When the Rifle Corps was first formed, a few rifles were issued to it of the same bore as the musket then in use, viz. 14 balls to the pound; under the impression that there would be an advantage in the Riflemen being able to use the ammunition of soldiers of the line; but this arm was strongly objected to by Colonel Manningham and his officers, and was almost immediately done away with.
Some improvements were subsequently made in the Baker rifle; a chamber was introduced to hold the powder, and a flat-blade sword was substituted for that originally issued. With these and some other trifling changes, the Baker rifle continued till about the year 1837 or 1838. In the year 1836 a Board was assembled at Woolwich to report on various improved rifles. Of this Board Colonel Eeles, then commanding the 1st Battalion, was a member; and Captain Walpole, with a sergeant and twelve Riflemen of that Battalion, was sent to Woolwich to try the rifles submitted to the Board. These men fired daily for some weeks; and eventually the Brunswick rifle was fixed upon for the armament of the Rifle Brigade, and was issued to it (both Battalions being then at home) soon afterwards. This arm was 2 feet 6 inches long in the barrel, which was two-grooved, with complete turn in the length of the barrel; the ball was spherical and belted, and, to ensure the belt dropping into the grooves, two notches were cut at the muzzle. The ball weighed 557 grains, being about 12 to the pound. The rifle weighed nearly 2 pounds more than the Baker, its weight being 11 lbs. 5½ oz. It had a detonating lock; a straight sword, 22 inches long, was affixed to it by a spring. The Brunswick rifle, like the Baker, had a brass box in the stock. It was sighted, by means of a folding sight, to 300 yards; and it was found, in the trials made at Woolwich, that it made as good practice at 300 yards as the Baker at 200.
This rifle continued in use for nearly twenty years; but it was found difficult to load, the belt of the ball being after much firing difficult to force down the grooves; and in action the necessity of fitting the belt to the grooves hindered rapidity of loading, notwithstanding the notches at the muzzle.
While the 1st Battalion were at the Cape, and at the conclusion of the war with the Kaffirs in 1846–7, Lancaster rifles were received at King William’s-town for four or six men in each company. These were two-grooved, like the Brunswick, and of the same bore and length. They had a patent breech; and were sighted to 900 yards. The ball was conical, with a flat base, and a rib on each side to fit the grooves. It was very heavy, and the flight was found to be uncertain. Nevertheless, these rifles were used with good effect against the Boers at Boem Plaatz, and against the Basutos at Berea. In the Kaffir War of 1851–2, the Riflemen armed with this Lancaster were occasionally formed into a party during night-marches, and on the attacks on the Waterkloof.
On the embarkation of the Regiment for the Crimea the Riflemen were armed with the Minié rifle, not differing from those carried by soldiers of line regiments. And while in the Crimea they received the long Enfield and bayonet, the same as those issued to troops of the line. These long weapons were also issued to the 3rd and 4th Battalions on their being raised. But subsequently, and before the embarkation of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions for India, the short Enfield and the sword was substituted. This was the three-grooved Enfield. But this being found an imperfect weapon, the five-grooved short Enfield, Naval pattern, a much superior arm, was issued to the various Battalions about the years 1861–2.
This continued in use till the issue of five-grooved short Enfields converted to breech-loaders on the Snider principle, which were afterwards replaced by the Snider proper, in 1867. The 4th Battalion, however, had received in 1864 Whitworth rifles in place of the short Enfield, and these were retained until the issue of breech-loaders in 1867.
The Snider was replaced by the Martini-Henry, which was issued to the several Battalions towards the close of the year 1874.
The various changes in the uniform of officers and men are sufficiently indicated by the plates in this volume, taken from the drawings deposited in the Adjutant-General’s office, or from original drawings or portraits in my own possession.
The pouch-belt originally had only a whistle and chain affixed to a lion’s head. I do not know when the Maltese cross was first adopted; probably when the names of victories were first granted to the Regiment. It was at first surmounted with a sitting figure of Fame; and it appears, from Sir W. Stewart’s correspondence, that in 1821 it was in contemplation to replace this (which he calls an Angel) by ‘an Eagle, or Britannia, or Minerva, or Amazon.’[344] An Eagle was, I believe, adopted for a time; but the Cross was soon after surmounted with a Royal Crown. When the present Imperial Crown was substituted I do not know. It has been in use, however, for forty years.