The VTC in Devon

[Rob Miller]

I'm having difficulty in understanding the VTC.

K&K Vol 1 says:-

Devonshire Volunteer Regiment, Later 1st, 2nd, 3rd Volunteer Battalions, The Devonshire Regiment.

Exeter Volunteer Regiment, was later the 1st Volunteer battalion, The Devonshire Regiment.

Plymouth Volunteer Training Corps, was later the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment.

It appears that various small towns a villages also started their own independent units in 1914-15, were they lumped together to form the 3rd Volunteer Battalion? or was this made up of North Devon units in which case did Tiverton and Uffculme for example become part of their nearest Volunteer Battalion, The 1st at Exeter?

Below are 2 pictures of Uffculme VTC before and after they obtained their uniforms and a picture captioned Tiverton VTC, but as they are mostly wearing Devonshire Regiment shaped badges, possibly part of a later Volunteer Battalion?

Any thoughts and other pictures of the VTC in Devon welcome.
Rob.

[badjez]

Rob,

In 1914 various towns and villages formed their own units for home defence. These were not recognised or supported by the War Office so they could adopt their own designations. They were organised by the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps. The WO refused to permit the VTC units permission to wear army uiform or insignia, hence the adoption of the grey uniform and the numerous individual unit badges.

Subsequently the WO changed their minds and recognied the VTC had a useful role to play in pre-army training for youths, so they 'Recognised' the VTC; reorganised them into Volunteer battalions of their local county regiments, and permitted them to adopt khaki. At this time all the old insignia was supposed to be taken down and the Royal Arms adopted as a cap badge. This is the large GM version of the General List badge.

For a good detailed history of the VTC I recomend John Sainsbury's book on the VTC in Hertfordshire.

Stephen.

[Sonofacqms]

Rob,
The study of VTC units is a minefield, last year I bought on a car boot sale a badge with the coat of arms of Barking, this had a slider and I perceived it to be a cap badge, having corresponded with a well known Essex collector, he told me that all the records for this were lost in the blitz.

Whether Devon VTC units histories suffered the same fate I don't know. All participants in VTC units are now long gone, so you have to make your own decisions on the subject.

Rob

[Graham Stewart]

Ahh my favourites - the "VTC/Volunteer Force" - the last frontier regarding military research.

Devonshire Volunteer Regiment as of 1st October 1916

1st(Exeter)Bn - H.Q., St.James Park, Exeter.
2nd(Plymouth)Bn - H.Q., The Guildhall, Plymouth.
3rd(North Devon)Bn - H.Q., Drill Hall, Bidiford.
4th(South Devon)Bn - H.Q., Torquay.
5th(East Devon)Bn - H.Q., Sidmouth.

"VTC Notes" & "Volunteer Force Notes" - published fortnightly in good local newspapers and the only way in which to determine their lineage.

[Rob Miller]

Many thanks for the replies.

I understand the Exeter Volunteers were originally Athletes Volunteers, so its interesting that the headquarter of the 1st(Exeter)Bn was at St James Park.

I really must visit the Devon records office.

Rob.

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

Many thanks for the replies.

I understand the Exeter Volunteers were originally Athletes Volunteers, so its interesting that the headquarter of the 1st(Exeter)Bn was at St James Park.

I really must visit the Devon records office.

Rob.

Units of the Athletes Volunteer Force could be found up and down the country and it is therefore possible 'two' Volunteer units may have existed in Exeter - one AVF and the other VTC. This wasn't uncommon in the early days of the movement and the two amalgamating in 1916 would have the capacity to form a battalion. Inidividual units, especially in rural counties, at this time were usually too small to become battalions in their own right.