Ham and Petersham Rifle and Pistol Club - 1912 Astor Cup Full Size Photo

The 1912 Astor Cup Winners

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A proud Lord Sudeley with the team

Lord Sudeley was the first President of the Club, from its inception in 1906 until his death in 1922. He was the 4th Lord, born in 1840 and a Naval man. He was a midshipman in the Crimean War. In this picture he was 72 years old. Biography of Lord Sudeley

In the top right hand is Jack Warner, Chairman of the Club from the start in 1906 until his death in 1937. He is aged 42 in this picture.

The "Surrey Comet" of 20th July 1912 has a report on the win as follows:

A noble success was gained at Bisley on Friday last week by the Ham & Petersham Rifle Club. A team of six members shooting for Surrey against all England won a handsome victory. The team were Mr. A W Wilde, Mrs Lester Alton, Mrs F J Wright, Mr. W Griffiths, Mr. M W Hugo and Mr J Warner

At the time Wilde would have been about 20, which suggests he is the one sitting down at the right hand side. No one else looks remotely young enough. Wilde was the first person to get a possible (100 out of 100) at the Club and the target is still on the Clubhouse wall. He volunteered in 1914 and became a noted sniper. He was commissioned into the Hampshire Regiment and was killed Friday 21 January 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The report must have got Wright of the wrong sex. We have a Wright winning competitions and there is patently only one lady in the photo, which must be Mrs Alton, who is mentioned in the Bisley Souvenir Handbook as having scored 83 on the Donegall in 1913.

This leaves Griffiths, Hugo and Wright at the back of the photo with Warner on the right hand side. Further investigation will be needed to determine who is who.