The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-08-21 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS AT ALDERSHOT.

THE DORSET MEN IN TRAINING.

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(//80111 0011 CORIIIIIPAIIMIT WITH VIZ ILIGISSIIT
The Dorset Regiment of Volunteers assembled at
their different stations on Saturday to uridergo their
annual training under canvas, the place selected being
Aldershot. A special train left id rchester, the head.
graders, ab mit half.past 11, the Weymouth and Brid.
port corps joining the Dorchester Company. A few
men were liken op at Wareham, and the traits pro-
bes led on to Wimborne, where the greater part of the
battslion were picked up. The Shaftesbury and
Gilliostbam c irpe probers led by way of Salisbury. On
, arrival at Al&eshot T 'ten Stasi in, the battalion,
about 590 strong, were formed up in the station.yard,
I where the bend of the 89th Dorsetehire Regiment had
been waiting with their drum and fife band to play Cie
regiment to Roshrnorr Bottom, the spot on which they
encamped in 1881, this being close to the buts of the
39th Regiment. It bad been previously arranged for
the regiment to encamp on COTO Common, but on
epresent *lion this was altered. The tents were pitched,
soils• guard mounted by the nth Regiment,who turned
out in ssrong numbers to welcome their brethren in
anna Before the men were finally dismissed to their
tents, the Colonel gave the recruits, who have not
been t i camp before, s law words of warning and
Instruction, hoping they would keep quiet in camp
after lights were out, and punctual at all parades.
After having a hearty meal, which had been got ready,
blankets and other necessaries were served out by the
quartermaster and his stiff. The whole of the
sergeant's of the battalion were kindly invited and
entertained by the sergeants of Ch., 39th it their mess.
They had provided a splen lid spread, and great praise
Is due to the sergeants for their endeavours to make
them comfortable, and their kindness, will not be
forgotten for some time to come.
ScsinAr.

The rouse wee sounded at five cio'ock, but the camp
was min. anise time b.fore this. Divine !service was
a.tended at the Iron Church at 11 o'clock, the 311th
end the !Shropshire Regiment being also present.
Nothing further was done during the day in the way
of duty. Tim csznp wee pretty well deserted in t`m
afternoon, the men mostly •isitiog friends in the
North Camp and Aldershot.
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Mom)Ay.

The Adjutant's drill at seven o'clock opened Mon-
day's work. After a .harp drill the men had break-
fast, and at half-pelt nine the Colonel's parade wag
attended. Marching pant in double companies to the
strains of the band, and other field movements were
gone through, and altogether a good morning's work
wee done The regi nent fell in again at half-pest two
for drill under the Adjutant The band marched them
to the Psrsde Ground id the 39th Regiment close by,
and battalion movements were executed, Maim
William. being th only other .nounted offioer present.
In the evening the Rattail in Bond, under Mr. J.
Stevens' direction, played a cspital selection of music
outside the officers' mess tent.

TUESDAY.
The drill before breakfast this morning was a stiff
one, the Adjutant taking the men ewe distant) out
of camp for skirmishing drill, an I the running about
sharpens] up their appetites for breakfast. The drill
after breakfaat on the ground adj tieing the camp was
witnesaed by Sir Archibald Alison, K.C. 8., command-
ing the troops at Aldershot. This gallant general, who ,
has but one arm. was in command at Alexandria
before and after the arrival of L sod Woleeley, and
was also in command of the Highland Briga le at the
capture of Tel.el•Kettlr. which brigade was the first in
the trenches at the capture of that place. At the close
of the drill he expretwei himself vary pleased with the
steadiness of the movementa, as they had only bed one
day's drill together, lie remarked they were a very strong
fine bolt of men. The afternoon wee again occupied
with drill tinder the Adjutant on the private Parade
Ground. There was a tremendous wind blowing dur-
ing the day, and rain was predicted. The weather,
with the exception of the rouat wind to-day ha. been
bealtiful, awl officers awl men seem In the beet of
health an I spirits. The Colonel and the officers have
been indefatigable in their exertions to make the men
eoinf actable.
Toe officers of the :1902 Dorsetshire Reriment have
made the officers of the Dorset Rifiss bon. members of
their mess, and altogether the 39th have shown the
greatest kindness to the volunteer regiment.
WZDIESDA.T.

No drill was done before breakfast to-day, se there
was to be a brigade drill at half-pest nine, under the
general commanding the Let Division. The I.t an
2nd Provisional Battall.ms and the Dorset Regiment
of Volunteers assembled nest the Club House, and,
after being served out with 10 ruin& of hint* ammnei.
tion, marched out to near the Long Valley, and just
beyond Ellmoor Bridge. Here brigade drill was per-
formed, and afterwards the force was extended in
skirmishing order, and firing commenoed. After about
three boon' drill the men marched back t camp.
Colonel *sward, before dismieeing the men, said the
General had morainal himalf pleased with the drill
of the battalion, and that they had dome the best that
morning. The battalion paraded again at Wilmot
three in the afternoon, and underwent drill by the
Adjutant, the attack and other movements bang
practised. The am, has been very windy, with
ocispdonal storms, and still looks very threatening.
The total strength of the regiment on Wednesday
was as under :

1 1 1
til r
,
1

/Alt Wadreham :: :•..
D Pol.icj .0..:,e itsb ::
0 Mambo ina .. • •
( I ) Blandford ~ • •
I)) /tn( tarrn ry :. •••
u •
iI.) Gillingham .. .. _

1909-091ftri, IL Oland

0 1 6
1 4
5
4
I
6
a

iii st

Total

as 9.1
46 51
5i 61
55 69
65 •-1
46 6:
34 4,
60 61
26 31
IS X

The following are the (Moen present :--Colonel
Steward, Liamt.-C donei Matthews, Major Williams
Captain and Adjutant Le Marchant, Ciptain and
Hon..tiajor Johns Captain and Ilon.-Major Hodge+,
Captain Stone, Captain Calder, Captain Whetbam,
Captain Magts, Captain lind:e, Captain Robins,
Captain George, Lieutenants Watts, Andmws,
Hounaell. Matthews. Wheat Me. Plooka, Bberrard,
Bowen, OfOVIP, Dr. Lmg, and Quartermaster Crow.
THORSDAI.

Toe Volunteer Brigade assembled at the Club I
House at ten o'clock. and after being mused out with I
blank ammunition, marched to the L mg Valley. there
to attack • faros formed for the following "Purpose :
The brigade marching on Basingstoke finds its advance
barred by a forte tbst has taken up • position on or
about Long 11111. ?no enemy, composed mostly of
reznlers, had taken up a strong position on Long Hill,
with ,71anty of shelter in the woods adjoining.
The voltutt,' brigade Wife at ones extended in
skirmishing order, with the Dorset men io reserve.
advanced .croes the plain
As so as Os skirmisher; ••• -st from the hill
a tremendous fire was opened on ,
by the enemy, and ha.l it been bullets bate." waug
powder the ground must have been strewed wit.,
dead bodies of many a gallant volunteer. When the
action had well commenced, the D T•et mon were
sent away to the extreme right, with the object of
outflanking the enemy. Thia was done under cover
and in capital style, the ene:ny evidently not being
aware of the movement. Presently, after • mile or
two of gr kund had been tr,,t over, the battalion was
seen in the possession of • very high hill, and were
pouring • deadly tire Into the left of the enemy, while
the remainder of the force were pressing tbem on the
right After about two hour. fighting the bugle
sounded the CeIVIe fire, and the volunteers returned
to the ground they bat gone over in the Long:J.l2
for Pi march pad. The regiments having been
together, the march past began, General Walker beieg
In command. The marching past was capitally done,
and the force returned to camp, havin4 done an
interesting morning's work. The regiment paraded
again In the afternoon for • abort time, and were then
dismissed for the day.