Civilian Rifle Clubs in 1900
By the turn of the century, rifle clubs formed by civilians were coming into existence, alongside the volunteer forces, but without the military training and drill, except for developing the skills needed for accurate shooting. The organisers wanted to gain support from the Government on the grounds that the rifle clubs could contribute to the pool of people available to defend the realm if the need arose.
The Birmingham Rifle Club proposed a conference of clubs to see if a national organisation could be formed to represent their interests and to lobby the Government for better support for civilian rifle shooting than had been proposed by the National Rifle Association, which was closely linked with the Volunteer movement.
Nottinghamshire Guardian, 16 June 1900
The Birmingham Rifle Club has issued a circular calling a conference to consider "the wholly inadequate assistance proposed to be rendered to civilian rifle clubs by the State, the conditions of which have been recently issued by the National Rifle Association"; and also to consider the founding of an association to govern the art of rifle shooting as practised by civilian rifle clubs, and the question of municipal or State aid in the equipping of suitable ranges. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham will preside at the conference, which it is proposed to hold at the Council House, Birmingham, on June 27th.
News of the Birmingham conference reached the Mayor of Maidstone, Kent, and a response appeared in the Dover Express in general support of the Birmingham proposal save for the formation of a national body, preferring a county based organisation.
Dover Express, 29 June 1900
KENT v. BIRMINGHAM
[TO THE "DOVER EXPRESS."]
My attention has been drawn to a notice in the public press that the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, as President of the Birmingham Rifle Club, is advertised to preside at a Conference in that City on the 27th instant, in connection with the promotion of Rifle Clubs throughout the country on more satisfactory conditions than those which have recently been issued by the National Rifle Association, with the authority of the Secretary of State for War.
Amongst other proposals to be brought forward at that Conference, is one "To found an Association to govern the art of rifle shooting as practised by civilian rifle clubs ",and another "To found an Annual Tournament."
I shall be much obliged if you will assist me to draw the attention of the public of Kent to this circumstance, and to say that, although the general principle may be readily conceded of Rifle Clubs receiving State recognition to an extent far exceeding that which, up the present, has been indicated, it would seem in several respects preferable that action in this matter should be taken independently by Counties, or at all events that a central organisation created in Birmingham should not fetter action which it may be proposed to take locally.
The conditions attaching to Kent, as a County "on the path of danger, if danger there be" (quoting the words of General Luard at the last meeting of our County Council), seem to be more pressing than those attached to a Midland County, and therefore, as the individual who bas been honoured this year by being placed in the position of Chief Magistrate of Maidstone, I beg to give notice that I propose to issue invitations very shortly to the chief civic authorities in this County to meet me in Maidstone, to confer with me as to the most suitable measures to be adopted to obtain that which appears to be urgently necessary.
The position appears to be briefly this - that an able-bodied man should be enabled (if he likes) to become an expert rifleman, and then (if he likes) he may go and be drilled and disciplined. The War Office authorities seem, on the contrary, to say - "However able-bodied you may be, you may not learn to shoot, except at your own expense, unless you will engage to be drilled and made into soldiers of one kind or another, whether you want it or not." That appears to be the crux of the matter.
Good rifle shooting may not be everything which is needed to increase our sense of security, but it would go a long way towards it.
Edmund Vaughan, Mayor.
Town Hall, Maidstone.
20th June, 1900.
The National Rifle Association put out a statement at this time indicating how many civilian rifle clubs were in the process of agreeing to the NRA's conditions and affiliating to the NRA and how many were still to complete the process.
Nottinghamshire Guardian, 30 Jun 1900
The National Rifle Association states that there are at present time 64 civilian rifle clubs in process of formation, of which 27 have already complied with the association's conditions, and are affiliated with it. The association is also in correspondence with about 300 inquirers, and it is anticipated that at least 200 of these will be successful in forming clubs in the districts. All these organisations and proposals are in addition to the 164 county and other rifle associations (some of them abroad) which have been for many years co-operating with the National Rifle Association.
A report of the meeting in Birmingham appeared in the Taunton Courier shortly afterwards. It began with the statement from the National Rifle Association and continued with details of the resolutions passed at the meeting.
Taunton Courier, 4 Jul 1900
The National Rifle Association notify that there are at the present time 64 civilian rifle clubs in process of formation. Of these 27 have already complied with the Association's conditions, and have been affiliated to it. The Association is also in correspondence with about 300 enquirers, and it is anticipated that at least 200 of these will be successful in forming Clubs in their districts. All these organisations and proposals are in addition to the 164 county and other Rifle Associations (some of them in the Colonies) which have been for many years co-operating with the National Rifle Association.
A conference of civilian rifle clubs, to consider the proposals of the National Rifle Association, was held at Birmingham on Wednesday. Rifle clubs in all parts of the kingdom sent delegates. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Burgess (Guildford), that the scheme proposed by the National Rifle Association, by request of the Secretary of State, on the question of the formation of rifle clubs was inadequate; further that no scheme would be satisfactory which did not include (1) the issue of a service rifle to each member of a recognised rifle club at the Volunteer rates, namely, 64s each; (2) the rifle to become the member's absolute property, and to remain in his possession when paid for; (3) to be free from gun license; (4) the issue of a reasonable quantity of ammunition per member to recognised rifle clubs at Volunteer rates, viz., 1s per 21 rounds. Another resolution declared that facilities should be given at once to members of recognised rifle clubs for practice on existing ranges, or, if necessary, ranges should be equipped and maintained by the State or local authorities out of local funds.
A letter was sent to the War Office following the meeting. The reply was publicised in the Morning Post in September, suggesting that the matter ought really to be addressed to the National Rifle Association, who had agreed the original arrangements with the War Office.
Morning Post, 13 Sep 1900
Mr. Chamberlain, replying to a communication from the Birmingham Rifle Club requesting the Government to grant free licences to members of recognised rifle clubs, writes :
"I duly received your letter, and at once communicated with Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the subject. The question is one of importance, as, of course, any decision must govern all cases, and Birmingham could not be treated exceptionally. The Chancellor informs me that the regulations were arranged with the War Office and the National Rifle Association, and they agreed that exemption should be confined to rifles belonging to the clubs. The reason was that it was thought impossible to secure that rifles belonging to individual members should be used only for recognised target practice at club ranges. The proceeds of the licence go to the County Councils, and not to the Government, and it would appear, therefore, that if any change is to be made, it must be at the joint request of the War Office and the National Rifle Association. If you think it desirable to carry the matter further I would suggest that you should apply direct to the latter body, and if they agreed with you it is probable that they would be the best persons to bring influence to bear on the War Office."
It was decided to take the course suggested by Mr. Chamberlain.
From this brief report in the Hull Daily Mail we learn that the Birmingham Civilian Rifle Club celebrated it's first season in 1900 and that the local club in Hull was also prospering.
Hull Daily Mail, 8 Nov 1900
A dinner in celebration of the completion of the first season of the Birmingham Civilian Rifle Club took place last night.
The club was, with the Hull Rifle Club, among the pioneers of the movement for the cultivation of marksmanship among the civilian population. It now numbers 200 members, being the strongest save one in the kingdom.
The membership of the Hull Patriotic Rifle Club is 138.
And finally a further snippet from the Nottingham Evening Post of 6th Feb 1901 is appended here as it refers to a reply to a further letter from the Birmingham Rifle Club to the Government about civilian shooting.
Nottingham Evening Post, 6 Feb 1901
In reply to a letter from the secretary of the Birmingham Rifle Club, asking that civilian rifle clubs should not be lost sight of in the scheme for home defence, Earl Roberts says as all movements connected with civilian rifle shooting are receiving his special consideration, he must leave his answer to the request until a later date.
Transcripts from Nottinghamshire Guardian 16/06/1900,
Dover Express 29/06/1900, Nottinghamshire Guardian 30/06/1900,
Taunton Courier 04/07/1900, Morning Post 13/09/1900,
Hull Daily Mail 08/11/1900 and Nottingham Evening Post 06/02/1901
British Library Newspaper Archive