605
The average for this year again shows an improvement.
Drills. I attach a Camp programme showing the drills carried out by all units. These were on the same lines as in previous years but a few innovations were introduced as for instance, marching order parades, skirmishing, a field day in conjunction with the 2nd Royal West Kent Regiment and more ceremonial parades, and gun laying was practised at a moving target.
The field day on Saturday, October the 20th, was carried out on Stonecutters' Island, the scheme being furnished by the O.C. 2nd R.W.K. Regiment, the Volunteers formed portion of the landing and attacking force showing great keenness and carrying out their work satisfactorily.
Gun Practice-Gun Practice from four 15-pr. B.L. Gun was carried out twice and maxim practice four times.
The Maxim Practice was on three occasions carried slowly and arrangements were made to instruct the men carefully in the various failures that are liable to occur with these guns, by putting dummy rounds or bad cartridges, etc., in the belts at intervals, by this means a more thorough knowledge was gained by the men than by ordinary rapid practice.
The 15-pr. B.L. practice was carried at a towed target for the first time, the target represented a rowing boat or pinnace moving at about 6 knots and having only a two foot free-board was by no means easy for Volunteers who do not have many opportunities for practice and a large number of them were recuits.
On October 22nd elementary practice was carried out and 61 rounds were fired in four series, the ranges varied from 1,100 to 1,500, the guns were fired from practically sea-level and therefore the observation was extremely difficult, consequently the Battery-Commanders continually judged their rounds as range when really they were considerably over, and the general fault was that the B.C.'s gave the order for time Shrapnel before the range had been correctly found. The target was frequently hit, but the range officer was unable to report the actual number of hits.
The
This elementary practice was of great value as instruction to all ranks and improved the powers of observation of Officers, and the rapidity and laying, etc., of the men. Gunnery Instructor R. A. pointed out that greater care was necessary in clamping Fuzes, and special instruction was therefore given in Fuze setting before the next practice.
On October 27th Colonel KENT, C.R.A., inspected the Artillery units at gun practice and the four 15-pr. B.L. guns were fired from the same site at a towed target.
72 rounds were fired in 6 series and all the gun squads were changed on to the Maxim Guns and fired at a barrel target, range about 1,000 yards. The Maxim practice was very good and with the exception of a few missfires due to faulty cartridges with sunk caps, the four Maxim Guns were fired in every case without a jam, this was a distinct improvement on last year's practice and I think points to the value of the careful instruction given at the practices on the range. The guns also have been kept in excellent condition by the Corps Armourer Sergeant.
With regard to the 15-pr. B.L. practice, the C.R.A. stated that he considered the Corps had made most distinct progress since last year,
He pointed certain faults in which improvements might be made in future, and these have been carefully noted with a view to their correction. He also considered that the Artillery Units should. if possible, carry out gun practice once a quarter, and if possible I propose to make arrangements for this as far as my supply of ammunition will allow me to
do so.
His Excellency the Officer Commanding the Troops inspected the Corps and the Camp on October 28th, he stated that there was a great improvement in the turn out of the Corps since his inspection in March, the equipment was better put on and the men looked smart on parade, he expressed approval of the Camp arrangements and referred to the keenness shown by all ranks at the Field Day on October 20th..