The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-08-16 00:00:00

The Dorset Rifles at Aldershot.

[PROM OUR CAMP CORRRPONDRNTI

Names of the officers present :—Lient.-Colonel
Steward (commanding), Lieut.-Col. Matthews, Major
Williams, Adjutant Hermit, CaptainsJoh4s, fledges,
Lloyd-Jones, Cal.l,e, Bennett, Whetham, and Magga,
Lieuta. Rawlins, Budge, Rohins, Williams. li. Hennaed,
Andrews, B. Houssell, Harrison, Castlernan•Smith,
Smyth, Watts, Baena, George, and Quartermaster
Cross.
Staff Sergeants.—Sergeant-Major Watt', Quarter-
master - Sergeant Darden, Battalion Bandmaster
Stevens, St-Sergeant Osmond (or lerly•r •om clerk),
Heepital•Sargeant Sayter, Pioneer-Ser.eant J. it.
Taylor, and Cook-Sergeant Shepherd.
The brigade fight on Wednesday wise not a re.,
tiring affair. The Dorset battalion were in izaded with
the 2nd Regiment (Queen's), 87th, and 109th. The
whole assembled on the parade of the 87th, and
marched with bands playir g to the Qusen's parade
ground, about a mile diatant. General Spurgin was
In command. Half of each battalion was thrown out
in skirmishing or ler, the remainder being in reserve.
The object was to attack a portion of the North Camp.
After about a couple of hours' fighting and drilling the
order was given for the brigade to march home. 'rho
men were again put through a smart drill in the after-
noon.

The usual parades were done to-day, hut the most
important event was a shooting match between the
2nd Regiment (Queen's) and the Dorst Volunteers.
A challenge was received on Tuesday from the 2nd
Regiment to shoot a friendly ma'ch, and this was
speedily laid before the commanding officer of the
Dorset Volunteers, who at on e gave his consent to the
contest. The prelimina-iee were woo ariaiged, the
2nd kindly lending the Dorset team Martini-Henry
sill's and providing ammunition, and the distances
were to be 200 and 500 yards. The team to represent
Dorset was selected from the beet shots at the late
Wimbledon ineeticg. At 200 yards the volunteers
led the regulars by 24 point*, and increased their lead
by four points more at 500, and thus wining the match
by 29 pints. Toe greate4 credit and prni.e is doe to
th • Dorset men for their well earned vieory, as in
addition to the change from civilian life to the hard-
ship, of camp duties (which are calculated to shake the
nerves of a good shot) they had to contend with a
strange range, and to use rifles which they were not
accustomed to. The 2nd Regiment in considered one
of the best shooting regiments in the service. A very
strong wind was blowing across the right front during
4he shooting, sending clouds of sand into the feces of
the competitor', and MI very "puffy." The follow.
lag are the scores:—

VOyds. 500yds. Tot.
Private Riddell (Poole) 20 81 60
Sergt. Stevens (Weymouth) ... 31 28 59
Qualtermaster Cross(Dorchester)... 27 31 —5B
Btaff•Sergt. Osmond (Dorchester) ....3) 27 57
Corponil [Adder (Gillingham) .. 28 29 57
Capt H.dges (Dorchester) .. 20 24 53
Col.-Sergt. Roberts (Weymouth) .., 80 23 53
Capt. Lloyd Jones (Wimborne) ... 31 21 52
Sergt. Hacker (Shaftesbury) 24 27 51
Private Dennis (Sharborne) 32 17 49

THIJUDAT.

On Saturday the Dorset Battalion assembled at
their diff.rent station.' in the county to undergo their
annual training at camp, and Aldershot was this year
selected as the rendez ius. The Weymouth and uni 1-
port corps met the Darcheeter and pro •eeo I about
half-past one by the L. and S.W. Railway on to
Wareham, where • very small number of the Ware-
ham corps joined. Wimborne was the next halting
place, and here the mejori..y of the battalion was
picked up, Shaftesbury, Blandford, Gillingham,
Poole, and Wimborne carpi. The battalion did not,
as WAS anticipsted, halt at Farnborough, bit pro-
ceeded no to Woking, and from thence to Aldershot.
The regiment, having formed up outside the station
wee headed by their battalion bawl (30), under Band-
master J. Steven.' and the band of Her Majesty'. 87th
Regiment with their fifessand-drunas. The battalion
was Wave by them into Rnshmoor Bott om, where tents
bad been pitched by the 87th Regiment in the morn-
in'. The site of the camp is a very pretty one, and
the men seem delighted with it. Before the men were
told o'f t 'their noipective tents their excellent colonel
addreeseed a few sensible remarks t them, tel'ing
them he wished perfect regularity at all parades.
quietness in the tents after lights were sounded
out, and thorough discipline t ; be maintained
by all. He (the colonel) would forward to his utmost
all innocent amusements in camp, and trusted
they would maintafn the credit of the battalion and
the county to which they belongol. He also referred
to a few irregularities whiih happened at Windsor,
and cautioned the men against it. T'be men were then
told off to their tenta, diner was served, and the
baggage unloaded, alter which the blank-t I and water-
proof* were given out, and the men were soon glad to
' turn in" for the night, having had a miff evening's
work. Sergeant-Major Da nen, R.A. (s, Dorchester
man) very kindly and considerately had a cold colla-
tion served for the serg ants of the Dorchester Com-
pany, and we need not soy it was thoroughly enjoyed,
and much appreciated.
Suanae.
The "rouse" was sounded at five o'clock on Sunday
tw.rning, long before which time the majority of the
men were astir and getting their tents in order.
Church parade was attended in the open-air at half-
nut nine o'clock, a little distance from the Dorset
lines, and WAA attended by two other regiments of
volunteer• The remainder of the day was spent by
the men in visiting different' parts of the North and
South Camp, and looking up old friends and acquaint-
Banes.
MONDAY.
This morning was a very busy one, it being under-
stood the battalion would be Inspected by the General.
Morning parade was attended at half-peat six, which,
no doubt, gave the men a keen appetite for breakfast.
The order was given for full dress parade after break-
fast for the General's inspection. Staff parade
having been got through by the A ljut ant, the
men fell in. and the comnanies were equalised
for the march peat. The in. n were drawn up
in line, and the General shortly after arrived, and
was received with the general salute, the band playing.
They then marched past in open and oboe column, and
considering this was only the second drill they bad had
together, it was capitally done. The battalion were
then put through • number of movements by Colonel
Steward, evsry move of which was keenly watched by
the inspecting officer. After a stiff drill the General
made • few remarks, saying he was highly pleased
with the men', perfect steadiness, which was a great
feature in drill, and he would take them anywhere.
He was satisfied with everything he had seen. After
the inspection rain began to descend, and continued
without intermission until half-past nine, at which
time the splendid band of the battalion played tatt,».
Brigadier General Spleen was the inspecting officer
commanding the brigade to which the Dorset volun-
teers are attached, consisting of the 95th, 87th, and
Dorset Rifle Volunteers. He was accompanied by his
sun as aide-de-camp.
The weather last night was something tremendous,
the wind blowing a hurricane, au I the rain coming
down in t .rrents. Men were out during the night
driving in the tent pse,s, for plenty of them had been
lifted ont of the ground, and to this met be attri-
buted the few accidents we heard of, which were that
two or three tent. were cowiderably damaged and
broken. The weather cleared towards the morning.
and the rouse was sounded at five, and the band played
two or three tunes, which soon brought the men out of
their tents to prepare for the early morning drill, under
the adjutant, Captain Harman Toe men having had
their breakfast, the bugles aeon again wended the
dress for parade. The men fell in at half-past nine,
and marching past and other battalion movements
were ere itably eons through by command of the
Colonel, Lieut.-Colonel Matthews, Major Williams,
, and the adjutant also being on parade.
, The regular. had a brigade fiel I day Tuesday, and
two or three regiment., including the Hussars,
assembled on a piece of ground adjoining our drill
ground. The general and his numerous staff also came
on the ground. Crowd' of our men watched their
proceedings before starting.
The men again fell in for drill in the afternoon, but
were not dri'led on their usual ground, but were
marched away with bugles playing, tome distance to
the rear of the camp. On their return the band played
a programme of music on the parade ground for the
amusement of the men, and their Playing has given
much satisfaction to the officer.. They number 30,
and are under Battalion Bandmaster Stevens.
' The following promotions took place in the Dorchester
C =party to-day :—Corporal Barnes to be sergeant,
vice Guy resigned; LanmeCorporal Chick to be
corporal; and Privates L. Rubinson and A. Spicer to
; be lance-corporals.

ler Douse R.V.

Tu IMIDAT.

WIDNIBDAT:

The regiment did the usual adjutatiirs—P-a-nde—this
morning, the bind playing at five o'clock. The men
were early about this morning, as the D3rJet men had
been selected to form one of the regiments in the Duke
of C innaught's brigade for • field day. A very stiff
day is expected, as water bottles and ten rounds of
ammunition are served out to every man.

(Strength of each company oirW—eZl74-esday.)
• si 4
... • • ••i
A Company (Britlisort) 1 2 5 91 100
11 " (Wareham) 3—14 g
C " (Darch.eter) 1 1 3—52
II " (Po 0s) ... 3 2 —3O
IC " (Weymouth) 2 4 —in
le " (Wintborne) 1 1 3 34 —4O
G " (Sherboine) 1 1 4 47 —54
H " (lltandford) 1 2 4 —34— 42
I " (Shaftesbury) 1 1 2—45 50
IC " (Warminster) 2 —3l —s4
L " (Gillingham) 1 1 —SI a

SET COUNTY EXPRESS AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1881

bird. Should madder it a grass act of cruelty to keep bad "chucked" his things cat of the window, and she
the birds in thou boxes for even a few boors. The wanted to be rid of him. The assault in question
fowls had not been carved, and were in better OM- consisted of a shaking and threat's because she rde
dition thin he should have expected from their home with a man in • donkey cart. —The Bench bound
confinement.—Mns. Dazier said ten weeks ago Mrs. him over ia the sum of £lO to keep the pesos for six
Beer uked her daughter to allow her to keep there months.—lienry Mitchell, of Rushton, pleaded
fowls in her yard till she could get &place to keep them
guilty to having taken and killed • hare on Lord
in; they were then confined in the based which wese Allusion's estate, and was fined El and oust.; and
taken to the police station ,• but were let out on Sun- Thomas Brewer pleaded guilty to trying to take •
days, and about an hour when they were cleaned.—By fish from a stream at lidmoosham. over which Kr.
Dr' Drew: Had thought the boxes were too email Hector Mooro has the sole right of fi.hing, and was
and ha I called P.C. Carter to see them; he said they fined is., the costa being remitted. Iticba,cl
hal better be removed, or she would be summoned for James Davis, of Canford Bottom, who has served
cruelty. She told k4Ls Beer, who promised her from many years as a soldier, was brought up on
day to day to get a pl IC* fir them, and at last Miss remand charged with break;ng into and entering the
,
Beer said, "You had better let them fly." At last dwelling-house of Mrs. Lloyd Jones, in Howland',
they smelt so badly that she could not bear it any
Wimborne, on the 6th Augut last —Two domestic
1 ,uger. Mies Beer .11 not starve the birds, and kept , servants, named Miriam Vincent and Mary Ann
them as clean as sit, Cull—Defendant said she could . Hayter, who had been left in charge of the house,
not get a yard; but she would not sell them, she would i deposed t., going out about half-p tat seven in the even.
give them away.—The Bench considered it a very bad tug
and leaving the house sally locked up. When
case of cru-lty to the fowls, and fuel her 40a; or 14 I they got out into the re id they saw the prisoner near
days' imPrisuunteut•—Defendant refused to 11 the the house, and, seeing them look at him suspiciously,
fowl( 86 they woe company for her.—Dr. Drew he said 'You needn't take any notioe of me; it's a way
directed Mr. Ardea to treat the fowls as goods and we've got " They then went on lot' she town.—
chattels, and *ell them in mitigation of the fine.— Elisabeth White, a domestic servant, said that on the
Defendant would not consent to sell the fowls;
would rather give up her life, she evening in question she went to Mrs. Jones's house for
the purpose of seeing one of the servants. She found
the house locked up, and not being able to make any
" --,as just about coed"- ------ ' . she

s •
one hear, Phe was past about coining away when
site the prisoner coins down the menden 'Ups and
walk quickly out of the garden into the road. She
went to the police-station and gave information to the
police.—Supt. Batty dep to going back to the
house with last witness, where he observed the drawing.
',p.m window had been forced open, and found in the
evergreens in the garien iittiside the house the cluck
pro tuced, which was identified as prosacutrix's pro-
perty. Thu value of the clock was estimated at 54.
P.C. Cantle proved 'watching prisoner's house, but said
he found nothinit atf •cting the present ease, lie took
prisoner into cu•st kiy. —Dore was a further charge
against prisoner of sie 'ling from an unoccupied dwell-
ing-house at Little Lonuon an on b-ilar, three brass
weights, coil ten odd bottles, of the value of 8s.—
Evidence wag given to show that firs user was seen
coming from the house with the boiler on his hack, and
that he sold it fur 10.1. to a woman named Martha
Hart, and the weights to the landlady of the Barley
How for three pints of beer. The hones up to October
last was occupied by Mr. Lewis Gillett, to whom and
to Francis Guy the stolen property belouged.—Prisoner
was committed for trial on both chargee.