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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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EARLIEST VOLUNTEER FORCE From the earliest times the defence of the Town was the responsibility of local residents and later, from 1439, the Mayor and Corporation. It was they who, in 1572, made an order whereby every inhabitant should have in some convenient place in his house a 'good black bill or a clubbe' for use in any time of strife. They could even be fined 3s 4d failing to have one. [1] During the reign of King Henry VII, a body of Plymouth men dressed in 'grene jacketts', were sent into Cornwall to oppose the claim of Perkin Warbeck to the throne of England. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Town forces were put on a more organised footing. [1] To be accomplished at archery was not a sport but a legal requirement in those days until replaced by the musket but over time this "trainband" ceased to exist. [1] Plymouth raised a band of volunteers in 1745 to fight off an invasion by the French and did so again in 1779. [2] Plymouth Dock also raised a volunteer corps in 1779, through the efforts of Mr William Bastard. Like their Plymouth neighbours, they were used to provide an escort to French and Spanish prisoners-of-war being moved to Exeter. [3] THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1793-1802 The threat from France became more serious in 1793 and in 1794 Mr John Hawker and Mr Edmund Lockyer raised two companies of volunteers to both defend the Town and to keep guard over the prisoners-of-war that had been brought to the area. Hawker took charge, as Lieutenant-Colonel, and Lockyer became his Major. They were dressed in red uniforms with yellow facings and they had helmets covered in bear skins. At first the companies were formed of tradesmen from the Borough, who provided their own uniforms and served without pay but over time the tradesmen returned to their businesses and were replaced by ordinary workmen. In the end there were six companies, comprising some 350 men, and their expenses were then paid by the Government. They remained in existence up to the end of the War but the nearest they got to any action was being on permanent guard duty a couple of times. [1][4] In 1797 a body of aristocratic and respectable tradesmen formed the "Plymouth Foot Association". Major Culme was in command, with Captains B Fuge, R Fuge and A Hill, leading the 190 or so men. They provided their own uniforms, which consisted of blue coats with red collars, white waistcoats and blue pantaloons. They served without payment and even paid for their own fife and drum band. They even had a nickname, "the David and Goliaths", which came about because they paid no attention to men's height or girth so a tall, well-built man could be standing next in line to a short, skinny one. [4] There was also a 50-strong rifle corps, dressed in the old-fashioned uniform of green, and known as "Captain Julian's Rangers". [4] "Langmead's Volunteers" were financed by Mr Philip Langmead himself, who paid for their uniform of red faced with yellow the entire time they were in existence. There were at least 70 in the cops, sometimes as many as a 100, and as they were drawn from the local brewery industry they tended to be rather on the stout side. [4] Some 250 of the local Customs men and fishermen formed themselves into the "Sea Fencibles". They were armed with pikes and used to meet on Saturday afternoons. They were under the command of Captain Clements and other naval officers but were drilled in musketry by the garrison based at the Royal Citadel. The Fencibles had no drums or colours or even non-commissioned officers. [4] Finally there was a small body of 25 or 30 cavalry/yeomanry recruited mainly from the local butchers. They were dressed in a uniform of red and yellow and had helmets 'in which they partook particular pride' [2]. They were under the command of Mr Hilley. [4] Stonehouse was not without its local volunteers. There were two companies, one under Captain Pridham, which clothed themselves and took no pay, and the other, the "Barrack Artificers", under Captain Scoble, who were mainly men in his employment anyway. The latter wore uniforms of red faced with yellow. Neither company did any duties. [4] In Plymouth Dock there were two independent companies known as the "Dock Volunteers", numbering 350 men [4]. It would appear that these were the "Dock Local Militia", who used to be mustered at Mount Wise on a Sunday, when the Reverend Williams of St Aubyn Chapel used to hold a "drumhead" service [3]; and the "Loyal Dock Volunteers", under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Foot, which comprised some 500 men and also had a good band. [1] All the above forces were disbanded upon the signing of the Treaty of Amiens in 1802 but the peace was not to last very long. [1] THE NAPOLEONIC WAR 1803-15 At a meeting on August 15th 1803 in the Plymouth Guildhall, a large number of the inhabitants of the Town gathered 'to consider on the proper and most effectual means of enrolling themselves as Volunteers for the defence of the country against the common enemy.' As a result it was resolved to raise two battalions of infantry under a colonel-in-chief. A Major-General England was to be invited to fill that position. Each battalion was to consist of eight companies of 60 men each, with a lieutenant-colonel, a major, eight captains, ten lieutenants, six ensigns and one adjutant. One battalion was to be commanded by Mr John Hawker and the other by Mr P Langmead. The men were to receive the pay and allowances provided for in the Government's Defence Bill. [1] The two battalions soon reached strengths of 525 and 420 men and at first used the old colours of red with yellow facings as their uniform. However, within a year from their formation the 2nd battalion changed their facings to blue and adopted the title of "The Prince of Wales's Own". The 1st battalion had only drums but the 2nd battalion, "The Prince of Wales's Own", were renowned for their band. [1] Plymouth also the "Sea Fencibles" of 230 men. [4] Over in Plymouth Dock the "Dock Infantry" were formed, comprising some 500 men and with a good band and a pair of colours, and Colonel Rawle raised five companies of artillery, called "The Duke of York's Own", who were clothed similar to the Royal Artillery. This had 48 gunners, 4 bombardiers, 4 corporals and 4 sergeants to each company. [4] Unlike its neighbour, Dock also had a small company (25) of Horse. [4] It is not yet confirmed but it appears that the County of Devonshire used the names of its Hundreds as the basis or the various battalions of the Devonshire Volunteers, of which Mr John Pollexfen Bastard, of Kitley House, was appointed the Colonel-in-Chief in September 1803. [5] Of interest to the Plymouth area was the Plympton Battalion, Devonshire Volunteers. In September 1803 Mr Thomas Lane was to be appointed as Lieutenant-Colonel and Mr John Harris was to become a Major. [5] At the same time the Captains were to be: Mr Charles Homes Calmady; Mr John Harris junior; Mr John Welsh; Mr Robert Foster; and Mr Robert Holberton. They were all referred to as "Esquires". To become Lieutenants were Mr John Prideaux Hensleigh; Mr James Courtenay; Mr Thomas Lockyer junior; and Mr John Shepperd. They were listed as "Gentlemen", a lower social rank than Esquire. Finally, the following "Gentlemen" were to become Ensigns: Mr Robert Anthony junior; Mr William Frost; Mr Joseph Bennicke; and Mr Richard Loye. [5] Three of the other Battalions were named Ermington, Stanborough and Coldridge, a Hundred names. [5] Later the same year, in October 1803, Mr Manaseh Lopes was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Roborough Battalion, which was also known as the Fifth Battalion of the Southern Regiment of the Devonshire Volunteers. Mr Thomas Bewes was to be his Major. The Captains of this Battalion were to be Mr William Philip Daykin; Mr John Arthur; Mr Thomas Cleather; Mr John Briggs; Mr Jonathan Langmead; and Mr William Courtenay. The Lieutenants were to be Mr Robert Fuge; Mr Walter Damerel; a Mr Rewell; Mr John Peake; Mr John Barter King; and Mr Aaron Hearn. Mr John Dunsterville, Mr Thomas Amies, Mr John Dawe, Mr John Smith, and Mr Christopher Cole were to become Ensigns. [6] In March 1804 there was a "Plymouth Dock Regiment", in which Mr Charles Moore held the post of Adjutant, with the Brevet Rank of Captain, and Mr George Horton was Lieutenant. At the same time, Ensign Thomas H Shephard was promoted to Lieutenant of the "Stonehouse Volunteers", being replaced by Mr Robert Stephens Davies, while Mr Edward Thornton was appointed Surgeon. In addition a new Adjutant was appointed to the Roborough Battalion of the Southern Regiment of the "Devonshire Volunteers": he was Mr Hector Weir. [7] Altogether in 1804-05 the Volunteers of the Three Towns could muster some 2,000 men towards the defence of the country. [1] When the War was over the military spirit of the area declined and the Volunteers ceased to exist. Apparently the only action they had seen was to occasionally mount guard. [1] An attempt was made in Plymouth by Mr Elford of Bickham to raise a body of Pioneers for the purposes of conveying forage and provisions in the event of invasion. It is said that it was not as popular as Volunteering and the Government had to frequently legislate for requisition when required. [1] After the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 the various companies were reformed as the Prince of Wales' Own but once the threat from the French had diminished enough, interest in the volunteers fell away. [2] 1860 - DEVONSHIRE VOLUNTEER REGIMENT Although Devonport held a meeting in 1859 to discuss the formation of a corps of Volunteers, it was Plymouth that made the first enrolments and so became the "2nd (Prince of Wales) Battalion, Devonshire Volunteer Regiment". It was the second battalion formed in the County after Exeter. Major Duperier was the first Commandant of the Plymouth Corps, which started with 150 members. When he became Adjutant of the 3rd Devon Administrative Battalion, he was succeeded by Captain F D Bewes, of the 2nd Company. [1a] At first the members received drill instruction in the Corn Market. An army drill sergeant was detailed for the duty and the each member paid three pence (3d) at each session. Each member also had to purchase their own uniform, which consisted of dark green tunic and trousers, black leather cross and waist bets, shako, and black kid gloves. Originally the tunic had braid trimmings but these were soon removed and red facings added instead. The first uniform parades were held at Cattedown. [4] Not long after the formation of the Corps, they obtained the use of the former Corporation Grammar School in Finewell Street for their headquarters. They extended the old playground by taking over two large gardens, which they levelled and completed with tarmac for a parade ground. Such a central position was ideal for publicity and their numbers were very quickly swelled with new recruits. [4] The Devonport Volunteer Corps thus became the "3rd Battalion, Devonshire Volunteer Regiment". Its first commander was Mr J Beer, who was succeeded by Major St Aubyn. [3] Soon afterwards the Devonport Royal Dockyard and Keyham Steam Yard formed their own Artillery Corps, which became the 12th and 13th Devons. [3] Under the charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchinson, a Cadet Corps was formed in 1860 and after Lieutenant-Colonel Fisk took over in 1861 the annual subscription of ten shillings (10s) was abandoned and it was decided to provide the uniforms of all new recruits out of the funds of the Corps. [4] For the next seven years Lieutenant-Colonel Fisk worked tirelessly to improve the attractiveness of the volunteer movement while instilling into them the due regard for discipline. This evidently worked as when he was forced to resign because of ill health, the volunteers presented him with an address signed by all the members and a handsome testimonial. In 1869 Colonel Elliott took over command from Lieutenant-Colonel Fisk. During his service he had added the fourth, fifth and sixth companies to the Battalion and obtained Government permission to erect a new headquarters and drill hall in Prospect Row, West Hoe, because the site of the old one was required for the new Guildhall. [4] Major-General Pickard took over command at the end of 1870, when Colonel Elliott became Adjutant. [1] The new headquarters and drill hall were opened in 1871. [1] In 1879 the colours of the old Prince of Wales's Own Volunteers were presented to the Plymouth Battalion, cementing the link between the Victorian volunteers and those from the earlier time. [1] ARMY REORGANISATION 1881 - DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT As from July 1st 1881 the reorganisation of the army (known as the "Childer's Reforms") renamed the 11th (North Devon) Regiment of Foot as the Devonshire Regiment. It comprised the 1st (East Devon) and 2nd (South Devon) Militias and five Rifle Volunteer Corps, including Plymouth's 2nd Devonshire (Prince of Wales's) Rifle Volunteer Corps. A mounted company was formed in February 1883. [1] The Mayor of Plymouth, Mr W H Alger, fired the first shot when he officially opened the rifle range at Mount Batten that had been constructed for the use of the 2nd (Prince of Wales) Volunteer Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. The date was Tuesday May 25th 1886. [8] When Major-General Pickard retired the Corps was placed under the command of volunteer officers, Major M Collier being the first. He was in due course succeeded by Major Pitts and Major Spearman, by which time, at the end of 1890, the Corps had 20 officers and 494 non-commissioned officers and men. [1] During 1898 the Volunteers were reorganised into Brigades and the five Volunteer Rifle Battalions of the Devonshire Regiment, along with the 1st and 2nd Volunteer battalions of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, a supply detachment and a bearer company, became the Plymouth Brigade. Major-General Mackay Heriot was in overall command. [9] From Wednesday April 1st 1908 Plymouth became the base of the 5th (Prince of Wales's) Battalion, Devonshire Territorial Army, with Colonel Reginald W Fox at its head. [2] Sources:
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