Territorial Battalions at Bisley Shooting Centre

[isabel_h]

Hello everyone

My aunt told me that my great-grandfather CSM David Tytler of the 8th (Ardwick) Battalion regularly went to the territorial shooting centre at Bisley in the years leading up to WWI and apparently was a pretty good marksman. There is a museum at Bisley and I contacted the curator to see if they had any of the old shooting records. He said they did not have any information about the 8th Battalion.

I would be really interested to know if anyone has any info about the territorial Battalions at Bisley (for example when they went, what kind of competitions were held, what weapons were used etc) and particularly if any of the competition winners are documented anywhere.

Thanks!
Isabel

[Robert Bonner]

Isabel.
One of the main reasons why young men joined the Volunteers or Territorials was for the shooting.  Much of their time was spent in competitions both locally and at Bisley.  Details of all these competitions are faithfully recorded in copies of the Manchester Regiment Gazette. Copies are held in the Regimental Archives.

Just to whet your appetite - your grandfather Colour Sergeant Tytler is mentioned three times in Volume One, on pages 48, 248 and 406. I suggest that you have a word with  Mrs Larysa Bolton, the archivist, on 0161 342 4242.  She will be pleased to help.

[isabel_h]

Just to whet your appetite - your grandfather Colour Sergeant Tytler is mentioned three times in Volume One, on pages 48, 248 and 406. I suggest that you have a word with  Mrs Larysa Bolton, the archivist, on 0161 342 4242.  She will be pleased to help.

Thank you Robert, that's really fascinating and I'm so pleased that the records still exist! I'll definitely give Mrs Bolton a call.

You very kindly provided me with information about the progression through the ranks of my great-great-grandfather Colour Sergeant James Caton. If you have access to similar info about Colour Sergeant Tytler (and if it's not too much trouble) I would love to know when he joined the 8th Battalion. David Tytler married James's eldest daughter Emily in about 1902. I suspect that James and David knew each other before that through the Ardwicks, and that is how David came to meet Emily, but I can't be sure because I don't know when David joined up. He was born in 1880 so it might have been around 1898 if he was 18.

It is really interesting to get this kind of insight into my ancestors' lives and I'm very grateful for all the expert feedback I have had from the Forum.

Many thanks
Isabel

[Robert Bonner]

Isabel.

You are in luck. Harry Tytler enlisted in the Ardwicks on 5th May 1898 as number 1741 in number 3 Company. age 18.
He was promoted Sergeant on 15th April 1901.
Robert

[isabel_h]

Thanks very much Robert! My aunt told me he was usually known as Harry. So perhaps my hunch is right, that James Caton and Harry Tytler knew each other from the 8th Battalion and James judged Harry to be a suitable match for his daughter Emily.

Isabel

[Robert Bonner]

Isabel.

The three mentions in the Regimental Gazette refer to Colour Sergeant Tytler's playing billiards and taking part in the 1914 Altcar Rifle Meeting.
.

[isabel_h]

Isabel.

The three mentions in the Regimental Gazette refer to Colour Sergeant Tytler's playing billiards and taking part in the 1914 Altcar Rifle Meeting.
.

Perhaps he was eagle-eyed with a cue as well as a rifle! I contacted Mrs Bolton, she was very helpful and is going to send me photocopies of the relevant pages if she can track them down. Thanks again for that lead! I wonder how you knew where to find Harry Tytler in the Gazette - is there an index of the soldiers who are mentioned (I hope you didn't have to thumb through all the pages!)

Best wishes
Isabel