NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST, Wednesday, 13 January 1909

WHY WE FAIL IN SHOOTING

LESSONS FROM THE COLONIES

A report of the tour of the British rifle team in Canada and Australia in 1907 has been issued by the National Rifle Association. In a prefatory note Major-General Lord Cheylesmore says:–

There are two points in these reports that must strike even the most casual reader.

First, the greater interest in rifle shooting that is taken by the Governments of the various Colonies, extending to the provision of considerable money grants as well as by individuals themselves in the Colonies, and that men who give up much of their time in perfecting themselves in the use of the rifle received more encouragement and are credited with higher motives than those of personal gain which are so often attributed to them at home.

Second, the superiority of the American service rifle, sights, and ammunition over those adopted in this country, and their perfect organisation, due no doubt to the advantage taken of expert advice and experience from whatever reliable source it may be obtained.

Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday, 22nd April 1909

TOO OLD AT FIFTY

NOTABLE NON-COMS. TERMINATE THEIR SERVICE

There was recently published in the orders of the Robin Hood Rifles a paragraph which, on the face of it, appeared a comparatively insignificant matter, but which, in its operation, has deprived the battalion of the further services of some of its most valuable and efficient non-commissioned officers. The order was couched in the following terms:–

"Owing to the large number of supernumerary N.C.O.'s of the rank of sergeant and over in the battalion, 31st March 1909, the officer commanding the Notts. and Derby Brigade has been unable to sanction the special retention in the service of N.C.O.'s of these ranks who have attained the age of 50 years, under Para. 99, Territorial Force Regulations, which requires special sanction by that officer on definite stated special reasons for any such retention. The service of N.C.O.'s concerned automatically ceases on the 31st March, 1909."

A CLEAN SWEEP

What this means will be best understood by the plain statement of fact that Quartermaster-Sergeants W. Comery, W.R. Walton, and H. Tomkins, Armourer-Sergeant F. Dominic, Colour-Sergeants G. Allsop, T.C. Millington, A. Sibert, and F. Wilkinson, and Sergeant M.K. Dunn, all of whose names have been household words in the corps, have had their military careers summarily ended.

Quartermaster-Sergeant Comery has a remarkable shooting career, and it is a striking commentary on War Office red tapeism that at the time of his enforced retirement he should be at the head of the battalion musketry list, a position which he has so many times occupied. He joined the Robin Hoods in August, 1874, and the dates of his promotions are as follows:- Corporal, 1877; sergeant, 1880; colour-sergeant,1882; quartermaster-sergeant, 1890. On five occasions he shot for England in the International matches, and he is the possessor of 13 medals, including the International Match, 1901 and 1902; the Bisley Grand Aggregate, 1896, 1900, 1902; English Twenty Club; National Rifle Association bronze medal; N.R.A. bronze revolver medal; Notts. Rifle Association silver medal; Robin Hood Rifles' championship medals; Nottingham Snider Club silver medal, 1880; Nottingham Martini Club gold medal, 1887.

His seven Bisley badges include the Queen's, St. George's, Inter-National, and International Long Range. Most notable of his many successes was the winning of the All Comers Aggregate and Clarke-Kennedy £250 Challenge Cup at Bisley in 1900. During this year he was the best shot who passed through the School of Musketry at Hythe. For seven or eight years he was secretary of the Notts. Rifle Association, and was for five or six years a member of the Robin Hoods' Shooting Committee. In their first competition for Sir Charles Seely's Challenge Bowl on the old range at Mapperley in 1899, he made the record for the range (99) with the Martini rifle, and in 1900 in the same competition he registered the possible 105. It is most satisfactory to know that he will still have charge of the range at Trent.

OTHER FAMILIAR FIGURES

Of the other senior non-coms. of the Robin Hoods who have "had to go", Quartermaster H. Tomkins has for a number of years been a familiar figure,. His heart and soul have been in the volunteer movement and G Company during his long association with it, has always been in the forefront. He is a good marksman, and has regularly been a member of the regimental shooting teams. Quartermaster W.R. Walton is another enthusiastic volunteer whose career has been an example. Strategy in warfare has been his great study, and his patriotism led him to forsake his business in the hour of national peril and proceed as sergeant of the second active service section to South Africa. Colour-sergeant Millington was president of the Recruiting Committee, and did as much as anyone to bring up the strength of the Battalion to its present satisfactory state. And his reward is compulsory resignation! Armourer-Sergeant F. Dominic, Colour-Sergeants G. Allsopp, A. Sibert, and F. Wilkinson are all good shots, and have been included in the Bisley team, whilst each has rendered yeoman service in the administration of company affairs. Sergeant M.K. Dunn was one of the regimental tailors, keen to the core in military duties, and notable for his characteristic Irish humour and good fellowship. With so many of the men of experience missing there will indeed be a void in the sergeants' mess at camp this year.