Reporting of the Third Annual Volunteers Match
The press was now showing a lot of interest in the activities of the Volunteer Corps. The weekly orders were reported on a regular basis as were practice shooting sessions at the Nottingham Butts, the several Corps in Nottinghamshire taking it in turns to make use of the ranges.
The Nottinghamshire Guardian was a weekly paper coming out on Fridays. The third Volunteer Meeting was held from Tuesday to Friday and so two extensive reports with details of individual scores shot by shot appeared a week apart. This page covers the report made on Friday, 7th August. The Thursday and Friday shooting was reported on Friday, 14th August (see the next page for details).
The first report was carried on the left hand column of page 3 and unfortunately some of the text is illegible, being obscured by the curve of the paper into its binding. Where words are uncertain they have been replaced by * in the transcription on the right. The tables of scores have been omitted as the general narrative gives a good account of the proceedings. Breaks in the text are indicated by a dividing line.
The attendance, around 90, at the Match seems to have been better than for previous meetings. Once again the weather was the talking point for the first day, with highly variable wind and showers. The scoring was close and many sudden death tie shoots were required to settle the places won. The five leading scores at each of the ranges (200, 500 & 600 yards) qualified for the Association Medal shot on the Friday, the winner of which gained entry to the Prince of Wales prize at Wimbledon. Completing the three ranges and tie shooting took up of all the first day.
The second day was devoted to the practical Volunteer shooting with file, volley and skirmishing firing. Great pleasure was had out of the winning of both the file and volley firing by Castle Corps of the Robin Hood Rifles. File firing took place at 300 yards and volley at 200 yards, the latter standing, at 2ft x 6ft targets for both competitions. These two disciplines took until 2 pm at which time competitors and spectators had lunch in a marquee on the range; though it appears they did not have long for this excellent repast as shooting recommenced at half past two for the skirmishing prize, shot between 400 and 200 yards, and lasted until eight o'clock.
The third prize meeting of this Association was held at Nottingham Butts, on Tuesday, when prizes exceeding almost £150 were offered for competition by members of the Volunteers and Yeomanry Corps of the town and county. The conditions were that all bona fide effective members of a Volunteer corps in Nottinghamshire, appearing in the uniform of their corps might compete for prizes. Government ammunition to be used. Targets and system of scoring to be the same as adopted at the Wimbledon Meeting in July. Position at 200 yards to be standing and at all other ranges, for Volunteer prizes kneeling. For other prizes optional. No hair triggers, artificial rests, or magnifying sights allowed. The first seven (Volunteer) prizes to be shot for with long Enfields, of Government issue, with a minimum pull of trigger of 6lbs. The next series of prizes, open to members of the North and South Notts. Yeomanry Cavalry to be shot with Government Carbines and ammunition. The ninth Association prize, to be shot for with any rifle of .577 bore and Government ammunition and with a minimum pull of trigger of 6lbs., open to members of the Association. The tenth, or All Comers' is to be shot for with a long or a short three-grooved long rifle. The eleventh, also open to all comers, to be shot for with similar rifles. And the twelfth, for a * Whitworth match rifle, value 30 guineas, presented by Captain Hadden, also for all comers, with long Enfield rifles of Government pattern, and minimum pull of trigger of 6lbs. Telescopes were strictly forbidden, but field glasses were permitted to be used by the officers in command of *, or by his deputy, to confirm the signalling.
These were the rather restrictive conditions; but despite their repellent aspect there was a much larger number of Volunteers from Southwell, Retford, Worksop, Mansfield, Nottingham, Newark, and Thorneywood Chase corps, present and competing, some of them even bearing away prizes. The weather was by no means favourable. In as much as Queen's weather was wont to be considered the extreme of halcyon, volunteers' weather has come to be set as the worst with which humanity can be pestered. Never, even in our changeable climate, was weather so aggravating as on Tuesday. It blew from all points of the compass, it rained; and then the sun shown out gaily for a few minutes; and thereafter came a haze and a fog. * was out of the question, for after having taken * and spotted your place on the target at one * a changed condition of the atmosphere made it necessary to repeat the process at the next.
Adjutant White commanded during the day; and Col. * was on the ground for a portion of the competition. Other officers were present and occasionally took * command of squads were Captain Hadden, Captain J. Patterson, Captain R. Patterson, Captain Baker, and Captain * of Collingham. The competition commenced at nine in the morning, and did not terminate till seven in the evening. Corporal Redfern, R.H.R., bore away the first prize, shot at 200 yards, scoring sixteen. Dr. Wilson took the second prize, £4, scoring fifteen; Private Brewster the third prize, £2; and Private Bass the fourth prize, £1. * Ransom tied with Dr. Wilson., Mr. Brewster, and Mr. * was outsided in shooting off the ties. * five highest in each list are qualified to compete for the bronze medal at Wimbledon, which may be considered the blue riband of the Volunteer order. The * five in the first prize competition are Colour Sergeant Simkins, Colonel Smith, Sergeant C. W. Simkins, * W. Browne and Mr. Beilby (5th Notts). For the second series of prizes the competition was more *. Sergeant Belton, 2nd R.H.R., made the * score, marking 17, and bearing away £5. Mr. * and Lieut. Lambert, having each made 16, shot off for the 2nd prize, £4, which was won by the former, Mr. Noddall, R.H.R. and Bugler, 6th Notts., shot off for the fourth prize, £2, and Mr. Noddall was successful, leaving the fifth (£1) to his rival. The second five, who * entitled to compete for the bronze medal, in this * Messrs. Hunt, Shepperley, Browne W., Eddison *, and Lieut. Evans, who won his spurs after a * contest with Mr. Perry. The shooting for the third series of prizes brought out the crème de la crème of the tiralleurs. Private Folkes in *, at 600 yards, made the highest score of the *, registering 18, and bearing away the first prize of £5. *, of the 8th Notts., scored 17, and took the second prize, £4; Mr. Webster, 9th Company R.H.R., had the next highest score 16, and took £3. Mr. Brewster and Mr. Bradley having each made 15, shot off the * the former being the winner. For the prizes at the 200 yards range there were 90 competitors; for the prizes at the 500 yards range there were * competitors; for the prizes at the 600 yards range * were 80 competitors.
* this, the second day, the competition was resumed at * o'clock. The weather was more favourable than on * day preceding. There was no rain, save a few slight showers after four o'clock. A more equable light prevailed, and the wind, which veered to all points of the compass the day previous, blew steadily throughout from one direction, the left rear, across the range. The result was that the shooting was remarkably good. There were * spectators on the ground, including the Hon. Mr. *, the newly elected Major, Captain Mundella, of * Company, and a party of ladies, Ben Hawkridge, * and others. The new Major seems likely to make * soldier, and we understand that it is his intention * himself assiduously to the acquirement of a thorough knowledge of his duties. Possessed of an active * and a sonorous voice, which can be heard at a considerable distance, he has two of the most necessarily essential * of those fitted to be placed in the command of troops. * appearance and manner produced a highly favourable Impression on all members of the battalion on the ground. * also a subject of satisfaction that Captain Mundella * to have regained much of his former health and *, and to him it must be a source of pride that his Company made the unprecedentedly high score at file and * firing which stands opposite their names, the * in fact, which has been made by any company * the origin of the Volunteer Institution. Adjutant White had general command during the day, Amongst the officers of the Robin Hoods and other * present were Lieutenant Seely. 4th Notts; Captain *, 6th Notts; Lieutenant Warwick, 8th Notts.; * Huskinson, 5th Notts.; Adjutant Farquhar-* Administrative Battalion, &c.
The prizes, according to the programme, which were to * contended, for this morning, were those for file * the conditions being five shots at 300 yards, first prize £10, second prize £5, open to five files from any company in the county, to be entered by the officer in command, officres not excluded; entrance 10s. The conditions * the volley firing were five shots at 200 yards, first prize £10 and second £5, entries as for file firing.
It will be seen from the above that the average is exceedingly good, and the score of the Castle Company, who bore away the first prizes, for both file and volley firing, was the highest ever made — 81 marks at the file firing and 69 at the volley firing, or an average of 15 points each man. The following are the names of the Castle squad:– Lieut. Evans, Private Brewster, Ensign Perry, Private Shepperley, Col-Sergeant Simkins, Private Noddall, Corporal Redfern, Private Bass, Corporal Smith and Private Milnes. Nos. 2 and 5 Companies behaved remarkably well, each taking away one of the second prizes.
The competition for those prizes was not concluded till two o'clock, when the competitors and many of the spectators sat down to an excellent repast in the spacious marquee in the cutting. The repast was supplied by Mr. Taylor, Bridlesmith Gate, in his accustomed excellent style. Mr. Taylor also supplies refreshments at a moderate tariff, in the marquee, at the 600 yards range.
No. VII (Skirmishing). The conditions for the two prizes of £10 and £5 offered under this head were ten shots at 200 and 400 yards, to be fired advancing and retiring; entrances at for No. 5. The shooting for these Prizes commenced at half-past two and terminated only at eight o'clock. The shooting of No. 1 (Castle) Company for this prize was the theme of general admiration. The targets were only six feet by two, and the excellence of the aim may be estimated from the subjoined return of the points made on the respective targets.
Messrs. Shepperley and Milnes having shown the best target received the sovereign given by the Company as a reward for the markers of the best target. The Forest Company (Captain Baker) shot rather under disadvantage. Of the ten men selected to compete, only six were on the ground, and their places were supplied by members of the Company who happened by chance to be present. Their score was inferior, but they were highly complimented by the gallant Adjutant, who warmly eulogised them upon their superior drill. At the termination of their shooting a challenge was given by the Mansfield corps to Captain Baker, to fire for a £5 cup. The challenge was accepted, and we believe that the match will take place in the first or second week of September. Captain Baker and his rear man, Sergeant Cass, covered their target with seven centres and eight outers - a very creditable score. The score of the Forest Company was, however, only 8 30. Great expectations were formed of the Park Company, and the hopes indulged in were not disappointed. They shot remarkably well at the several ranges, and made the second highest score of the day, being only six points behind the Castle Company. They bid fair to dispute the title to the rank of the premier company of the R.H.R. with the Castles at some future time. We must, in justice to the merit of their performance, give them the same prominence as has been accorded to the victors. We subjoin, therefore, a return of the files and the scores on the respective targets.
Mr. Lambert and Dr.Worth have the honour of having made the best target of the day. We may mention that there were eleven centres on their target before a single outer was seen on its surface. Dr. Worth has also been exceedingly successful at the pool shooting. Shooting for other prizes was resumed yesterday (Thursday), but had not terminated when our paper was sent to press.
Transcript from Nottinghamshire Guardian Friday 07/08/1863 p3
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