The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-03 00:00:00

HAGLEY.
VOLUNTEER INSPECTION AT HAGLEY.

The annuai inspection of the let Battalion of Worces-
tershire Rifle Volunteers took place on Monday last, at
Bagley. Under the new regulations the compotes must
have on the ground at least two-thirds of their total
strength; and on Monday this requirement was fully
complied with. The battalion mustered 665 of all ranks,
and 20 band. The Staff officers present were—Colonel
Knight, the Adjutant, Captain Wolrige, and Lieutenant
Jobson, Acting Quarter-master; and of the company
officers, we believe none were absent except from atm-
lately unavoidable cause. The inspecting officer was
Colonel Trevor, commanding the find battalion of the
14th Regiment, who was accompanied by Lieutenant
Symon as aide-de-camp. The volunteers fell in the park
in the morning, about eleven cm., when Col. Knight
made a minute inspection of the arms, accoutrements,
and clothing of each corps. Afterwards the companies
were equalised, and went through a short preparatory
drill. They were dismissed at half.past twelve, and after
luncheon, reassembled at a quarter to two. The inspect-
ing officer on arriving was received with a general salute.
and went through the ranks, and afterwards the battalion
formed quarter column on the right, and took ground to
the right in fours. The battalion then wheeled to the
left, and marched past in column. The men stepped oat
in excellent style, and showed in this, as in other points,
they had been paying commendable attention to drill this
season. At the third wheeling point the battalion was
countermarched, and came back in quarter column. They
then wheeled to the right twice, and reformed line to the
right on the rear company. This, though somewhat a
difficult thing to do, was done in a very creditable mu,
ner. The regiment was now put through the manual and
fire exercises by the Adjutant, Captain Wolrige, and on
Colonel Knight resuming the command, the line changed
front to the left by oblique echelon. Column was then
formed to the left, and square formed. After reforming
column from square, the regiment deployed, six comps.
flies to the right, the remainder to the left. It then re-
tired in column from the right in rear of the left; then
was closed to the rear at quarter distance, halted, fronted,
and deployed to the right. There was now an advance
on echelnt —from the left, and company squares were
formed. Echelon was reformed, the direction being
changed t, the ri,qht, and line was reformed on the rear
company. Captain Dixon, the senior captain, was at this
point called out to drill the regiment. He deployed to
the right, then advanced in echelon of companies, formed
company squares, and re med line on the leading com-
pany of the echelon. The line was formed into quarter
column, and countermarched, three companies being sent
to skirmish, and three supporting. The skirmishers were
relieved by the supports, and a change of front was
made to the right. The assembly then sounded, and the
skirmishers and supports formed on the reserve.
The Inspecting Officer is not now allowed to make any
speech on such occasions, bat he notified to Colonel
Knight that he was very pleased with the way in which
the battalion had acquitted itself, and that he should re-
port favourably upon it. Unfortunately the weather was
wet for the inapection, this being the usual fate of the
volunteers when they go to Higley.

Notices of Birth., Marriage. and Deaths, wh properly
authenticated, will be inseried in the "Obser:ern ," tree of
charge.