“MEETING TO ESTABLISH A VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS.”
On Friday, a meeting, called by the Mayor, was held at the Town Hall,
to take into consideration certain communications which his worship
had received from General Peel, the Secretary at War, and Lord
Leicester, the Lord Lieutenant of the County. There was a very
numerous attendance. Amongst the gentlemen present were—Sir E.
Lacon, Bart., M.P., Lieutenant Colonel Beckham, Captain Naylor,
Captain Holmes, Rev. J. B. Bampton, Rev. T. Lowe, Messrs. J. H. Orde,
F. Worship, W. Worship, W. Yetts, S. C. Marsh, C. C. Aldred, C. J.
Palmer, E. H. L. Preston, J. Clowes, Foreman, &c.
The Mayor stated that he had called the meeting in consequence of
communications he had received from General Peel and the Lord
Lieutenant, and in compliance with a requisition which he had
received, and which was signed by seventy gentlemen. He read General
Peel’s letter and the requisition. He had prepared no resolution or
anything of that sort, but should leave the gentlemen assembled to
propose anything they might think proper.
Mr. W. Worship said the subject upon which they had been called
together was one upon which there could be no difference of
opinion—(hear, hear)—and in order to put the proceedings into a
practical form, he should move that a committee be appointed, which
would include Sir E. Lacon and Mr. Orde.
Mr. R. Ferrier said he had much pleasure in seconding the motion, and
he hoped it would be understood that, although they were forming a
military corps, such men as himself might be allowed to contribute to
the expenses which would be incurred in its formation. There were,
doubtless, many men in the town who could afford to pay for the
accoutrements and give up the necessary time; but there was also in
the town a fine class of men, in every way eligible, who could not
afford that. It was, therefore, in assisting the latter class that
such men as himself could be useful. (Hear, hear.) He should be
glad himself to pay the annual expenses of some man who could not
afford to do it himself; and had no objection to put his name down at
once for £10 a year. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. S. C. Marsh said he did not wish to interrupt the proceedings;
but before they formed the committee he thought they should, by some
resolution, declare it desirable to form a Rifle Corps. (Hear,
hear.) Having decided to form a corps, the next step would be to
form a committee to carry out the necessary arrangements. He was
sure Englishmen would respond to the offer that had been made them to
allow themselves to form volunteer corps for the defence of the
country. Norfolk had never been behindhand in the manifestation of
patriotic feeling, and he hoped that would not be the case on this
occasion. Yarmouth had before shown what she could do for the
Governments of England and the defence of the country, and he hoped
she was prepared to do something now. (Hear, hear.) He begged to
move “That it is expedient to establish a Volunteer Rifle Corps for
Great Yarmouth and its vicinity.”
Mr. Ferrier seconded.—Carried unanimously.
Sir E. Lacon, M.P. said he thought it highly essential that a town
like Yarmouth should take a stand and come forward at once in
obedience to the proclamation that had been issued by the Queen.
They must all put their shoulders to the wheel, and wherever they saw
a fine young fellow who was a likely man for the corps, if he did not
come forward they must ask him to do so. The duty they had to do
that day was very slight indeed, but for his own part, he would say
that he should give the movement all the encouragement that he
possibly could. (Hear, hear.) He should now move that a committee
be appointed, with power to appoint a sub-committee, and with
directions to go round the town and see what force could be got up.
(Hear, hear.) Yarmouth was a large town it was true, but there were
also districts around it out of which to draw much assistance; but he
certainly thought it would be desirable to take in the Flegg Hundreds
and the Island.
Mr. J. Clowes said there were many men in the town who, from age and
other causes, would be unable to serve in a rifle corps, but who
would be very desirous of taking part in the defence of our
shores—men who were too old to sleep all night in the marsh ditches,
or under hedges. (Laughter.) For that class of men, he thought
there should be an Artillery Corps, as many of them, though not fit
to take the field, would be ready to man a gun or work a battery.
The Mayor said it was out of the scope of the present meeting to
discuss an Artillery Corps.
Mr. Orde said Government had intended that they would sanction and
approve the formation of Artillery Corps.
Mr. Marsh’s motion was then put and carried.
Sir E. Lacon, in answer to Dr. Stephenson, said it would, no doubt,
be a desirable thing to have a mounted Rifle Corps, only they could
not get the horses, and if they could get them, many would be unable
to keep them, besides which he should object, unless he wished to see
some of them killed, to their mounting horses. (Loud laughter.) But
he might say that, at an agricultural dinner, where he was the other
day, he heard the farmers express themselves strongly in favour of a
mounted force in the Fleggs and the Island.
Mr. C. J. Palmer suggested that all who wished to support the corps,
either by serving in it or by their subscriptions, should come
forward and put down their names at once. (Hear, hear.)
The Mayor said he would take down the names of any gentlemen who
wished to join the corps. When they saw who were willing to join,
they might name a committee, and appoint some gentleman to act as
secretary. That being done, the future conduct of the movement would
remain with the committee.
The following gentlemen then gave in their names as members of the
corps:—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, M.P., Sir H. Stracey, M.P.,
Lieutenant-Colonel Beckham, S. C. Marsh, C. J. Palmer, B. Jay, R.
Ferrier, W. Worship, F. Palmer, F. Worship, W. J. Foreman, W. C.
Reynolds, S. Aldred, Dr. Stephenson, J. H. Orde, G. Harvey, G. Baker,
Rev. J. B. Bampton, H. Teasdel, J. W. Bunn, Captain Holmes, C. Brown,
J. Tomlinson, H. R. Harmer, G. Diver, H. H. Barber, J. Franklin, E.
Fyson, J. B. Stevens, J. Playford, G. B. Costerton, H. Teasdel, T. P.
Burroughs, Ambrose Palmer, A. W. Morant, Rev. T. Lowe, and J. Clowes.
Mr. R. Ferrier moved that the foregoing be appointed a committee to
carry out the arrangements for establishing the corps, with power to
appoint a sub-committee; and that Colonel Beckham be requested to act
as honorary secretary.
The motion was carried unanimously, and the book containing the list
of names was ordered to be left at the Police-station during the
ensuing week, to give persons desirous of joining the corps an
opportunity of entering their names.
The proceedings then concluded.
June 8th.—The Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club had held its first meeting
on Breydon Water, and subsequently the members (who appeared in Club
uniform) dined at the Club House (Norfolk Hotel), when the healths of
Colonel Wilson, Commodore; F. Brown, Esq., Vice-Commodore; Mr. Everitt,
of Cove Hall, (father of the Club); Mr. Scott, Aylsham, and others were
duly honoured.
Mr. Bradnum’s shop at Gorleston had been struck by lightning.
June 11th.—Mr. Mellor, Q.C., M.P. for Nottingham, had presented the
petition against the return of the M.Ps.
June 15th.—The Mayor and the Town Clerk had had a serious “difference of
opinion,” and the former gentleman had declined to accept the “_amende
honorable_” tendered him by the latter.
It was stated that some 60 persons were ready to join the Rifle Corps.
June 18th.—The paper had opened a branch office at No. 31, King Street,
Great Yarmouth, with Mr. Clarke as correspondent.
Lord Chelmsford, before resigning the seals, had appointed Mr. Francis
Worship, Mr. John Clarke, and Mr. E. P. Youell, Magistrates for the
Borough.
June 22nd.—A meeting had been held at St. George’s Hall, (Mr. Harrison in
the chair), for the purpose of taking steps to advertise the town.
Forty invalid soldiers had arrived at the Royal Naval Hospital.
June 29th.—There now appeared to be two petitions lodged against the
return of Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Sir H. J. Stracey, one signed by Mr.
John Clowes (solicitor), and the other by Mr. Bayly (surgeon) and Mr.
Pilgrim (draper).
A meeting of the first Company of Volunteers had been held at Crowe’s
Sale-rooms. This body now numbered 90 men, the second Company having 56
members. Mr. Dumbleton occupied the chair, and Mr. Marsh having
explained the position of affairs, the following gentlemen were elected
officers:—Mr. Marsh (captain), and Mr. Foreman (first), Mr. Brown
(second), and Mr. Preston (third) Lieutenants.
July 2nd.—The second Company had met at the Angel. Major Nesbitt
presided, and the following officers were elected:—Mr. Orde (captain),
Mr. E. P. Youell (Lieutenant), and Mr. J. Tomlinson, jun., (ensign).
There were from 8,000 to 10,000 persons on the Piers, Drive, &c., on
Sunday evening.
July 6th.—Mr. Mellor had given notice that he should call attention to
the state of the Yarmouth Bench of Magistrates.