In the first instance the members selected their own officers, their names being sent in to the Lord Lieutenant for his approval, through the captain commanding the corps. To the corps were then added the names of William Davis, Esq., as lieutenant, and Mr. John Scott as ensign, Charles Bleeck, Esq., as hon. assistant surgeon, and the Rev. J. Erasmus Philipps as chaplain.
The following were the first non-commissioned officers: Joseph Smith, quartermaster-sergeant; J.B. Haden, armourer-sergeant; George White, Philip Grubb, Edward Chambers, were sergeants; and Richard E. Vardy, D. Tillbrook, Charles Price, corporals; with Sergeant Sheppard, of the Wilts Militia, as sergeant-instructor; Edward Turner, bugler.
The uniform and equipments left nothing to be desired. The clothing blue-grey, with scarlet facings, and belts dark.
The drills for squad purposes were usually held in the corn market, but the broad streets and roads in the neighbourhood for wet weather, while the cricket and other fields in summer, were more frequently used. The corps worked with a will, having both morning and evening drills, and doubtless disturbed some of the sleep-loving folk by their devotion to the cause. A company of soldiers being instructed in section formations or wheelings, on the high road, under a window at 7 a.m., on a November's morning does not tend to the peaceful rest of any in the house of which the window is part, nor perhaps to their temper or rapture with the volunteer movement; more especially if that company were the 10th Wilts, with Sergeant-Instructor Sheppard intent on having things done correctly, and repeating "As you were" cruelly often.
The first range for rifle practice sanctioned by the War Office was at Knapper's Hole on the Parsonage Farm; but this not being found satisfactory, the range was removed in 1861 to Mancomb, about a mile from the town, where there is a most excellent range, up to 1100 yards, perfectly level; with a low range of chalk hills as a background to the targets, and the whole safe but far from free from gusts of wind and currents of air, trying to riflemen generally, but to pot-hunters in particular. The armoury, at first, was at the Town Hall in a room placed at the disposal of the corps by Lord Bath. It was then removed to the market-place, and subsequently to the High-street, where it now is.
As a band of some sort was found to be necessary, the formation of a drum-and-fife band was determined upon, and on the 16th May, 1860, the ladies of Warminster presented the corps with a silver bugle and a complete set of drums and fifes.
In March, 1860, a sub-division was established at Codford, and the following officers were appointed: John Ravenhill, lieutenant; Herbert Ingram, ensign.
The corps first turned out in complete uniform at a company drill on the 30th May, 1860, and on the following 2nd July the whole of the members were sworn in at the Town Hall after attending a church parade at the parish church, a sermon being preached for the occasion by the chaplain, the Rev. Sir J. Erasmus Philipps. About the same time a public dinner was held in the Town Hall, and was attended by almost all the rifle corps and very many of the tradesmen of the town and county gentlemen.
When the corps was first established the requisite finances to meet preliminary expenses were raised by donations from the public, and annual subscriptions from honorary members. Effective members had to pay an annual subscription of £1 and to find their own uniform, with the exception of cap and accoutrements, these being provided by the corps. This somewhat large annual subscription from effective members helped to keep the corps unusually select, and to retain men in the ranks. Besides, it caused all to be jealous for the respectable behaviour of each member of the corps, precluding the retention in the ranks of any unwilling to obey every order as issued, or acting otherwise than was correct. Discipline had to be preserved, and this, with William Davis as captain, with J. Scott for his lieutenant, and such non-commissioned officers and men as formed the 10th Corps, was not a matter of very great difficulty.