The Manchester Rifle Volunteers

[Bob.NB]

Can someone help me please.
Who exactly were "The Manchester Rifle Volunteers"?
When were they around and what did they become or were they just wound up?
Many thanks.
Bob B.

[mack]

hiya bob.
ime not to clued up on the volunteers,robert or roy are the best ones to ask,there were a few companies that were absorbed into the regt.

4th and 6th became the 1st manchester vol corps
7th,16th,20th,21st,22nd,23rd,26th and 28th became the 2nd manchester vols
31st,33rd nd 40th became the 3rd manchester vols
43rd,46th,55th,60th,67th,70th,76th and 78th became the 4th vols

mack

[timberman]

Hi Bob B
It's a question I had in the snippets.

They where a local Volunteer corps in a place called Fielding in New Zealand I can't find any referance to them after about 1899
They had nothing to do with our Manchester Regiment.

A bit of History about them.

There was 106,00 acres land purchased in New Zealand called the Manchester Block. The land was sold to imigrants from the North of England at 15 shilling an acre (75p).

1881 Macarthur Captain of the Manchester Rifles.
 
Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 101, 26 October 1897, Page 2

 The Shooting Committee of the Manchester Rifles will meet in the Orderly Room this evening at 7 o'clock sharp.


Volunteer Items

A circular has been forwarded to officers commanding corps instructing them to forward to the district office, Wellington, the names of the members of corps who intend to compete at the Rifle Association Meeting at Upper Hutt, also of those who may have been selected as markers or other staff duties, so that railway passes may be prepared for their use. The new uniforms for the Manchester Rifles will probably reach Feilding on April 2nd. The Manchester Rifles will parade for inspection on Thursday next. Full dress uniforms. Members of the Manchester Rifles are reminded that a competition will take place at the butts to-morrow morning. The Manchester Rifles have been invited to be present at the encampment to be held at Nelson at Easter.

The Manchester Rifle Volunteer Corps. The officers of the Company (with dates of their appointments) are:�Captain George Kirton (4th of October, 1893), Lieutenants Charles Bray (6th of April, 1892), and John Edward Barltrop (4th of July, 1894), and Surgeon-Captain John Sorley (14th of July, 1892).

Timberman

[Bob.NB]

Mack and Timberman,
Many thanks for this.
I had Googled "The Manchester Rifle Volunteers" and saw details of the New Zealand connection. However, I have a medal to the "1st Manchester Rifle Volunteers" (see attached photo - ribbon not original) and as it has the Corporation of Manchester coat of arms on it I believe that these Rifle Volunteers must have been from somewhere around Manchester.
Bob.B

[timberman]

Hi Bob B

I was always lead to believe that there was not a Manchester Rifles. Robert Bonner will be able to help I think.

But!!!
I've just found this Dated from 1860 from the SALFORD HUNDRED
ANCESTRY, ANNALS AND HISTORY web site.

19th. January Thursday
The Rev. Canon Stowell delivered an address to the Manchester Rifle Volunteers, in the Free Trade Hall, January 19.(7)

Timberman

[Bob.NB]

Timberman,
Many thanks for your help - it all happened in The Free Trade Hall, shame it's gone!
I wonder what Robert will be able to tell us.
Thanks again.
Bob B

[iain]

Can someone help me please.
Who exactly were "The Manchester Rifle Volunteers"?
When were they around and what did they become or were they just wound up?
Many thanks.
Bob B.

In 1859 and the early 1860s a large number of Rifle Volunteers appeared in response to the threat from France (again!) who were accusing Britain of assisting an Italian Felice Orsini who attempted to blow up Napoleon III.  France and Austria were at war with Italy and the whole of Europe appeared to be on the brink of war. Lancashire raised 82 Rifle Volunteer Corps, of these Manchester raised the following units.

6th (Manchester)   Also known as 1st Manchester, formed 25 Aug 1859, formed 6th corps 1880, 2nd VB Manchester Reg 1888

28th (Manchester)   Also known as 2nd Manchester. Formed 21 Feb 1860, absorbed 70th 1860, and was itself absorbed by 33rd 1864.

33rd (Ardwick)   Formed 28 Jan 1860, absorbed the 28th 1863, became 20th corps 1880, 5th VB Manchester Reg 1888.

40th (Manchester)   Formed 16 Feb 1860, known as 3rd Manchester, formed 16th corps 1880, 4th VB Manchester Reg 1888

43rd (Fallowfield)   Formed 11 Feb 1860, merged with 6th 1861

46th (Swinton)   Formed 24 Feb 1860, 4th Admin Bn 1860, 4th corps 1880, 1st VB Manchester Reg 1888.

56th (Salford)   Formed 5 March 1860, 17th corps 1880, 3rd VB The Lancashire Fusiliers 1886

60th (Atherton)   Formed 6 March 1860, 4th Admin Bn 1860, consolidated 4th corps 1880, 1st VB Manchester Reg 1888

70th (Droylesden)   Formed 5 May 1860, absorbed by the 28th in 1862

78th (Manchester)   Formed 2 Nov 1860, absorbed by 33rd 1862

[harribobs]

- it all happened in The Free Trade Hall, shame it's gone!

it's still there Bob, just a hotel these days 

[Bob.NB]

Iain,
Thanks for all this. Further research has turned up that this was a badge/medal worn by honorary members of the 1st Manchester Rifle Volunteers of the 1850s. Each of the newly formed Volunteer units had both honorary and enrolled members.  Honorary members could wear the uniform of the unit but had no military duties. The badge could be suspended from a jacket.  On the reverse should be the name of the person concerned and the words Honorary Member (mine has some initials).  For this privilege they paid an annual subscription of between one and three guineas - expensive just to wear a smart uniform!
 
Harribobs,
Last time I drove past The Free Trade Hall I thought that they had only preserved the facade. I remember going to see Pink Floyd, King Crimson etc there in the 70s. Happy days!

Many thanks again.
Bob B

[themonsstar]

this is from the book "Records of the 4th  Volunteer Battalion Manchester"  Compiled by Capt H.C.Evans 1900.

On Monday, Nov 21st 1859, the following notice was published inthe Manchester Guardian:

Manchester Volunteer Rifles

"A public meeting will be held at the Town hall, this day (Monday), November 21st at 11:00 o'clock in the forenoon. to take steps for the purpose of raising a subscription to aid in arming and equipping Volunteer Rifleman. The Mayor of Manchester, having expressed his hearty approval of the movement has been invited to preside and take the chair.

Isaac Hall
Hon Sec

[Bob.NB]

Kingo,
Very interesting stuff - many thanks.
Is the Manchester Times accessible online?
Best wishes.
Bob B