Where are the Robins Hoods Shooting?
The search for news of the Nottinghamshire Rifle Association during 1893 has not yet brought to light any reports. This does not mean that it was no longer supporting the volunteer movement in the county; but it does not seem to have promoted the usual Annual Volunteers Match. This match usually took place in June prior to the Bisley Imperial Meeting.
There were regular reports of the Regimental Orders issued to the Robin Hoods in the newspapers and those for April, June and September give answers to the question posed above. The May match against the Leicestershire R.V. at Melton Mowbray has been covered on an earlier page. The Orders show that ranges at Melton Mowbray, Trent and Mansfield were being used for registering purposes. This was essential for the receipt of Government grants to support the regiment.
The Orders issued on 1st September mention the only competition shooting arranged for the Robin Hoods under the title of the Battalion Annual Competition. This was to be shot at the Derby range, which we earlier learnt was associated with the Derby racecourse. The competition was at only two ranges (200 yards kneeling and 500 yards prone) with 1 sighter and 7 to count at each. Prizes of 10s. were to be awarded from the 1s. entry fee. There is no mention of the Nottinghamshire Rifle Association prize nor of the National Rifle Association bronze medal; but with shooting taking place after the July Bisley Meeting this is perhaps not surprising. Evidently two regimental prizes were shot concurrently, the Duke of St. Alban's Vase and the Adjutant White's Memorial Cup. Both included the sighting shot to count and the Vase was at 500 yards only whilst the Cup was settled on the sixteen shots of the full course.
A report on the results of the match has not yet been found.
The orders for 2nd June at item 6 include the briefest of notices about the granting of permission to construct a new rifle range. There is no mention of finance to achieve this or the intended location.
ROBIN HOOD RIFLES
Regimental Orders by Colonel A. C. Hubbersty,
Commanding, Headquarters, Nottingham Castle,
7th April, 1893.
1. Through the kindness of Captain Morgan, the rifle range at Trent is placed at the disposal of the Battalion for registering on Thursday and Saturday next. 13th and 15th inst. "Only for trained volunteers, who must not be Third Class shots." Range open from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Range at Melton Mowbray, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11th, 12th, and 14th inst., for trained volunteers of the Battalion only, open till 6 p.m. The range at Melton Mowbray will be placed at the disposal of Officer commanding K Company on Thursday next, 13th inst. Ranges for recruits next week:– No Volunteer is to go to the Ranges except by the proper road. At Trent they are not to cross the railway line. Officers commanding companies are requested to urge the members of their companies to complete their registering as soon as possible, and that all orders regarding the ranges are complied with.
2. Authority has been received for the Battalion to encamp at Yarmouth from 22nd July to 29th July.
3. March-Outs:– "E" Company, 18th instant; "J" Company, 13th instant. Parade at Drill Hall 7.30 p.m. Full dress with haversacks, leggings, and glengarries. Bugle band to attend.
4. "B" and "K" Companies Clothing Inspection at Drill Hall, Monday, 10th instant. and Wednesday, 12th instant, 7.30 pm. Full dress, leggings, and haversacks. Bugle band to attend with "B" Company. Full dress with glengarries.
By Order,
(Sd.) H. Kilbee Stuart, Captain. and Adjutant. Robin Hood Rifles.
ROBIN HOOD RIFLES.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS BY COLONEL A. C.
HUBBERSTY, Commanding.
Headquarters Nottingham Castle
2nd June, 1893.
1.–Parades next week at the Old Racecourse on Monday and Thursday, 5th and 8th June, undress uniform, without leggings.
2.–Range Registering will take place at Melton Mowbray on Tuesday and Wednesday, 6th and 7th June; recruits only. Registering at Trent on Thursday 5th June, trained volunteers.
3.–A Board of Officers will assemble at the Orderly room at 12 noon, Wednesday, 7th inst., to report upon the Rifle Slings of the Battalion. President, Captain and Adjutant R. Kilbee-Stuart; members, Captain A. W. Brewill, Captain J. T. Perry. All witnesses are hereby ordered to attend the Court.
4.–Equipment will be issued to the undermentioned Companies on the following dates :–
B Company, Monday, 5th June
G Company Tuesday, 6th June
H Company Wednesday,7th June
K Company Thursday 8th June
Casuals of the above Companies on Friday, 9th June
From 12 noon to 2 pm and from 5pm to 8pm on each day
5.–The following non-commissioned officer is appointed to the Supply Detachment No. 5266. Lance-Sergeant J. Cowlishaw, B Company (vice Sergeant F. Cave resigned.)
6.–It is notified for general information that permission for the construction for a rifle range has been sanctioned by H. Gd. W. O. letter, V–1 Notts.–1068, dated 23–5–93.
7.–The following Companies will Parade for a Night March, with sealed orders, on Saturday, June 10th. Full dress uniform, with glengarries (no helmets), leggings, valise equipment, haversacks, great coats, water-bottle and mess tin. Officer's undress, with leggings, haversacks, water–bottles, and great coat rolled. Every man to take knife, fork, soap, towel, and brush in haversack. B Company and Bugle Band at 5.15pm in Queen-street; G Company, at 3pm, New Trent Bridge; H Company, 8.10pm, Great Northern Railway Station; K Company, 8.45pm, Midland Railway Station.
By Order, R. Kilbee Stuart,
Captain and Adjutant Robin Hood Rifles.
ROBIN HOOD RIFLES.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS BY COLONEL A. C.
HUBBERSTY, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS, NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
16th June, 1893.
1. Church Parade.—The Battalion will parade in the Market-place, on Sunday, 18th instant, at 9.45 am. Full dress uniform with side arms, for the purpose of attending Divine Service at St. Mary's Church.
2. Parades next week at the Old Racecourse on Monday and Thursday, 19th and 22nd June; fall in at 7.45 p.m.; undress uniform with leggings; band and bugle band to attend Thursday's parade. Signallers, cyclists, and ambulance are invariably to answer their names with their companies.
3. Registering at Melton Mowbray on Tuesday, and Friday, 20th and 23rd June, open to the Battalion. Members are reminded that they must be on the range before 5 p.m. Registering at Trent on Thursday, 22nd June: trained volunteers only.
4. Letter D Company will parade at the Drill Hall at 3.45 p.m., Saturday, 1st July, for a march out to Papplewick; full dress uniform, with haversacks, leggings, and glengarries. Bugle band to attend.
5. The squad of recruits will fall in, and be attested at 8 p.m. on Monday, 26th instant, instead of next Monday. Officers are requested to complete their establishment.
By Order.
R. KILBEE STUART, Captain,
and Adjutant Robin Hood Rifles.
ROBIN HOOD RIFLES.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS BY COLONEL A. C.
HUBBERSTY, Commanding.
Headquarters, Nottingham Castle,
2nd June, 1893.
1–Parade next week at the Old Race Course on Tuesday and Friday, 27th and 30th June. Fall in at 7.45 p.m. undress uniform without leggings. The orders for the full dress parade on 6th July will be issued hereafter.
2–Range—Registering at Mansfield, Monday, 26th June, trained volunteers only. Registering at Trent, Thursday, 29th June; recruits. only; and Saturday, 1st July. till 2 p.m., trained volunteers only, after which hour the range is placed at the disposal of officer commanding G Company. Ranges close between the hours of 12 and 1 for the markers' dinner hour.
3–The squad of recruits will assemble at the Drill Hall on Monday, 26th inst., at 8 p.m., when one officer per company is expected to be present for the purpose of attesting, &c. Further orders will be issued.
4–Officers commanding companies are requested to send to the Adjutant, by July 8th. the names of five privates per company who will be willing, and are certain to go, with the fatigue party to camp on the 20th July. Also the names of three privates per company who will be prepared to do shelter trench exercise. in camp one morning.
5–Officers commanding companies are directed to take steps to have the haversacks properly fitted; when rolled the top to be level with, and outside, the strip of the frog, the front strap of sling to pass between the second and third button of the tunic, and both straps underneath the belt.
6–Camp orders will be issued on the 3rd July. Members will be allowed to join until Tuesday, 25th July, but they must sleep four nights in camp. This order to be read on four successive parades.
7–The equipment and old rifle slings will be issued to companies as follows:
A Company, Monday, 26th inst.
C Company, Tuesday, 27th Inst.
D Company, Wednesday, 28th inst.
E Company, Thursday, 29th inst.
F Company, Friday, .30th inst.
J Company, Saturday, 1st July
Issue from 11 o'clock a.m. to 7 o'clock p.m.
Old rifle slings will be issued to the regiment during the week.
By Order.
R. KILBEE STUART, Captain,
and Adjutant Robin Hood Rifles.
ROBIN HOOD RIFLES.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS BY COLONEL A. C.
HUBBERSTY, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS. NOTTINGHAM CASTLE,
1st September 1893.
1. Parades.–The battalion will parade in King and Queen–streets at 2.30 p.m. sharp on Thursday, 7th September, and march to Wollaton Park for inspection by the officer commanding 45th Regimental District. Band, buglers, and pioneers to attend. Full dress, with leggings and haver- sacks. Twenty rounds of blank ammunition per man. The commanding officer hopes that every member of the battalion will endeavour to attend. No member of the battalion to appear on parade without a sling on his rifle. Members will be permitted to join at Lenton or Wollaton.
2. It is notified for information that on all parades when "blank ammunition" is used, officers commanding companies will inspect the men's pouches and ascertain that there is no ball cartridge in them, and report to the adjutant for the information of the commanding officer before the issue of blank ammunition, and also at the termination of parade to see that all ammunition is collected.
3. Subaltern officers are again informed that they must fire their annual course at musketry, vide Musketry Regulations, 1892.
4. Officers or non-commissioned officers in charge of parties will on all occasions furnish the adjutant with a return of how the ammunition was expended, and return all surplus and empty cases to the magazine immediately on return to headquarters.
By order
R. KILBEE STUART, Captain,
Adjutant Robin Hood Rifles.
The Battalion Annual Competition will take place at Derby, on Thursday, September 14. Conditions:–
1.–Entrance fee 1s. each, to be divided into prizes of 10s. each. Each winner will choose his prize in order of merit. Ranges 200 and 500 yards, seven shots at each, one sighting shot at each range, 200 yards kneeling, 500 yards prone. Rifle, Martini-Henry, minimum pull of trigger 6lb. Target and scoring Bisley, 1893; no blow-off shots allowed.
2.– Ties will be decided as at Bisley 1893.
3.–Four squads of six men each will be formed every half-hour, commencing at eight o'clock a.m. to 5 p.m.
4,–Boards for entries will be pIaced at the Armoury, Castle-gate, on Tuesday, September 5th, until Tuesday September 12th. No alterations or erasures permitted. Entrance fees to be paid at same time to Sergeant Benson. No entrance fees returned.
5.–The competition is strictly confined to those members who are efficient in drill at the time of shooting.
6.–Squads to fall in punctually at the hour named on the entrance boards. Roll to be called and triggers tested before and after firing. Targets to be drawn for.
7.–Talking or any kind of interference will not be allowed. Each man's total score at each range to be read out.
8.–Competitors, when not firing, must remain well in rear of the firing point, and must not speak to the men firing.
9.–The adjutant, or, in his absence, the officer detailed to take charge of the range, will have entire control, and his decision on all points will be final.
10.–Competitors are requested to leave the range on completing their firing.
11.–Telescopes will be used by the register-keepers in order to check the marking, and, if in the opinion of the register–keeper a shot is incorrectly signalled, he shall draw the attention of the adjutant, at whose discretion the marking may be challenged.
12.–The railways will take men to Derby and back for single fare.
DUKE OF ST. ALBANS' CHALLENGE VASE.
This vase will be shot for at same time, and won by the individual making the best score in the eight shots fired at 500 yards (sighting shot and seven competition shots), and will be held by the captain of the company to which the winner belongs.
ADJUTANT WHITE'S MEMORIAL CUP.
This cup will be held for the year by the man making the highest score in the 16 shots fired (one sighter, and seven competition shots at each range).
By Order,
R. KILBEE STUART, Captain and Adjutant,
Robin Hood Rifles.
Transcripts from Nottingham Evening Post
13/04/1893, 06/06/1893, 20/06/1893, 27/06/1893 and 08/09/1893
British Library Newspaper Archive