The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-19 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The fourth annual prize meeting of the 11th Middlesex
(St. George's) Rifles was held at 'Wormwood Scrubs on
Monday and Tuesday week, under the superintendence of
Lieut.-Col. the Hon. C. H. Lindsay. The first prize on the
list was the St. George's Challenge Cup and Gold Medal.
It was competed for by first and second class shots of any
year, in five rounds, at the 400, 500, 600, and 700 yards'
ranges. Corporal A. Crookes became the winner, with a
score of 54 marks. The next contest was for a gold watch,
value 20 guineas, presented by Mr. J. T. Robinson, for a
first prize. The entrance fees, amounting to over 8 guineas,
formed a second prize. Theranges being 650 and 700 yards,
seven shots at each distance. The watch was won by Pri-
vate Blaize, with a score of 39 marks; Sergeant Stewart
and Private Sandford tied for second prize, with a score of
38 marks. On shooting off the tie, Sergeant Stewart made
a centre, and thus carried off the entrance fees. The Turner
Plate and Silver Medal, which is now the property of the
corps, was competed for in five shots at the 200, 500, and
700 yards' ranges. Sergeant Gray was the winner, with a
score of 38 marks. A silver cup, presented by the non-
commissioned officers was competed for by first-class men.
The ranges were 300, 500, and 700 yards ; five shots at each
distance. Ensign Waller was the winner, with 41 marks.
Another cup, given by the non-commissioned officers for
competitien by second-class men, in five shots, at the 200,
500, and 600 yards' ranges, was won by Private Torr, who
made 26 marks. The remaining prizes were won as follows:
A silver tankard, presented by Mr. Basil Woodd, 200 and
400 yards, five shots, was won by Corporal Crookes, with
31 marks. The Ladies' Challenge Plate and silver medal,
200, 300, and 500 yards, five shots at each distance, was
won by Sergeant Millard, who made 44 marks. The Chal-
lenge Shield, value £25, presented by Messrs. Ortner and
Houle, was won by Private Rowe, who made 27 marks.
The ranges were 250 and 500 yards; five shots at each
distance. The silver goblet, value £lO, presented by
Lord Vernon, was competed for by effective members upon
the Swiss principle of concentric circles; the target was
divided into increasing circles, the smallest, or bull's eye,
counting nothing, and the outer circles, according to size,
counting from one point upwards, the extreme outer circle
counting the highest number of points, the member getting
the least number of points being the winner. The range
was 400 yards, five shots. Private Pearce was the winner,
with 11 marks, of this prize, as also of the silver wine cup
presented by Ensign Banting, which was shot for in five
rounds, at the 200, 500, and 600 yards' ranges. The meeting
was brought to a close through the unfortunate accident
which happened t:) Col. Lindsay.
The 4th and 13th corps of the 10th Administrativeßrigade
of Kent Volunteer Artillery have very successfully expended
the greater portion of their annual allowance of practice
ammunition from the 32-pounder and 68-pounder guns
mounted on the sea defences which guard the approaches
to Chatham harbour. A great improvement has been made
by both corps in the accuracy of alignment, correct eleva-
tion, and the cuttieg and fixing of Boxer's fuzes. On nu-
merous occasions during the practice with the heavy siege
guns the target has been struck, although moored to sea-
ward at a range of 2,000 yards, and subjected to the unsteady
motion of a rough sea. On several instances the target has
been completely shot away. The target is purposely con-
structed of a moderate size, in order to accustom the volun-
teers to strike objects at a considerable distance from the
batteries. The judgment displayed by the volunteers in
determining the exact elevation of the gun and the allowance
to be given for the deflection of the shot merit approbation.
In Suffolk the Bungay and Beccles companies have been
reviewed during the past week by Lieut.-Col. Thelluson,
who availed himself of the occasion to present Sergeant
Miller, drill instructor of the Halesworth corps,with a medal
for long service and good conduct, and a gratuity of £5. The
Suffolk County Rifle Association will hold its annual meet-
ing at Ipswich in September.
The Norfolk corps are preparing for the annual meeting
of the Volunteer Service Association, which commences on
Monday, Sept. 7. On Thursday, the 3d Company of the
Norwich corps had a contest at the Moucehold range for
a variety of prizes. A challenge cup, previously held by
Sergeant Bridgman, was won by Capt. C. H. Gurney, who
made 41 marks, at ranges of 200, 500, and 700 yards, five
shots each. An Enfield rifle, presented by the non-commis-
sioned officers for recruits, was won by private Andrews. A
match followed, open to non-commissioned officers and pri-
vates, at the same ranges, and the prizes won as follows :
—A Kerr rifle, presented by Capt. C. H. Gurney, by pri-
vate J. Bridgman, 38 marks ; £5, also presented by Capt.
Gurney, by Corporal St. Jon, 33 marks ; a silver-mounted
beer jug, presented by Ensign Hansen, by private Challis,
31 marks ; an Enfield rifle, or £3 10e., presented by Mr.
Croker, by private G. Figg, 31 marks.
In Lincolnshire the Horncastle company has had its an-
nual contest for classification prizes, 31 members entering
the lists. In the first-class the firing was at ranges of 200,
400, and 800 yards, five rounds each, and the first prize was
wen by Corporal Clitherow. At the annual prize competi-
tion of the Louth corps some excellent shooting was made.
A prize of £3 35., competed for by members of the first-class
final classification, was won by Sergt. Mason. A match
against time took place for a silver cup of the value of £5
55., presented by Mr. S. J. Welfit. The shooting was at
200 yards standing, each man having five minutes allowed;
won by private Waite. A prize of £5 58., given by the Rev.
W. Smith, and another of £2 2s. by Mr. J. W. Wilson,
were shot for at 500 yards, and won by Lieut. Sowerby and
private Bucknell.
In Essex the annual prize meeting of the Ilford corps has
just been celebrated at Cranbrooke-park, the seat of Mr. J.
Davis. The first contest was for an officers' cup, shot for
by five men from each company. The corps consists of two
companies, one situate at Ilford and Barking and the other
at Walthamstow. Each man of the winning squad received
a silver medal, and the highest scores in each company se-
cured for the makers of them a prize of £5, presented by
Mr. Davis. The ranges were 200, 500, and 600 yards, five
shots each, and the scores made as follows—The Waltham-
stow company 178 marks (Sergeant Mosey taking the £5) ;
and the Ilford company 161 marks (Corporal W. Wisher
taking the £5). A marksman's cup, with a prize for the
highest score in each company, was presented by Mr.
Doublett. The shooting was at 700 yards, seven shots. En-
sign Mitchell, of the Ilford Cornpanh won the cup and prize
each t
—a second prize went to Lieut. Wilson, of the Walthamstow
company, who made 17 marks. A ladies' cup, with two
Lord Bury telescopes, presented by Captain Colesvvorth,
andandtheMunn.weretelescopesAttherounds
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filled by Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Davis.
There has not been much doing of late among the Cam-
bridge corps. Several members of the Wisbech company
have, however, competed for the tenth time for a challenge
cup, which has now passed into the hands et Private Oliver.
No =owl= Lae yet vaccee•Cled.eiu becuring the cup twice, it

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having hitherto changed hands after each competition. It
has to be held six times by thebecomes same person before it becomes
his absolute property. The 8 thCambridge4eire corps will
shoot for a number of rrizThursday, August 27.
The Glocester Volunteer': on
announce a great rifle con test
for next week, for which larg .e are offered. The
Glocester Artillery corps had some p'
e practice on Thursday List
at a new battery recently erected near Llanthony-bridg-e.
A fortnightly sweepstakes was shot for on Wednesday by
gained rize
the Glocester corps, when the following :
Mr. J. Buchanan, let; Mr. E. Rhead, 2d ; Mr. llutzuman :
Stow-on-the-Wold had its annual rifle contest for' the
i.
challenge cup last week. The contest was open to all
comers resident within 12 miles of Stow, the cup to be won
twice by the same person. There were 31 competitors, and
the prize was hotly contested. The shooting was at 200, 400,
and 600 yards, and the highest score was made by Private
J. Gallop, of the 15th Glocestershire, who scored 33, nine
other scorers from 25 to 32 each. A sweepstakes was
afterwards got up, when Private J. Keen, making three
centres, was declared the winner.
The great Yorkshire prize rifle shooting was continued
upon Strensall common and at Pickering, terminating on
Tuesday week. The following is a continuation of the report
which has appeared in The Sun. The second series of
prizes given by the city of York were determined by shoot-
ing seven shots at 500 yards. The shooting was excellent.
The first prize of £2O was won by Sergeant W. Dove, of
Scarborough, who scored 25. There were 164 entries for
the prize given by the town of Halifax—the gross amounts
being £lOO. Some of the best shooting with Enfields was
shown in this contest. The winner of the main prize, Mr.
C. Other, scared not less than 51 marks—the distances be-
ing 400 and 600 yards. Sergeant W. Dove, of Scarborough,
won the second prize with 48. The competition for the
Whitworth rife given by Earl de Grey and Ripon was
among 160 capital shots. The regulations were three
shots at any indefinite distance ordered, in order
to bring into play the power of judging distance. This
was regarded as the most important contest of the meet-
ing, being a test of a Volunteer's usefulness more than any
other. Lieutenant Harrison, of Rotherham, who made two
bull's eyes and a centre, won the prize with a score of 11,
and was heartily cheered. The contest for Volunteers who
attended the Doncaster review, shot for with seven shots at
200 yards, resulted in a tie of 21 between Mr. T, C. Dawson,
of Halifax, and Mr. D. Popplewell, of Barnsley, who
divided. There were 75 competitors. The prize of
plate given by the Reverend R. Brook, of Gate-
forth-hence, Selby, was shot for by 87 competitors,
five rounds each, at 200 and 300 yards ; Corporal
Challoner, of York, scored 30 and won. Lord Bolton's prize
for North Riding Volunteers, seven shots at 600 yards, long
or short Enfields, was won by Colour-Sergeant Mickle, of
Bedale, with a score of 20. The members of the associa-
tion's prizes, £2O and £5, were shot for with any rifle, in
any position. In this contest the champion shots again met,
and therefore the greatest attention was bestowed. The
result showed that Captains Heaton and Ross had
again tied with a score of 39, five shots at 400 and 600
yands. In shooting off each of these marksmen made
another bull's eye, but in the second round Captain Ross
retrieved his previous defeats by another bull's eye,
Captain Heaton making an outer ; Sergeant Boynton, of
Bridlington, scored 36, the Hon. W. T. 0. Powiett 33, and
Lieutenant Harland, of Bridlington, 35. The last contest
on the common was for a sweepstakes, at 200 and 300 yards,
in which Mr. Calvert, of Carpetby, and Mr. Winn, of the
same place, tied with 30, and divided. The remaining con-
test was for the challenge cup given by Colonel Duncombe,
M.P., to the 2d North Riding Battalion, to be won twice to
give absolute possession. As more convenient for the corps
engaged, it was resolved to re-assemble on the Pickering
range. There were eight representatives from the Melton,
Castle Howard, Scarborough, Helmsley, Thirsk, Wydale,
and Pickering Companies. The contest was at 200 and 500
yards, and resulted in victory fer the Pickering Company,
with a score of 253, Scarborough being second, with 231,
The prizes for individual shots went to the Castle Howard and
Pickering Corps. This concluded the meeting, which was
remarkably successful.
At an early period of the summer Major Melly inti-
mated that he would invite the effective members of the
4th brigade of Lancashire Artillery to a pic-nic, and on
Saturday that event came off in Knowsley-park. The Earl
of Derby gave every countenance and assistance to the pro-
ceedings. The corps and its friends, to the number of
fully 800, were conveyed by special train from Liverpool
to Huyton, whence proceeding to the Prescot-gate of
Knowsley-park they reached the ground set apart for
the fete. This was in close proximity to the lake in the
deer park, and it afforded ample space for the pitching
of tents and the performance of drill movements. The
day was fine, there was a goodly muster of the brigade
and spectators, and the park presented a very gay ap-
pearance. Among those present to welcomethe Volunteers
were the Countess of Derby and Lady Cremorne ; Lord
Cremorne, Captain Homby, U.N., and party; Admiral
Grenfell, Lieut.-Col. Sir J. Jones, K.C.8., Eze. The
party, numbering 420 men and non-commissioned officers
of the 4th Brigade, Lancashire Artillery Volunteers, and
their friends, arrived on the ground about 4 o'clock. They
were drawn up in open column, and went through a variety
of field operations, under command of Lieut.-Col. Bourne.
The corps were then formed in three sides of a square in
front of the saluting flag, where the prizes were presented
to the successful competitors by Mrs. Col, Bourne. These
consisted of handsome silver salvers and cups to the bat-
teries which had proved successful in the competition of
gunnery. In addition to these, each gunner who had
struck the target was presented with a handsome cross of
merit. A fourth series of prizes should have been pre-
sented, but that ceremony was deferred on account of the
lamented death of Mr. Theodore W. Rathbone. The
prizes having been presented, Col. Bourne addressed the
brigade. He said it had afforded him the utmost pleasure
to be connected with them. They had been most regular
in drill, and the result of that regularity and attention had
manifested itself in the general excellence of their evolu-
tions. He was happy to say that not longer than last Sa-
turday they bad been inspected by an officer of the Royal
Artillery, sent down especially by the War Department,
and he had much pleasure in saying that that officer had
expressed himself in terms of high admiration of the bri
gade. He said he had never seen a volunteer regiment
which could surpass them in the steadiness and regularity
of their movements. In conclusion he called for three
cheers for the Earl of Derby and Major Melly, a request
heartily responded to. At the conclusion of the feast and
a dance on the bowling-green, the guests were 'conveyed
by a special train to Liverpool, where they arrived about
10 o'clock, greatly delighted with the day's amusement.