< Previous Another hugely influential army officer at the time was Colonel J.A. Barlow, whose duties, among others, included those as the Deputy Superintendent of the Experimental Small-Arms Establishment. He had without doubt been involved in liaison with the Birmingham Small Arms Company over many early and pre-wartime projects, probably including that for “Stanchion”, the .55-inch calibre Boys Anti-Tank rifle. Barlow was certainly much involved in the design for the trials .22RF No.5 rifle of which the .22 Rifle No.6 was a further development. His ongoing work would most likely have also included taking a hand in the design for B.S.A.’s experimental .22 “Long” rifle adaptation of the No.4 Rifle that developed into the two versions of the Rifle No.7 adopted by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Barlow and his colleagues’ efforts, by those at the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory and its departments, and by B.S.A., on all of these prototypes and trial rifles led to the eventual long-serving Rifle No.8 which remained in service from 1948 well into the 21st. Century - only being replaced ca. 2016, sadly by an imported Ministry of Defence procured version of the American Savage rifle given the nomenclature the L144A1 Cadet Rifle. In Autumn 1943 Barlow’s work led to his promotion to Brigadier, and his name will appear again in the following reports, along with that of A.G. Banks.September, 1943.T H E R I F L E M A N61Junior Summer Competition, 1943I N A I D O F H . R . H . T H E C R O W N P R I N C E S S O F G R E E C E ' S C O M F O R T S F U N D .2 2 8 t e a m e n t r i e s .Open to Units of the Army Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, J.T.C., A.T.C., HomeGuard and other Cadet Corps, School Corps, Lads* Brigade. Boy Scouts. RifleClubs, and any other Junior organisation aftiliated to the S.M.R.C.and theH.R.H. THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S CHAI^yENGE SHIELDCOMPETITION FOR BOY SCOUTS.Teams of four, 20 shots each competitor at either 15. 20 or 25 yards, 10 .shotSeach at two cards.MAJOR SECTION.I Perth City and County Juniors (the Mrs. E. B. Caird Challenge Cup andf o u r s p o o n s ) . . . . • • • • • • • • • • • •.22 gauge.P. L u m s d e n ( 1 7 y r s . 6 m t h s . ) . . 1 0 0 9 9 1 9 9Miss M. F. Millar (14 yrs. 6 mths.) 97 100 197M i s s H . M i l l a r ( 1 6 y r s . ) . . . . 9 8 9 7 1 9 5J . L i t t l e j o h n ( 1 6 y r s . 8 m t h s . ) . . 9 9 9 5 1 9 42. Sedbergh School A (four spoons).30 gauge.100 100 20098 10098 9799 96A. M. Moon (16 yrs. 11 mths.) •J. S. Dickinson (17 yrs. 5 mths.)J. G. Allison (17 yrs. 10 mths.)A. L. Stead (17 yrs. 10 mths.).22 gauge.100 98 19898 99 19797 98 19598 97 195198195195785—786. 3 0 g a u g e .100 99 19998 99 19797 98 19598 97 1959.10.11.12.13.14.16.17.18.19.20.21.23.24.26.27.28.29.31.32.35.36.37.38.39. 41. 43. 44. 45. 47. 49. 50. 52. 53. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 7.7. 78. 79. St. Columbus 53rd Ayrshire (Largs) Troop A (the Duke of ConnaughtChallenge Shield for Scouts and four silver medals)F a l m o u t h G r a m m a r S c h o o l C . C . ASedbergh School 13Downe House A (15 yds.)H a r r o g a t e S e a C a d e t s AR.A.F ., Halton BRoyal Naval College, Dartmouth, AHamble Sea Scouts (second Scout prize, four, bronze mR o t h e r h a m J u n i o r s A . .King Edward VII SchoolSedbergh School CSunbury and District Juniors ..City of London School J.T.C. AR.A.F ., Halton, A6 7 2 F l i g h t " "Hemel Hempstead Juniors (20 yds.) ..R.A.F., Halton, DScunthorpe Coy. A.C.F. A1917 A.T.C., Hamble1478 Golders Green Squadron AR o t h e r h a m J u n i o r s B _1917 Squadron A.T.C., Southampton, BL e w i s h a m J u n i o r sD Coy. 6ih Cadet Bn. D.L.T...R.A.F ., Halton, C ..R . A . F. , C r a n w e l l ,702 Squadron A.T.C.Tonbridge School J.T.C. A1917 Squadron A.T.C., Southampton, A —Haileybury and Imperial Service College J.T.C.1 s t N o t t s S e a S c o u t s1 5 0 t h S h e f fi e l d R o v e r C r e wStranraer Unit A.C.F. A (15 yds.) ..H a r r o g a t e S e a C a d e t s B . .Bishops Hull, Somerset (15 yds.)1478 Golders Green Squadron B722 Flight A.T.C Carmarthen A.T .C. .. 2 8 t h P e r t h s h i r e B o y S c o u t s . . . . Ham and Petersham B.P. Sea Scouts A .. Charterhouse .. V^a .i"\ 1st Ashington Troop Boy Scouts A (20 yds.) A l m o n d b a n k C a d e t s A • • • • • • Martock and District A.T.C. A UO yds.) A Coy. 6th Cadet Bn. D.L.I. (15 yds.) M^tock^^nrDisVrict A.T.C. D (20 yds.) . . No'^Tpbtoon D Coy. 'sth Sussex Bn. Home Guard Almondbank Cadets B Haskins We l l i n g t o n S c h o o l , Port Sunlight Boys Brigade A •• Stranraer Unit A.C.F. B (15 yds.) A l l h a l l o w s S c h o o l J . T. C . • • • • Hereford Cathedral J.T.C. B (20 yds.) R.A.F., Cranwell, B R e p t o n S c h o o l B • • ^ b o n \ Isi Ashington Troop Boy Sc^ts Hereford Cathedral School J.T.C. C (20 yds.) !:i°aV.:,L'2rd''Distrt7f.T^C. C (20 yds.) !: l^llfh'ar^S'y'. 2,;^ R Rishworth School Army C.C. U Carmarthen Cadet Force • • Rishworth School Army C.C. A Port Sunlight Boys Brigade - • 1972 Flight A.T.C., Royston, B Martock and District A.T.C. B (20 yds., R.A.F., Cranwell, A ' G r a n g e V i l l a ( 2 0 y d s . ) , a ' / ' i n Hereford Cathedral School J.T.C. A (20 yds.) 7 t h ' C a m e r o n i a n s A • • ' a \ ' ' Isle of Wedmorc Juniors (20 yds.) .. 2 n d H e n d o n B o y S c o u t s Kynoch Squadron A.T.C. A 5.) als)773764763762762760759759758754752750750748747746744742739739733732732731726725724724722721721721718717710708706706 701 701 696 694 690 690 639 689 688 686 686 683 681 681 677 668 665 662 658 657 656 655 649 641 640 636 636 634 629 628 627 618 617. 61 1 604 603 596 593 592 80.81.82.83.84.85.86.87.88.89.90.9.10.11 .12.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.3 r d E p s o m ( S t . M a r t i n ' s ) T r o o p B o y S c o u t s . . . . . , . . 5 8 6S. London W .J.A.C. A 577S h e f fi e l d ( P o s t O f fi c e M e s s e n g e r s ) A . C . F . A . . . . . . . . 5 6 0N o . 1 1 S q u a d r o n A . T . C . B 5 5 4M e l t h a m s C o y. 2 n d A . C . F. D a k e o f W e l l i n g t o n ' s R e g t . B . . . . 5 1 8S c u n t h o r p e C o y . A . C . F . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1 2S . L o n d o n W . J . A . C . B 4 8 3C l o w n e B o y S c o u t s A . . . . . . . . . • • • 4 3 8Clowne A .. . .. . . .. • • • • .. 377S t . B a r n a b a s C . L . B . . . . . . . . • • • • • - . • 2 7 4C l o w n e B . . . . . . . . • • - - . . 2 6 4MINOR SECTIONSedbergh School F (the Harvey Haddon Challenge Trophy No. 2 andf o u r s p o o n s ) . . . . . . . . • • . • . • 7 6 8J . G . L i d d e l l ( l 4 y r s . 1 1 m t h s . ) 9 7 9 9 1 9 6J . A . R . H o b b s ( 1 4 y r s . 9 m t h s . ) 9 9 9 2 1 9 1D . W . S c o t t ( 1 4 y r s . 1 0 m t h s . ) . . 9 8 9 3 1 9 1D . H a r v e y ( 1 4 y r s . 8 m t h s . ) ' . . 9 4 9 6 1 9 0D o w n e H o u s e B ( 1 5 y d s . ) ( f o u r s p o o n s ) . . . . . . . . . . 7 4 5M i s s A . M a c k e n z i e ( 1 4 y r s . I m t h . ) 9 5 9 6 1 9 1M i s s H . H a m i l t o n ( 1 3 y r s . 9 m t h s . ) . . . . 9 3 9 4 1 8 7M i s s C a r t e r B r a i n e ( 1 3 y r s . 1 0 m t h s . ) 9 1 9 4 - 1 8 5M i s s A . M i t c h e l l ( 1 3 y r s . 7 m t h s . ) . . . . . . . . 9 0 9 2 1 8 2R o y a l N a v a l C o l l e g e , D a r t m o u t h , B . . . . . . . . 7 4 0St. Columbus 53rd Ayrshire (Largs) Troop Boy Scouts B (the Duke ofC o n n a u g h t C h a l l e n g e S h i e l d a n d f o u r s i l v e r m e d a l s ) 7 3 7S t P i r a n s o n t h e H i l l 7 2 8Brunswick School Troop B (20 yds.) (Second Scout team, four bronzem e d a l s ) . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . 7 2 4H a w t r e y s S c h o o l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1 04 4 t h S t i r l i n g s h i r e ( H u r s t G r a n g e ) T r o o p B o y S c o u t s A . . . . . . 7 1 0Sedbergh School D .. .. .... .. .. .. .. 704P o r t R e g i s S c h o o l . . . . . . . • . . 6 9 7B r u n s w i c k S c h o o l A ( 2 0 * y d s . ) 6 9 0- - - ■ 6 8 8688684668664663654632Army Cadets, Hamble1st Garstang Troop A ..2nd Brackley (W.H.S.) Boy ScoutsF a l m o u t h G r a m m a r S c h o o l C . C . BSpringfield Park Prep. School A44th Stirlingshire (Home Guard) Troop B1st Garstang T roop BH a m a n d P e t e r s h a m B . P. S e a S c o u t s BT o n b r i d g e S c h o o l J . T . C . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3 1W i n c h e s t e r H o u s e S c h o o l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2 8S p r i n g fi e l d P a r k P r e p . S c h o o l B . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2 6I s i K i r b y m o o r s i d e T r o o p S c o u t s ( 1 5 y d s . ) . . . . . . . . . . 6 2 4P o r t S u n l i g h t B o y s B r i g a d e C . . . . . . . • . . . . 5 9 17 t h C a m e r o n i a n s B 5 7 5P o r t S u n l i g h t B o y s B r i g a d e D . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 5I s l A l v c r s o t A i r S c o u t s D . . . . • • . . • • . • . . 5 7 0S c o u t s H i l l J u n i o r s . . . . . . • • . . • • . . . . 5 6 1M c t h a m C o y . 2 n d A . C . F . D a k e o f W e l l i n g t o n ' s R e g t . C 5 5 6R i s h w o r t h S c h o o l A r m y C . C . D . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 1S t o u t s H i l l S c o u t s . . . . . . . . . V . . . . 5 4 1R i s h w o r t h S c h o o l A r m y C . C . C . . . . . . . . . • . . 4 7 4N o r t h a w S c h o o l ( 2 0 y d s . ) . . . . . . . . • . . . . . 4 6 9S h e fl i e l d ( P o s t O f fi c e M e s s e n g e r s ) A . C . F . B . . . . . . . . 4 6 03 r d E p s o m S t . M a r t i n ' s T r o o p . . . . • • • • . . . . 3 9 0R o t h e r h a m J u n i o r s C . . . . • • • • • • . . 3 3 7C l o w n e B o y S c o u t s B . . . . . . . . . . • • . • . . 3 0 61 6 t h S e v e n o a k s ( I d c H i l l ) S c o u t T r o o p . . . . • • . . . . 2 9 4National Rifle Association R . M . R I F L E A S S O C I A T I O N . Our \\^rm congratulaiions to Brigadier T. H. Jameson, D.S.O., R.M. who has been appointed Chairman of the Roy.il Marine Rifle Association to succeed Brigadier H. D. Weir, A.D.C., R.M., who retires on 3rd October. 1943. Brigadier Jameson is very well known in the Corps as a marksman of top rank, especially with the revolver. He has shot on five occasions for the R.M. XX in the Inter-Services Match at Bisley, once as captain of the tearn. He has appeared seven times in the R.M. revolver team m the Whitehead Trophy. He captained this team on six occasions, on thrc; of which it was victorious. On two occasions he was captain, but did not saoot. From 1933-38 he was Superintendent of R.M.S.A.S. From 1939 to 1940 he was F.R.M.O., Home Fleet, and afterwards commanded 15th R.M. Since May, 1942, he has been Inspector of Air Defence Forces. As Chairmin of the R.M.R.A. he auto matically becomes an ex-officio member of the Council of the N.R.A. BRIGADIER J. A. BARLOW , S.A.C. Innumerable rifle shooters will be glad to learn of the advancement of Lt.-Col. J. A. Barlow of the West Yorkihne Regt., to Brigadier. In the topmost flight of Service rifle shooters thcr; can be no doubt that the application and ability he has put into his shooting has also been applied to his job as a soldier. He has held appoint ments as Technical Officer, Machine Gun School ; Assistant Superintendent, Design Department ; Deputy Superintendent. Small Arms Experimental Establishment. It will be recalled that as a Service rifle marksman he has been selected and has shot in the Army Eight on fourteen annual occasions during the period 1924 to 1938. He was in the British Team sent to Canada in 1931, and shjt in the Mother Country E m p i r e T e a m M a t c h 1 9 3 7 . . . ^ ^ • Individual successes have been the winning ot the Army Championship in 1930 and 1931, the King's Medal in 1930, the Queen Mary's Prize, 1924, and H.M. the K i n g ' s i n 1 9 3 4 a n d 1 9 3 8 . • His book, " The Elements of Rifle Shooting, has run into three editions, and during the war, in collaboration with Col. R. S. W. Johnson, he has produced " Small A r m s M a n u a l . " Organisations countrywide were working on opening rifle clubs, despite the dearth of equipment. The S.M.R.C. received entries in excess of 20,000 for the Home Guard competition alone.2T H E R I F L E M A NDecember, 1943.haphazard so far. . Any kind of .22 rifle available plusany aids have been allowed in all its competitions. Besidesthese open competitions the time has now come for arestricted class in which the competitors .will have touse a .22 Military type of rifle and encourage positionsother than the prone.The force we must consolidate by agreement in fundamentals and then activate with enthusiasm for progressis our present membership. This in the main can safelybe left to the energies of their Club Secretaries andofficials, whilst the " Back Room Boys " i.e., inventors,manufacturers and club ideologists can come to the frontin the pages of The Rifleman as well as in their local rifleclubs and newspapers.Certainly there should be an honorary press correspondent in every club to publicise the doings of theirt e a m s a n d m e m b e r s , a s w e l l a s t h e i r s o c i a l f u n c t i o n s .It is amazing how good the Press can be if brief and cogentparagraphs are sent them. Our daily batch of newscuttings are proof of this.It is for the Council to legislate on all matters ofprinciple and be advised by the Advisory Committee ontechnical details of shooting. We are glad to say that MajorR. W. Gleadow, of Hull, the Chairman of the AdvisoryCommittee, is now busy compiling a questionnaire on.22 rifle shooting practice which should have far reachingeffect on the future use of artificial aids and the shootingpositions in competitions. S.M.R.C. Rule 20, is inquestion. Meanwhile the Chairman and Executive Comm i t t e e a r e i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r s o fshooting requisites, on the questions of improvementsand quick production.Undoubtedly the handicap placed on our effortsfor the time being, are those of insufficient .22 rifles, andnot enough ammunition to meet the growing demands,especially since the Youth Movement and Civil DefenceForces are requiring .22 shooting practice now that thesetwo forces have been officially recognised, the latter asc o m b a t a n t . T h e r e a r e n o w o v e r 4 0 0 j u n i o r u n i t saffiliated to the Society, and many others that are not arebeing trained on our club rifle ranges. After eliminatingtests of all boys in a unit for the first stage 521 teams of ten boys have qualified and entered the second stage of the Army Cadet Force competition for the News of the World Challenge Trophy competition. Needless to say the Youth Moverr.ent has been warmly welcomed by the Council and the rifle clubs forming the Society. Many more women are keen to learn to shoot and that they can quickly become competent is particularly demon strated by the Women's Home Defence, inspired as they are by the leadership of Dr. Edith Summerskill, M.P.—an appropriate name for her ! In the following page 6 it will be seen that the W.H.D. have just completed a most successful Summer League 1 In London alone there are 92 units of the Civil Defence Force, all of which want to form clubs and acquire .22 rifles and ammunition. In Glasgow, and in all parts of the country, similar demands exist. The Police all over the country are also forming rifle clubs. All Home Guard personnel do not intend to be separated after the war, as many units have already formed .22 rifle clubs to maintain their comradeships. For the third S.M.R.C. Home Guard Competition we have received 2,461 teams of ten—a record. Hence our foregoing remarks. Gradually but surely the future operations of theSociety. are formulating. Probably there will be threetypes of competition, viz. :—(A) With Military pattern bolt action .22 rifles eithernew or converted Service rifles fitted with orthopticrearsight and blade foresight, and allowing the useof a sling.(B) With all .22 rifles fitted with any metallic s'ghtsand aids as hitherto.(C) With all .22 rifles plus telescopic sights.Besides the prone position there will be introduced!as ranges and policy permit, competitions for standing,sitting and kneeling positions. Apart from Service requirements in musketry all four positions will enable us tocompete with other nations more readily. Time limit andother competitions of that type will be considered forrevival.In this way it is thought both more national purposeswill be served and more variety of interest introduced,whilst the newcomer or novice entering the restrictedclass A type of competition will feel that he is not handicapped by reason of some of his fellow competitors usingmuch better rifles and aids than those he has himself.The Council of the Society has elected Capt. J. L. Milneto their number. In the early days of the Society hewas a member of the Southfields Rifle Club, which wasthe first club to use the orthoptic sights on .22 rifles afterMr. E. J. Newitt had advocated the use of this inventionby Lyman, of the U.S.A. Capt. Milne is also an energeticand far seeing member of the Council of the N.R.A. Heacted as adjutant to the N.R.A. team which visitedAustralia.The panel of Vice-Presidents of the Society has beenstill further enhanced by the acceptance of the followinggentlemen to lend their names and influence to our cause,v i z . : —Major C. E. Etches, C.B., O.B.E., (late secretaryof the N.R.A.),Col. Raymond W. Ffennell (who inaugurated andfinanced the Imperial Challenge Shield Compe-tion for boys of the Empire),Lord McGowan, K.B.E. (Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.), The Hon. S. M. L. O'Keeffe, C.M.G., M.C., High Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia, Field Marshal the Rt. Hon. J. C. Smuts, P.C., C.H., F.R.S., Prime Minister of South Africa. In accepting our President's invitation General Smuts' Secretary wrote :— " General Smuts has asked me to thank you for your letter of the 14th November, and to say that he will be glad to become a Vice-President of the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs. " The Prime Minister has been very interested by your account of the activities of the Clubs during the last and present wars and hopes that the good work will be continued in the future." Another splendid challenge trophy has been gifted by the Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. This one is to be known as " The Industrial League Trophy." A picture and full description of it appears on page 29 in this issue. We are deeply grateful for this handsome contribution to our list of challenge trophies. a ^oc£) Jiuae IbopeUil Ipcar to l^ou With the prospect of a new military-type .22 training rifle the S.M.R.C. were already considering the new competitions that may be required.2 T H E R I F L E M A NDecember, 1943. haphazard so far. . Any kind of .22 rifle available plus any aids have been allowed in all its competitions. Besides these open competitions the time has now come for a restricted class in which the competitors .will have to use a .22 Military type of rifle and encourage positions other than the prone. The force we must consolidate by agreement in funda mentals and then activate with enthusiasm for progress is our present membership. This in the main can safely be left to the energies of their Club Secretaries and officials, whilst the " Back Room Boys " i.e., inventors, manufacturers and club ideologists can come to the front in the pages of The Rifleman as well as in their local rifle clubs and newspapers. Certainly there should be an honorary press corre spondent in every club to publicise the doings of their t e a m s a n d m e m b e r s , a s w e l l a s t h e i r s o c i a l f u n c t i o n s . It is amazing how good the Press can be if brief and cogent paragraphs are sent them. Our daily batch of news cuttings are proof of this. It is for the Council to legislate on all matters of principle and be advised by the Advisory Committee on technical details of shooting. We are glad to say that Major R. W. Gleadow, of Hull, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, is now busy compiling a questionnaire on .22 rifle shooting practice which should have far reaching effect on the future use of artificial aids and the shooting positions in competitions. S.M.R.C. Rule 20, is in question. Meanwhile the Chairman and Executive Com m i t t e e a r e i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r s o f shooting requisites, on the questions of improvements and quick production. Undoubtedly the handicap placed on our efforts for the time being, are those of insufficient .22 rifles, and not enough ammunition to meet the growing demands, especially since the Youth Movement and Civil Defence Forces are requiring .22 shooting practice now that these two forces have been officially recognised, the latter as c o m b a t a n t . T h e r e a r e n o w o v e r 4 0 0 j u n i o r u n i t s affiliated to the Society, and many others that are not are being trained on our club rifle ranges. After eliminating tests of all boys in a unit for the first stage 521 teams of ten boys have qualified and entered the second stage of the Army Cadet Force competition for the News of the World Challenge Trophy competition. Needless to say the Youth Moverr.ent has been warmly welcomed by the Council and the rifle clubs forming the Society. Many more women are keen to learn to shoot and that they can quickly become competent is particularly demon strated by the Women's Home Defence, inspired as they are by the leadership of Dr. Edith Summerskill, M.P.—an appropriate name for her ! In the following page 6 it will be seen that the W.H.D. have just completed a most successful Summer League 1 In London alone there are 92 units of the Civil Defence Force, all of which want to form clubs and acquire .22 rifles and ammunition. In Glasgow, and in all parts of the country, similar demands exist. The Police all over the country are also forming rifle clubs. All Home Guard personnel do not intend to be separated after the war, as many units have already formed .22 rifle clubs to maintain their comradeships. For the third S.M.R.C. Home Guard Competition we have received 2,461 teams of ten—a record. Hence our foregoing remarks. Gradually but surely the future operations of the Society. are formulating. Probably there will be three types of competition, viz. :— (A) With Military pattern bolt action .22 rifles either new or converted Service rifles fitted with orthoptic rearsight and blade foresight, and allowing the use of a sling. (B) With all .22 rifles fitted with any metallic s'ghts and aids as hitherto. (C) With all .22 rifles plus telescopic sights. Besides the prone position there will be introduced! as ranges and policy permit, competitions for standing, sitting and kneeling positions. Apart from Service require ments in musketry all four positions will enable us to compete with other nations more readily. Time limit and other competitions of that type will be considered for revival. In this way it is thought both more national purposes will be served and more variety of interest introduced, whilst the newcomer or novice entering the restricted class A type of competition will feel that he is not handi capped by reason of some of his fellow competitors using much better rifles and aids than those he has himself. The Council of the Society has elected Capt. J. L. Milne to their number. In the early days of the Society he was a member of the Southfields Rifle Club, which was the first club to use the orthoptic sights on .22 rifles after Mr. E. J. Newitt had advocated the use of this invention by Lyman, of the U.S.A. Capt. Milne is also an energetic and far seeing member of the Council of the N.R.A. He acted as adjutant to the N.R.A. team which visited Australia. The panel of Vice-Presidents of the Society has been still further enhanced by the acceptance of the following gentlemen to lend their names and influence to our cause, v i z . : — Major C. E. Etches, C.B., O.B.E., (late secretary of the N.R.A.), Col. Raymond W. Ffennell (who inaugurated and financed the Imperial Challenge Shield Compe- tion for boys of the Empire), Lord McGowan, K.B.E. (Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.), The Hon. S. M. L. O'Keeffe, C.M.G., M.C., High Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia, Field Marshal the Rt. Hon. J. C. Smuts, P.C., C.H., F.R.S., Prime Minister of South Africa. In accepting our President's invitation General Smuts' Secretary wrote :— " General Smuts has asked me to thank you for your letter of the 14th November, and to say that he will be glad to become a Vice-President of the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs. " The Prime Minister has been very interested by your account of the activities of the Clubs during the last and present wars and hopes that the good work will be continued in the future." Another splendid challenge trophy has been gifted by the Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. This one is to be known as " The Industrial League Trophy." A picture and full description of it appears on page 29 in this issue. We are deeply grateful for this handsome contribution to our list of challenge trophies. a ^oc£) Jiuae IbopeUil Ipcar to l^ou The Society received confirmation that the projected new rifle was on the drawing board, and wasted no time in advising their members. In April 1944 it was reported that - .22 MILITARY PATTERN RIFLES. Suggestions as to the design of an up-to-date general utility 22 club rifle were made in an article by Mr. A. G. Banks in the March 1943 issue of The Rifleman. This was followed by discussion at the last Annual General Meeting. Whilst the Council are not yet in a position to divulge developments now in progress, it can be stated that everything possible for the present has been done, special planning having been accomplished with the best technical assistance.Spring, 1945.the riflemanSociety of Miniature Rifle ClubsREPORT FOR THE YEAR 1944be presented with the Audited Accounts cent oil otsr . jGeneral Meting to be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday 9th S^l94?^at^?li members of the Society at the 42nd AnnualLondon, S.W.) - y' 1='45, at the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall,Slallmm"? R«POr . and. V I C E - P R E S I D E N T S .Presidcnts^Mhc'lode'S:-'"^.(Director General of the H.a^^Bng.-General H. S. Franklin, C.M.G., C.B.E D S OAir Marshal Sir Lestie Gossage, K.C.B., C V O D S O(Director General of the A.T.C.). "OBITUAR Y,n a o t o r e c o r d w i t h d e e p r e g r e t t h e l o s s o f m m vmembers during the year, amongst whom were •— ^Major C. E. Etches, C.B O.B.E. (Vice-President).£ f f c n n e l l ( V i c e - P r e s i d e n t )Foster (Advisory Committee).P?esiS)!^® Commissioner of South Africa (Vice-AFFILIATED UNITS.For the twelve months ended 31st December,T944 the number ofMn^or rif numbers would have been greater'analysis.Ordinary ClubsHome Guard Rifle ClubsJunior Umts (see further analysis below)P o l i c e R i fl e C l u b s . . . . . .Regular Service Units ...Civil Defence Rifle ClubsL a d i e s R i fl e C l u b s . . .County Associations (Active 25)Leagues and Local Associations1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.To t a l .1,426595592273142766438263,232(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) .1 (i) (j) (k) 0) JUNIOR UNITS. Schools Air Training Corps Junior Training Corps ' Army Cadet Force &hooIs (nuxed units of Nos. "a, b and c) Schools Cadets Units Sea Cadets and other Nautical Units . . Boy Scouts Church Lads' Brigade ... ... Boys' Brigade j " Boys' Clubs Girls' Training Corps, etc. 83 198 38 154 3 30 41 8 r4 3 9 11 592 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS. are^'79 LiffinT6"o?^ulu . 2 2 R I F L E S . wo''k on the design of the military pattern 22 rifle . M I N I A T U R E R I F L E R A N G E S .a!!f proposed Range Fund, the CouncilanneU fnr fY 5 months, further consideration of the proposedIhi^r contributions to this Fund. The clubs are continui^ lo dothe provide, either for themselves or with local supportavaiS stteTSfuildin^^.'''''improvise ranges appropriate toRange Safefy Certificates have been issued as followsBy War Oflfice Area Commands ... 74By S.M.R.C. acting for the War Office in theMetropohtan Area • 20Ml ^mxh Mr. A. C. Bossom, M.P., approached the Ministry ofWar Tf not befo°re^^^^ ^ suggesUon that at the end of thenrnn.v A ' of this Society might have the privilege ofacquiring ^^my or other Service huts to furnish their ranges and thereply wt« that if huts are available, requests for this purpose 'will thenbe considered in the light of other demands.^ . .22 AMMUNITION.monf u allocation of .22 ammunition from Govem-ment supplies has been continued throughout the year, and indfrbon^f f rifle clubs for a better class pro-shooti^ standards has been met to some extent byproportioned supplies of I.C.I. " Long Rifle" brand for 25 yardranges and ffie I.C.I. " Rifle Club " brand for 50 and ICQ vL^ rl^shooting. The total sales by the Society were oveYo^ nSl?^rounds less than in 1943 as the following fibres indicateG o v e r m e n t I s s u e M a r k I 1 0 3 7 8 5 0 0L C I . " L o n g R i f l e " B r a n d 2 ^ ®L C I . " R i fl e C l u b " 3W i n c h e s t e r L e a d e r * 3 4 7 ' o o oRemington Kleanbore ~^ ... 477,'75016,830,550TA R G E T S .Despite the heavy loss of reser\'e stocks destroyed by enemyo f l O d f h d e m a n d s t o t h e e n d' u shortage was so acute that every possibleeconomy had to be applied. The outlook for the coming year isbleak, despite the greater use of paper for targets instead of cardnilnh ^ targets to stick on and books ofby the Clubstargets, and it is suggested that these should be usedassociations AND COMPETITIONS. Although 38 County Associations remain in aflfiliation only 22 of them are active. The Council desire again to recommend those who are now most active, viz., Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Angus, Fife Not-folk, Perthshire, Stirlingshire, Surrey, Suffolk and Yorkshire, and also the three active area Associa tions who haw extended their operations, these being the West of Scotland S.B.R.A., the Leeds and District Associations and the Midland S.B.R. League. As most County Associations and local Leagues and Associations were not in operation again the Society has felt It necessary to continue to provide the stimulus of universal league competitions. Satisfactory entries were received for team and indi vidual contests (some being record numbers) and a high standard of marksmanship was achieved. The following are the figures : Colonial Team Matches (1944). Aperture sights, 10 teams, open sights, 13 teams :— Team Events : ' 1 Wo''lr' 1943-44 (three sections), 682 teams. A Section 152, B S^tion 138, Home Guard section 392. (This is a record entry for any S.M.R.C. Cup Tie Team Compietition). National Team Handicap, 523 teams. ' Scottish Cup, 64 teams. Martin (London only), concurrent with News of the Wo r l d , 9 4 t e a m s . ■ ' LS.M.R.C. Home Guard Competition (1944-45), 225 teams often. It was not until Autumn 1945 that the Society was in a position to report on the actual progress of the new rifle project.2T H E R I F L E M A Nof the voluntary contributions in men, money, material,and, above all, experience in accurate shooting, which ourrifle, clubs gave as a matter of course during the past sixyears of war with every handicap piled up against thern.As General Codrington remained our President in thiscritical six years to September, 1945, we would includethose as the " Codrington fulfilment era."Unfortunately General Codrington, our weU-belovedPresident, passed away on 12th September, in his 92nd year,and we learn that his passing was as peaceful as the settingsun after a glorious day.During the Boer War, in which Gen. Codrington wastwice wounded, it had become evident to a band of far-seeing soldiers that Germany meant aggressive action indue time. Lord Roberts was foremost in this. GeneralCodrington had co-operated with him, and eventuallycarried on the vigil and work necessary to encourage theordinary British civilian to take up rifle shooting as a hobbyand for the defence of Britain. Unfortunately the year1914 saw their fears fulfilled, and we have also seen arepetition 25 years after. It would seem that GeneralCodrington stayed with us just long enough to see Britainand the world saved from the aggressors and then was content to pass on. Now we have only one of that great band of gentlemen left, and he is General Sir Ian Hamilton, at the age of 93, who is a vice-president of the Society and attended the Codrington Memorial Service on Saturday, 15th September, fully reported elsewhere. That General Codrington was active in the Society's interests to the last is evident from the replies he had recently received, as follows From the Secretary of H.M..Tho King (4th Sept., 1945) : "I write to thank you for your letter, with which you enclosed me result of the Colonial matches of the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs. I have laid the report before the King, and am to send you His Majesty's sincere thanks for keeping him informed of the Society's activities." ^"■.211 Field-Marshal The Hon. Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander, G.C.B., C.S.I., D.S.O., M.C., A.D.C. (25th June, 1945) : " No one is more aware than I am of the important part played by good marksmanship in the campaign which has just finished so victoriously ; I feel that everything possible ought to be done to rnairuain the present high standard of shooting, and I hope that the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs will continue to flourish." w August The Times published this letter, under the title. Value of Rifle Shooting." The Field Marshal has also become a vice-president.) 1 rom Field-Marshal Lord Birdwood of Anzac (26th June, 1945) ; " ■ ■ . Of course I'll be proud to become a vice-president ol your very excellent Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs and proud to be associated with you on such a great national asset. 1 only wusn t tell t could be of any real active use to you in such a matter." trie IS the president of the Hampton R.C. and truly inspires their m e m b e r s h i p . ) ^ That a Codrington Memorial to perpetuate the memory oi his services to the Society should be inaugurated has been suggested, and this will have the earnest consideration of the Council. He was a founder member when the Society was incorporated in 1903, and after serving on the Executive Committee for some years he was appointed Chairman of the Council in 1917, and following the death of P.M. Lord Plumer, General Codrington was made President in 1932. He was the fourth President, P.M. Earl Haig being the second and P.M. Lord Roberts the first. The Society thus commences the third chapter of its iii.slory with a profound sense of loss of a great friend. The following details of its affiliated units at 3 Est August should be an assurance that there are no fears for the future provided ample supplies of good rifles, good ammunition, and target material become available almostimmediately :—Tn tiic period 1st January to 31st August, 1945, 3,584 clubs iiavc paidtheir afliilalion fees for the current year and an analysis of these is givenbeiow. There are still 511 registered clubs on the Society's enrolmentwhich have yet to pay their fees for 1945. It is feared that some of thelatter have been discouraged by the shortage of essential supplies.Ordinary Rifle ClubsHome Guard R.CPolice R.C.Regular Service UnitsLadies' R.CCivil Defence R.C.Leagues and Local AssociationsCounty AssociationsJ u n i o r U n i t sGrand T otalAnalysis of Junior Units :SchoolsA.T .CA.C.FJ.T .C.Schools (a, b, c)S c h o o l C a d e t U n i t sN a v y L e a g u e . . .B o y S c o u t s . . .Church Lads' BrigadeBoys' BrigadeBoys' ClubsG.T .C To t a l . . . 1,591... 943... 2519341492841... 547... 3,584821531813632131714110547 A most encouraging feature in the above list is the fact that 41 County Associations are in operation, and it should not be long before the total will be 60 as in pre-war days. Prom the reports of some of the Counties it will be noted that they have held very successful open meetings this year. It is. expected to revive the B.S.A. and County Cup Competitions in 1946. Of the 77 leagues and local associations in operation in 1939 we have only 28 now, but there are indications t h a t t h e n u m b e r w i l l s o o n b e i n c r e a s e d . Resulting from the conferences reported last year with the technicians and authorities relating to the production of -a .22 standard rifle, the short.No. 6 pattern has been proceeded with. Sample rifles have been supplied to and distributed by the Society to the leading expert .22 riflemen of Britain, together with a descriptive letter and a question naire for their opinions. Any constructive suggestions will come to the Society and then be put before the technical experts, and, if agreed, passed on to the manu facturers before productiorf. This standardised rifle is intended for pre-Service training for both juniors and adults in the Services, as well as to meet the particular requirements of rifle club members. Pollowing the death of the late Mr. M. G. K. Barnes, who had been greatly interested in the advancement of rifle shooting and had contributed articles to The Rifleman from time to time, we were notified by the solicitors of his executors that he had made a bequest to the Society, which will amount to at least £650. The Society is considering whether to use this generous bequest to endow an annual competition under the donor's title, as. there is a great need for endowed prizes for annual competitions besides challenge trophies. It will be recalled that no fewer than 41 challenge trophies were destroyed by enemy action when Codrington House, the Society's premises in Blackfriars Lane, were completely destroyed on the night of 10th May, 1941. At the Council meeting held on 12th September the Chairman, Lt.-Col. Sir Lionel Fletcher, promised, the gift of a challenge trophy to replace the destroyed LordNext >