great grandad with his ribbons pre 1920

[grumpy]

Toby, thank you for all that, a mighty amount of background which I shall print off.

For info., the Volunteer Force men were to form sub-units [companies c. 115 officers and men] and would serve within their regular counterpart. The numbering aspect is interesting: in Jan 1900, and in Jan 1901 [from memory] an AO was published which, in effect, made these men regulars on short service engagements. They therefore had to have numbers in the regular series but needed to be distinguishable.
The crackpot idea was that the VF men were to receive numbers beginning 1000 upstream of the highest regular number, allowing the regulars to continue the series under this 1000 head start.
The system must have known the war would only be three years ....... because most regular regiments [I mean regiments] issued about 300 to 400 numbers per year, there was only three years headroom.

That is why the Militia numbering aspect intrigued me. I will involve Graham Stewart and Paul Nixon on this issue and report back.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by grumpy

Toby, thank you for all that, a mighty amount of background which I shall print off.

For info., the Volunteer Force men were to form sub-units [companies c. 115 officers and men] and would serve within their regular counterpart. The numbering aspect is interesting: in Jan 1900, and in Jan 1901 [from memory] an AO was published which, in effect, made these men regulars on short service engagements. They therefore had to have numbers in the regular series but needed to be distinguishable.
The crackpot idea was that the VF men were to receive numbers beginning 1000 upstream of the highest regular number, allowing the regulars to continue the series under this 1000 head start.
The system must have known the war would only be three years ....... because most regular regiments [I mean regiments] issued about 300 to 400 numbers per year, there was only three years headroom.

That is why the Militia numbering aspect intrigued me. I will involve Graham Stewart and Paul Nixon on this issue and report back.

The eccentric solution to numbering is interesting and typical of the sticking plaster improvisation that has always been such a part of the British Army's culture. It does not surprise me that the VB were brought into the fold via the expedient of making them "temporary" Regulars, it is rather similar to the "temporary" Officers of the New Army battalions and the hostilities only status of Service battalions. I think that this policy stemmed from the legal status of men in the Queen's/King's uniform both domestically (terms and conditions of service, including discipline) and internationally (responsibility and liability for actions). It also brought the VB in line with the Regulars and Militia, both of whom were legally (by statute) obligated to Service when called upon (for Militia when 'embodied' by act of parliament). Conversely, the VB were entirely voluntary and not in any way legally obligated, or under Queen's/King's Regulations for the Army, until after they had formed up, in uniform and under their own volition, for service. By making them temporary Regulars their status was resolved.

[cossack]

Just as a little aside, there is also the fact that the London volunteer Battalions supplied the manpower for the City Imperial Volunteers in 1900 as well as supplying troops to their parent regiments as well.
Regards...Andy

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by cossack

Just as a little aside, there is also the fact that the London volunteer Battalions supplied the manpower for the City Imperial Volunteers in 1900 as well as supplying troops to their parent regiments as well.
Regards...Andy

The City Imperial Volunteers (CIV) were formed in Dec 1899 following the disastrous "Black Week" during the Second Boer War (1899 - 1902). Public concern forced the British Government to accept the offer of assistance
from large numbers of individuals volunteering for service overseas, beyond their terms of service for home defence. The CIV was formed under the auspices of the Lord Mayor of the City of London with financial support
from the City banks.

The CIV were formed following Lord Wolseley's letter of 20 Dec 1899 and confirmed by Royal Warrant of 6 Jan 1900. The force was composed of men from existing volunteer regiments in the London area (the metropolitan county of London
and not just the City of London) who additionally volunteered to serve overseas.

The force consisted of one infantry battalion, two mounted infantry companies and one battery of Vickers-Maxim quick-firing guns. The CIV units were drawn from 51 existing volunteer units in the Greater London area. The most men (83 volunteers)
came from the HAC Field Battery and the least (five men) from the 2nd Tower Hamlets Volunteer Rifles.

The first contingent of the CIV (54 officers and 1,506 men) sailed for South Africa on 13 Jan 1900. The CIV Field Battery left on 3 Feb 2000. On 12 July 2000 a further draft of 150 men was sent as reinforcements.

The CIV fought at Jacobsdal, Paardeberg, Britstown, Thaba'Nchu; Welkom, Zand River; Lindley; Florida, Pretoria, Donkerhoek, Diamond Hill, Bethelem, Friederickstad and Warm Baths.

They suffered one officer killed, one officer wounded, and five officers invalided; 60 men were killed or died; another 60 were wounded; seven men were missing or prisoners; 150 men were invalided and 48 became sick.

The CIV units were replaced by a succession of two drafts of volunteers organised as independent CIV companies to reinforce regular army battalions in South Africa, the men being found from London based and other rifle
volunteer units from throughout the UK.

The CIV had their finest hour at the battle of Doornkop outside Krugerdorp on 26 May 1900. Doornkop a high ridge was held by the entrenched Boers. The CIV were given the place of honour in the front line supported by the Gordon Highlanders.

In the uphill charge that followed the Highlanders followed the traditional tactics of walking slowly up hill towards the enemy and lost a hundred men in ten minutes. The non-traditional amateurs of the CIV made their advance in short rushes each group covering the next as they advanced towards the Boers, and suffered few casualties. Doornkop was taken from the Boers.

General Smith-Dorrien, in his despatch regarding the battle, said: "The features of the day were the attacks of the Gordon Highlanders and the City Imperial Volunteers. That of the City Imperial Volunteers convinced me that this corps, at any rate of our Volunteers, is as skilled as the most skilful of our Regulars at skirmishing. The men were handled with the most consummate skill by Colonel Mackinnon, Colonel Lord Albemarle, and their other officers, and it was entirely due to this skill and the quickness and dash of their movements, and taking advantage of every fold of the ground, that, in spite of a terrific fire from several directions, they drove the enemy from several positions with comparatively small loss"—about 12 wounded.

The City Imperial Volunteers returned to London in October 1900 and on 29th October made a state entry into the City. The public celebration on that day was so great, that one of the capitals underground railways, the Central Line, which had been in operation for only a few weeks, alone carried 250,000 passengers.