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Written by: David Minshall
A shooting competition between the Rifle Volunteers of Great Britain and the National Guard of America was agreed for 1882. On 14 and 15 September the teams of twelve met at Creedmoor in the USA. The match was fired at 200, 500 and 600 yards on the first day, and at 800, 900 and 1000 yards on the second. The rifles used were of military pattern, although not necessarily one authorised for service. Each man fired seven shots at each distance, and no cleaning between shots was permitted. The British team won scoring 1,975, against the American team score of 1,805 out of a possible 2,530.
In 1883 the American National Guard team had a return match against the British Volunteers at Wimbledon, England, on 20 and 21 July. The British team was again victorious scoring 1,951, against the American team score of 1,906.
The teams are identified below. Brief biographies of all riflemen are also available.
| 1882: 14/15 September ~ Creedmoor, USA | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle Volunteers of Great Britain | National Guard of the United States of America | |||||
| Captain: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir H. Halford Adjutant: Private H. Smith | Captain: Colonel J. Bodine | |||||
| Corporal | H. | Bates | Private | F. | Alder | |
| Private | G. | Boulter | Captain | D.R. | Atkinson | |
| Corporal | W. | Caldwell | Sergeant | T.J. | Dolan | |
| Sergeant | J.W. | Dods | Private | M.D. | Hinds | |
| Captain | P.T. | Godsal | Private | C.W. | Hinman | |
| Private | J. | Goodear | Colonel | G.E.P. | Howard | |
| Lieutenant | J. | Heap | Sergeant | J. | McNevin | |
| Major | A.P. | Humphry | Private | D.H. | Ogden | |
| Private | R. | McVittie | Sergeant | J.L. | Paulding | |
| Sergeant | P. | Oliver | Private | J.M. | Pollard | |
| Corporal | C.J. | Parry | Major | E.O. | Shakespeare | |
| Major | G. | Pearse | Private | J. | Smith | |
| 1883: 20/21 July ~ Wimbledon, England | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle Volunteers of Great Britain | National Guard of the United States of America | |||||
| Commandant: Lieutenant-Colonel Earl Brownlow Captain: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir H. Halford | Captain: Colonel G.E.P. Howard Adjutant: Lieutenant-Colonel E.O. Shakespeare Quartermaster: Major I.R. Denman Secretary to the Captain: Captain A.H. Herts | |||||
| Corporal | H. | Bates | Private | J.H. | Brown | |
| Sergeant | J.W. | Dods | Private | M.W. | Bull | |
| Private | G.C. | Gibbs | Sergeant | W.L. | Cash | |
| Captain | P.T. | Godsal | Sergeant | T.J. | Dolan | |
| Quartermaster | S.S. | Gouldsmith | Private | C.W. | Hinman | |
| Major | A.P. | Humphry | Private | G. | Joiner | |
| Private | C.F. | Lowe | Sergeant | J.L. | Paulding | |
| Private | R. | McVittie | Private | J.M. | Pollard | |
| Corporal | C.J. | Parry | Private | Dr. S.I. | Scott | |
| Major | G. | Pearse | Lieutenant | W. | Scott | |
| Private | C.W. | Wattleworth | Private | J. | Smith | |
| Major | S.S. | Young | Sergeant | A.B. | Van Heusen | |