The amalgamation of the various corps into a battalion occurred in 1861, and found many of the companies well advanced in drills. Indeed, at the first inspection of the whole at Warminster by Major Hume, Assistant Inspector of the district, he remarked on the very great advance in the knowledge of drill each company had made. On this occasion the Trowbridge Corps mustered 72 of all ranks, Captain T. Clark, in command, and Lieutenant W.P. Clark being the only officers. Major Jacob was in command of the battalion, and by his skill in manœuvring the regiment, and his evident knowledge of the meaning of certain movements, not only drew forth encomiums from the inspecting officer, but even at this early date of the Volunteer Force showed that the military were not the only ones capable of commanding armed men, and that drilling regiments, companies, or squads could be managed by civilians. Soon after this, to the great regret not only of the volunteers of his own corps, No. 1, at Salisbury, but to that of others in the battalion, and to all in Wiltshire, knowing the man and his worth, Major Jacob was called away by death, the result of an injury received in stepping from a boat. His place as major in the battalion was taken by the officer commanding the Trowbridge Corps, who as senior major of the battalion retired in the year 1879. The command of the company was taken by Lieutenant W.P. Clark, and Mr. E.P. Stancomb promoted from sergeant to the ensigncy. Shortly after this Mr. Foley resigned his commission as lieutenant, and Mr. W.P. Clark, jun., was appointed ensign in the place of E.P. Stancomb promoted.
Among the officers of the Wiltshire Rifle Volunteers accepting the offer of fourteen days' musketry instruction at the School of Musketry, Hythe (entirely to be at their own expense) was Captain (Major) T. Clark of this company. At the same time there were present at the school from the battalion the Marquis of Bath, Captain Charles Penruddocke, and Captain Pickwick. The course was the longer one epitomized, and answered its purpose well. Indeed, absolute experience makes it no exaggeration to say that almost as much good, so far as the use of the rifle is concerned, and to teach the same, was obtained in this short course as from the longer of two months' duration. It scarcely requires an officer to be detached from his regiment for two months, so that he may learn how to do position drill, hold his rifle straight, strike the bull's-eye, or do skirmishing, volley, or independent firing. All this, and everything besides, including register-keeping, lecturing, brown mixture, and even laws of motion, to say nothing of mean deviation and attraction of gravity, could be equally well and probably more thoroughly taught at the headquarters of a regiment than at the more pretentious place. If an adjutant can be made at home, and as such directs and instructs, so at least can be the musketry instructor. The Trowbridge Rifle Corps possessed among themselves very many good shots, but among these Sergeant Graham stood pre-eminent. His shooting was uniformly good, and at the Wimbledon Meeting of 1863 he stood second in all Great Britain for the Queen's Prize, his magnificent shooting leaving it doubtful until his last shot at the distance of one thousand yards as to whether he or Sergeant Roberts, 12th Shropshire, would be the winner. At an early part of the day Sergeant Roberts had concluded his firing at all the ranges, leaving the wonderful score of 65 to be exceeded by any disputing his claim to victory. Sergeant Graham's time for attendance at the targets was later on in the day, but his 24 at 800 yards against Sergeant Roberts's 23 showed him to be a dangerous competitor. At 900 yards the scores were Sergeant Roberts 26, Sergeant Graham 24. At 1000 yards the score of 16 made by Roberts had to be beaten, or at any rate could be tied, but it was not to be: much depended upon the value of the last shot to be made by Sergeant Graham; a bull's-eye would tie with the winner, and not a little was the excitement shown by the onlookers, amongst these being Lord Elcho and General Hay, as to what would occur. Coolly but resolutely the aim was taken, but a centre left Sergeant Roberts undisturbed in his honours, and the high score of 64, obtained at the longest ranges by thoroughly even shooting, proved Sergeant Graham to be among the best shots in the Army. In contests with neighbouring corps the 2nd Wilts simply held their own, perhaps as often defeated as winning. In challenging the 9th Corps at Bradford-on-Avon on 12th October, 1861, in the first match they were defeated by 14, Sergeant Graham making the score for Trowbridge 12, and Sergeant Thomas 15, whilst for Bradford Captain Pickwick scored 13, and Private Scutt 14. In the return match the shooting of both Captain Pickwick and Sergeant Graham was thoroughly bad, and Bradford won by a few points.
The officers as well as non-commissioned officers and very many of the privates were above the average at the targets, and at county as well as at local meetings have made good scores, Major Clark at one time holding his own fairly well against such men as Sergeant Thomas, Sergeant Graham, and Sergeant Bailey, and a host of other sergeants and men. The rifle range of the corps is at a long distance from the armoury, and as this distance, nearly four miles, requires a lift being given to the men detailed for class firing, it forms a heavy item in the demand on the funds of the corps for conveyances. The range itself is now improved, but could never have been considered good or very safe, extending as it does over several grass meadows, intersected by roads and paths, divided by hedgerows, and well perambulated by cows and sheep; the butts, or fagot erection, sufficiently thick, but scarcely broad or high enough to ensure safety.
It may not be out of place here to give the scores made by officers and others of this company from the period when the Enfield muzzle-loader was the weapon and two to five hundred yards the usual distances. In looking back on those days many may think that the shooting was bad and men have improved very much since; but put it in another light, that the rifle has very much improved. The introduction of breechloading obviated the necessity for using either a very tight-fitting bullet—its shape, more especially point and sides, grooved and injured by ramrod—or else an easy-fitting bullet supposed to expand itself equally into the rifle grooves on the explosion of the powder at its base. A little mental calculation will show that under such circumstances no two bullets would keep the same trajectory fired by the steadiest of shots. The bruised head or jagged base would cause deviation sooner or later, and the longer the distance the greater certainty of this apparent contradiction. The cartridge and loading at the breech overcame this difficulty, and all that remained to be done was to lower the trajectory and find out the best size for bore of rifle, and the weight and balancing power of the projectile used.
In 1863 we find that at ranges 200 and 500 yards with five rounds at each range, Corporal Marshman, missing once, scored 28, whilst Colour-Sergeant Graham, also missing once, scored 27, but Ensign Stancomb, hitting each shot, scored 25, but in the Challenge Cup given by the ladies of Trowbridge, at ranges 200, 300, 500, and 600 yards, five rounds at each range, with only two misses, Colour-Sergeant Graham won the Cup with a score of 45, Private Reddrop, shooting as well, scoring 44. Again on another occasion, at 200 and 400 yards, five rounds at each distance, Colour-Sergeant Graham and Private Reddrop, making no misses, scored respectively 33 and 31.
In 1869, at a distribution of prizes in Hill's Hall, Major T. Clark gave a short epitome of the history of the corps since it was first raised in 1859, showing the improvement made in every way during the ten years that had elapsed. There were prizes given not only for skill in open competition, but for class firing, attendances at drills, and proficiency in drill. Later on, in 1873, in a challenge between Trowbridge and Devizes, seven shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards, Trowbridge won, scoring 488 as against 393, Private Hart, of Trowbridge, scoring 58, and Corporal Ruddle 54, being several points higher than any made by their opponents. Again, in competition with Melksham, seven shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards, the Trowbridge scored 264 as against Melksham 391; but in the return match, the following week, the tables were reversed, and Trowbridge scored 410 as against 381. In 1879 the Trowbridge were considerably beaten by the Devizes Company, the score of the first being but 417, against that of Devizes amounting to 477. The last record we will give is in September, 1885, at their own butts, Stranger's Corner, Sevrington, distances 200, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots at each distance. Colour-Sergeant T. Hill won the Challenge Cup with a score of 71, with Private Frank Long making 70.
During the years that have passed since the formation of the corps many and great changes have occurred, more especially among the officers and non-commissioned officers. On the occasion of Captain T. Clark becoming major in the battalion his place was taken by his brother, Lieutenant W.P. Clark, and to this officer, in conjunction with Captain, now Hon. Major E. Stancomb, the corps is very much indebted. Probably none in the corps have attended so many drills of all sorts and kinds as Hon. Major W.P. Clark. Wet or fine, hot or cold, this officer was ever to be seen at the fore. In camp none more anxious for the welfare and orderly behaviour of those under his command, or willing to give every assistance in his power towards carrying out petty, but nevertheless very troublesome and necessary details; but the Regulations are inexorable, and a certain clause forced Hon. Major W.P. Clark to retire into private life. In Hon. Major E. Stancomb he has a worthy successor, and doubtless for many a long day yet will C and D Companies of the 1st Battalion Wilts Volunteers do their duty to their Queen and country.