The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-10 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Ist Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps, which has
the reputation of being one of the smartest in the
service, had its presentation of prizes on Thursday
evening at the bead-quarters--a ceremony which
was witnessed by the Inspector-General of the
Force and a very large and fashionable assembly.
Lady Pollock, who made the presentation, was ac-
companied by General Sir George Pollock, G.C.8.,
and K. 5.1., honorary colonel of the regiment. Col.
Macdonald, the Commandant, stated that this year,
the seventh of the corps existence, the regimentwas
not only stronger and more vigorous than it had
been before, but it was more efficient. The shoot-
ing had been good during the year, and it was that
night to be handsomely rewarded by the prizes there
displayed, and which were of the aggregate value
of £360. Ile referred to the high position gained
by members in matches and to the honours won by
the corps at 'Wimbledon and in Belgium, and he
particularly referred to the gold medal won by
Bandmaster Callcott, in the bands' competition at
Brussels. The prizes were then given, the chief
winners of which were Colour-Sergeant .Puckle,
Private A. 11. Weir, Mr. J. T. Macrone, Mr. J. J.
Curtis, and Colour-Sergeant John Chishc'lme, the
champion shot of the corps this year. Thanks
having been given to Lady Pollock and acknow-
ledged by Sir George, who expressed his high satis-
faction with the discipline and efficiency of the
regiment, Colonel Erskine addressed the assemblage.
lie said he could not but feel the highest admiration
for the head-quarters of the Ist Surrey, and he was
sure that nothing tended more in the whole range
of the Volunteer movement to promote the efficiency
of a regiment than the advantage of social inter-
course likely to be provided in such head-quarters
as the regiment possessed. Cheers for the Inspector-
General, for the Commandant, and for the hon.
Colonel closed the proceedings.
On Thursday the ceremony of distributing the
prizes to the North-East London Rifle Bri-
gade took place in the presence of an immense
concourse of people in the drill-hall, a converted
east-end theatre. The corps—a full muster of a
large regiment—was drawn up in the hall, and was
inspected by Colonel Richardson-Gardner, the
honorary colonel, accompanied by Colonel Money,
the commandant, who, in the course of an address
he delivered upon the condition of the regiment and
the general advance of the Volunteer movement,
stated that there was an increase of 230 efficients
this year, the number being 853 as against 623 last
year. lie mentioned as a novel reward of Volun-
teers, that it was intended to give medals to those
members who had completed five consecutive years
as efficient members of the corps, and those medals
would be claimed by 73 members. Mrs. Richard-
son-Gardner proceeded to give the prizes, among
which was a very handsome cup, value 100 guineas,
presented by the inhabitants of the district, through
Mr. Frederic Till, who also presented several other
prizes. Quartermaster-Sergeant Patrick was the
best shot for the year.

On Friday evening Westminster-ball was the
scene of the presentation of prizes to the 19th Mid-
dlesex, which is known among the Metropolitans as
" The Tom Browns," being commanded by Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Hughes. The prizes, a large and
valuable display, were mostly articles of a useful
character, as barometers, clocks, timepieces, books,
and tea services, but included pictures, statues, and
busts. Colonel Hughes, who was received with
cheers, opened the proceedings. He said he was
happy to congratulate the corps upon both its con-
duct as a regiment and upon the results of what he
might call the "corps life." With respect to the
very important subject of numbers, the corps had
in 1865 627 enrolled members, and this year it had
612. The efficients in 1865 were 498, while this
year there were 492, and the deficiency, he after-
wards explained; had been caused by 30 men leav-
ing to go to another corps. But in regard to extra
efficients and marksmen the corps had gained ground
and the progress had been extremely good, for in
1865 there were 149 extra efficients—namely, men
who had earned the extra Government grant for
shooting through the classes, and obtaining a cer-
tain rank, this year there were 252, and this year
there were 57 marksmen against 28 in 1865.
With regard to drill, too, he said the corps had
still maintained its good name, as it had up-
wards of two-thirds of its strength at the inspec-
tion and the great field days of the year, and in
the course of the year there had been 81 drills
ordered, of which one member, Sergeant Ferobie,
had attended every one, and Colour-Sergeant Wells
had Wended all save one. The sth Company, he
mentioned, was the best company in the corps, hav-
ing 81 out of its 86 members efficients ; the two
non-efficients being recruits who had not served their
full time of being reckoned efficients. Of the com-
pany, too, half were extra efficients, and it had the
honour of finding the best shot of the regiment the
winner of the badge and three stars, the highest
honour of a regiment. lie took occasion to remark
that much of the increased extra efficiency was
doubtless due to the fact that the \Vest Middlesex
had in the most kindly spirit lent the corps the use
of their range at the " Scrubbs," and many who
could not have gone to Epsom, where the 19th's
range was, had taken the opportunity to class. He
remarked that the condition of the 19th would stand
any test, and a more efficient body of officers could
not be found in any corps ; and he believed this
arose from the fact that he, believing in constitu-
tional Government, had encouraged the system of an
election of officers, he having the right of vetoing
any election if he thought that the right man had
not been elected. Ile concluded by calling upon the
Volunteers to make the habits of discipline incul-
cated in the force of service and of benefit in being
brought to bear upon their home duties. Colonel
Colville, one of the War-office Inspectors, addressed
the corps, after which Mrs. Hughes distributed the
prizes, among which were seven Westley Richards
breechloaders, all given by Captain Williams. The
" best shot" was Corporal G utteridge. Major
Oxley, at the conclusion, called for cheers for Mrs.
Hughes, and these were given, as were cheers for the
very popular Commandant. The return match
between 10 non-commissioned officers of the 19th
Middlesex and 10 non-commissioned officers of the
37tb Middlesex came off at the Epsom range on the
3d inst. 19th Middlesex, 339 ; 37th Middlesex, 286
majority for 19th, 53 points. A very strong wind
from the right will account for the bad scores.
On Saturday evening the South (2d) Middlesex
Rifle Corps, one of the earliest formed regiments in
the service, held its annual prize presentation at
Beaufort-house, Walham-green. Colonel Viscount
itanclagh, the Commandant presided, and stated in

his opening remarks that the shooting, had at least
been equal to that of the previous year, and that
the South Middlesex had well maintained its repu-
tation as a shooting regiment. Members of it, he
aid, had not only won prizai in their own corps,
but had brought souvenirs of their skill from Bel-
gium. In reference to the question of Volunteers
leaving the force, he said that in many cases this
arose from men leaving the district in which they
joined, and being unwilling to incur the expense of
a different uniform. He thought that each arm of
the service should adopt one uniform, the rifles one
distinct dress and the artillery another, for then a
man would not be lost to the service though chang-
ing his residence, as was now often the case. His
lordship stated that one member bad resigned in
consequence of the Beaufort-house grounds being
lent for the purposes of the " demonstration" of
Monday last, that member being of opinion that
the head-quarters of a Volunteer corps ought not to
be associated with a political purpose. With respect
to this matter his lordship said he had allowed
the use of the ground with a view of preventing a
repetition of the disgraceful scenes which had been
witnessed in the parks. The prizes consisted chiefly
of silver and other cups, clocks, watches, jewellery,
revolvers, and rifles. The champion badge was
taken by Private Verity, the challenge cup of the
first company by Sergeant-Inspector Milner, who
also won the Marksmen's Cup. The cup of the
guardians of Chelsea was won by Private Richards,
and the challenge cup of the second company by
Corporal 11. Bird.