| One of the team, Frank Spittle, set a national individual record by
dropping only one point in 14 rounds, 1399 x 1400, which obviously now,
along with the team record, could never be beaten. 350 teams took part,
and 8th Bn. Staffs H.G. score of 492 x 500 beat 6th Kent Bn. score of 487 x
500 in the final. The record breaking team of the 8th Wolverhampton
Battalion were: Arthur Pask, Terry Marston, Frank Spittle, Don Green and
Ken Sower. Knocked out in the semi-final was the team of Ronnie Dix,
Bill Cook, Ralph Jones, Cecil Rowe, Cliff Everall, Ray Jordan This unit was commanded by Captain Cliff Everall, of the well known
business of Don Everall Ltd. A keen shooter himself, he was the driving
force behind what was a very good shooting team. One of the team was
Major Heyhoe, fitness officer, and father of the famous Rachel Heyhoe
Flint. He had commanded the 23rd Home Guard Battalion, based at
Chillingtons factory on the Willenhall Road and at the Park Hall. One
surviving member of that unit became Chairman of Wolverhampton Small
Bore Rifle Association, Mr Ronald Vaughan.
Several of the team members had harsh words to say about the rifle
range that they had to use when shooting competition cards at the Riding
School, West Park. Built at ground level in the main building, a wall
running its length divided it from the other facilities and vehicle
areas. Tanks, belonging to the Staffordshire Yeomanry would start up
just a few feet away, ruining your "hold", your day and your score. Two
large metal doors behind the firing point could be opened if needed, so
that the tanks could simulate firing also, which they did by attaching a
22 rifle to the tank's gun barrel, taking aim with the gun and then
firing the rifle.
During that time the Home Guard units all over Britain had to decide
whether or not they should continue as a rifle club. Several clubs were
formed in Wolverhampton, under the banner of the National Small Bore
Rifle Association, whose H.Q. was in Codrington House, Southwark Street
,London. They retained their unit numbers but dropped the Home Guard
tag, substituting H.G.. On disbanding, some of the 8th's team found
their way to the 44 Club, situated on the Birmingham New Road,
Lanesfield. This too merged with another H.G. club, the 22nd and became
the 22/44 club. It was from this Lanesfield based club that
Wolverhampton had one of its first success's. A team of Wolverhampton
juniors, under Captain Cliff Everall, won the first British Junior
Championship at Bisley. Cliff’s sons, Frank and Jim, did great service
in and out of the firing line.
The old 21st H.G club continued its activities on the range that
was located on the right, under the main railway bridge on the Stafford
Road. It was regarded as the warmest range to shoot on in the winter as,
during the war, the railway Home Guards had made an opening in the wall
to the railway yards outside, opening on to the main coal yard. The huge
pot bellied stove glowed a warm welcome to "shoulder to shoulder" teams
for years afterwards thanks to the Great Western Railway and club
officials George Crowther and Arnhem veteran Eric Retford.
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