The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-11 00:00:00

REVIEW OP THE KENTISH VOLUNTEERS.

On Saturday evening last at 6 o'clock the annual
official review of the Ist Kent Administrative Bat-
talion of Volunteer Rifles took place in the grounds
of Sir T. M. Wilson, Bart., Old Charlton, iu the
presence of a large number of spectators. At the
hour named the reviewing officer, Lieut.-Col. the
Hen. W. J. Colville, Assistant-Inspector of Volun-
teers, with Lieut.-Col. Thorold, commandant ; Ma-
jor Farnell, adjutant ; S. F. Jackson, and other bat-
talion officers took up a position at the flagstaff,
and the force then assembled in review order com-
prised the following corps :-3rd Kent (Lee), Cap-
tain 11. L. Barnett ; 4th Kent (Woolwich), Cap-
tain Carter ; 7th Kent (Kidbrook) Captain W. F.
P. Dadson ; 9th Kent (Greenwich), Captain W.
Bristow ; Bth Kent (Sydenham), Captain J. V.
Drake ; 18th Kent (Bromley), Captain C. Satterth-
waite ; 25th Kent (Blackhe ath), Captain Rucker ;
27th Kent (Deptford Dockyard), Captain Wilkin-
son ; 28th Kent (Charlton), Captain G. 11. Gra-
ham ; 32nd Kent (Eltham), Captain R. Bloxham ;
and 34th Kent (Deptford), Captain Montgomerie.
The Colonel and staff were received by the usual
salute, and the ranks having been inspected front
and rear, the entire force marched past in com-
panies at slow and quick time in excellent order.
Under the direction of Majur Farnell a series of
manual and platoon exercise was then carried out
and various field-day evolutions. Skirmishing par-
ties were sent out, a square was formed to resist an
attack of cavalry with bayonets, and the usual tactics
of attack, defence, and retreat were performed. A
succession of company, file, and volley firing was
kept up with spirit for about twenty minutes, and
was executed by the Charlton and one or two other
corps with much precision, proving that since the
last annual review they had been unremitting in
their attention to drill. The battalion then formed
a square and fired a volley, when, after some other
evolutions, the force formed in the usual order to

receive an address from the inspecting officer, Lieut.
Colend Colville, who observed that it was his duty
to speak his mind to them in the most unreserved
manner, and he should do so. He saw before him
a body of men whose soldier-like appearapce was
very satisfactory, and who had performed some
of the movements as well as could reasonably
be expected. He was bound to say, however,
that
[he whole of the movements had not been
carried out in such an efficient manner as
he could have wished, and this was more espe-
cially the case with regard to the battalion evolu-
tions. He had been informed by their commandant,
Colonel Thorold, that some of the battalion meet-
ings had not been attended by more than 150 men,
and they certainly could not expect to learn the
details and practice of battalion drill if they did not
attend in larger numbers. Whilst engaged in
the operations of that evening he found at one time
they became much confused, although he was glad
to see that they soon recovered themselves again.
One young man had met ivith an accident by dis-
charging his rifle, which would result in the loss of
One or two of his fingers, and he believed that would
not have taken place bad the man been perfectly
conversant with his drill. It was probable that
many of them who were workmen found it difficult
to attend all the drills ; but it was of great impor-
tance that they should become efficient in this re-
spect. The Ist Kent was a capital battalion, and
the remarks he had made were intended for its
improvement with regard to
benefit. lie hoped that if he saw them next year ho
s
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