Senior officers in command of the Battalion have been Col. Amcotts (deceased), Col. Seddon (deceased), Col. Preston (deceased), Col. J. G. Williams of Lincoln, and at present Col. J. Ruston of Lincoln. Clergy who have served as Chaplains have been Revs. S. Lodge; C. Reginald Blathwayt, Vicar of West Ashby; A. Scrivenor, Vicar of Horncastle; H. Benwell; and at the present time (1908) Paul O. Ashby, Incumbent of Revesby.
Among those who have done good service in the corps, we should mention the first Drill Sergeant Beeton, who had previously served in the 22nd Regiment of the Line (the Old Cheshire), and afterwards in the South Lincolnshire Militia, as Colour Sergeant. He drilled the corps during about 20 years; dying in Horncastle, after about 40 years service. He was followed by Sergt. Major Bartlett; then by Sergeant Doggett, who had been Colour Sergeant in the 1st Royal Sussex, and previously to that in the 2nd Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment (the old 98th). He still resides in Horncastle. In later years the post has been held by Sergeants Towne, Ashley and Bamber.
As to the buildings connected with the volunteers, their history is briefly this: In the early years of the corps’ existence drill was carried on in the Corn Exchange. After a time the building adjoining the north-east corner of the Wong, which had been a British School, was secured; and this, after structural renovation, was used for several years as the head-quarters. It is now in the occupation of Messrs. Danby and Cheseldine, Coach Builders; as in 1901 a new site was obtained at the south-east corner of the Wong, and here on the 13th day of June in that year the foundation stone of the present Drill Hall was laid, with much ceremony, by the Earl of Yarborough, supported by other public functionaries. We here give, in full, the official programme of the proceedings, which may be worthy of preservation, in memory of this important occasion.
PROGRAMME OF THE CEREMONIAL
to be observed in
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE
of the
NEW VOLUNTEER DRILL HALL, THE WONG, HORNCASTLE,
On Thursday, the 13th day of June, 1901.
the stone will be laid by the
Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire,
The Right Hon. the Earl of Yarborough, P.C., D.L.,
Past Grand Warden of England, R.W. Provincial Grand Master;
assisted by the
Worshipful the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Bro. W. H. Sissons, D.L., J.P.,
And Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge.
The Members of the Provincial Grand Lodge and Visiting Brethren will assemble at the
Wesleyan Schoolroom, Horncastle, at 12 o’clock.
A Procession will be formed at 12–15 precisely, in the following order:
Two Tylers, with drawn Swords.
Visiting Brethren.
The Lodges of the Province, according to their numbers, Juniors going first.
The W. Masters of the Olive Union and Shakspeare Lodges, with Trowel and Gavel.
| Prov. Grand Steward. | Cornucopiæ with Corn and
Salt, borne by Masters of Lodges | Prov. Grand Steward. |
| Prov. Grand Steward. | Ewers with Wine and Oil, borne by Masters of Lodges. | Prov. Grand Steward. |
| Past Provincial Grand Officers. |
The Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works, with the Plate bearing the inscription for the Foundation Stone.
Provincial Grand Officer.
Provincial Grand Deacons, with Wands.
Acting Provincial Grand Treasurer, with Phial containing Coins to be deposited in the Stone.
The Corinthian Light, borne by the Master of the Franklin Lodge.
The Column of the Junior Provincial Grand Warden, borne by the Master of the Witham Lodge.
The Junior Provincial Grand Warden, with Plumb Rule.
The Doric Light, borne by the Master of the Doric Lodge.
The Column of the Senior Provincial Grand Warden, borne by the Master of the Pelham Pillar Lodge.
The Senior Provincial Grand Warden, with the Level. The Provincial Grand Chaplains, bearing the Volume of the Sacred Law.
The Provincial Grand Secretary, with Book of Constitutions.
The Provincial Grand Standard Bearers, with Banner of Provincial Grand Lodge.
Provincial Grand Sword Bearer.
The W. Deputy Provincial Grand Master, with Square.
The Ionic Light, borne by the Master of the Yarborough Lodge.