Charles Wirgman

Charles Wirgman was educated at Harrow, where he was in the school shooting VIII, and University College Hospital, London. Wirgman qualified as an ophthalmic surgeon and spent his working career as an ophthalmologist in the City of London, where he obtained some important positions like medical officer to Barclays, Coutts, and other banks, and also to various insurance companies.

During World War I, Wirgman was ophthalmologist to the 17th General Hospital, and served with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) attached to the London Scottish Regiment. He retired with the rank of major, and was a recipient of the Territorial Decoration.

Wirgman was a fine rifle and pistol shot, and served on the Council of the National Rifle Association (NRA). He coached the Indian team in the 1914 Kolapore Cup and was adjutant to the Mother Country (Great Britain) team in 1919. He was also a revolve instructor at the School of Musketry at Bisley Camp, where Wirgman also acted as Senior Medical Officer.

For the first time ever at the Bisley Meeting, a marksman was killed in 1909 when, in a tragic accident, Armourer-sergeant Guy McCracken of the Royal Marine Light Infantry was coaching several men on the revolver range when a comrade accidentally shot him. Dr. Wirgman was on a nearby range and attended immediately before the injured man was transferred to hospital, where he sadly died shortly afterwards. McCracken was the father of a six-week-old son at the time.

Wirgman continued shooting competitively into his mid-60s and, in 1925, four days before his 50th birthday, he finished second to Sapper Achie Smith in the coveted King’s Prize at Bisley. Smith’s victory was the first in the event for the Royal Engineers.