VB National Rifle Shooting Competitions 1895 to 1905

The VB's were encourage to practice their shooting skills and as such took part in local and national competitions.

 In July 1890 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

Pte Horide of the 1st Essex VB

QM Lt Crozier, Sgt Prior, Sgt Marshall, Cpl Crooks, Cpl Farran, Pte Hills, Pte Rippon of the 2nd Essex VB


In July 1891 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

QM Lt Crozier , Cpl C E Rippon, Pte Rippon ( all from Chelmsford) Pte A Tarran , Pte Hills ( from Colchester) & Sgt Marshall (from Halstead) of the 2nd Essex VB


In July 1892 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

Sgt Marshall , Cpl Rippon, Pte  C E Rippon of 2nd Essex VB


In July 1893 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

Pte Glanvile of the 1st Essex VB

Captain Crozier , Captain Holmes,  Sgt Tippins, Pte Rippon, Pte Miller, Pte Downey, Pte Damant, Bugler Howard of 2nd Essex VB

Sgt Major Collister of the 3rd Essex VB

Pte Dowsett of the 4th Essex VB


In July 1894 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

L Cpl Glanville of 1st Essex

Cpl Bloomfield, Pte Miller , Pte Hicks ( Braintree) Sgt Everett, Cpl Rippon, Pte Rippon , Bugler Howard ( Chelmsford) Sgt Tippins ( Manningtree) of 2nd Essex VB


On 29 May 1895 members of the Essex VB entered the North London Clubman Competition.

Competition winners included-Cpl Glanville and Cpl Tillett of the 1st Essex VB.

L Cpl Glanville of 1st Essex


In July 1895 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

Cpl R W Glanville of the 1st Essex VB

Sgt Tippins, Pte Miller,Pte Waller,  Pte C E Rippon of 2nd Essex VB


In July 1896 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

Sgt Tippings , Sgt Mills, Pte Miller , Pte Rippon , Bugler Howard of the 2nd Essex VB

Pte Dingley


In May 1898 members of the Essex VB again entered North London Clubman Competition.

Prizewinners were Sgt Hathway, Cpl Tillet, Cpl Hill of 1st Essex VB

Sgt Major Shearing, Sgt Wise and Private Pitts of 4th Essex VB


In July 1898 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

QMS Osborn, Sgt Drummer Rippon, Cpl Tillet, L Cpl Rogers, L Cpl Hill, Pte Garrett, Bugler Howard of the 1st Essex VB

Sgt Tippings, Sgt Rickett, Sgt Richell, Pte Pitt, Pte Nightgirl of the 2nd Essex VB

Pte Jennings of 3rd Essex VB

Sgt Major Shearing, L Sgt Wise, Cpl Sams, Pte Berry Pitts, Pte G Dingley, Pte Rooney Pioneer Broadway of the 4th Essex VB


In July 1898 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

Sgt Osborn, Cpl Buttill, , Cpl Hill, Pte Turner of the 1st Essex VB

Sgt Tippins, Cpl Groves of the 2nd Essex VB

L Sgt Southan of the 3rd Essex VB

Sgt Major Shearing, Sgt Wise, Cpl Dingley, L Cpl Pitts, Pte Charters of the 4th Essex VB


In July 1900 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included QMS Osborn, Sgt F Rippon, Sgt Rogers of 1st Essex VB

Sgt Tippins of 2nd Essex VB

Sgt Rawlings, L Cpl Sear, L Cpl Thurlow, Pte Jennings of 3rd Essex VB

Sgt Major W Shearing,Colour Sgt A W Wise, Sgt Bingley, Sgt G Cook, Cpl J D Pitts, Pte E E Buddery, Pte P C Lockwood  of 4th Essex VB


In July 1901 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants Included

Sgt G H Rogers, Lance Sgt Hill,  Pte J Jarvis of 1st Essex VB

Sgt L R Tippings of 2nd Essex VB

Sgt Rawlings, of 3rd Essex VB

Sgt Major W Shearing, Colour Sgt A W Wise, Sgt Cook, Cpl J D Pitts, Pte Buddery of 4th Essex VB.


In July 1902 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included QMS Osborn, Sgt Rogers, Sgt F Rippon of 1st Essex VB

Sgt L R Tippings of 2nd Essex VB

Sgt Rawlings, LCpl Sear, L Cpl Thurlow, Pte Jennings of the 3rd Essex VB

Sgt Major W Shearing, Sgt G Cook, Staff Sgt A W Wise, Sgt Dingley, Cpl Pitts, Pte Buddery, Pte R W Lockwood of 4th Essex VB


In July 1904 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

QMS Osborn, Sgt G H Rogers, Sgt Drummer Rippon, Sgt Nevard, Pte Durston of the 1st Essex VB

Surgeon - Captain Molson, Sgt Tippins, L Sgt Hughes, L Cpl Cousins, Pte Plane of the 2nd Essex VB

Col Sgt Cowell, Sgt Thurlow, Sgt Jennings,  Pte Fox of the 3rd Essex VB

Sgt D Nightgirl, L Sgt Pitts, Cpm T Sams,  Pte Lockwood, Pte G Dingley and Cyclist Sams of the 4th Essex VB


In 1905 the Essex team won the County Challenge Cup at Bisley.

The team was led by Captain Kittoe from 3rd VB and included the Sergeants Nightingale (father and son) from Manningtree, Sergeant Tippins, Sergeant Lockwood and Private Fox.


In July 1905 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

QMS Osborn, Sgt Drummer Rippon, Pte Durston of the 1st Essex VB

Sgt N L Hughes, Sgt Tippings, Pte Tippings of the 2nd Essex VB

Captain Kittoe, Sgt Jennings, Pte G H Fox of the 3rd Essex VB

Sgt Major Shearing, L Sgt Pitts, Pte Lockwood of the 4th Essex VB


In July 1906 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

Sgt G H Rogers, Sgt F W Rippon, Pte B B Durstan of the 1st Essex VB

Sgt S R Tippings, Sgt D Nightingirl, Cpl H O Cousins, Pte J Tippins  of the 2nd Essex VB

Captain Kittoe, Pte J H Fox of the 3rd Essex VB

Sgt Major W Shearing, Sgt J B Pitts, Sgt B Pitts, Sgt T F Sams, Pte R W Lockwood of the 4th Essex VB


In July 1907 members of the VB entered the Kings Prize competition at Bisley.

Entrants included

Sgt Drummer Rippon, Sgt Rogers,L Cpl Smith,  Pte Durston of the 1st Essex VB L Sgt Hughes, Cpl Cousins, Pte Tippins, Pte Barlow  of the 2nd Essex VB

Captain Kittoe, Sgt Fox of the 3rd Essex VB

Sgt Major W Shearing, Sgt Cook, Sgt T Sams, Sgt Pitts, Pte Lockwood of the 4th Essex VB


In 1912 4th Class Chaplain J G Fenn from the  Essex 5th which in practice was the old 2nd VB was silver medalist in the Kings Competition at Bisley. Chaplain Fenn was only one shot behind the gold medal winner.

The Essex team including Chaplain Fenn also finished second in the inter county event.