The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-19 00:00:00

AT ALDERSHOT.

The first sham fight of the Aldershot drill season
took place on Monday over the Fox Hills before a
large number of spectators, including many officers
both on the active and retired list, who reside in the
vicinity of the camp. The day was exceptionally
suited for the work, there being a soft wind to temper
the heat of the sun. The field day was ordered by
the Field Marshal Commander-in-Chief for the
special benefit of the volunteers who elected to go to
Aldershot for the Easter review, viz., the 11th
Middlesex or Railway Volunteers and the Ist
Berkshire Rifles. The remainder of the force
engaged, consisting of six thousand men, was
composed of the various regular regiments at pre-
sent quartered in the camp. The manceuvres, which
were of a very instructive nature, were carried out on
ground admirably adapted for the purpose, the general
idea being that an army having landed at Southamp-
ton is marching on London. Its main body has reached
Winchester, and has pushed forward an advanced
force as far as Aldershot and seized the stores there.
The Aldershot garrison having been ordered to retire

along the South-Western Railway has reached Brook-
wood, where it is reinforced by troops sent by rail
from London, with a,view, if possible, to recover the
stores at Aldershot. The special idea is that
Major-General Fraser, who has concentrated his
troops on and about Dawney's-hill, receives the
following telegram from London: "By intelligence
received the enemy in Aldershot number 300
sabres, 1600 bayonets, and twenty-two Fans. Advance
by the Fox-hills and endeavour to crush them before
they can receive support." During the earlier part of
the action the operations were confined exclusively to
the cavalry and artillery, who were sent forward by
the Southern Force with a view to check the advance
•of the force from Dawney's-hill as long as possible,
while the main body took up a position some half-mile
in rear with their right resting on Scra,gley-hill and the
left on the South-Westeni Railway. The scouting
duties of the Northern Force left little to be desired,
being well carried out, especially those entrusted to
the 15th Hussars, under the command of Colonel Tuck,
C.B. The movements of the cavalry of the Southern
Force were slower, and showed a want of elasticity
when compared with the smart Hussars. The
artillery, though in many cases they were carefully
brought into action, were in some instances seen
moving along the sky line in dangerous proximity to
the enemy's guns, exposing both men and horses to
their fire. As the infantry attack of the Northern
Force was developed skilful handling was apparent,
and the southern commander was compelled to beat
a retreat to a second position, which retreat was well
conducted in the face of a heavy fire. Throughout
the day the volunteer battalions were in the
fore-front of the infantry attack, and acquitted
themselves in a very creditable manner. At
the conclusion of the operations the Umpire in Chief,
Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Alison, Bart.,
K.C.8., assembled the brigadiers and battalion com-
manders and briefly addressed them, after which the
division formed up on Romping-down and marched
past. Here the volunteer battalions certainly com-
pared very favourably with their comrades of the
regular service, the 11th Middlesex R.V. carrying the
palm and attracting the most attention after the
Black Watch. The troops returned to quarters at
3.30, with the exception of the Berkshire Volunteers,
which returned by rail to Reading.
The march past was witnessed by the Empress
Eugenie, Sir Daniel Lysons, and Lord Napier of
Magdala.