this notice a large and influential meeting of the
inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood was held in the Town Hall,
Warminster, on Saturday, the 10th December, 1859, under the presidency
of the Marquis of Bath, when it was resolved--
"That it is expedient to organize a volunteer rifle corps for the town
and neighbourhood."
The following noblemen and gentlemen were formed into a committee for
the purpose of considering the best plans for carrying this resolution
into effect: The Marquis of Bath, Lord Henry Thynne, William Temple,
Esq., Charles Lewis Phipps, Esq., H. Godolphin Biggs, Esq., Joseph
Everett, Esq., John Ravenhill, Esq., Nath. Barton, Esq., John Davis,
jun., Esq., George Temple, Esq., and the Rev. A. Fane, Justices acting
for the Division of Warminster. Among the many attending the meeting
were H.G.G. Ludlow, Esq., John Phipps, Esq., Vere Fane Benett, Esq.,
Rev. J. Erasmus Philipps, Mr. F.W. Bayly, Mr. Charles Bleeck, Mr.
William Davis, Mr. R. Bedford, Mr. Timothy Goodman, Mr. H.P. Jones,
Mr. Wm. Morgan, Mr. Martin, Mr. Thos. Pope, Mr. Geo. Pope, Mr. E.
Parfitt, Mr. W. Parham, Mr. Thos. Harris, Mr. Haden, Mr. R.E. Vardy,
Mr. John Scott, Mr. Vicary, and Mr. Grubb. The meeting was unanimous,
and arrangements were made for immediately enrolling members willing
to serve. Subscriptions to meet incidental expenses were collected,
and within a few days sixty effective members (the minimum number
required for enrolment) having volunteered for service, an application
was at once made to the Lord Lieutenant of the County requesting his
sanction to their being enrolled and on the 1st April, 1860, the corps
was enrolled as the "10th Wiltshire Rifle Volunteer Corps," with the
Marquis of Bath, as captain, commanding the same.
In the first instance the members selected their own officers, their
names being sent in to the Lord Lieutenant for his approval, through
the captain commanding the corps. To the corps were then added the
names of William Davis, Esq., as lieutenant, and Mr. John Scott as
ensign, Charles Bleeck, Esq., as hon. assistant surgeon, and the Rev.
J. Erasmus Philipps as chaplain.
The following were the first non-commissioned officers: Joseph Smith,
quartermaster-sergeant; J.B. Haden, armourer-sergeant; George White,
Philip Grubb, Edward Chambers, were sergeants; and Richard E. Vardy,
D. Tillbrook, Charles Price, corporals; with Sergeant Sheppard, of the
Wilts Militia, as sergeant-instructor; Edward Turner, bugler.
The uniform and equipments left nothing to be desired. The clothing
blue-grey, with scarlet facings, and belts dark.
The drills for squad purposes were usually held in the corn market, but
the broad streets and roads in the neighbourhood for wet weather, while
the cricket and other fields in summer, were more frequently used. The
corps worked with a will, having both morning and evening drills, and
doubtless disturbed some of the sleep-loving folk by their devotion
to the cause. A company of soldiers being instructed in section
formations or wheelings, on the high road, under a window at 7 a.m.,
on a November's morning does not tend to the peaceful rest of any in
the house of which the window is part, nor perhaps to their temper or
rapture with the volunteer movement; more especially if that company
were the 10th Wilts, with Sergeant-Instructor Sheppard intent on having
things done correctly, and repeating "As you were" cruelly often.
The first range for rifle practice sanctioned by the War Office was
at Knapper's Hole on the Parsonage Farm; but this not being found
satisfactory, the range was removed in 1861 to Mancomb, about a mile
from the town, where there is a most excellent range, up to 1100 yards,
perfectly level; with a low range of chalk hills as a background to
the targets, and the whole safe but far from free from gusts of wind
and currents of air, trying to riflemen generally, but to pot-hunters
in particular. The armoury, at first, was at the Town Hall in a room
placed at the disposal of the corps by Lord Bath. It was then removed
to the market-place, and subsequently to the High-street, where it now
is.
As a band of some sort was found to be necessary, the formation of a
drum-and-fife band was determined upon, and on the 16th May, 1860, the
ladies of Warminster presented the corps with a silver bugle and a
complete set of drums and fifes.
In March, 1860, a sub-division was established at Codford, and the
following officers were appointed: John Ravenhill, lieutenant; Herbert
Ingram, ensign.
The corps first turned out in complete uniform at a company drill on
the 30th May, 1860, and on the following 2nd July the whole of the
members were sworn in at the Town Hall after attending a church parade
at the parish church, a sermon being preached for the occasion by the
chaplain, the Rev. Sir J. Erasmus Philipps. About the same time a
public dinner was held in the Town Hall, and was attended by almost all
the rifle corps and very many of the tradesmen of the town and county
gentlemen.
When the corps was first established the requisite finances to meet
preliminary expenses were raised by donations from the public, and
annual subscriptions from honorary members. Effective members had
to pay an annual subscription of £1 and to find their own uniform,
with the exception of cap and accoutrements, these being provided by
the corps. This somewhat large annual subscription from effective
members helped to keep the corps unusually select, and to retain men
in the ranks. Besides, it caused all to be jealous for the respectable
behaviour of each member of the corps, precluding the retention in
the ranks of any unwilling to obey every order as issued, or acting
otherwise than was correct. Discipline had to be preserved, and this,
with William Davis as captain, with J. Scott for his lieutenant, and
such non-commissioned officers and men as formed the 10th Corps, was
not a matter of very great difficulty.
One of the weak points in the volunteers (it is so still) was talking
in the ranks, and this was met in this corps by a fine of 6_d._ on any
individual so doing whilst the company or squad to which he might have
been attached were drilling. At a later period this fine was reduced to
3_d._, and the sergeant of the section to which the man belonged was
made responsible for enforcing the rule.