The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1873-07-29 00:00:00

DORSET RIFLE VOLUNTEER 1873
EMAIIPIIIINT.

Clear sunlight, with the bla st of &kir, flecked with
lobe fiery clouds, uttered in the day for the gathering
of the various Corp. at Wareham, preparatory to
intrados on Swung', or at any rate snakier •
diversion in the ire of the inhabitants of that
quaint old i 3.12, Wily I ling on the hill aide and
using at the bay in which the Da.ileh ships were
treacherously engulpbed nearly a dimly:id •,ar age;
sad we trust, for the sake of our gellaat rfl.n,u that
his the beginning of a week of ithe weather, .440614
as • peak of turbine with little or no rain is jut what
will best meatus the fad ripening gni°, aid
savis it may be, the farther progress of the disease
among the potatoes which is go regular a visitant. For
altboagh the Dorset Volunteers are by no means
" featherbed soldiers," they are Individually and
eolleedrely more familiar with " feather-beds" than the
assuliationa incident to the wooing of Morpheus with •
bale of straw for a bed, • pair of bob-nailed boots for •
pillow, all under • saashadeto( rather • lune pattern).
I Though they are not unexperieneed in these latter
' delights, for this is the 10th year in which the riflemen
of Dorset have had • week uoder erne. So long ago
m 1861 the advantages of a few days' regular training
were recognised by the gallant eolosel of the battalion,
and the gantry and others of the county had the
patriotism to provide the feeds tholdestal to the
fermatioe of • rump ; for the Government says your
battalion moat have so many drills to negro even •
small grant, and you may attain that end in jut year
own way, but at your own expense. Of eourise the
volunteers themselves are unpaid, and they give up •
week for the good of their oeuntry. This is a point
that should not be forgotten ; and, in these days of
keen erapetitien and high priers, gespending a week
in this way is the grain of patriotiva in prestige which
Ii worth a bushel of dueness to wintry in theory.
le 1864, ea the 2541 July, the battalion assembled
nearly 100 strong in amp at Ltd worth core, beginning
with a wet day, and being distinguished by an equally
" wet" evening, followed by a night that was more
gives to •' larking" than sleep. But thus were early
dam, sod volunteering was then seemly the inure
business it has now become. Sall, the camp did gorse
geed, sad wes • tolerable pie ale into the bargain. The
rap woe raised on Friday. In the following you,
beginning on the same day, and at the same plane, the
emend camp was held. The "fun' of this gathering
wag more premeditated, and the glaring around the
ounp Ire, sad above all the glories of Private Same for
the repreeentetlon of the ancient and Independent
electors of Lalworth Cove, will long be remembered.
About the arse number attended is la 1864; Colossi
Elesmeiospeoted the battalion on Friday, and the return
home was made on the following day. July 23, 1866,
saws similar gathering of the Demist battalion again at
"the oove," although It bad now been found that
It wee impossible here to get a suitable drilling
ground. The evenings were passed plesaantly, end the
work err not too prolonged or over laborious. The
*button fan was resumed, sad Private Sane, M.P.,
addressed his oonstittienta, explaining why be had not
!stalled his pledges as a nandidate—to make • tunnel
from Weymouth to Lalworth, that the friends of the
volunteen with • weakness fir Isalade d, ma. might
arrive by rail—to ecoatrust • vinery all over the camp
—to pave the darts with pancakes sad roof the houses
with apple-demotic'', be, an; and be iadiested the
humour of the tame by seriously pointing out that so
highly did Kr. Madmen* appreciate the borough of
Lulworth Cove, that in the Weems of redistribution it
had not been deprived of one of the least of its
privileges I This was the main diversion of the week,
and volunteers &aneroid on Saturday. In 1867 Milton
Abbey wag the site 6/ the Nur, with Its long dank
umiak a tank instead of their, and no lobitatre I About
800 assembled here, July NI and at the thapeotion on
Thursday the total was WO. On that day too. • hand.
some testimonial, oonaisting of • salver and pair of
rust eau was given to Oolonel Maori, July 27,
1869, was the opening day of the camp of that year, end
the site wu in all respects sati•fectory at Seenage.
The Rector of the parish read an addrege of weloosne.
Beginning on Monday with 439, there were errand at
the Inspretioa on Thursday 687. Friday wee the last
day in camp. In 1880 Barton Bradetoth was visited,
end the dureations and reception going thrush
Bridport, July 26, will not soon be forgotten. It wee
as excellent camp. and about 600 attended. On Friday
It broke up, and the Dorchester corps snarobed all the
way home. In 1870, Arlah Mill, But Laiworth, wee
the spot selected foe the camp, and the canvas settle-
ment arose on the Ist August, whin 490 begsa the
week there. At the review on Thursday 047 were
present. Next day the imp was raised. Next year
the volunteers had a new uperlisma, the lying
solemn at the salaam mancensree in Hampshire. On
Saturday, September 9, the battalion seat Into eamp
at Woolmer, numbering 638 The sand, the furze, the
rabbit boles, and the falai* of the commissariat are
now remembered with • touch of drollery, while the
glories of Weaver's Down, Trentham, Thanday, and the
Hog's Bask remind us if the prowess of the Dorset
volunteers. That was • fortnight,s spell of bard
work, but the novelty of the expedience, the
far of working with soldiery, and not fading, and
the credit won blasted out • lot el napleagerable
experleoug. In 1872, on August 31, another fortnight
at the autumn mecasurres waa oommeneed, when 627
west Into amp out I:Sandford rundown. This year Cho
gosuatry traversed was meth plaseantor, but there warn
a geed deal more to go over, arid mention of Footmen.
Nelbary Down, Tegoat, Orford, Wirford, Lamb
Down, White:burr Stoke, Wylie, and Beare Hill,
will rush some happy 1911102041111, bob, berries the
glorious day at &soon Hill, the eanipsign is Mktg
mosimisted with Wog muirolise, olkehlag tests la &dram
ggd ruby kiMlog lie WO*, woody moOmm pad p.

shoes,! Yet the experiment was worth somothirg,
sad gut a! say rate sow be remoraberet with a
birder features softoned down by t to of time, sad
its brighter toontenta tinged with the ramonoo of fancy.
This tear again the Government Invited the Dorset
battalion to partigipit. ia the autumn en tom tyre. at
Dartmoor. th home of the! as I rain, bat al the
question b •ing submittod to tho battalion by D.'onel
alaosal, Dartmoor or S +imam, 1b.,. were two to one
corps in favour of our owneonnty crop; and no doubt
they were right
-

aite f,;l,h. presont ample ho •aruo as
In 18813. the tea. berog located in a field kith's °coupe.
tioa of Mr. Kent, at the north...n.4 of the town, near
the sea, and wtth a pretty peep of woodland and heath
in the rear. There la a good drill ground adjothing,
and all the oiroumstancas mein to augur a suooemien
week. Makihg use of the experience gaited on the
lying columns, the cooking for the battalion will be
done by the corps themaelres, the T4r1021 sterol being
Issued as these last two years by Battelioa•Q tartar.
Sergeant Newman; sad there is every likelihood of
this arraegement turning out we I. The following oom-
minas are appointed :—Offeterie Mess:
Steward (prandia). Major Matthews, Captain Coombs,
Major Mr idolyneux Nepean, Bart., Lieut, Hodges.
Osurp fire and other evening arnumments : Captain
Ferrer (president), Hose. Quartermutor W. A. Hookas,
Lieut. Lister-Kay. Athletic sp orta : Captclo Fat reamer
(proddeot), Captain Fete lisnettAitanford, clsptoin
Good, Lieut, Bennett, Carlota Johne, Lieut. Tanner,
Lieut. Lsoey.
The Inhabitants of Wareham contemplated a hand-
some rceeption of the battalion, and souls ten days
before the camp day, a mating was held, convened by
the Mlyor (Mr. Fatal), who Is also Lieutenant of the
! lad Dorset Voluoteers when, with that inthusisom
that distinguishes the old town in such matters, they
determined on giviog the Volunteers • right hearty
welcome. The town was to be decorated with as mash
profusion and brightness as miles of coloured flags
would afford, and some slight creature comforts were
to be provided, just for rood lock "and kindliness
Twenty pounds were soon subscribed, and double that
amount would as readily have been &Ivey, when the
whale thing was vetoed by Colonel Maned, he having
made arrangements for the rain *anent of the oorpt at
Code Castle. flair wMI • great otaapottititm tht t' tha
good people of Wareb.ut, se lag that at other torte,
where the battalion bad mustareil for camp, and uototal
at &Wood, • similar rectspi-ion as was h•ro cont..m.
plata, was carried out to the delight of sr ryboaly.
The sutmoriptions oolleoted were returucd, and die
appolutooot reigned supremo. It may be that the
lutooded demonstration was altogether irr.g•'sr, and
that earlier commualeation with Uolonel Mensal would
have avoided the unpleasant Moult ; but, the battalion
will feel that &lacy rate the iutentiomof the inhab:tante
were the most Healy sad well-meat, and honour tam
geoordiagly. In the 'burin of the moment they resolved
not to offer any demonstration; but they oould not
leave it altogether idea ; and when Monday morning
some the hoisting of lags and drain lug ilea of
strewn'', aoron the stresto went on hrLkly. littering
the town from the railway station, • string of fl ags mai
SZWllded over the roadway from the old church of a.
Martin's disused est dal for the last 700 or 800 years
etre for rialtos. The blue vadat, Union Jacks, and
others formed this display. Further up the tows, the
redden** of Mr. Freeland Falter, which forms so
ornamented a feature In the town, wee decorated with
handsome lags from every widow, From Mr. Pike's
there wee nicest flags meow' the street, shier among
them being a large red ensign. From Mr. Priinevesi's
to Kr. reeidsooe tare as another Una, the
&kg leg being one inscribed to very large letters
laeoldcr," • very good motto for volunteers as well
as other people. la freak of the led Lion hotel were
(Replayed the p-iatty silken banoerete of the Wareham
corm, and he atom. At the Towrhall were intermitt-
ing lines of logo, wash made a gay display with the
lathering, of their various colours. Mx. itaudaD,eamiat,
pet out &novel lag. The passion of Mr. Drew's drapery
establashmeut WY adorned with a triplet of fleet The
"Black Bar" was ezoruciotingly merry. He had a
grand ribbon of pink, white, and bin., with • large
bow, and, In plaits of the" ragged staff" an antiquated
musket Os his head a shake, with • feather in it I
and Is his mouth a short pipe I The porch wee
entered with lowers and greenery; nod had In the
treat the good old-familia:A motto "Welcome volun-
teers," looked on either aide by a pair of red, white,
and blue lags. There was also a Ilan of streamers
arose the street; ant thus was made an amusing end
to the decoration' a the town:

&tweet 10 and 11 o'clock the Inhabitants begets to
oongregate in the street+ throughout erbiela the sterns
would p.m, and at the time of the maroking through
tha footpatne were crowded with epootators.
The oorpa In the northers Olin of the county ware the
Brat to leave home, this Lb being timed to leave
Besuley as early as 8.12 • in., tha llt`a a; 8 30, Sher.
barrio • quieter of au hoar later, and Bridport etarting
from he westwerd at ohm Dorchestor cops did not
leave tee ooasty town tail • quarter to 11. They
merohei out with the band, strider Mr. Wellspring.
whieta is selected for duty at camp, and proceed ed to
Warybam with the Bra'part sad Weymouth corps by
opetial tralo.
The following is the strength of the battalion as far MI
we oould aseertain at Wereham
. _

Btur.—Clol. Howl. CoL thevrard, Capt. .ad Adjutant
Barrett, 5t.-Moor Watta.
Lot Gnus. (13aw0n) —Capt. Goad, L ut. E wens, Lout.
Whethank Cot-Barr- I Act; Sergeant Patten, Sergeant
Terry, Buyeant lime, and 45 rank and Si.
Sod ousts (Waisansii) —Capt. Farrar, Lieut. Pacton. Lieut.
L.ajy, serguate Churchill, Beer, Sadden, and Sent, \Lid shoot
40 rank and Ale.
3,0 oorpo (Doussurza) —Capt: Comb., Leak 11o‘l,
Lent. Williams, Hos.-thapiain Ra.IL Irent4,Bergta. Burden,
Busy, Cue, and 40 rank sod Ala.
4th ',ups (Poota) —Look Stone, 0.4-Bgt. Farmer, and 34
rack and Ale.
6th corps (Wunas, rel.—Lieutenant Arlen, Lieutenant
Muni, Colour-Serums Char)es, Bergewat Jeffery, and U rank
and It..