The GLIO Site

12th HANTS RIFLE CORPS.

     The annual prize meeting took place on Tuesday at Butser hill, near Petersfield. The following is a return of the day’s shooting:—

     There was a strong wind from right to left, with occasional heavy showers of rain, during the firing, which accounts for the lowness of the scores, as they are much below the average firing of this corps.

THE ANNUAL DINNER.

took place in the evening at the Dolphin Hotel, Petersfield, when about 90 partook of an excellent repast, provided by Host Crafts. The chair was taken Captain Seward, the commanding officer of the corps, who was supported by the Rev. J. M. Sumner, rector of Buriton; the Rev. J. Coles, curate of Petersfield; Lieutenant Minty and Ensign Soames; Messrs. R. S. Cross, J. D. Stone, F. Unnard, Leachman, M. D. Adams, Light (hon. secretary), Holt, G. Blackmore, C. Curtis, Dusautoy, Parker, G. Seward, &c., &c. After the removal of the cloths,
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing ‟The Queen,” said he was sure that in future ages, whatever might then happen, the reign of her gracious Majesty would be looked back to as a golden era for the people of Great Britain, and he was sure she had well earned the title a good many applied to her— that of Victoria, the good. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next proposed ‟The Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family.” He was sure the Prince Wales went the right way to work in visiting his fellow subjects, and so learning their wants, and that when the duty of King devolved upon him—which he hoped would be a long time distant—his matured judgment would qualify him for the onerous post. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing ‟The Army, the Navy, and the Volunteers,” said the army and navy had done their duty whenever they had been called upon, in all climates, and he was sure the volunteers would also do their duty, if unfortunately they we?e called upon, but he hoped that never would happen. Many of those present subscribed towards the volunteers; it was a sort of insurance, not as they paid on their property but for their dear ones at home, whom they insured in their office. (Cheers.) He was sure that like a man who Insured his property in an office, they never wished to get anything back; all they wished was the satisfaction of having a good volunteer force, if ever they were called upon. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said the next toast was ‟The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese.” They were very favoured in this neighbourhood by having gentlemen who ably did their duty in the church, and were always ready to help them. (Hear, hear.) In former times, when the poet and the novelist called this country ‟merrie England,” a bishop of the church headed or took part with the army in the field, and he was the best churchman who gave the hardest knocks. (Laughter.) Times were now changed, but he was sure, if the country were ever in danger, his clerical friends around him would join the volunteers present and do their best to give as bard knocks as they would. (Cheers and laughter.) They were ever ready to help them, and he hoped they always would be. He coupled with the toast the name of his friend Mr. Sumner. (Cheers.)
The Rev. J. M. SUMNER, in replying, said he was a man of peace, and they, he would not say were men of war, but that would be their occupation if they were called upon, and he was sure they would fulfil it as they did their other duties in life. He hoped that he should never be called upon to give any of those hard knocks to which the Chairman had referred. (Laughter.) His delight was to live peaceably and happily with all men. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. Mr. Haigh was absent, at the night school, probably bringing on young volunteers—teaching the young idea how to shoot. (Cheers and laughter.)
The Rev. J. M. SUMNER said it fell to his lot to propose to them what he might call the toast of the evening. He had to ask them to drink ‟Captain Seward and the Officers of the corps, and success to the 12th Hants Rifle Volunteers.” (Cheers.) He was very glad indeed to see so large a number this evening, which was, perhaps, not surprising as they were all very good volunteers with the knife and fork.” Laughter.) But from what he had heard he did hot believe that a good muster was confined to occasions of this kind, but that they mustered at their drills, and he knew that this year a larger number were present at the Brighton volunteer review than had been present on any previous occasion. He remembered some few years ago being present in London when the volunteers were reviewed before her Majesty, and he remembered the remarks that were made at that time. Many persons, who thought that they had all the wisdom, said ‟Oh it’s very well at present, but when the excitement has passed away, it will come down.” Something of the same kind was said at Petersfield, when it was proposed to organise a force here. He remembered hearing it said, “Oh, nothing stands long in Pelersfield. This will be like other projects; there will be a spurt at first; it will blaze up like a rocket, and then all will pass away.” He thought that their gathering proved that these prophets of ill had not been justified in their gloomy forebodings, and he hoped that the 12th Hants might long go on and prosper. (Cheers.) He was very glad to think that they had had such success in their battalion firing, and also in their competition with other corps, and he trusted that their success next year might be still greater than it had been this year. One thing he should like very much to have seen— that some of them had been to Belgium. (Hear, hear.) He should have been rejoiced to have seen that their gallant captain had been presented to the King of the Belgians. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) But if it was true, as reported, that there was be another peaceful invasion of a foreign country another year, they trusted that the invasion might not take place at the time as the invasion of Weyhill, and that their gallant captain might lead, not some forlorn hope, but to a pleasant invasion, such as that which took place the other day (Cheers.)
The toast was given with three cheers.
Captain SEWARD, who was received with a round of applause, returned thanks. There was no one here who knew his own failings so well or better than he did. He knew that he could not attend drill as often as he could wish. He knew that he could not see the different subdivisions so often as he could desire, but he was so well backed up by his fellow officers and the serjeants that he did not think the corps lost anything by his non-attendance. (Hear, hear.) He knew it was not right, and if he could attend better he would. But, whatever were his failings and shortcomings, he was happy to say that under his command the corps had not gone back. (Cheers.) Last year he stated here that the corps numbered 68; he thought it now numbered 75; at all events on the 19th of June, when the inspecting officer was here, they numbered 73, and 65 were present. The rest were absent with leave, and the inspector said that it was the best attendance he had ever had. (Cheers.) He hoped that the next time he came all would turn out as well, and that Colonel Colville might say, he said on the 19th of June, that some of their company drill was very good, particularly the marching past, which could not be surpassed. (Cheers.) He was very sorry that the adjutant had found fault with them to-day. He had not expected this; probably he was puffed up with pride for his corps. They knew what Col. Colville told them; the adjutant said he had told him different; but they went by what they had heard, (Hear, hear.) He hoped that on that day fortnight, when the adjutant would drill them, they would show him that they could attend then as well as now. (Cheers.)
     The prizes were then distributed by Captain SEWARD, who stated that he had had a letter from Mr. Nicholson, M.P., regretting very much that he could not dine with them, but sending a cheque for five guineas and a challenge vase to be shot for, leaving him (the captain) to fix the conditions. He thought it better that it should be won three times, not in succession, before any one could claim it. Sergeant Caplen was the fortunate winner this year. When he said ‟fortunate” he did not think that was the proper term, but he was the skilful winner. (Hear, hear.) It was no mere fortune on the part of Sergeant Caplen, because he was always there or thereabouts. (Cheers.) No man could be always first, but he was always first, second, or thereabouts. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He hoped that he would shoot for many years, and shoot well—he could say he hoped he would be always first. (Laughter.) In presenting a prize to Sergeant Cole, the captain said he was sure that every volunteer and every one in Petersfield would be pleased that he had won a good prize, (Cheers.) When Sergeant-Instructor Allen came up for his prize, Captain SEWARD said it was not usual for instructors to fire, but it was the unanimous wish of every one in the corps that he should be allowed to compete. (Cheers.)
     Lieutenant MINTY said that England could not go on without a Chancellor of the Exchequer, so the corps could not go on without some one to look after them and keep them straight. There was a gentleman who kept them straight in financial matters, and, therefore, to him they were indebted for keeping them in the position they were in now. He begged to propose ‟the Honorary Members,” coupled with the health of Mr. Light, the hon. sec. (Cheers.)
     Mr. LIGHT briefly returned thanks.
     Ensign SOAMES proposed ‟The honorary members.” (Cheers.) Allusion had once before been made to the very ostensible fact that without the sinews of war, in the shape of money, they could do nothing at all. They gave up their time and did the utmost they could; but they wanted that most useful commodity, the money, and that, he must say, had been forthcoming to a most liberal extent, (Cheers.) They had been supported on all sides, and gentlemen had been most anxious to encourage them, not only with their money, but by their presence on occasions like this. Very many of these had the pleasure of meeting last year. They then, he believed, congratulated the corps on the successful result of the year’s training. He thought, without speaking egotistically, or wishing to praise the corps beyond its due, that considering the few opportunities they had of drilling together, they were entitled to the praise which had been accorded to them. Speaking to the honorary members he might say that he was sure the volunteers had done the very best to apply their monies in a proper way, and he felt certain that there was not one that regretted the kindness he had done them in giving his donation. (Cheers.)
     Mr. ELKINGTON, in response, said that from the very beginning he took a strong view that the corps ought be supported and that it would live through all the prejudice that would always exist against every new institution. The result had turned out as he had thought it would, and no one was more pleased than he was at the way in which the captain was supported by the very creditable number belonging to the corps. Mr. Elkington concluded by repeating a few verses composed by himself in reference to the movement.
     Mr.R. S. Cross, in an able speech, proposed, ‟The Visitors,” and Mr. PORTER responded.
     The CHAIRMAN proposed ‟The Sergeant Instructor,” remarking that he was sure no corps in this county or in any neighbouring county had got an instructor so thoroughly attentive, both for drill and shooting, as he was. He was ever ready to go to any target or any range. He was ready to drill early and late, und to do everything in his power make them efficient, and it was their own fault if they were not so. He was very sorry that the weather had been so unfortunate, in consequence of which the scores were so low. But the wind was so high that at times it was impossible to stand against it, much less to shoot against it. If the weather had been more propitious they would have made good scores and shown what the instructor’s teaching had done. At present they were very nearly the best shooting corps in the county, and it was entirely through Sergeant Allen’s teaching that they were so. (Hear, hear.)
     Sergeant ALLEN, in replying, said he had met with great deal of opposition from other parties in this battalion, but he had endeavoured to carry out his duties in spite of them (Hear, hear.)
     Ensign SOAMES proposed ‟The Sergeants,” and paid a high compliment to them for their efficiency and readiness to do all they could to promote the welfare of the corps. He coupled with the toast the names of Sergeant Caplen and Cole.
Sergeant CAPLEN briefly replied.
     The CHAIRMAN briefly proposed, ‟The Petersfield Club” to which Mr. UNDERDOWN responded.
     Other toasts followed, the speeches being interspersed with songs, and the re-union passed off in a very agreeable manner.