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Volunteer Infantry
Military History Army Yeomanry and Militia Volunteer Infantry |
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Photographs of the Volunteer Infantry, during the reign of Queen Victoria. | |
7th
(Clackmannan & Kinross) Volunteer Battalion,
Princess Louise?s (Argyll
& Sutherland Highlanders) On November 5th 1867, the 1st Corps was increased to four companies, the fourth (D) being at Dollar, and it and the 2nd Corps were taken away from the Stirlingshire battalion and formed into the 1st Administrative Battalion, Clackmannanshire Rifle Volunteers, with headquarters at Alloa, to which the 14th Stirlingshire Corps at Alva (raised on October 17th 1868) was added in 1868, and the 1st Kinross Corps in 1873. The latter corps had been raised as a subdivision at Kinross on October 31st 1860, and increased to a company on May 1st 1861, and had hitherto been attached to the 1st Administrative Battalion Fifeshire R.V., whose changes of uniform it had followed. On the battalion being formed, it was determined not to proceed with the change of uniform decided on in 1865, which had only partially been carried out, and instead a uniform of dark grey doublets with scarlet collars, cuffs, and piping, the cuffs being pointed and with black lace, Murray tartan trews (out of compliment to Lord Mansfield, the Lord-Lieutenant), dark grey forage caps without peaks and with red, white, and green diced band, and brown belts was adopted. The officers had black braid on the breast of the doublet and silver lave round the top of the cap. The 14th Stirlingshire were clothed in this uniform on their formation. In 1874 the doublets were changed to scarlet with blue facings, and plain glengarries (with blackcock?s tail for officers) were substituted for the caps, the Murray tartan trews and brown belts being retained. In February 1880 the battalion was consolidated as the 1st Clackmannan and Kinross Rifle Volunteers, with headquarters at Alloa, and seven companies, lettered as follows: A and C, Alloa; B, Sauchie; and D, Dollar (all late 1st Clackmannan); E, Tillicoultry (late 2nd Clackmannan); F, Alva (late 14th Stirling); and G, Kinross (late 1st Kinross). In 1882 a section was formed at Clackmannan, and in 1883 it was increased to a complete company and lettered ?H.? Since then, with the exception of th4 formation in 1900of a section of ?H? Company at Kincardine and of a cyclist section at Kelty, attached to the Kinross Company, in 1903, there were no changes in the organisation of the battalion. In 1887, by General Order 181 of December 1st, the battalion assumed the title of 7th (Clackmannan and Kinross) V.B. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and on February 21st 1888, it was authorised to wear the uniform of the regular battalions, but with trews and Glengarry bonnets with red and white diced borders, the brown belts being changed for white. Officers wore shoulder plaids, claymore belts, claymores, and dirks. During the South African War, 85 members of the battalion including 3 officers, saw active service. Of these, 11 men joined the 1st Volunteers Company, Lieutenant C. W. L. Ross and 17 men the 2nd, and Lieutenant H. R. Rae and 24 men (of whom 5 had already served in the 1st) the 3rd Volunteer Company of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and 16 men joined the Scottish Volunteer Cyclist Company Lieutenant A. M. Muir and the remaining men joining other corps. As headquarters for the battalion, Alloa prison was purchased in 1882, and enlarged and completed with drill hall, offices, armoury, &c. The battalion had its rifle range up to 900 yards at Hillend, near Alloa and G Company had a separate range up to 600 yards at Blairadam. The lieutenant ?colonels commanding have been- Alexander Mitchell, Major, November 5th 1867; Lieut ?Colonel, February 10th 1871 John B. Harvey (hon. col.), December 21st 1887 James Porteous, V.D. (hon. col.), January 24th 1891 Andrew T. Moyes, V.D. (hon. col.), March 3rd 1897 Robert Haig of Dollarfield, January 25th 1902 James Craig, September 13th 1906 Volunteer
Rifle Corps (Rifle
Depot) No.2 (City) Company. Mainly recruited from employees of the Oriental Bank, with headquarters there No.3 (Northern) Company. Headquarters, Rosemary Hall, Islington No. 4 (Central) Company. Headquarters, Scottish Corporation House, Crane Court No. 5 (Southern) Company. Headquarters, 68 Jermyn Street, S.W. No.6 (Western) Company. Headquarters, Chesterfield House, W The corps was largely aided at first by the subscriptions of Scotsmen in London, and had a large number of honorary members. The entrance fee was fixed at ?1 and the annual subscription at ?1, members providing their own uniform and equipment; but of the 600 men originally recruited 340 were ?artisans,? who paid no entrance fee and only 5s a year subscription, and of these only 50 provided their own uniforms, the rest being equipped from corps funds. The corps was thus thoroughly representative of all classes of Scots in London. Two of the companies were mainly, but not entirely, composed of such ?artisans,? the others were mixed. In 1862 the entrance fee was abolished, and since then the necessary qualifications for entrances have been only the introduction of a member and Scottish nationality. The original uniform was, for the 1st Company, Elcho grey tunics, short skirted with the skirts grounded in front, with blue collars and cuffs, white metal buttons, grey lace on the collar, and grey Austrian knot, Elcho grey kilts, goatskin sporrans glengarries with thistle badge, and brown belts; for the 2nd to 6th Companies similar tunics with long skirts, grey trousers with blue piping, brown canvas leggings, and grey caps with the sloping peak, blue and white diced band, and blackcock?s tail on the left side. In 1862 the Glengarry bonnet with blackock?s tail was adopted as headdress for the whole battalion. In November 1860 the establishment of the battalion was officially increased to ten companies; but this increase never to have been carried out, for in 1861 No.2 Company became No.7, a new No.2 was raised, and a new No.8 was formed as a kilted company, thus only raising the actual strength to eight companies, the two flank companies being kilted, the others wearing tunics trousers, and all the Glengarry with blackcock?s tail. The first honorary colonel of the corps was Lieutenant-General Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde, appointed in 1861, and after his death in 1863, another distinguished Scottish officer, Lieutenant-General Sir James Hope Grant, was appointed to the same honour, which he held till his death in 1875. In 1865 No.3 Company was absorbed into the others, and in 1866 a new kilted company was formed under the Marquis of Lorne and lettered ?B,? the former 1st (kilted) Company becoming ?A,? the 2nd and 6th being amalgamated as ?E,? and the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th Companies becoming ?C,? ?D,? ?F,? and ?H? respectively, letter ?G? being left vacant. ?A,? ?B,? and ?H? were then the kilted companies. In 1870 ?E,? and in 1872 ?C,? ?D,? and ?F? Companies were kilted, thus completing the corps as a kilted battalion. On November 1st 1881, a new ?G? Company was formed, thus attaining to the establishment of eight companies, which had been laid down in 1865 through never reached. In 1884 authority was given to increase the establishment to ten companies, and on November 1st of that year ?I? and ?K? Companies were formed. In 1880, in accordance with an announcement in the London Gazette of September 3rd, the corps was renumbered the 7th Middlesex (London Scottish) Rifle Volunteers. No further changes in the establishment of the battalion (except the increase in the number of privates in 1901) took place after 1884. The original kilted dress underwent few changes. In 1868 all the companies (including those not kilted) were permitted to wear grey belted, plaids and in 1872 bronze buttons were introduced in place of those of white metal, but in 1880 the latter were reverted to. In 1882 doublets with gauntlet cuff and blue piping replaced the tunics hitherto in use, and grey linen spats, worn with shoes, were taken into wear the grey spats being exchanged for white ten years later. In 1890 the valise equipment was introduced, the shoulder belts and expanse pouches being done away with. Till 1882 it had been the custom for each company to wear a separate badge in the Glengarry on special occasions (thus, ?A? Company, deer grass; ?B? Company, the Clan Campbell badge of myrtle, &c.; the companies which had no special badge wearing holly), but in that year the holly badge was made common to all companies, and was worn when specially ordered. In 1872 Colour-Sergeant Michie of the London Scottish won the Queen?s Prize at the National Rifle Association meeting at Wimbledon. During the South African War no fewer than 218 members of the corps saw active service in the field. Lieutenant B. C. Green and 45 other ranks joined the City of London Imperial Volunteers in December 1899, and of these Lieutenant Green, Sergeant-Major T. Smith, Armourer-Sergeant E. A. H. Gordon, and Sergeant J. T. Hutchinson were mentioned in Lord Robert?s despatch of September 4th 1901, and sergeant-Major Smith and Sergeant Hutchinson received the medal for distinguished conduct. Nine more men followed as a draft for the City Imperial Volunteers in June 1900. To the 2nd Volunteer Service Company of the Gordon Highlanders the London Scottish contributed Captains A. W. Buckingham and 56 other ranks, the remainder of the company being made up from the 5th and 6th Volunteer Battalions Gordon Highlanders. This company left Aberdeen on February 23rd, and joined the 2nd Battalion at Ladysmith on March 25th. Captain A. E. Rogers of the London Scottish served with it as a volunteer, and commanded it after Captain Buckingham was invalided. At the action of Rooikopjes on July 24th, Corporal E. B. M. Murray of the London Scottish was dangerously wounded, and afterwards died, and Captain Rogers was slightly wounded. On September 8th, near Lydenburg, a shell burst immediately above the company, which lost 3 killed and 16 wounded, of whom Sergeant W. F. Budgett, killed and 10 men wounded belonged to the London Scottish. During the campaign Lance-Sergeant W. H. Kidd, Private D. E. Thomson, and Private T. P. Menzies dies of disease. The company returned to Aberdeen on May 3rd. Sergeant E. Gavin and Corporal F. C. Thorne were mentioned in Lord Roberts Despatch of September 4th 1901. To the 3rd Volunteer Service Company of the Gordon Highlanders the London Scottish sent Captain B.C. Green (who had already served with the City Imperial Volunteers), 2nd Lieutenant H. G. H. Newington, and 26 other ranks, of whom Sergeant W. Steven was mentioned for gallantry on August 10th, when a derailed train was attacked near Pietersburg (Lord Kitchener?s despatch of October 8th 1901), and Sergeant F. H. Harris died of disease. To the 4th Service Company the London Scottish contributed 4 men, and Captain B. C. Green was transferred to the command of it from the 3rd. Lieutenants J. H. Torrance and C. J. Dyke, 2nd Lieutenant W. N. Clark and 27 men joined the Imperial Yeomanry in 1900, and 29 men in 1901, and in the latter year 1 man who also joined Lovat?s Scouts. The remainder of the 218 served in various corps. The headquarters of the corps were first established at 8 Aldephi Terrace, and in 1873 removed to 1A Adam Street, Adelphi, and W.C. There they remained until 1886, when newly built headquarters, with drill hall, armoury, &c., at 59 Buckingham Gate, S.W., were taken into use. The musketry of the corps was carried out on the Pirbright Ranges, near Aldershot. The lieutenant ?colonels commanding the corps have been- Henry Lumsden, late Captain Royal Aberdeen Militia (hon. col.), December 7th 1878 William E. Nicol, March 14th 1891 Eustace J. A. Balfour, April 28th 1894 W. E. Edmonstone Montgomerie, V.D. (hon. col.), December 3rd 1902 James W. Greig, V.D. (hon. col.), December 3rd 1904 Black Watch Brigade Coy. A.S.C. (V.)-4th V.B. Royal Highlanders Gordon Brigade Coy. A.S.C. (V.)-4th V.B. Gordon highlanders Highland Light Infantry Brigade Coy. A.S.C.(V.)-3rd V.D. Highland Light Infantry 1st Lothian Brigade Coy. A.S.C.(V.)-Q.R.V.B. Royal Scots Scottish Border Brigade Coy. A.S.C.(V.)-2nd King?s Own Scottish Borderers Seaforth and Cameron Brigade Coy. A.S.C.(V.)-1st V.B. Cameron Highlanders Each company consisted of a headquarters and a supply section. The headquarters consisted of 1 major or captain, 1 subaltern, 1 company sergeant major and quartermaster-sergeant, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 wheeler, 1 shoeing-smith, and 1 saddler; and the supply section numbered 1 captain, 1 staff-sergeant, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal and 2 privates as clerks and issuers, 1 corporal and 2 privates as butchers, 1 private as labourer, and 2 drivers for each vehicle. The vehicles were one 2-horsed wagon for each battalion of the brigade and one for company headquarters. These personnel belonged to and were borne supernumerary to the establishment of one or more battalions of the brigade. The uniform was that of the Army Service corps blue with white facings and helmets, but with white metal buttons and silver lace. (Volunteers) Thirty-four of its members served in South Africa during the war, of whom Captain David Wallace was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette, April 16th 1901). Its commanding officers have been- Surgeon David Hepburn, M.D. (afterwards Major), May 22nd 1886 Lieutenant D. Waterston, M.D. (Captain, August 11th 1906), January 7th 1903 Six members of the company served during the South African War, of whom one, Private Alexander Watt, was killed in action. The commanding officers have been- Captain (Major 1902) James Mackenzie Booth, M.A., M.D., September 8th 1891 Major John Scott Riddell, M.V.O., M.A., M.B., July 2nd 1904 Forty-nine members of the companies served in South Africa during the war. The commanding officer was- The following Brigade Bearer Companies were independent units:- Black Watch-107 Victoria Road, Dundee Highland Light Infantry-81 Greendyke Street, Glasgow 1st Lothian-71 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh Seaforth and Cameron-10 Bank Street, Inverness Extracted
from 'Scottish Volunteer Force' |
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Brigadier and Staff, Surrey Brigade |
The first illustration on this page depicts Colonel Lord Belhaven and Stenton commanding the Surrey Brigade, with his staff. Lord Belhaven formerly served in the Royal Engineers, passed through the Staff College, and took part in the Zulu campaign. The headquarters of the brigade are at Barkston Gardens, S.W., and the place of assembly is Caterham.
The second photograph is that of Colonel Viscount Newark, commanding the North Midland Brigade, and the officers of his staff. The name of Viscount Newark is well known in volunteer circles. The headquarters of the brigade, as well as the place of assembly, are at Derby. It may not here be out of place to observe that though in both cases the aides-de-camp are volunteers, the appointment is also open to officers of the yeomanry and militia.
The last picture on this page shows the Supply and Transport Detachment of the North London Brigade - a most desirable addition to every brigade, for, as its name implies, the staff is responsible for the conveyance of food and other necessaries. The supply and transport officer of the brigade is Colonel Lloyd, London Irish, and the officer commanding the detachment is Captain Heath, 18th Middlesex, well known as a marksman with the rifle and revolver. Original page from the Army and Navy published 1897, this superb set of three photographs for sale priced ?15. Reference V4/129 |
Supply and Staff, North London Brigade | |
Brigadier and Staff, North Midland Brigade |
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