History

Bisley History

2016
2016

150th Anniversary of first NRA Meeting.

150th Anniversary of first NRA Meeting.
1990
1990

Centenary of NRA at Bisley celebrated.

Centenary of NRA at Bisley celebrated.
1986
1986

Geoff Cox used the Swing Rifle to win the Queen’s Prize

Geoff Cox used the Swing Rifle to win the Queen’s Prize

This was the first time the Sovereign’s prize was won with a stiff action rifle used in the final  – Third Stage.

The Swing rifle was designed by George Swenson and Laurie Ingram. Wikipedia – Swing Rifle

1980
1980

Prince Charles took part in the Vizianagram Competition, shooting for the Lords against the Commons.

Prince Charles took part in the Vizianagram Competition, shooting for the Lords against the Commons.
1975
1975

Prince Charles becomes the Association’s 6th President.

Prince Charles becomes the Association’s 6th President.
1972
1972

Revolutionary ‘Swing’ rifle, developed by George Swenson, became available.

Revolutionary ‘Swing’ rifle, developed by George Swenson, became available.
1969
1969

Changeover from .303 to NATO calibre.

Changeover from .303 to NATO calibre.

End of the long reign of the SLME, No 4 and P14 rifles.

1960
1960

Visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II to Bisley

Visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II to Bisley
1952
1952

Closure of the Camp Tramway

Closure of the Camp Tramway
1950
1950

Military Extension dismantled.

Military Extension dismantled.
1948
1948

Cheap Fares for shooters restored by the newly constituted Southern Region of British Railways

Cheap Fares for shooters restored by the newly constituted Southern Region of British Railways
1947
1947

Running Boar Range re-opened but closed in 1953.

Running Boar Range re-opened but closed in 1953.
1946
1946

First Full Annual Meeting held following the War.

First Full Annual Meeting held following the War.
1945
1945

One day Meeting held.

One day Meeting held.
1945

WW2 Military Extension closed.

WW2 Military Extension closed.
1940
1940

Formation of Home Guard. Bisley became their primary Camp.

Formation of Home Guard. Bisley became their primary Camp.
1940

Military Railway Extension re-opened to Pirbright Camp only.

Military Railway Extension re-opened to Pirbright Camp only.
1939
1939

New Sniping and Sporting Range opened at Bisley

New Sniping and Sporting Range opened at Bisley

This included an automatic Running Boar Range.

1939

Outbreak of WW2.

Outbreak of WW2.

Camp again handed over to Military.

1938
1938

Retirement of Major C.R. Etches as Secretary

Retirement of Major C.R. Etches as Secretary
1931
1931

Arthur Fulton wins the Sovereign’s Prize for the third time.

Arthur Fulton wins the Sovereign’s Prize for the third time.
1930
1930

Marjorie Foster first woman to win the Sovereign’s Prize.

Marjorie Foster first woman to win the Sovereign’s Prize.
1930

Range Tramway equipment including the tram locomotive “Wharncliffe” disposed of for scrap.

Range Tramway equipment including the tram locomotive “Wharncliffe” disposed of for scrap.
1926
1926

Arthur Fulton wins the Sovereign’s Prize for the second time.

Arthur Fulton wins the Sovereign’s Prize for the second time.
1925
1925

Lord Cheylesmore, the NRA Chairman, dies after being involved in a car accident.

Lord Cheylesmore, the NRA Chairman, dies after being involved in a car accident.
1924
1924

The ‘Pavilion’

The ‘Pavilion’

The ‘Pavilion’ prefabricated refreshment Building from Wimbledon demolished and replaced by the present brick building.

1921
1921

Death of Lt. Col. C.R. Crosse, the NRA Secretary.

Death of Lt. Col. C.R. Crosse, the NRA Secretary.

Major C.R. Etches took over his position.

1921

War Office wartime control of Railway ceased.

War Office wartime control of Railway ceased.
1920
1920

Firearms Act

Firearms Act

Firearms Act, effectively restricting their use to holders of Firearms Certificates.

1919
1919

First post-war Meeting.

First post-war Meeting.
1919

Camp Tramway re-opened

Camp Tramway re-opened

Camp Tramway re-opened but however the wartime Railway Executive refused to countenance cheap fares for shooters. This was reversed when questions were asked in the House of Commons.

1918
1918

Military Railway handed over to LSWR to manage.

Military Railway handed over to LSWR to manage.

By December Military Railway Personnel demobilised causing LSWR to close Military Railway.

1917
1917

Military Railway completed

Military Railway completed

Military Railway completed and opened in 1917. Whole line, including Bisley Camp Station taken over by Military.

1917

Concerns over ownership

Concerns over ownership

Concerns over ownership of Camp Tramway and NRA remuneration by railway company put into the hands of the Associations Solicitors.

1916
1916

War Office decides to construct a Military Railway

War Office decides to construct a Military Railway

War Office decides to construct a Military Railway to Pirbright, Deepcut and Blackdown Camps starting at Bisley Camp.

1914
1914

Outbreak of WW1

Outbreak of WW1

Outbreak of WW1 Bisley Camp offered to Military Authorities for duration. Major General Lord Cheylesmore becomes Camp Commandant with Lt. Col. Crosse as his Adjutant.

1914

Formation of School of Musketry

Formation of School of Musketry

Formation of School of Musketry to train Instructors for the new British Armies.

1914

Last Meeting at which the Range Tramway was used.

Last Meeting at which the Range Tramway was used.
1912
1912

Arthur Fulton wins the first of his three Sovereigns Prizes.

Arthur Fulton wins the first of his three Sovereigns Prizes.
1906
1906

New SMLE tested by members of Council at Bisley

New SMLE tested by members of Council at Bisley

New SMLE tested by members of Council at Bisley but the Long Lee continued use in competitions until WW1.

1906

Lord Cheylesmore introduces Boys Camp

Lord Cheylesmore introduces Boys Camp

Lord Cheylesmore introduces Boys Camp (for schools without Cadet Corps) at Bisley.

1905
1905

King Edward VII visits the Camp.

King Edward VII visits the Camp.
1904
1904

New Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) first tested by British Army.

New Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) first tested by British Army.
1904

Death of George, Duke of Cambridge, the President of the NRA.

Death of George, Duke of Cambridge, the President of the NRA.
1903
1903

Lord Cheylesmore becomes Chairman of NRA.

Lord Cheylesmore becomes Chairman of NRA.
1901
1901

Formation of Civilian Rifle Clubs

The NRA gives its support to the formation of Civilian Rifle Clubs following the serious reverses to the British Army during the 2nd Boer War.

1901

Arthur Conan Doyle’s paper on formation of Civilian Rifle Clubs

Arthur Conan Doyle’s paper on formation of Civilian Rifle Clubs

He agrees to sit on the new NRA Rifle Clubs Committee.

1898
1898

Col Mackinnon falls seriously ill at end of Meeting and resigns in November.

He died in early 1899.

1898

Lt. Col C.R. Crosse appointed Secretary.

1898

Water Supply breaks down at height of Annual Meeting

Railway Company supply old engine tenders as temporary measure.

1896
1896

Lee-Enfield (Long Lee) Rifle (using smokeless ammunition) comes into general use at Bisley.

1892
1892

Lee –Metford permitted in United Services Cup.

1891
1891

Winifred Leale of the Guernsey Rifle Club becomes the first woman to shoot in NRA Competitions.

1890
1890

Prefabricated buildings and Range tramway, brought from Wimbledon, re-erected.

1890

Prince and Princess of Wales open Ranges and Camp Tramway on 12th July.

1890

Col. William Mackinnon, late of the Hythe School of Musketry, becomes NRA Secretary.

1890

Queen Victoria signs the NRA Charter of Incorporation.

1889
1889

Council agree site at Bisley by a large majority. Ratified by Spring Meeting

1889

Acquisition of land.

Acquisition of land assisted by fact that much of it was owned by the War Office. Local landowners would only sell all or large parts of their land.

1889

Royal Engineers start construction.

Royal Engineers start construction of ranges and earth works of Tramway to connect the new Camp with Brookwood.

1889

Capt.St John Mildmay resigned as NRA Secretary.

1888
1888

The .303 Lee Metford rifle.

The .303 Lee Metford rifle, still using black powder ammunition, replaced the Martini Henry. This rifle in turn was replaced some years later by the same calibre Lee Enfield (Long Lee) rifle using smokeless powder ammunition

1888

A reduced Council Meeting agreed that the best site was that offered by Lord Wantage, the NRA’s Chairman, on his Berkshire Downs estate.

Intervention of Lord Wemyss (the former Lord Elcho) postpones a final decision.

1888

Bisley site located by Hoey (Association’s Clerk of Works).

1887
1887

The safety of the Wimbledon Ranges became threatened by building development.

The safety of the Wimbledon Ranges became threatened by building development along with the increased range provided by the latest types of modern rifles and ammunition.

1887

The Duke of Cambridge, the NRA’s president serves notice on the Association, under the terms of the 1870 Notice of Determination Agreement.

1887

Efforts to find a new site instigated.

1887

James Loyd Lindsay, Lord Wantage, becomes Chairman of the NRA

1859
1859

Formation of the National Rifle Association

NRA Bisley

Volunteer Movement re-formed (originally disbanded after Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815).