The history of the 1st Batt. Wilts Volunteers, from 1861 to 1885

by R. D. Gibney

Charles Penruddocke, Captain.
Geo. Lapworth, Lieut.
Alex. Powell, Lieut.
I. Woodcock, Ensign.
A. Graham, Ensign.
Revd. R. Chermside, Hon. Chap.

Soon after being made into a battalion, all the corps were present at the reviews held at Bristol and Salisbury, and did not add much to their fame in the performance. The volley firing carried on by some battalions at the conclusion of the review at Bristol was joined in by the 1st and 2nd Administrative Battalion, Wilts, and drew upon them the terrible reproof of the staff. However, as hard words break no bones, no great evil or good resulted, and the mistake was not worth the fuss made about it. Each battalion declared that they were not the one commencing the fire, but simply took it up as supposing it to be part of the orders in three cheers for the Queen, and as loyal subjects blazed away, to the horror of the cocked hats, and their own everlasting shame. The next day the local papers were filled with letters from warriors of all countries, anxious to explain that they had nothing to do with it, refused the temptation to join in the "bad example set by their neighbours," and were assured that it began with a volunteer on the extreme right wearing a green uniform and plumed chaco. It was not long after being made into a battalion on the 24th of August, 1862, that Major Jacob of Salisbury was removed by death. A slight accident in stepping ashore from his boat produced a serious illness ending fatally; to the great grief of many friends, and to the whole of the volunteers, among whom he had become very popular, as knowing his work well, and doing it. The vacancy in the battalion was filled up by the promotion of Captain T. Clark of the 2nd Trowbridge Corps, who at once attached himself to the 55th Foot, so as to acquire a thorough knowledge of his new duties. There were various occasions in which the whole corps assembled beyond these reviews; such as inspections by district inspectors, or where anything of moment was likely to draw a multitude to any place of note. Trains ran more conveniently on such occasions, and it was an opportunity to get off one of the required battalion drills. For example, there is an assembly of the battalion at the Earl of Pembroke's beautiful park at Wilton. It is a great occasion, and Lord Palmerston with no end of the quality are to be present; so the muster is good, and all are anxious that not only the Prime Minister, but all the multitude shall see, that neither time nor money has been spared in making the flamingo-coloured regiment assembling before their eyes, thoroughly efficient, and able defenders of their country.

There is the usual difficulty and delay in equalizing companies; as local corps have come in full strength, but the ones further away in lesser proportion. However, at last, the adjutant and sergeant-major between them have squared the circle, and all being ready, the same is reported to the lieutenant-colonel in command by the adjutant.

Lord Palmerston, with the Lady Herbert of Lea on his arm, followed by the future heir to Wilton House and the Earldom of Pembroke, move away to the saluting point, and the lieutenant-colonel directs the regiment to "march past in slow time."

A shuffle, a halt, and as the dressing of companies is deranged, the adjutant moves out to explain that "slow time" is not required to be performed by the volunteers, and that they only know "quick and double," passing always at the "quick."

The dressing corrected, another essay at starting is made, and the battalion is directed to pass in "the usual way."

This not being part of the drill instruction, was not well understood, and in a very unusual manner the battalion commenced the march past, the profanum vulgus offering advice and following with shouts. A few trees, and paths intervening, and concealing the wheeling points, did not add to the steadiness, but on the wheel of the leading two companies into the saluting base being completed, the climax was reached—the band ceased to play, and whilst the rear companies endeavoured to get themselves together, the cause of its sudden silence was briefly explained: "We've played our two companies past." The band was the private property of the Salisbury corps. ("N.B.—A battalion band an absolute necessity, and the musicians attached to corps to appear at battalion drills as riflemen only.") A slight sprinkling of rain coming on hastened the fulfilment of the programme of manœuvres, and whilst my Lord Palmerston, Lady Herbert of Lea, and the spectators generally ran for shelter to the house or shrubberies, the volunteers, careless of consequences, deployed into line among the oak trees.

"Is no one going to dress the points?" asked the junior major, as the adjutant waited patiently at the distant point for orders, the rain meanwhile descending in torrents.

There was no one to dress. The companies on the right had been dismissed (where to was not known), and as no order was received, each company in turn took upon itself to seek shelter, and thus commenced and ended a battalion drill of the 1st Wilts Rifle Volunteers at Wilton Park. Still it counted towards the required number. This was not learning battalion drill. There was no one in authority on the spot who could teach; moreover everything was against officers and non-commissioned officers willing and fairly able to instruct. The drill itself, subject to constant changes by circulars from the War Office, was patched, altered and amended until red books, were useless, and adjutants and sergeant instructors knew not what to teach; uniforms so varied in colours and cut, as to make a battalion, when equalized, appear ridiculous, and the whole drill hurried over and generally smashed up by corps having to leave in order to catch trains. The uniform was a matter that should have been arranged by the Lord Lieutenant, as was done after some delay, and no little correspondence between lieutenant-colonels, adjutants, captains of corps, and small authorities in which it was shown that each preferred his own colour to another's, considering such as exactly adapted for the battalion's adoption. The Marquis of Ailesbury, as Lord-Lieutenant, settled the matter by desiring the officers commanding both battalions of Wiltshire Volunteers (the 1st Administrative Battalion represented by the adjutant, and the 2nd Administrative Battalion by Lieut.-Colonel M.F. Ward) to meet him at the clothing depôt in London, and there after consultation with the officer in charge, dark green with black lace, similar to that worn by the Rifle Brigade, was decided upon. It was a wise decision, necessitating a general change, and an expense which would be shared in by all; and though extinguishing the supposed utility of the very lengthy and somewhat Noah's Ark cut of tunic, much approved of by the Salisburian, or the glittering loveliness of the grey and silver of the Wiltonian, or the light blue and white lace, with the wondrous solar topee, a rough ill-shaped pith or coarse felt helmet, of the Bradleyan, yet helped very much in one way or another to overcome the clannishness of corps, and to make the battalion look better on parade, but also to cause them to drill and work together better.

Improvements were very gradual. At their respective head quarters, and drill grounds, corps certainly improved in squad and company drills, and in single ranks with ropes learnt something of the theory of combination movements; but the whole was unsatisfactory. There was a want of unanimity, discipline, and cohesion, and it was not until some time after Lieut.-Colonel Everett, late captain in the 25th King's Own Borderers, had assumed the command, that any change for the better was generally visible. Captain J.F. Everett, having resigned his commission in the Borderers and settled down on his property at Greenhill near Warminster, had been selected by the Lord Lieutenant of the county to succeed General E.P. Buckley in the command; and to his untiring energy, perseverance, and foresight, the battalion is very much indebted. It was a great trust to impose on so young and untried an officer, this command of a battalion, composed of a class of men totally different from those he had been accustomed to, and worked on a system certainly not to be found in the Queen's Regulations; but which nevertheless was authorized, was rather looked upon as a "valued right" by some officers and men, and was composed of corps, each having its own head quarters, its own officers and non-commissioned officers, and difficulties to contend with. Doubtless the lieutenant-colonel brought with him numerous line ideas, which he afterwards found to be unworkable; and an inspection of corps at their own head quarters, with one or two general assemblies for battalion drill, revealed unsuspected facts. However, be all this as it may, the lieutenant-colonel set to work with a will, and by looking up single companies, interesting himself in prize shooting, commanding the battalion at autumn manœuvres, and establishing a regimental camp, gradually raised the whole tone of the battalion, causing both officers and men to see the necessity for greater punctuality, strict discipline, and the advantages to the service of cohesion and collective energy. To the diary kept by Lieut.-Colonel Everett of occurrences from the date of his joining to his resignation in 1885, I am indebted for much that is told about camps and incidental expenses, the remarks of inspecting officers, and other matters.