In aid of the battalion funds a grand bazaar was held on the 6th and 7th October, 1880, in Wilton Park, by the kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery. The opening day was worse than wet—a heavy downfall of rain, such rain as precluded the hope of purchasers, much more distant visitors. Amidst the damp and gloom the various stalls, laden with really very beautiful, rare, and valuable articles, were decked out in their brightest, and stall-keepers peered through the downpour for customers. Here and there damp people showed, and if not only intent on using the large sale tent for shelter, might invest a trifle; but it looked bad for the disposal of saleables, and the bargains were much confined to mutual dealings. His Royal Highness Prince Leopold and the Marquess of Bath were amongst the patrons. The patronesses were the Marchioness of Bath, the Marchioness of Westminster, the Countess of Pembroke, the Countess of Nelson, Lady Arundell of Wardour, Lady Antrobus, Lady Gertrude Bouverie, Lady Ellen Gordon, Lady Theodore Guest, Lady Doreen Long, Lady Lilian Paulet, Lady Octavia Shaw Stewart, Lady Trafalgar, Lady Charles Wellesley, Mrs. Moberley, Mrs. Penruddocke, Mrs. J.P. Edwards, Mrs. M.K. Marsh, Mrs. Fane Benett Stanford, Mrs. Fane de Salis, Mrs. Alfred Seymour, &c. The stalls were held by the Marchioness of Bath, Mrs. Everett, Mrs. Gibney, Mrs. Kelsey, Mrs. Hadding, Mrs. W.B. Clark, Mrs. Stancomb, Mrs. Wakeman and Mrs. Ponting; Major Gibney undertaking the gallery of illustrations and shooting gallery.
Towards the latter part of the day the weather somewhat improved, and fair faces and importunity relieved the visitors from being embarrassed with riches. Raffles, shooting galleries on a small scale, were in full swing, and helped to swell the day's receipts. Next day, as regards rain, there was not any; fine, but very wet under foot. Nevertheless, the company of sightseers were numerous, and stall-keepers did a good business; but it was evident that many had come to buy, and spent their money without stint. The object was a good one; and at inspections and other times few there were of any position in the county who had not accepted hospitality from the battalion. Altogether, thanks entirely to the generosity and consideration of the Earl of Pembroke, the bazaar was a success; and with the amounts received from the two bazaars subsequently held at Warminster and Trowbridge, realised the very handsome sum of £400.
The Army List for 1881 no longer recognised separate corps. The whole volunteer force was consolidated, and the 1st Wilts Rifle Battalion was thus, January 1881:—
Honorary Colonel.
Bath, Marquis of.
Lieutenant-Colonel.
Everett, J.F.
Majors.
Pembroke and Montgomery, Earl of.
Fowls, W.H.
Captains.
Clark, W.P.
Laverton, W.H.
Adye, W.
Kelsey, E.F.
Stancomb, E.P.
Wakeman, H.J.
Hodding, F.
Lieutenants.
Clark, W.P., Junior.
Mann, W.J.
Ponting, T.
Hall, N.P.
Allen, W.
Gordon, Hamilton G.W.
Flower, T.
Clark, T.H.
Wilson, R.A.
Wilson, G.N.
Pinniger, H.D.
Adjutant.
Gibney, R.D. (Hon. Major).
Quartermaster.
Fawcett, W.
Surgeons.
Bennett, T.J.M., M.D.
Tayler, G.C., M.B.
Lee, F.F., M.B.
Acting Surgeon.
Hinton, J.
Chaplains.
Jones, Revd. W.H.
Philipps, Revd. Sir J.E., Bart.
Olivier, Revd. D.
Meyer, Revd. H., M.A.
Cowley-Brown, Revd. G.J.
The officers met at Warminster on the 30th March, 1881, to make arrangements for the year, auditing accounts, and to consider how best it would be to act so that the battalion might attend at the Royal Review to be held, later on at Windsor.
On the 9th July the various companies left their headquarters at some unearthly hour in the morning, and marching to various stations on the Great Western Railway, between Salisbury and Trowbridge, were picked up by the special train and proceeded onwards to Slough. Here they detrained, and were hastily proved and equalised; no time being lost in this, as each company had brought with it a "present state," which was given over to the adjutant on entering the train, and numbers of companies with their strength, arranged by him previous to reaching their destination; the strength of the battalion on the occasion being 599. The total number of volunteers present were 52,000.
There were a good many difficulties to contend with previous to the battalion leaving for Slough. The railway company appeared to be undecided as to their charges, and somewhat exacting as to where trains should stop so as to pick up companies. To these magnates, railway directors, it seemed but a little matter whether a volunteer regiment or company marched a few additional miles out and home to join a train which could, but would not, pull up at a nearer station. Then the feeding arrangements were decidedly precarious; and as men leaving home about 3 A.M., and not returning until about the same hour next day, all wearing tight uniforms with little room to stow away provisions, would be hungry, it was necessary to ensure a supply of food. Contractors in London had agreed to meet the want, but something at the last moment occurred to upset the arrangement, and on the day previous to starting this battalion found itself unprovided for. It was a very serious consideration. The men, scattered all over the county, had been given to understand that provisions would be found on the ground, and there was no time to alter previous arrangements; but Quartermaster W. Fawcett was a man of resources, and between travelling and telegraphing overcame the difficulty.
It was necessary to have meat and drink for six hundred hungry men on the morrow by noon in Windsor Park, and Mr. Fawcett met the difficulty by hiring a medium-sized furniture van, in which beer, wine, bread, cheese, and pasties of pig's flesh (said to be) for about one thousand individuals were stowed away (the pasties making were the night's work for half the cooks at Salisbury), and the van with its contents placed upon a truck and conveyed with the regiment to Slough. Here horses, previously telegraphed for, were found, and when all was ready the feeding van followed the battalion into the Royal demesne of Windsor, causing it to be, after all, far better provisioned than many hailing much nearer home. Hungry men are not very particular, but the pasty was——