History
Bisley History
150th Anniversary of first NRA Meeting.
Centenary of NRA at Bisley celebrated.
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
Prince Charles took part in the Vizianagram Competition, shooting for the Lords against the Commons.
Prince Charles becomes the Association’s 6th President.
Revolutionary ‘Swing’ rifle, developed by George Swenson, became available.
Changeover from .303 to NATO calibre.
End of the long reign of the SLME, No 4 and P14 rifles.
Visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II to Bisley
Closure of the Camp Tramway
Military Extension dismantled.
Cheap Fares for shooters restored by the newly constituted Southern Region of British Railways
Running Boar Range re-opened but closed in 1953.
First Full Annual Meeting held following the War.
One day Meeting held.
WW2 Military Extension closed.
Formation of Home Guard. Bisley became their primary Camp.
Military Railway Extension re-opened to Pirbright Camp only.
New Sniping and Sporting Range opened at Bisley
This included an automatic Running Boar Range.
Outbreak of WW2.
Camp again handed over to Military.
Retirement of Major C.R. Etches as Secretary
Arthur Fulton wins the Sovereign’s Prize for the third time.
Marjorie Foster first woman to win the Sovereign’s Prize.
Range Tramway equipment including the tram locomotive “Wharncliffe” disposed of for scrap.
Arthur Fulton wins the Sovereign’s Prize for the second time.
Lord Cheylesmore, the NRA Chairman, dies after being involved in a car accident.
The ‘Pavilion’
The ‘Pavilion’ prefabricated refreshment Building from Wimbledon demolished and replaced by the present brick building.
Death of Lt. Col. C.R. Crosse, the NRA Secretary.
Major C.R. Etches took over his position.
War Office wartime control of Railway ceased.
Firearms Act
Firearms Act, effectively restricting their use to holders of Firearms Certificates.
First post-war Meeting.
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.
Military Railway handed over to LSWR to manage.
By December Military Railway Personnel demobilised causing LSWR to close Military Railway.
Military Railway completed
Military Railway completed and opened in 1917. Whole line, including Bisley Camp Station taken over by Military.
Concerns over ownership
Concerns over ownership of Camp Tramway and NRA remuneration by railway company put into the hands of the Associations Solicitors.
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.
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.
Formation of School of Musketry
Formation of School of Musketry to train Instructors for the new British Armies.
Last Meeting at which the Range Tramway was used.
Arthur Fulton wins the first of his three Sovereigns Prizes.
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.
Lord Cheylesmore introduces Boys Camp
Lord Cheylesmore introduces Boys Camp (for schools without Cadet Corps) at Bisley.
King Edward VII visits the Camp.
New Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) first tested by British Army.
Death of George, Duke of Cambridge, the President of the NRA.
Lord Cheylesmore becomes Chairman of NRA.
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.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s paper on formation of Civilian Rifle Clubs
He agrees to sit on the new NRA Rifle Clubs Committee.
Col Mackinnon falls seriously ill at end of Meeting and resigns in November.
He died in early 1899.
Lt. Col C.R. Crosse appointed Secretary.
Water Supply breaks down at height of Annual Meeting
Railway Company supply old engine tenders as temporary measure.
Lee-Enfield (Long Lee) Rifle (using smokeless ammunition) comes into general use at Bisley.
Lee –Metford permitted in United Services Cup.
Winifred Leale of the Guernsey Rifle Club becomes the first woman to shoot in NRA Competitions.
Prefabricated buildings and Range tramway, brought from Wimbledon, re-erected.
Prince and Princess of Wales open Ranges and Camp Tramway on 12th July.
Col. William Mackinnon, late of the Hythe School of Musketry, becomes NRA Secretary.
Queen Victoria signs the NRA Charter of Incorporation.
Council agree site at Bisley by a large majority. Ratified by Spring Meeting
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.
Royal Engineers start construction.
Royal Engineers start construction of ranges and earth works of Tramway to connect the new Camp with Brookwood.
Capt.St John Mildmay resigned as NRA Secretary.
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
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.
Bisley site located by Hoey (Association’s Clerk of Works).
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.
The Duke of Cambridge, the NRA’s president serves notice on the Association, under the terms of the 1870 Notice of Determination Agreement.
Efforts to find a new site instigated.
James Loyd Lindsay, Lord Wantage, becomes Chairman of the NRA
Formation of the National Rifle Association
Volunteer Movement re-formed (originally disbanded after Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815).
