Newspaper Extract
Volunteer Manoeuvres at Rotherham, 1886
On Monday evening an interesting series of military manoeuvres were performed by the members of the Rotherham detachment of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment.
The detachment has for some years past made rapid strides in efficiency under the supervision of Captain Hirst and the other officers, and presents a smarter and more disciplined appearance than at any former period of its history, whilst the numbers are always well maintained.
The men are practiced, and attain much success, not only as marksmen, but also in outpost and other military duties.
Arrangements were made on Monday evening for manoeuvres in the form of a night surprise on a defended camp, which had been established near Canklow.
The E Company, under Captain Robinson and Lieutenant Rodgers, formed the defending force, and B and I Companies, under Captain Hirst and Captain Stoddart, the attacking forces. To distinguish the two forces, the attacking party wore the Glengarry cap, and the defending force the helmet. Each man was served with 100 rounds of ammunition.
The defending force started half an hour before its enemies, being preceded by a band of bugles, the regimental brass band, under Captain Harvey, accompanying the main body, which formed the attacking force. Captain Robinson had under his command 120 men, whilst the attacking forces numbered about 160. They marched through the town to the scene of the fight, Whiston Meadows, where preparations had been made for the conflict, temporary bridges having been thrown over the goits, stepping stones placed, and other necessary structures erected. The defending force had to guard against a surprise by night, and had to watch two fords across the Rother, the various bridges, and all the approaches to the camp of which the enemy might take advantage to take possession of the island. This was done by means of double sentries at each position, these being in communication with other sentries, and backed up by a picket nearer the supposed camp. The main body of the defending forces were held in reserve in the entrenched camp.
When Captain Robinson had got all his men in position he sent up signal rockets, and then the attacking forces began their operations, as a ruse, a small body of the attacking party was told off with the intention of leading the enemy to suppose that they were going to force an entrance to the island.
Meanwhile Captain Hirst was leading the main body of the attacking force through Canklow Wood. He approached the camp with his men at the bridge at the Whiston end of the ground, thereby attempting to take the camp by surprise.
The movements had been admirably conceived.
At the close of the battle the men were served with refreshments. The night was fine, and moonlit.
