The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 6, 1864

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The picturesque little village of Bexhill, near Hastings,
has been kept quite alive for about ten days past, by the
visit of a field battery of the Hon. Artillery Company,
under the command of Lieut. Masse. The order of their
proceeding each day has been as follows :—At 7 a.m. they
mustered for carbine practice, which was continued till
9,30. They then returned to the hotel to breakfast, and at
11 o'clock again assembled for field movements with blank
cartridge from the four 6 pounder guns. At 3 p.m, ball
practice at the targets took place, at the close of which the
battery returned to head-quarters to mass. The first priza
for carbine practice was a beautiful gold mounted carbine,
the gift of Mr It, Dawes, late lieutenant in the battery; the
second prize was a handsome silver goblet, presented by
Lieuts. Mease and Nelson. The prizes for gun practice
consisted of a massive silver goblet and tankard, also the
gifts of Lieuts. Meese and Nelson. Each man fired five
rounds with the carbine and 10 with the field guns. The
successful competitors for the carbine prizes were Gunner
Burroughes, who made 36 points, and Gunner Meggs, who
made 31 points. The highest number of points that could
be made, had a bull's eye been obtained at every round,
was 40, Trumpet-Major Carew carried off the first prize
for gun practice, and Gunner Powell the second prize.
There were several other prizes of lesser value, but owing
to the numerous ties they were not awarded.

The St Margaret's company of the Queen's (Westminster)
held their annual prize meeting for the present year on
Thursday, Sept. 1, at the butts of the corps, Wormwood
Scrubbs, when prizes of the value of about £6 i were com-
peted for. The officers' prizes were carried off by Private
G. Hayes and T. Nye and Corporal White, and the prizes
given by the local committee by Corporal Sarsons and Pri-
vate W. Sugg. A Memorial Challenge Cup, value £1 ,
presented by the representatives of the late Corpl W. Sugg
(which is to become the absolute property of any mem-
ber winning the same a second time), was won by Corporal
Sarsons, the winner of last year, Private C, Porter, being
too unwell to compete on this occasion. There were also
other prizes competed for, the winners being Sergeant
Whitmore, Ensign Carter, and Corporal Nye for the ladies'
prizes, Private Honey for the inhabitants' prize, and Ser-
geant Austin for the company's subscription prize.
On Saturday the Admiralty and Post-office companies of
the Civil Service Volunteer corps attended at Harrow for
battalion and brigade drill with the local corps, with a
view of holding a field day on a small scale. It was stated
that Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Bury would have been pre-
sent but for a severe accident which he had sustained at
crick et ing,
On Saturday afternoon the 7th company of the Finsbury
Rifles competed for the company prizes at Rainham, in
Essex, where the range of the corps is situated. The ranges
were 200, 500, and 600 yards, five shots at each. Sergeant
Aich won, with a score of 43, the first prize—a small bore
rifle and a stock of ammunition, given by Captain Ponti-
fex.

The annual prize meeting of the 7th Surrey Rifles regi-
ment was held on Friday and Saturday at the ranges on
Wimbledon-common. The first prize competed fur was
Mr Shepherd's Challenge Cup, value £2l, by those who
had attended 15 parades in the 12 months preceding, The
ranges were 200 and 600 yards, five rounds at each dis-
tance. Colour-Sergeant Hyatt was the winner with 26.
marks. The next prizes shot for were presented by Mr W
Tain, being—first, a silver cup, value 10 guineas, won by
Colour-Sergeant Hyett; the second, a silver cup, value 5
guineas, by Private J. Collins. The ranges were 300 and
600 yards, seven rounds at each distance. They were
open to competition by members who had attended 12
parades in the last 12 months. Major Beresford's silver
challenge cup, value £ll Ils, was then competed for by first
and second class men in five rounds at 500 yards. Captain
Porter became the winner with 17 marks. The first of the
prizes presented by Mr F. Poulton, M.P., being £7,
was wou by Private Westeott ; and the second £6, by Cor-
poral Andrews. They were open to all members, and wero
shot for at the 200 and 500 yards ranges ; five rounds each.
Private Sanger won Mr J. Johnston's £5 5s prize. Mr
Bardelle's prizes—the first a silver medal, value £5 ss, open
to all, was shot for in five rounds at 250 yards, and won by
Private A. Bristow with 15 marks. An electro-silver tea
service, given by Mr Yell, value £7 7s, was shot for at the
300 and 600 yards range, five shots at each, and won by
Corporal Fisk. The ninth prize competed for was an
electro silver tea service, value £5 Os, given by Mr W.
Waine. The range was 200 yards, five rounds. Colour-
Sergeant Hyett proved the victor with a score of 15 marks.
The ladies' prize, a silver cup, was won by Private Elsnore
in five rounds, at 400 yards, with 16 marks.
On Tuesday last the 12th Tower Hamlets (Stoke Newing.
tun), the Bth Tower Hamlets (London Docks), and the 33d
Middlesex (Tottenham) held afield-day at Stoke Newing-
ton, under Major Heales.
The annual prize shooting of the St. Martin's division of
the 22d Middlesex, Queen's (Westminster) Rifle Volunteers
which consists of the 13th and 14th companies of the corps,
took place on Tuesday last at the rifle ranges on Wormwood
Scrubbs. In the first series, 200. 500, and 600 yards, five
shots at each range, the first prize, value £7 7s, from
divi-
sional funds, was won by Private Godfrey, 14th company;
and the second pri7a, value £5 ss, from subscriptions for
prizes, by Sergeant Pettifer, 14th company. In the second
series, 300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each range, the
first prize, value £7 7s, from divisional funds, was won by
Sergeant Hunt, 13th company ; and the second prize, value
£5 ss, presented by officers, by Sergeant Tookey, 14th com-
pany. In the third series, 200, 300, 400, 500, 550, and 600
yards, three shots at each range, the first prize, value £7 is,
presented by officers of division, was won by Corporal
Leete, 13 h company ; and the second prize, value £5 ss,
from subscriptions fer prizes, by Private Watson, 14th
company.

The disbandment of the 18th Hants (Basingstoke) Rifle
Volunteer Corps for not obeying the command of the officer
at Guildford last Easter Monday has been confirmed by the
Earl do Grey and Ripon, after a full consideration of the evi-
dence adduced at the late court of inquiry held at NVinches-
ter. The decision has been forwarded to the Marquis of
Winchester, the lord lieutenant of the county.
The third annual prize meeting of the Vale of Aylesbury
or 4th Bucks Rifle Volunteers, was held last week. The
Ladies' Challenge Cup, value 20 guineas, held by Captain
Selfe, was won by private llobday, a good steady shot, who
made 41 points. The silver cup, value 8 guineas, given by
the Hon. F. Irby, open to all members who had passed into
the second class, was awarded to private Craster, who made
31 points. The Ven. Archdeacon Bickerateth's cup, value 5
guineas, was won by private Osborne, who defeated 14
others by making 29 points. A cup, value £6 65., given by
the officers of the corps, as first prize, was won by Sergeant
Lehmann, 35 points. The Winslow Challenge Cup, the
property of the corps, value 6 guineas, open to all members
who had passed into the second class, was won by Captain
Selfe, who scored 32. there being 15 competitors. The Wy-
combe Challenge Cup, also the property of the corps, value
£6 Gs., was awarded to private R. Neale, 37 points. A sup-
plemental prize of £5 55., offered by Mr R. Rose, open to
all members in the second and third classes, was awarded
private Smith, 32 points.
At the prize meeting of the Great Yarmouth battalion
private Barrett was the successful competitor for the plate,
making 44 marks. There was one bonus consisting of two-
thirds of the entrance fees, with £1 added, for the best
aggregate score at 500 and 600 yards, and one-third of
the entrance fees, with added, to the best score at
200 yards. The first was taken by Bugle-Major J (in-
ner, and the second by private Barnby. The last com-
petition was for the Ladies' Challenge Cup, and 19 mem-
bers of the corps took part in it, the ranges being 650
700, 800, and 900 yards. Only 12 competitors completed
the five rounds at each range. The highest score was made
by Private Barrett, who was consequently declared the
champion shot for the year. Private Barrett also became
I entitled to a silver medal.
At the annual prize competidon of the Colchester corps
two cups were presented by Captain Bavetree, for men who
had utter won a prize. The ranges were 200 and 400 yards,
five shots each, and the winners were A Company, Private
C, Quilter ; P Company, Private NV. Cobbold. At the close
of the shooting the prizes were distributed by Mrs Papillon,
wife of Mr P. 0. Papillon, MX.
'the Ist Essex battery of Artillery made some excellent
Practice on Thursday at the Jelarwich Redoubt. Colonel
Knox, R.A. was present and complimented the battery on
its efficiency. A match has taken place between the Stour
Valley and Tendring Hundred
corps—the latter won.
The Bolder Rifle Association held its annual meeting on
Tuesday and Wednesday. The bronze medal for Rex.
burghshire was gained by Lieutenant Scott Elliot in a score
of 36, and Mr Thomas Hogg carried off the Selkirk medal
with 34, A purse of £25 was corePetod for by " the best at-
tenders at drill," selected in certain proportions out of each
company of the Border battalion, and the first prize £lO,
was gained by Sergeant George Deans. The Ladies' Prize
was taken by Corporal Forrest in a score of 29, five rounds at
each distance of 200 and 500 yards ; and the Patron's (Duke
of Buccleuch's) Prizo was carried off by Corporal Grieve in
a score of 21 (seven rounds at 300 yards, but his place was
disputed by protest on the ground of his using a sight pro-
tector. Company prizes were given for squad and volley
firing, and the first was gained by the let Roxburgh in a
score of 312. the 2d Selkirk making 264. At the long
range competitions Private lialsall (Wigan) stood three
times in the first place, and in the concluding ono gained,
after shooting off a tie at 41 with Major Boethby, Fife
Volunteers.
An All-comers Match took place at St Colamb, Cornwall,
on Monday, and was not concluded before dusk. Thu silo:A-
ing was at 200, 500, and GOO yards, five rounds at each dis-
tance. The first prize of £3O was won by Captain Tucker,
oth Devon, with a score of 45 ; the second of £2O, by En-
sign Edmonds, 17th Devon; and the third of £l5, by
Ganne. Fittock, 12th Devon Artillery. The total amount
given in prizes was £l3O.
Prizes for all-comers were competed for on Tuesday at the
range of the 22d Devon Rifle Corps. Distances-300, 500,
and 600 yards—five shots at each distance. There were 71
entries. The first prize of 120 was won by Private Black-
more, 2d Devon, with a score of 43; the second of £lO by
Lieut. Marriner, West Middlesex, with 39; and the third
of £5 by Private Symons, 3d Devon, with :;8.
The annual prize meeting of the lot Berks (Reading)
Rifle Volunteers has just been brought to a close. The com-
petition was for a number of handsome and valuable prizes,
the donors being Sir F. Goldsmid, M.P., Mr G. Shaw Le-
fevre, 1‘1,F,, the ,Mayor of Rending (Mr L, Cooper), the