This year brought with it the retirement of Major T. Clark, an officer of very long standing, not only in the battalion but in the Volunteer Force generally; he having held the commission of a captain in the Trowbridge Rifle Corps from the latter end of the year 1859 until promoted major in the year 1862—at that time there being only one major in the battalion. The long connection of this officer with the battalion, his constant attendance at battalion drills, camps, and reviews, and the frequency of his being in command of the battalion, had made him so thoroughly a part of it that it was some time before his absence could be fully realized. His genial hospitality, kindness of heart, and willingness to overcome difficulties, made him loved and respected by all knowing him well. At an age when most men begin very much to appreciate the comforts of home, and indeed to whom it is necessary that exposure to sudden changes of weather be none too frequent, Major Clark joined the volunteers, and from that time for twenty years did he give not only his time but very liberally from his means to the furtherance of the movement. Major Clark knew and did his duty, and endeavoured to make others do the same. It was through county and other gentlemen, such as Major Clark, taking commissions which helped so much to make the Volunteer Force not only respectable, but to respect itself, and it ever will be so. The Volunteer Force, excepting when embodied and directly under the command of a general officer, can never be held together by the rules and regulations of the Army. The position of the non-commissioned officers, often large traders, shop-keepers, men of business, &c., and of the rank and file, fathers of families, small farmers, shop assistants, school-masters, attorneys' clerks and small tradesmen, preclude their being all governed by one hard and fast rule and managed accordingly. If the Volunteer Force, more especially that part of it, whether artillery, cavalry or infantry, where the majority of the men are country folk, are to be kept up in numbers and to be an inexpensive but useful addition to the army generally, then the officers, especially the field officers of battalions, must be selected men—men of fair wealth and good county position. W.H. Fowle, Esq., was appointed to the vacant majority.
Head Quarters, Warminster,
1st November, 1879.
1st Administrative Battalion, Wiltshire Rifle Volunteers. Summary of the Annual Return.
KEY TO TABLE HEADINGS:
A No. of Corps.
B Maximum Establishment.
C Efficients. C
D Non-Efficients.
E Total Enrolled.
F Officers.
G Sergeants.
H Percentage of Efficients to Total Strength.
| Certificates of proficiency. | ||||||||
| Head Quarters of Corps. | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
| Salisbury | 1 | 200 | 152 | 1 | 153 | 5 | 11 | 99 |
| Trowbridge | 2 | 200 | 192 | 15 | 207 | 4 | 10 | 93 |
| Bradford | 9 | 100 | 59 | 3 | 62 | 1 | 4 | 95 |
| Warminster | 10 | 160 | 84 | 0 | 84 | 2 | 7 | 100 |
| Westbury | 13 | 100 | 91 | 7 | 98 | 2 | 4 | 93 |
| Wilton | 14 | 100 | 79 | 2 | 81 | 3 | 5 | 98 |
| Staff | 15 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 100 | |
| 875 | 667 | 28 | 695 | 18 | 41 | 98 | ||
(Signed) Robert Dwarris Gibney, Major,
Adjutant 1st A.B. Wilts Rifle Volunteers.
There was no Easter Monday battalion drill for 1880, but a committee of officers assembled on the 12th April at Warminster to audit accounts and to make arrangements for the year.
On the 31st July, 1880, the battalion mustered in Salisbury and marched to the racecourse, there to be encamped. The muster was good and the weather favourable, so much was learned, and none could complain that spare time hung heavily on them. The battalion was closely inspected by Colonel Bythesea, commanding 38th Depôt, on the 6th August, and certainly did well, though the roughness of the weather and high wind rendered "orders" difficult to catch. The numbers on the parade were 559 of all ranks; not a few of these, selfish as to what might result, or wrapped up in the belief that they were sufficiently well-drilled to pass inspection, had not put in a previous attendance during the whole encampment. At the conclusion of the inspection Colonel Bythesea remarked "That he had had an opportunity of seeing them unofficially the day previously, and was then very much pleased with their drill, more so indeed than on the present occasion. He might tell them that this was owing to the fact of the men in camp yesterday having been there since the first day, thereby continuously learning, and making the battalion to appear to greater disciplinary advantage than it did to-day. Many of the men who were on the inspection parade this day only arrived in the morning, not having attended previously." After a pause he added, "A week's camp did them undoubted good, and next year he hoped to see an appreciation of this fact in a larger and more continuous attendance thereon, under their able and energetic commanding officer, Colonel Everett, than whom none was more earnest in the welfare of the battalion." The inspecting officer concluded his remarks by pointing out how well the "attack" drill under Major the Earl of Pembroke had been carried out, and trusted that more attention might be given to "individual efficiency." The camp was struck and despatched early on the morning of the 7th, and all returned to the various headquarters.
| The Expenses of the Camp were | £401 |
| Subscriptions received | £35 |
| Camp Allowance from Government | £349 |
| The Capitation Grant obtained for Efficiency for the Battalion was | £1133 |