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Nottinghamshire Rifle Association

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The First Volunteer Matches at Trent
and the NCO's Annual Dinner

The new range at Trent opened in style with ceremonial first shots on Thursday 7th November. Within two days the range was being used for competitive Volunteer shooting, albeit on a small scale. "L" Company held a 200 yard shoot, kneeling and prone, on Saturday 9th November, with a handicap system to encourage the recruits. It was well attended.

Nottingham Evening Post 11 Nov 1895

TRENT RIFLE RANGE
THE FIRST SHOOTING COMPETITION.

The new Letter "L" Company, R.H.R. (Major A.W. Brewill), inaugurated its shooting competitions by holding the first prize meeting upon the new Trent Range, opened on Thursday by Lord Wolseley. The firing took place on Saturday, 9th November, and caused much interest amongst the members, who attended in large force, no fewer than 54 competitors firing. In order to encourage the younger volunteers to become good shots the recruits were each allowed five points. The conditions were - five shots kneeling and five shots prone, with one sighter, at 200. The highest scores are as follows:–

NameKneelingProneAllowedTotal
Corporal A.T. Oakes1921-40
Colour-Sergeant W.H. Newham1822-40
Major A.W. Brewill1822-40
Private A. Hinds1718540
Sergeant H.W. Davis1920-39
Corporal E. Wallis1623-39
Private H. Kiddier1914538
Corporal J.W. Hall1719-36
Private W.W. Sandy1417536
Sergt-Instructor E. Hawkridge1619-35
Private W. Billings1916-35
Private J. Tomlinson1518-34
Private J. Kirk1420-34
Lance-Corporal J.A. Holmes1915-34
Private C. Seal1118534
Private A. Hancock1316534
Private E.J. Danby1316534
Private F. Barwell1118534
Private J.L. Ashwell1415534
Private T.H. Cotton1117533
Private T. Brady1016531
Sergeant G. Beaumont1416-30
Private H. Else1510530

The following day there was a storm over Nottinghamshire which was reported in Monday's paper.

Nottingham Evening Post, 11th Nov 1895

THE GALE

Nottingham, in common with other parts of the country, was yesterday visited by a severe storm. Throughout the day the weather was of an inclement character, but after nightfall the wind increased in strength, and towards midnight developed into little short of a hurricane. Trees were uprooted in various parts of the town, and slates and chimneys extensively dislodged from houses and buildings, but so far no accidents of a serious nature have been reported.

The same paper gave a short account of the next match held at Trent range for the battalion's Duke of St. Albans' Prize.

Nottingham Evening Post, 11th Nov 1895

ROBIN HOODS AT TRENT

The handsome challenge cup offered to the Robin Hood Rifles in 1865 by the then Duke of St. Albans was shot for on the new range at Trent today. There was a changeable breeze from the right, but the light was good. Sergeant St. Leo Smith and Sergeant H. Page tied at the three ranges with 90, in the earlier part of the day, but, shooting in the afternoon, Private W. Ashby did splendidly all through, and scored 92, the cup thus becoming his property for the ensuing year. There were more that 60 competitors in all, and the shooting was up to the average.

The following week, on Thursday, 14th November, the Robin Hoods held their annual prize match at Trent; but this was marred by very bad weather which caused an adjournment to Saturday, 16th November when further shooting took place in not much better conditions.

Nottingham Evening Post 16 November 1895

ROBIN HOOD RIFLES
ANNUAL PRIZE SHOOTING AT TRENT
COMPETITION ADJOURNED

The annual shooting for battalion prizes was resumed at Trent today, under conditions as bad as they could be. A very strong wind blew in gusts obliquely across the ranges. It was impossible to hold a rifle steadily. The results were, therefore, with few exceptions very disappointing. Thursday's scores were published in Friday's "Daily Guardian". The conditions under which firing took place today justifies the inclusion of the scores down to twenty:– .....

The shoot was at 200 and 300 yards and the top score was Sergeant E.H. Page with (possibly) 27 and 24, total 51 out of (possibly) 70. The original image is too blurred to make out any more details.

The Non-Commissioned Officer's annual dinner held on 28th November at the Black Swan Hotel in Goose Gate gave the Commanding Officer Colonel A.C. Cantrell-Hubbersty an opportunity to thank all involved in the recent events surrounding the opening of the Trent range and to relay compliments that had been received afterwards from more senior officers.

He also announced the inauguration of a new competition suggested by Colonel Seely involving teams of five from each Company performing a route march from Nottingham to Trent followed immediately by firing ten rounds per man within a time limit with the best scoring team winning £2 each.

Musical entertainment was provided by several persons attending the dinner including the top table and was well received.

Nottingham Evening Post 29 November 1895

THE ROBIN HOODS.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS'
ANNUAL DINNER.

Of the many social functions which bring together the members of the Robin Hoods at a time when battalion parades and company marches out are at a discount, the dinner which forms the basis of the annual reunion of the non-commissioned officers of the regiment ranks as one of the most popular. For several years now most enjoyable evenings have been spent, and the record of an exceptionally eventful year in the history of the regiment gave to the dinner, which was held last night at the Black Swan Hotel, Goose-gate, Nottingham, an additional colour of interest. There was a record attendance, the company numbering over 100, and including the staff officers of the regiment, and several visitors who attended by invitation.

Quartermaster-Sergt. H.J. Synyer presided, and was supported on the right by Col. A.C. Cantrell-Hubbersty (the commanding officer of the regiment), Lieut.-Col. Hardy, Surgeon Lieut.-Col. J. O'C. Hynes, the Rev. H.T. Hayman (vicar of Edwinstowe, chaplain), Surgeon Lieut. W.J. Sprott, and Lieut. and Quartermaster Gisborne, and, on the left by Lieut.-Col. J. Wright, Captain Chambers Didham (the adjutant), Captain E.A. Cuckson, Lieut. and Quartermaster Clarke (17th Lancers), Lieut. and Quartermaster J.H. Bradwell Johnson (South Notts. Yeomanry Cavalry).

Colonel A.C. Hubbersty, on rising to respond to the toast of the officers of the regiment, was enthusiastically welcomed. He said that it was with the greatest possible pleasure that the officers accepted their hospitality, and he hoped the day was far distant when they should cease to extend that hospitality to them. (Hear, hear.) Upon former occasions, when he had met them, he had generally reviewed the work of the year, but as he would have to do that at the annual prize distribution on December 19th next, he would only inflict a few words on them. They would all be very glad to hear that the regiment had again received a most favourable report from Colonel Hooke, their inspecting-officer. (Hear, hear.) He had also received a communication from the general who commanded the North-Eastern District to say how very pleased he was to hear that the Robin Hoods were in such an efficient condition. The Commander-in-Chief, upon his visit to Trent to open the new range, told him (Colonel Hubbersty) how very much pleased he was with the appearance of the regiment on parade, and with the very smart and soldier-like bearing of the guard of honour. (Applause.) These were subjects of great congratulation, and ought to afford very great gratification for all the extremely hard work, and the enormous amount of interest which all of them had shown in the regiment, when they knew that their labours were appreciated by those who were in a superior position to themselves. He was quite convinced that it would be the means of being a very great incentive to all of them to renew their exertions, and, if possible, to make themselves more efficient. (Applause.)

He had a very pleasing communication to make to them, which they all would be glad to hear. He had a letter from Colonel Seely -(applause)- and he said he would wish to mark the opening of the new range at Trent. He had suggested that he should present to the regiment a challenge shield, which should be competed for by five men from each company, who would be nominated by their captains. The principal conditions which he would like to see carried out were these. He desired that these five men should march from Nottingham to Trent, carrying their great coats, and with a weight equal to 90 rounds of ammunition, within a given time. They would be required to fire immediately on their arrival, also within a given time, ten rounds of ammunition, at a first-class target, and the highest number of hits in each squad would proclaim them the victorious squad. Each of these five men would receive at Col. Seely's hands £2 each. (Applause.) He (Col. Hubbersty) considered that this would be one of the most sporting and popular competitions of the year, and he of course had no hesitation in thanking Col. Seely for his extreme generosity and in accepting the offer. (Applause.) They all had a very successful time during the week they had at Yarmouth. (Hear, hear.) No doubt the duties were heavy, but they were performed by the Robin Hoods with that cheerfulness and alacrity which had always distinguished them. Next year it was proposed to form a brigade camp at Yarmouth again, and as the time selected would bring in the Bank Holiday he felt that they would all like to go there again. (Applause.) He therefore at once sent in a requisition for the Robin Hoods to go into the camp. He thanked them sincerely for the way in which they had received the toast. (Applause.)

Songs were sung during the evening by the Rev. H.T. Hayman, Armourer-Sergeant Bartlett, Sergeants T.E. Harris, F. Warsop, and B.J. Selby, and Corporals Lees, J. Smith. and T. Warsop. Surgeon-Lieutenant Sprott contributed some thoroughly enjoyable violin solos, and Mr. J.B. Lyddon was a capable accompanist.

Transcripts from Nottingham Evening Post
11/11/1895, 16/11/1895 and 29/11/1895
British Library Newspaper Archive