During the 1939-1945 war the Regiment did not fight as a unit but was converted into an Officer Cadet Training organization, and it was not until 1947 that it was re-formed as a part of the Territorial Army to become the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) TA.

The Artists badge was designed by Wyon, the Queens medallist, who also designed the Queens medal and the badge of the National Rifle Association (NRA). It incorporates the heads of Mars, the God of War, and Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, the motto being "Cum Marte Minerva" (Mars with Minerva) representing war and the fine arts.

The NRA was formed a year later in 1860, and the Artists Rifles Regiment was present at the NRA’s first meeting on Wimbledon Common, supporting the NRA for the next 100 years. The regiment built their own clubhouse at Bisley camp in 1926.

The Artists Rifles Club was formed at Bisley Camp and based in the Artists Hut which opened in May 1926.

The Artists had served with distinction in the Boer War, but due to commitments in the First World War, they had an unavoidable break from Bisley and served with distinction in France. In this period they produced 10,256 officers. 15,022 men passed through the Regiment, of whom 2,003 were killed, 3,250 wounded, 533 posted missing and 286 taken as prisoners of war. Amongst them they won 8 Victoria Crosses, 52 Distinguished Service Orders and 4 bars, 822 Military Crosses with 63 bars (and 6 second bars) 23 Distinguished Flying Crosses with 3 bars, 15 AFCs, 6 DCMs, 15 MMs, 14 MSMs and 564 Mentions in Dispatches.

Between the First and Second World Wars the Artists competed in major team shooting events with distinction, although they left what they called ‘pot-hunting’ (winning trophies) to individuals!

The Artists Rifles Clubhouse

When booking through Bisley Events you will have exclusive use of the Artists Rifles Clubhouse, built in 1926 by a famous Regiment of Artists (John Everett Millais, one of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood and Noel Coward, playwright, were members).

The Artists Rifles Clubhouse embodies the colonial spirit of the inter-war years.

A roaring log fire welcomes winter visitors into our warm comfortable bar.

In the summer guests relax on the veranda overlooking the world famous Century

Range. Combining challenging, inclusive activities at a world class venue, Bisley

Events' clubhouse is the perfect venue for a truly unique event.

The place exudes charm and character.

A quick look at walls decorated with rich Regimental history confirms that you are

in one of the most exclusive clubs in Britain.

Corporate events at The Artists Rifles Clubhouse gives guests a unique experience

they treasure (and talk about) for years to come.

With broadband access, projector, screen and large meeting room the clubhouse can

be adapted for training, meetings, private parties and other non-shooting events

The Artists Rifles - history

The Artists Rifles Regiment was born in 1859 from a group of painters, sculptors, engravers, musicians, architects and actors as part of the great Volunteer Corps movement. The Regiment grew rapidly in that year in response to a threat of invasion by the French under Napoleon III. The Corps was officially named ‘The 38th Middlesex (Artists) Rifle Volunteers’, and its first effective Commanding Officers were Henry Wyndham Phillips the painter, and Fredrick Leighton, who later as Lord Leighton was President of the Royal Academy. Other prominent members in those early days were John Everett Millais, Holman Hunt, and William Morris. Amongst their latter-day successors were Noel Coward and Sir Barnes Wallace CBE, FRS.