THIS informal group of soldiers, surrounded by military impedimenta, probably represents one of the annual summer training encampments attended by members of the local Volunteer Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment.

Locations varied. In 1902 and 1903 they went to Aldershot, and in 1906 to Salisbury Plain, but other years included Scarborough, Bridlington and Ramsey.

Headquarters of the 3rd (later the 6th) Battalion were at Skipton, but D, E and F companies, recruited in Keighley and district, were based at the Keighley Drill Hall, together with the band. In 1908 their designation changed from Volunteers to Territorials.

These men seem to be enjoying their week away from civilian life. "Dear Old One-eyes", a young blood had written to a fellow officer absent from a "Huddersfield Inspection" in 1895, telling him of "the Brigade girl, who inquired very lovingly after you. I was speaking to one of my men about her, and he had the cheek to say that it was not known what the officers did with her during the day but he knew what the men did with her at night".