Topic: Canadian Militia
Martini Henry Prize Rifles (1872)
Militia General Orders
Head Quarters,
Ottawa, 23rd July, 1872.
General Order (21).
His Excellency The Governor General has much pleasure in directing the publication in General Orders of the receipt of Twenty "Martini Henry" Rifles with 10,000 rounds of Ammunition, valued at £200 Sterling, being the result of a collection made under the auspices of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor of London, England, and a Committee of distinguished Noblemen and Gentlemen during the Mayoralty of Alderman Besley, as a testimonial "to mark the feeling entertained towards the Canadian Active Militia for the loyalty and valour displayed by them in repelling Fenian attacks on the Dominion."
With a view of carrying out the wishes of the Committee, as expressed through the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor, these Rifles, with the proportion of Ammunition, will be offered as Prizes to be competed for by the Active Militia in the several Provinces during the Autumnal Meetings of the Provincial Rifle Associations for 1872, except in so far as relates to Manitoba and British Columbia, regarding which further instructions will be given.
The distribution will be made in the following proportions:
| Province | Rifles | Ammunition |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 6 | 3,000 Rds |
| Quebec | 5 | 2,500 |
| N.-Brunswick | 3 | 1,500 |
| Nova Scotia | 3 | 1,500 |
| Manitoba | 1 | 500 |
| B. Columbia | 2 | 1,000 |
| 20 | 10,000 |
Subject to the following conditions:
1st. To be open to competition by Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and men of the Active Militia of the respective Provinces only, who are now bonâ fide members of the Force, and have been so for at least one year immediately previous to the 1st July, 1872, and who can be certified to as having performed the Annual Drill for that year, and who have also passed through the prescribed course of Target Practice. Also to such as were bonâ fide members of the Active Militia for the year 1870, and have since retired therefrom.
2nd. Snider Rifles only to be used in this competition. Ranges to be 200, 500 and 600 yards, 5 shots at each range.
Returns of names of winners with detail scores of each to be sent to the Adjutant General at Head Quarters, at the termination of each competition.
By Command of His Excellency the Governor General.
WALKER POWELL, Lt.-Colonel,
Deputy Adjutant-General of Militia,
Canada
Unfortunately, the Canada Gazette does not reveal who might have wone these prize rifles in each of the Provinces.
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