The Summary of Annual Returns showed 541 efficients, and the capitation grant earned was £1079.
Extract from Army List, January, 1885:—
Honorary Colonel.
Bath, The Marquis of.
Majors.
Pembroke and Montgomery, The Earl of.
Fowle W.H.
Captains.
Adye, William (Hon. Major T).
Kelsey, E.F.
Stancomb, E.F. (Hon. Major T).
Wakeman, H.J.
Hodding, F.
Wilson, G.N.
Clark, W.P.
Lieutenants.
Mann, W.H.
Hall, J.P.
Clark, T.H.
Farebrother, H.J.L.
Pelly, Sir H., Bart.
Kelland, J.
Pinckney, A.B.
Smith, S.
Curtis, P.F.
Adjutant.
Hume, J.W.T. (Captain, Derby Regiment).
Quartermaster.
Harris, G.
Surgeons.
Bennett, T.J., M.D. (Honorary Surgeon-Major).
Tayler, G.C., M.B.
Lee, F.F., M.B.
Acting Surgeon.
Hinton, J.
Honorary Chaplain.
Olivier, Revd. D.
Acting Chaplain.
Doyle, The Very Revd. C.D., M.A., Dean of Salisbury.
On the 1st May a special meeting of the officers of the battalion was convened at Warminster to consider the proposal of the general officer commanding the district, Sir George Willis, K.C.B., with regard to the formation of a Volunteer Transport Corps. After some correspondence the movement was abandoned, and this principally from the War Office refusing to assist with the necessary funds.
On Saturday the 1st August, the annual camp was held on Warminster Down, the men marching in on the Saturday afternoon, their strength being 419, when they immediately proceeded to pitch tents and establish the camp. The next day could hardly be considered a day of rest for the battalion, inasmuch as the early morning found the men employed on fatigue duties, the forenoon at an instruction drill under Colonel Everett, and the afternoon at church parade, not held as formerly, with a chaplain and a drum concealed by the colours for a reading desk, and a very attenuated congregation of somewhat husky volunteers forming choir and listeners, but a parade, marching to church down at Warminster, at least two miles away. It was far better so; an idle Sunday in camp was detrimental in every way. It was simply a lounge for visitors, and was subversive of discipline, and often propriety.
Monday, being Bank Holiday, was treated as such after twelve o'clock, and athletic sports took the place of drill. The spectators must have exceeded 6000 in number, and were well rewarded for coming so far. Races (with an allowance for age and service), officers' menagerie race (won by geese, splendidly held together and driven by Lieuts. Whitehead and Curtis), hurdle races, sack jumping, and tug-of-war. Four companies competed in the bayonet exercise—Salisbury, Wilton, Warminster, and Bradford, the judge being Major Helme, the prize being a challenge cup, given by Lord Harry Thynne, M.P. It was won, but not without a very close contest, by the Salisbury company; the first and second prizes of 40s. and 20s. (with 10s. extra for the drill instructor of the winning squad) to Wilton and Warminster companies. There were prizes for which the yeomanry were alone eligible, such as tent-pegging, tilting at the ring, &c., at which much skill and really good horsemanship was shown. Captain Helme, of the Rood Ashton Troop, was facile princeps both in tent-pegging and tilting, but refused to take a prize.
On the 7th the battalion was inspected by Colonel Brett, commanding the 38th Depôt Brigade, the parade state showing 568 as present. The day was intensely hot but fine, and the onlookers many. The battalion assembled on the general parade at 2.30 P.M., and after a thorough inspection were addressed by Colonel Brett. He said that the march past was especially good, the evolutions executed smartly and in good style, and in marching at the double the men kept together and moved with a precision which would do credit to a line regiment. The camp was clean, well kept and orderly, and the drills, including bayonet exercise, and the new system of attack, creditably performed, more especially considering the short space of time they had been learning it.
The inspecting officer then required those belonging to the ambulance corps to be put through their movements, and was well satisfied with the thorough knowledge displayed.
The evening saw a merry lot sitting round the usual great camp fire, song after song passing on from officer or man until the bugle rung out the retire, and visitor and volunteer quitted the scene. But they had to be up early the next day; breakfasts soon after daybreak, their tents to strike, and the whole camp to be packed. This done, a picnic dinner on the short crisp turf of the wild downs, and the whole marched to Warminster on the return to their respective homes.