The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-04-27 00:00:00

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I

WORCESTERSHIRE RIFLE
VOLUNTEERS AND ARTILLERY.

The Ist Battalion of Worcestershire }fle Vo:unteers
abd the Worcester and Balsall Heath Volunteer
Artillery men bad a field-day on Mond:3y, at Hart'chum
The eleven companies oftrifie volunteers comprised 19
ffleers, 58 non-commissioned officers. and 562 min ;
aid the artillery volunteers con-isted of about 200
oeffiers and men. '1 he staff officers of the rifle
battation present ws.re Colonel linixht, M.P., Major
Walker, Major Talbot, Surgeon Cowen, and Captain
Woiridge (iejetant). M -jet. Stallard was in command
of the artillery. '1 he adjutant of the Alimmouth brigade
of artille.sy, with which the Wtoce:ter artalery are
associated, was also present. rile first part of the pro-
ceedings took the feint of a chain li,tht at Bat tlebury
Common, and the co-operation of the artillery added
some novelty to tee progratutee usu illy shaped out on
the field-days of the rifle battalion. the artillery guns
were posted at a spot in rear of the fligstaff on the
Oommou, and the main fore' of the aetillerymen and
two rifle compaiiies were thrown forward to toe crest ef
the ridge looking toaards Bartlebury station, the rifle-
men being in advance of the artil,ery. The other corn-
pauiea of rifles formed the attacking party, and began
their movements from the low-lying ground near the ,
Bishop's Pool. As these pushed on. the advanced I
artillerymen and rifler:en fed back, but the fire trout
the combined fo ce made it necessity for the attacking
party to be strongly reinferced. Swe-. plug on with we
" go " which this gave them, they drove tire artillerymen
f-om the crest ridge, and the latte,r at last felt back on
the guns themselves. 'The rifles now found, or were
supposed to find, the position too strong to carry, on
aeceuut of the fire of the guns, and they retreated to
the crest of the iridge before mei:tamed They thee
w a company roind th-ir left, threatening the riglit
s.f the deferid.,r -,
is ii at the battle tithe a stroeget fl-otk-
ing movement WAS matie on their owe right. ihis
forced tee a:ttliery to ch rege their front. vi :h by
dol by throwing their left back, awl they were now
parititit to the lver Sevt to with the riff-s g. qaping
them on both flas.lts, and atuo.kiug in fro,3t as well
there was 8 .tne ssri,o firiee, tied then ,ho sham fight
closed. After an inteival, tue I fle and ardil-ry
marcileu t a field on the u titks of toe seve.-n, and we e
dratted in brigsde. Having f rined brigade in tires .1
quarter columns the salute wus g Ven, and the men
marcned putt in comuni, and lice of columns Th-
brigade: then entinged hunt. deployed in line"-, advanced
iii echel u, wiieeed U co:nth:totes to the left, ansi
formed. equates Haviae ref ,rued in ha f commas, and
closed to quarter coeuuns, tee brigaste wheeled to the
left and hepilyed, arld le formed from the left ef bat-
talions in rear of the iiish . iii y next formed line
on front cotnpssnies of battalions, and advanced let('
ee;ielou of hitt:al.:ions in line. lbs artillery prepared
for cavalry in line, and the rifle battalion at the same
time feigned squares on their centre companies, The
movements coati:ad:et oy the brigade reforming line and
as uttng. 'the &flat att. ceminietes then masched off to
their at fresc, tamers, and Laving refreshed, son after-
wards preceded to Stourport, whete a special train
was provitiesi for their return. "be race acquitted them-
selves very well in the several movements, and fur the
first bncigade nay of the present season the evolutions
were executed in a most satisfactory ma:leer.
fineness of of the rely crew a :latge number of
spectators to the ground where the matice ;stress took
place.