(54i ) 
WEST DOWN, 1809* 
BY 
LIEUT.-COLONEL P. C. E. NEWBIGGING, R.F.A. 
D URING the first fortnight of August a large number of batteries 
of Horse and Field Artillery were gathered together on Salis¬ 
bury Plain to carry out purely “ Artillery Drills.” The force consisted 
of 2 Horse and 15 Field Batteries, and was placed under the command 
of Major-General Marshall. It represented the Artillery of an Army 
Corps, (with the exception of the Horse Artillery Battery of the 
Cavalry Brigade), and was divided into the three Divisional Artilleries 
and the Corps Artillery. Colonel Corbett commanded the latter, 
which was made up of two batteries R.H.A. and two Brigade Divisions 
R.F.A 
During the first three days merely preliminary work took place. 
After that, however, the G.O.C. continuously worked his command as 
a whole, dividing the work into days of drill and manoeuvre, as ap¬ 
peared to be most required. A conference of all Lieut.-Colonels, 
Majors, and Captains took place each day at the Head-quarter Camp 
about two hours after the return to camp—an excellent arrangement 
which led not only to a pleasant gathering of old friends, but also to 
less pronounced differences of opinion than would perhaps have shewn 
themselves without the softening influences of luncheon. 
West Down was of course new ground to us all. The going was 
very good, and the positions numerous and well-marked. It was 
rather curious to note how all the new names and places, which were 
at first so strange, became very soon familiar to everyone. I think 
that all of us felt an interest in working over this new ground, which in 
the course of a few years must become as well known to soldiers as 
the old familiar country around Aldershot. 
Undoubtedly the most instructive days were those devoted to drill. 
In manoeuvres, however excellent the scheme, it was most difficult to 
imagine, and allow for the other troops that would have been working 
with us. This appeared to be realized by the G.O.C. as he much pre¬ 
ferred drill days to those of manoeuvre; and no doubt the lessons 
learnt from the former were the most useful and instructive. 
Perhaps the most notable difficulty which we realized at first was 
the long time it took to get batteries on the move after the issue of 
orders by the G.O.C. Especially was this noticeable in the Corps 
Artillery. Distances of course are great, and when orders have to be 
carefully read, maps consulted, and then further orders issued, first to 
Lt.-Colonels and then by them to batteries, it is evident that much 
time must necessarily be taken up. The problem of reducing this to 
//. VOL. XXVI. 
