On the 20th April, 1866, John Frederic Everett, late a captain in the 25th King's Own Borderers, was gazetted as lieutenant-colonel, and on the 11th July following, the battalion was inspected by Colonel R. Bruce, lately commanding the 2nd Royals, and assistant inspector of the district at Salisbury. The drill was fairly well done, and met with the approval of the inspecting officer.
On the 25th July the battalion took part in a review held on the racecourse, Lansdown, Bath, but were under the command of the senior major, Major T. Clark, Lieut.-Colonel Everett commanding a brigade on the occasion.
The review was about as useful and successful as such gatherings usually were, or could be under the circumstances of their management. A few yeomanry collected together from the troops of adjacent counties, some local artillery, horsed from cabs and drays, and three or four brigades of infantry, under the command of volunteer officers. Bands very plentiful and manœuvring space limited. Each battalion on its arrival at Bath was marched away to the racecourse, and all felt that the beer and sandwich given by the citizens of Bath to each volunteer, was well earned as he reached the summit of the terrible Lansdown hill. It was a trial for many, unaccustomed to be dressed up in tight-fitting tunics, wabbling chacos with gaudy plumes, cross belts, and haversacks, to say nothing of a heavy rifle and some rounds of blank ammunition, toiling up that hot and dusty road in the hottest part of a day in hot July; but few fell out, and panting upwards, they could afford to smile at the greetings offered in honour of their coming, "Welcome!" "Our brave defenders!" &c. &c., were civil and perhaps flattering; but when half way up was reached, and strangers asked how much further it might be, the answer "Excelsior," inscribed on a banner crossing the highway, said the end was not yet.
The corps attending from the 1st Administrative Battalion were as follows:—
2nd Brigade.
Lieut.-Colonel J.F. Everett, Commanding; Captain Max, Major
of Brigade.
1st A.B. Wilts Rifle Volunteers.
Major Clark (in command), Major Penruddocke, Captain and
Adjutant Gibney.1st Corps, Salisbury.—Captains Pinckney and Smith; Lieuts. J. Brown and Payne; Ensigns Wilson and Kelsey; Sergeants, 7; Rank and File, 51; Band, 26. Total, 90.
2nd Corps, Trowbridge.—Captain W.P. Clark; Lieut. Stancomb; Assist.-Surgeon Seale; Sergeants, 5; Rank and File, 76; Band, 16. Total, 100.
6th Corps, Maiden Bradley.—Lieut. Festing; Ensign Harding; Sergeants, 4; Rank and File, 40. Total, 46.
9th Corps, Bradford-on-Avon.—Lieut. Beavan; Ensign Adye; Sergeants, 5; Rank and File, 46. Total, 53.
10th Corps, Warminster.—Lieuts. Scott and Ingram; Ensigns Grubb and Smith; Rank and File, 50. Total, 54.
13th Corps, Westbury.—Lieut. Gibbs; Ensign Pinniger; Sergeants, 4; Rank and File, 40. Total, 46.
14th Corps, Wilton.—Lieut. King; Ensign Powell, Sergeants, 3; Rank and File, 32. Total, 37.
Total of all ranks, 430.
The idea was that the enemy were advancing from Bristol on Bath, and in the defence of Kelson Round Hill, the Bath battalion, supported by some artillery, covered themselves with glory; and doubtless would have been annihilated had not the whole of the force, accompanied by several thousand spectators, moved forward to their assistance. It was late in the evening before the review ended, and still later ere many a corps reached its head quarters.
The annual prize-meeting of the Wilts Rifle Association was held this year at Warminster, and proved to be a great success. The excellent range and the more central situation of the town enabled competitors from both battalions to enter the lists in goodly numbers. The custom hitherto had been that the meetings should be held alternately at Salisbury and Devizes, but it was considered advisable to alter this arrangement, and owing to the judgment and decision of the local committee, consisting of Lieutenants Scott, Ingram, Smith, Quartermaster Toone, &c., all went off admirably.
The 1st Administrative Battalion Wilts Volunteer Rifles possessed very many good shooting men, but in this respect were certainly inferior to their companions in No. 2 Administrative Battalion. One thing, the 2nd Administrative Battalion were several corps and many men stronger, and on the whole possessed greater facilities for target practice. The President's prize, a prize of thirty-five guineas given by the Marquis of Bath in certain portions at various distances to the best shots, was taken chiefly by competitors belonging to the second battalion; but Mr. Poynder's grand prize of a piece of plate value fifty guineas, open to all Wiltshire volunteers and yeomanry, was won by Colour-sergeant Jefferys of the 6th Maiden Bradley Corps, after making a tie with Private Martin of the 10th Warminster Corps, the scores being:—
| 300 yards. | 500 yards. | 700 yards. | Total. | |
| Jefferys | 13 | 11 | 14 | 38 |
| Martin | 16 | 13 | 9 | 38 |
The score at the longest distance deciding the prize.