No. 10 CORPS. WARMINSTER RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.
It was not until late in the year 1859 that the good people at and near Warminster called a meeting to consider the best methods for raising a rifle corps at Warminster and in its neighbourhood. It was not the custom of Warminster, as a rule, to let other towns go ahead of her in matters of any great moment, and her doing so in a thing of such interest as the defence of the country remains unexplained. She was struggling into being with her rifle corps, when Trowbridge, Maiden Bradley, Salisbury, &c., were well on at target practice and judging distance drills: but she lost nothing by delay—not improbably gained, having thereby avoided some of the mistakes and unnecessary expenses incurred by beginners. The corps raised eventually was numbered 10 in the county of Wilts, and was known at home as the "Jolly Tenth," but in the battalion, and throughout the county generally, as a rifle corps second to none in real efficiency, and both in its officers and men possessing a smartness and cohesion somewhat unusual.
On the 5th December, 1859, the following notice of a public meeting to be held at Warminster was posted in the town and neighbourhood:—
Volunteer Rifle Corps
For the
Town and Neighbourhood of Warminster.
A Public Meeting
Of the Inhabitants of the Town and Neighbourhood
Will be held
At the Town Hall, Warminster,
On Saturday, the 10th December, 1859,
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon,To take into consideration the expediency of establishing and organising a Volunteer Corps, and to make arrangements for carrying the same into effect.
(Signed)
Bath,
H. Thynne,
William Temple,
Joseph Everett,
John Ravenhill,
Nath. Barton,
John Davis, Junr.,
George Temple,
H.G. Biggs,
Magistrates acting for the Division of Warminster.
The Marquis of Bath will take the Chair.
In accordance with this notice a large and influential meeting of the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood was held in the Town Hall, Warminster, on Saturday, the 10th December, 1859, under the presidency of the Marquis of Bath, when it was resolved—
"That it is expedient to organize a volunteer rifle corps for the town and neighbourhood."
The following noblemen and gentlemen were formed into a committee for the purpose of considering the best plans for carrying this resolution into effect: The Marquis of Bath, Lord Henry Thynne, William Temple, Esq., Charles Lewis Phipps, Esq., H. Godolphin Biggs, Esq., Joseph Everett, Esq., John Ravenhill, Esq., Nath. Barton, Esq., John Davis, jun., Esq., George Temple, Esq., and the Rev. A. Fane, Justices acting for the Division of Warminster. Among the many attending the meeting were H.G.G. Ludlow, Esq., John Phipps, Esq., Vere Fane Benett, Esq., Rev. J. Erasmus Philipps, Mr. F.W. Bayly, Mr. Charles Bleeck, Mr. William Davis, Mr. R. Bedford, Mr. Timothy Goodman, Mr. H.P. Jones, Mr. Wm. Morgan, Mr. Martin, Mr. Thos. Pope, Mr. Geo. Pope, Mr. E. Parfitt, Mr. W. Parham, Mr. Thos. Harris, Mr. Haden, Mr. R.E. Vardy, Mr. John Scott, Mr. Vicary, and Mr. Grubb. The meeting was unanimous, and arrangements were made for immediately enrolling members willing to serve. Subscriptions to meet incidental expenses were collected, and within a few days sixty effective members (the minimum number required for enrolment) having volunteered for service, an application was at once made to the Lord Lieutenant of the County requesting his sanction to their being enrolled and on the 1st April, 1860, the corps was enrolled as the "10th Wiltshire Rifle Volunteer Corps," with the Marquis of Bath, as captain, commanding the same.