I took advantage of a rest day in the Cavalry manœuvres of 1890 to ride over the Down land between Swindon and the River Kennet, and in the winter of 1892–93 I revisited the ground, and got permission from the Earl of Craven to address all his tenants, and he gave me the free access to his estate, much of which was in his personal occupation. I obtained the use of 11 miles from east to west, with a mean of 5½ from north to south, on which some useful work was done. One day we practised a frontal attack, having 15,000 troops on the ground.
It is interesting to record that the Rector of Liddington, unsolicited by anyone, wrote that “in spite of his Rectory being practically surrounded by camps, neither he nor his family experienced even a shadow of inconvenience.”
I reported that the mistakes made by the officers were fewer, and were more readily acknowledged at the discussions on the conclusion of each tactical exercise. I added, “These conferences have been very useful in the improvement of our battle training. These, however, are by no means the only advantages obtained for the Army; such manœuvres induce officers to study their profession more keenly than they otherwise would do, and the inhabitants of the districts visited have now, I am confident, an increased respect for the Army as a Training school for the nation.” The cost of the manœuvres was £7200.
When returning to Aldershot I received a telegram from Lady Jeune, at Arlington Manor, “Bring all Staff for weekend,” and replied, “Too many: 11 officers, 2 women, 12 servants, 23 horses.” She answered, “Pray come, the more the merrier,” and we went.
I had known Lady Jeune for years, but my close friendship with her gifted husband, terminated only by his death, had begun from a visit he paid to me at Aldershot, in 1892. Besides unbounded hospitality, he greatly assisted me later as Judge Advocate-General, for to an intense desire for justice he added a disregard for technicalities.
In the Spring I was asked to choose a course for the Divisional Point to Point races, and Captain Norton Legge,[313] on a somewhat indifferent horse, won the Light-weight race from his attention to the instructions, which I printed, and handed round to every rider, besides the verbal explanation. Mr. Harris of Westcourt, Finchampstead, who had always provided foxes for us in his covert near Hook Station, gave me the use of his land. I pointed out to the riders a church in the distance, telling them they had to pass east and by north to the west of the church, on rounding which they would see a balloon in the air, and if they rode straight for the church going out, and the balloon coming home, I would be answerable there would be no wire or unjumpable fences in the line. Legge, an excellent officer, rode absolutely straight, and consequently won.
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The new Ranges at Aldershot enabled us to hold the Army Rifle meeting there, causing a great increase in Regimental Rifle clubs. At the Annual meeting there were 2000 individual entries, and a large number of teams.
Besides the tactical exercises carried out against the Field columns, which as in 1889 marched round Aldershot using Government ground or commons, we had a useful practice for the first time in mobilising a Divisional ammunition column, which was made up to war strength by borrowing men and horses from Batteries. We learnt a great deal in the packing arrangements of the boxes, and in so marking them as to be recognisable at night, when on service much of the replenishing of ammunition columns has necessarily to be effected. All the Artillery officers showed great interest in this practice, which so far as I know had not been previously attempted.
In the last few months of my Command the Administrative Staff had a lesson from my ingrained habit of looking into details. A new form of lamp chimney had been for some time under trial, and all the reports were unanimous in its favour. A letter to this effect was put before me for signature by an officer, whom I asked, “Have you personally tried the chimnies?” “No, but the Reports are unanimous in its favour.” “Well, I’ll wait a day or two.” “Please, sir, we’ve had one reminder already, and the Director of Contracts is anxious for a Report.” I declined to be hurried, but invited the Staff officer to dine that evening. After dinner I said, “Come for a stroll,” and we walked over to the nearest barracks, and asked some men sitting at the tables: “How do you like those lamp chimnies?” “Very well; we don’t pay much for them.” “Pay, to whom do you pay?” “To Messrs. T. White & Co.” “What, for the hire?—where is the Government new pattern?” “Oh, sir, locked up in the Quartermaster’s store; we can’t use them, as so many break.”