The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-10-24 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER BATTALION DRILL AT
WIMBORNE.

The second meeting of snob of the Dorset Rifle
Volunteers as wore prevented from going to camp took
pisoe at Wimborne, on Wednesday lest, when upwards
of 200 were present, being, save the addition of the lit
(Bridport) company, who were "fairing" last week,
the semi men as attended on the previous Wednesday.
But this—we are anxious to say at once—was altogether
a different Wednesday from that unhappy 11th, against
which we shall henceforth have a black mark. Then,
ales! all was ; but, there, let the pest go to the
limbo of the forgotten. To-day everything was colgur
Sr rose. The band of the 3rd (Dorchester) brought out
their musical instruments as well as their rifles, and,
'tinging the letter to their becke, played away zealously
and in their wellknown martial and exoellent style,
cheering up everybody, and contributing to make the
whole proceedings "go" in the smartest way. The
weather was gal, and is the battalion marched into
Wimborne, headed by the hand, a crowd turned oat,
and their eager attendance on the line of march was •
happy contrast with the unwelcome weloome on
" another occasion," when the battalion had to
make the most or a greeting from " two men
and a boy." The gallant Colonel of the battalion was
"wreathed in smiles." and dispensed compliments all
the afternoon with such profusion that we began to
think that after all "the battle of Wimborne tilts"
would not be suck • bad story to inscribe on those
battalion colours, which, years agone, were presented to
the regiment and have sire boon—where? Bush,
"We never mention 'em." But Mr Mansel was
our old pleasant encouraging Colonel again, and we duly
appreciated the change. The Adjutant surveyed the
battalion, as he so well may, and beamed approval in
a "quiet sort of way ;" and the Major was not mode
ushappy by comparisons," which are odorous." between
the drill to-day and that in "another place." Fewer
officers were present,but thaws who attended—well,they
know with what efficiency they commanded their cam.
pintas. We observed Capt. Mara, Lieut. Arden,Lieut.
Tanner' and Ensign Ferree; Then the supernumeraries
showed that they have made encouraging progress
towards the apprehension of • sometime "dark" saying
—"Speech is allvern, but silence Is golden." The drill--
instructor of the lit company (Sergeant Watts) deserves
"honourable mention" for the gentlemanly and efficient
way in which he took the command of tho first of the
four companies—he's • credit to the battalion. The
rank and file for attention, alacrity, and steadiness,
were jest what ban always been expeatei of the
Dorset battalion. Greater praise cannot be bestowed.
It should be said that the Dorchester band, lifter play-
ing the regiment to the crieket field in firstolus style,
joined the ranks, and did equally well in that position.
The programme was divided into two parts, .the first
consisting of various formations and deployments, sod
the second of skirmishing, and for bath the battalion
won from Colocel Manuel hearty commendation.
There was an interval of twenty minutes in order
that the men might enquire into the contents of
their haversaeks ; but none left the drill-field.
At the close the Colonel addressing the battalion said
the drill to-day had afforded him the highest gratifi-
cation in every respect, and he was exceedingly pleased
with them. this he not known it, he could hardly
have believed that they were the same men who
were present et the Wednesday previous. Ile was
much obliged to them for the attention they had paid
to his commands, the entire drill bad been most sac-
earful, and he bad renewed confidence that the batta-
lion would maintain lie high reputation for efficiency.
It would be some time before they met agsin as a bat-
Wien, but be should no doubt see them in their res-
pective companies, and he vhould look for.
ward to them meetings with great pleasure.
Such unqualified appiobation was right pleasant, and
the battalion marched tz "the square" wearing this
feather—and colons of a certain oolour,or rather devoid
of colour, which who lately hinted at—in their caps !
Dismissal followed, and the Dorchester band cheerfully
save a solootion at mad° tor tho plume of tho labs*