Winslow History | Volunteer Rifle Corps, founded 1860, revived 1902

Rifle Volunteers Corps, founded 1860, revived 1902

Volunteer forces for home defence were revived (for the first time since the Napoleonic Wars) in 1859 due to a threat of war with France. The 3rd Bucks (Buckingham and Winslow) R.V. Corps was founded in Feb 1860, and the Winslow Subdivision came into existence in August. Read more on the Buckinghamshire Rifle Volunteers website.

1860: Buckingham Advertiser, 18 Aug

WINSLOW RIFLE CORPS MEETING.

A meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon, at the National School-Room, for the purpose of taking steps for the formation of a Rifle Corps in Winslow and the neighbourhood. The room was well filled, shortly after the hour named, by gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood. Among those present were Philip Dauncey, Esq, (in the chair,) Sir Harry Verney, Bart., M.P.; T. F. Fremantle, Esq.; E. W. S. Lowndes, Esq.; Rev. C. Kerr; Rev. S. Adams, Great Horwood; Dr. Newsham [sic]; W. S. Broderick, Esq.; W. S. Rogers, Esq.; D. T. Willis, Esq.; T. P. Willis, Esq., &c., &c.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said the object of the meeting was to establish a Rifle Corps for Winslow and the neighbourhood…

…Sir HARRY VERNEY moved, “That it is expedient to form a Rifle Corps in Winslow and its neighbourhood.”… “I look upon this as one of the most important and interesting movements I have had to do with in the course of my life. Nobody, I am bold to say, will be the worse, and everybody will be rather the better for being made somewhat of a soldier. There is nothing more healthy, both physically and mentally, than the discipline which a soldier undergoes, and especially is this beneficial to those whose occupations confine them to the house for the greater part of the day. Again, in a Rifle Corps men meet together with feelings of friendship and good fellowship; they learn to know each other and act together. Indeed, this is almost the best means of promoting good feeling that I have known in the course of my life. At the same time, you do not establish a Rifle Corps merely as a pastime. It will require a certain degree of self-sacrifice to become good marksmen.

Mr. T. F. FREMANTLE seconded the resolution. He felt sure that the collateral benefits of this movement – the discipline, the learning to walk erect, to obey orders – would be of the highest value…

… The resolution was then carried unanimously.

The Rev. S. ADAMS moved the appointment of a committee to carry out the object, and explained that more of the clergy would have been present had it not been for another meeting at Oxford, at which many of them were bound to be present.

Mr. E. W. S. LOWNDES seconded the resolution which was carried unanimously.

Dr. NEWHAM moved “That the following gentlemen be requested to act on the committee with power to add to their number, five to form a quorum:- The Rev. W. M. McCreight, Rev. S. Adams, Sir Harry Verney, T. F. Fremantle, Esq., P. Dauncey, Esq., E. W. S. Lowndes, Esq., D. T. Willis, Esq., Mr. W. Neal, Mr. A. Barton, Mr. John Grace, Mr. Dudley.

The motion was seconded by Mr. WILLIS and carried unanimously.

Sir H. VERNEY then proposed “That Dr. NEWMAN be requested to act as hon. secretary to the committee,” which was seconded by the Rev. C. KEEN, and carried with marked expressions of satisfaction.

Dr. NEWHAM, in accepting the office, said his lawn would always be at the service of the Winslow Volunteers or any others who might wish to meet there for drill (cheers). It would be perfectly private, and as perhaps the volunteers might be diffident in going through the goose-step, they would be secure from any observation except, perhaps, from the admiration of two or three ladies. He was quite aware that in an office like that which he had taken it was impossible always to please everybody. If unfortunately he should give dissatisfaction in any quarter, he could only beg that he might hear of it at once, so that a prompt understanding might be arrived at.

Sir H. VERNEY then said it would of course be necessary to raise the sinews of war, and he begged to offer a subscription of ten guineas.

The CHAIRMAN, in offering a similar donation, said the proper person to receive subscriptions would be the bank established in the town, if they would undertake the account. Of course if the matter failed the subscriptions would not be asked for.

A number of subscriptions, amounting to nearly £100, were forthwith promised, and the meeting then separated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and on the suggestion of that gentleman, three cheers were given for Miss Verney, who was the only lady present.

After some discussion in the local press, the following first-hand account (by Mr Minter the master of the Workhouse) was printed concerning the founding of the Corps, adding some information to the original report.

1894: Bucks Herald, 26 May
THE STARTING OF THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT IN WINSLOW.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE BUCKS HERALD.
SIR.- I noticed in your paper of last Saturday a note in reference to the formation of the Volunteer Corps in Winslow. I shall be glad if you will permit me to correct a slight error in the same, by inserting the following brief history of the starting of the corps in that town.
In May, 1859, Mr. Barton and myself waited on Mr. E. S. Lowndes and intimated that we thought some effort should be made by the inhabitants of Winslow to form a Volunteer Corps, as many places were doing. He promised to see Mr. Dauncey respecting the matter. Later on one or two meetings were held respecting the formation of a corps, but nothing was done for more than a year. I think had it not been for Mr. Dauncey the matter would have dropped, but he was very persevering. It was Mr. Dauncey, Mr. Lowndes, and the present Lord Cottesloe who started the corps, and it was getting towards autumn 1860 before it was enrolled. The present Lord Cottesloe was the officer gazetted to command, Dr. Newham also received a commission, and the Rev. McCreight the chaplaincy. I never saw Dr. Lovell at any of the meetings [this was the "slight error" referred to above]. He might have been a subscriber to the funds, but that was all he had to do with it. I was the sergeant appointed on the formation of the corps, and was in the habit of having the men up to learn their drill in one of the Workhouse yards in the winter evenings, and when supplied with arms they were kept at the Workhouse under my charge. I might also say that the Board Room at the Workhouse was used as the Orderly Room. The next sergeants appointed were Mr. Barton, of the George Hotel, and Mr. Neal, of the Bell Hotel, also Mr. Wm. French, who eventually went to Hythe to undergo a course of musketry instruction. The Buckingham corps was enrolled some time previously under the command of the late Major Hearn, who took very great interest in it. In fact, all that time they were a smart active corps.
I am, sir, yours, &c.,
WM. MINTER.
Winslow Union, May 21st, 1894.

1889: report of the annual dinner at The Bell and prize shooting at the Swanbourne Range (near North Hill Farm).

1902: Bucks Herald, 11 Oct
A friend writes to me expressing the gratification he feels on hearing that there is a prospect of the Volunteer movement being revived in Winslow. Under the auspices of Captain Fremantle (the present Lord Cottesloe) Winslow was, he says, one of the foremost towns in the county to adopt volunteering, and did so considerably earlier than Buckingham,- as far back, indeed, as 1860. In 1865 it had two bands - brass and drum and fife. The range was then at Swanbourne, and to this range the Buckingham detachment used to come, sometimes bringing their band with them. The movement was then exceedingly popular with all classes in the town, and it is doubtful whether many places of the size in England could have shewn such a strong detachment. Later on, in 1870, the Buckingham quota had grown larger, and the Winslow one had dwindled, but even then Winslow mustered in respectable strength, whilst in shooting they more than held their own, such marksmen as Sergeant Turnham and Corporal Bond being acknowledged to be the pick of the battalion. The causes which led to the decline of the movement are somewhat obscured, but the closing of the Swanbourne range was probably one, the bad railway communication with Buckingham another, and a more potent one still was the want of any one to take a lead in the movement. To this perhaps may be added a certain amount of indifference on the part of the authorities - from which happily the Boer War has apparently roused them. It is to be hoped the tide has now turned and that Winslow may see her ancient Volunteer spirit revived. There is no reason why there should not be a good rifle club in the town; indeed this would probably be the more successful of the two, and with all deference to Capt. Hooker’s remarks on the subject of discipline and obedience to orders- the advantages of which no one will dispute- there is undoubtedly a growing conviction that the battles of the future will be won more by good shooting than by drill.

1902: Buckingham Advertiser, 1 Nov
O Company First Bucks R, V
Orders for the week ending Saturday, Nov. 8.
Tuesday-Recruits’ drill. Fall in at the Old Schoolroom, Winslow, at 7 and 8:15 p.m.
Wednesday-The Winslow Section will parade for fitting clothing. Fall in at the School at 7 p.m.
Friday-Recruits’ drill. Fall in at the old Schoolroom, Winslow, at 7 and 8:15 p.m.
Saturday- The Colonel Commanding has been pleased to approve of the following appointment: Private S. P. Wigley to be Lance-Corporal, dating from November 13th inst.
By Order,
J. H. HOOKER, CAPT., Commanding Company.

1909: Buckingham Advertiser, 11 Dec
A MINIATURE RIFLE CLUB FORMED.
A capital public meeting was held on Wednesday night in the Oddfellows’ Hall with the intention of forming a Rifle Club. Mr. N. McCorquodale, J.P. was in the chair, supported by Capt. W. H. Lambton and Mr. W. E. Law, and the hall was nearly filled with young men and others.
The Chairman, in opening the meeting, said he had been approached with a view of getting a Rifle Club in the town and he thought it was a most excellent idea. For one thing it would provide recreation for the winter nights, and for another it would be learning men how to shoot as a means of defence should it unhappily ever come to pass that their services were needed to defend their country. He had looked about in several places for a site, but was glad to say that initial difficulty was overcome by Messrs. Matthews making them a most patriotic offer, that of building them a place and charging them £10 a year only, and if at any time the movement fizzled out, as movements did sometimes in Winslow, they would take it off the Club’s hands. He called that a most generous offer. (Loud cheers.) He then read letters from Lord Cottesloe, Lord Addington, the Hon. T. F. Fremantle (who would give two rifles as well as a subscription), Capt. Lambton, Hon. Cecil Fremantle, Col. the Hon. Cecil Hubbard, Mr. Fred Verney, M.P., Mr. E. L. Gosling, Mr. L. Cobham, all expressing their sympathy with the movement.
Mr. W. E. Law then gave a statement of ways and means. He estimated the expense at £35 for the first year, and was sure, with £20 in hand from subscriptions, there would be no difficulty in getting the other £15. The subscription would be 2s. 6d. a member, and the ammunition could be supplied at 2d. per 10 shots.
The Chairman then asked all those who intended to join to come over to the right-hand side of the room. To his gratification, practically the whole of those present were prepared to do so, and one side of the room would not hold them.
The Club was then constituted as follows:- President, Mr. N. McCorquodale; Vice-Presidents, Lord Cottesloe, Hon. T. F. Fremantle, Hon. Cecil Fremantle, Capt. W. H. Lambton, Mr. Meyrick Selby Lowndes, Mr. E. L. Gosling, Mr. L. Cobham; Committee, Messrs. W. E. Law (treasurer), W. R. Monk, S. P. Wigley, Sidney Midgley, L. J. Hawley, W. Turnham, D. Dimrose [=Bimrose], and H. J. Ray (secretary).
Mr. Neal then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, recalling the time of the old Volunteer movement when he was a lad, and when they had such crack shots as Sergt. Turnham. (Cheers.)
Mr. McCorquodale in returning thanks, said the credit of the movement was due to Messrs. Monk, Wigley and Law, who approached him on the subject in the summer. (Cheers.)
Very hearty thanks were also expressed towards Messrs. Matthews Bros. for their help, which had rendered the scheme practicable.
The following subscriptions were announced: Mr. McCorquodale, £5; Capt. Lambton, £5; Lord Cottesloe, £3 3s.; Mr Dennis Farrer, £2; Mr Gosling, £1 1s.; Mr. T. Biggs, 10s. 6d.; Mr. E. Mayor, 10s. 6d.; Mr. S. P. Wigley, 10s. 6d.; Mr. H. H. Wigley, 10s. 6d.; Mr. W. E. Law, 10s. 6d.; Mr. Hawley, 10s. 6d.; Mr. Monk, 10s. 6d.; Mr. W. J. Whitehorn, 5s.; Mr. W. H. Pigram, 5s.

1910: Bucks Herald, 12 Feb
MINIATURE RIFLE RANGE.- The formal opening of the range took place on Thursday evening, Feb. 2. It is situate in Park-road (back of High-street), and has been erected by Messrs. Matthews Bros. at their own expense, they charging the club a very low rent for it. Colonel the Hon. T. F. Fremantle opened the range by firing the first few shots and scored a “bull” at the second shot. Mr. McCorquodale, Dr. Vaisey, Mr. D. Farrer, Mr. W. E. Law, and Ex-Sergt. Turnham followed, and among others present were Hon. Cecil Fremantle, Captain W. H. Lambton, Mr. R. Matthews, etc. Mr. McCorquodale, the president of the Club, then moved a comprehensive vote of thanks, first to Messrs. Matthews Bros., whose patriotic spirit had provided the range; next to the donors of funds, who had given them such a good start, and finally to Colonel Fremantle for kindly coming at short notice, before he went away, to open the range. Three cheers were then given for Colonel Fremantle, who, in acknowledging the same, congratulated the Club on having made such a good start. It was not often that a Club was fortunate enough to find a range provided for them on such easy terms, and he was sure they were greatly indebted to the builders. (Applause.) He wished the Club great success and hoped at some future date to come in and see them stringing off “Bullseyes,” – The range was actually brought into use on Monday last, when a large muster of members was present. The arrangements were under the control of Mr. W. E. Law, treasurer, Mr. Sidney Midgley, hon. secretary, with Mr. W. J. Knight as instructor. An apparatus presented by Mr. Turnham for bringing the paper targets to and from the butt to the firing-place was much appreciated. Mr. Turnham made the top score during the evening, 87, out of a possible 100. Brisk firing was kept up all the while, and the success of the Club appears to be ensured.

1910: Buckingham Advertiser, 26 Feb
MINIATURE RIFLE CLUB - This Club is now going strong. It has a membership of 103, and the average number of shots fired per night is over 600. The top score made at present is that of Mr. W. Turnham - 98 out of a possible 100. Among the latest subscribers is the Countess de la Warr, who has kindly given £5. Mr. Hugh Ray is filling the onerous post of secretary.

1910: Buckingham Advertiser, 3 Dec
The following is the result of the November handicap. The shooting was ten shots each at 15, 20, and 25 yards:-

	Score	H'cap	Total
Amos Walker	281	28	309
John Smith	282	27	309
W. Turnham	289	17	306
W.G. Wise	279	24	303
P.W. Parker	288	14	302
E.R Mayor	287	15	302
H.J. Ray	289	12	301
W.J. Knight	286	15	301
B.S. Garrett	283	18	301
W.E. Law	266	33	299
Fred Walker	280	7	297
J. Guest	280	16	296
S.R. Midgley	274	21	295
R.A. Easton	273	17	290
W. Viccars	263	26	289
B. Sanderson	246	37	283
D.G. Smith	235	32	267
A.G. Walker	234	31	265
W.N. Midgley	215	42	257

The tie between Mr. Amos Walker and Mr. John Smith was decided as follows:- Walker, 277; Smith, 259.