3-008-823 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Volunteer review and fete at Shrubland Hall, near Ipswich. [Suffolk], the seat of Sir George Broke-Middleton, 1862. 'It occurred to Sir George, when attending a meeting for the consideration of the best means for alleviating the distress prevalent in the cotton-manufacturing districts, that a volunteer review might be turned to account for the benefit of the starving operatives...The park was open free to the public, but to the gardens and pleasure-grounds a charge of half-a-crown was made for the purpose...of raising a fund for the alleviation of the distress in Lancashire...The battalion was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Schreiber and Adjutant Blake...The men, numbering about 400, being all upon the field, the review commenced. There were from 3000 to 4000 spectators present, besides those who were promenading m the gardens. The men were put through severe battalion exercise, and several of the movements were many times repeated. The volley-firing in battalion was particularly good. The Ipswich companies were put through skirmishing drill, the remainder of the battalion forming the reserve...The exercises occupied more than two hours and a half. At the conclusion of the movements the battalion marched past the flag'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.