The 28th had an Irish Company but it was not a success. I believe that some of the enthusiastic Irish supporters later enlisted into what became the highly successful Liverpool Irish.
On 10 February 1864 the Ardwicks absorbed the 28th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers (2nd Manchester) who had found it impossible to continue financing their own operation. Lieutenant Colonel Deakin, commanding officer of the 28th, was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Corps, which now consisted of fourteen companies.
Senior officers had a good deal of freedom in the training of their men. Major Porteous, who had been one of the officers transferred over from the 2nd Manchesters in 1864, not only had wealth but also a great sense of humour, which at times found extraordinary expression. On one occasion he chartered a steamer, took his company over to Ireland and marched all the way to Sligo. On route he saw a coffin that appealed to him; he ordered two of the same, kept one in his greenhouse for future personal use and sent the other to his father as a birthday present.
I think the family reference to Queen Victoria probably relates to the occasion on 28 May 1864 when she reviewed the Volunteer Force at Hyde Park.I doubt that Lieutenant Gray was singled out for any praise.
More successful was the Manchester Scottish Company, originally the 78th Corps and then incorporated into the 33rd Ardwicks. The patriotic Scots continued for the next 40 years to try to establish a Scottish Volunteer Battalion but the War Office refused to allow this. There is a uniform of the Manchester Scottish Company in the National Army Museum in Chelsea.
