GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY,, 1894. 
381 
To exemplify this, assume 3 field batteries as the animal Indian 
relief, and that in November, 1894, the 1st Brigade leaves for India. 
Under these circumstances it would be replaced at Aldershot by the 
3rd Brigade Division from Woolwich, under its Lieut.-Colonel, which 
would become the 2nd Brigade; the old 2nd Brigade becoming the 1st. 
On the old 2nd Brigade (the present 1st) sailing for India in 1895, the 
4th Brigade under its Lieut.-OoloneLwould replace it, becoming the 
2nd Brigade. 
To avoid too frequent changes among batteries, those returning 
home would occupy the stations vacated by the ones moving to Wool¬ 
wich or Shorncliffe. 
The appointment to the Woolwich and Shorncliffe commands of 
specially selected Lieut.-Colonels of Field Artillery having one year's 
service in that rank, on the understanding that they would hold these 
commands for 4 years, would, it is held, tend to increased efficiency in 
our service. Applicants for Royal Horse Artillery and Lieut.-Colonels 
over 1 year's service being ineligible for these commands. 
The chief advantages claimed for this system are the facilities which 
it affords to a portion of our Lieut.-Colonels of holding commands 
which they will have opportunities of first training, and afterwards 
manoeuvring with other troops. The Commanders of the 3rd and 4th 
Brigade Divisions would be moved to Aldershot after two years at 
Woolwich or Shorncliffe, taking with them their whole command if 
possible, if not, such of it as would be required to complete their new 
Brigade Division there. 
There are 9 batteries of Horse Artillery in the United Kingdom, 
3 of which are at Aldershot and 2 at Woolwich. By adding the St. 
John's Wood battery to the latter, a second complete Brigade Division 
could be formed; so we have practically 2 complete Brigade Divisions 
available for our manoeuvres. The system of command as existing at 
present, seems to be the one best suited to the case. 
Provided Lieut.-Colonels were posted to the Royal Horse Artillery 
after one year's service in the Field Artillery, those selected for the 
Woolwich and Aldershot commands might serve two years at each 
station. But as the Woolwich batteries, together with the one in 
London, will frequently take part in the summer manoeuvres at Aider- 
shot or elsewhere, this would appear to be unnecessary. 
By this means we could assemble annually at Aldershot at least 
5 complete Brigade Divisions, 1 each commanded by its own Lieut.- 
Colonel, who would have been able to complete its preparatory train¬ 
ing to his own satisfaction before bringing it on to the manoeuvre 
ground. These 15 batteries (representing the artillery of an Army 
Corps) would provide the opportunity of moving and fighting as large 
a force of artillery as our senior officers would at present be called on 
to manoeuvre in a mass. 
Moreover, such a force (15 batteries) when deployed would occupy 
an extent of about a mile, and it seems doubtful whether suitable 
positions for one of greater size could be found in the vicinity of 
Aldershot. 
1 3 Brigade Divisions from Aldershot and 2 (1 R.A. and 1 R.H.A.) from Woolwich. The 
Shorncliffe Brigade Division taking part every alternate year in place of the Field Brigade from 
Woolwich. 
Explanation 
of system. 
System of 
Brigade 
Division 
command. 
Advantages 
claimed. 
Brigade 
Division sys¬ 
tem applied 
to Horse 
Artillery. 
Annual as¬ 
sembly of 5 
Brigade 
Divisions at 
Aldershot. 
