Much of the humiliation was inflicted by the Boer commandos, made up of men brought up to shoot. Faced with superior marksmanship and superior fieldcraft the British suffered badly.
It rather seems that the thinking behind the formation of this club, and no doubt many others, was a throwback to the time of the longbowmen of the Middle Ages, who turned out every week to practise, which resulted in a highly trained pool of men able bring to the battlefield one of the most devastating weapons systems of its day.
As is, no doubt, rapidly becoming obvious, knowledge of the club's history is thin, to say the least! Research is in progress! Any member, or ex-member, who can add detail please pass your knowledge on
The gist seems to be: Formed in 1903; possibility of a connection with St Michael's Church; based in Wellesley Street in the 1960's; had use of a range on the Sandringham Estate; in 1971 moved to the current site which was opened by the late Earl Spencer; many club members took part in the anti-gunlaw demonstrations in London; following the handing in of all pistols it looked as if the future of the club might be in jeopardy; the club has survived and now has strong contingents shooting .22 target rifle, air pistol, black powder and full-bore rifle.
Several questions spring to mind: What happened to the members of 1903 to 1914 during the 1914-18 war? What was happening in the inter-war years? Was the club functioning between 1939 - 45?