TOPIC:

Not a specific ABW memorial, but would seem to have been inspired by the Imperial Yeomanry's service in it.



Presented by Major Charles Tertius Mander, of the Staffordshire Imperial Yeomanry, to the National Rifle Association, to be competed for at the Bisley Meeting of 1908. The 'Mounted Scouts' first appeared as an event in 1902, and was open to one team, of a non-commissioned officer and five men, from each regiment of Regular cavalry, Imperial Yeomanry, or mounted cavalry.
The distances were 500 and 800 yards (aggregate), and there were four prizes, given anonymously, and amounting in total to £100. The teams were required to ride the course of about one mile, and then fire, dismounted, at two distances, the premise being that a small force of cavalry was ordered to gallop to an important point and then from two successive positions to check the advance of the party. No horse holders were allowed. The horses had to be left under cover, or concealed from view, during the firing, and they could be trained to stand, knee-haltered or tethered, in any manner.

The N.R.A. Museum kindly responded to my inquiry with the following history of the cup: -
"The “Mander Trophy” was given in 1908, and awarded to the highest-scoring team in the existing “Mounted Scouts” competition, that was not from a regular cavalry unit.

In 1909, the “Mounted Scouts” competition was re-named the “Loyd Lindsay” competition. Although the competition took place in 1910, by 1911 it had been removed from the programme.

The Mander trophy then seems to disappear from our programme for a while, but re-appears between the wars as the prize for the “Police Force” team match, which was for pistols. It remains with this match until 1964, and in 1965 the match (or competition) is re-named the “Police Pistol Team”. In 1994 this competition is renamed the “Mander Cup”, and is shot for in 1995 and 1996.

In 1997 the cup disappears from our programme again, until it re-surfaces in 2003 as the “Mander Trophy” in a “Gallery Rifle” team competition, which is still shot for today. There is a good picture of the trophy on the internet. I suspect that the winners of the competition this year took the trophy home with them, but if so, it should be back here by next June, to be shot for again."

www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/people/local/mander

A lovely item, Berenice. Many thanks for adding that.

I wouldn't mind getting a close-up photo of the horse and rider some time.....