Extract from
HISTORY of The First Volunteer Battalion Hampshire Regiment 1859 to 1889
With appendix containing notes and illustrations in reference to the Corps from 1890 to 1903
Published 1905: London: Simpkin and Co Ltd, Stationers' Hall Court & Winchester: Warren & Son, High Street
Preface dated Kilworth, Woking, July 1904
15th Hants Rifle Volunteers.
If ever a Corps owed its existence to the energy, perseverance, and patriotism of one man, it was the 15th Hants, with its original headquarters at Yateley. To Captain George Mason must be attributed the idea that it was practicable to raise men enough in a district so thinly populated, he it was who took the steps to put the idea into execution, and to him undoubtedly belongs the credit of establishing the sub-division. There was no Corps. in the neighbourhood in the beginning of the century to suggest the notion which originated in the mind of the gallant officer, before therefore relating the initial steps to form the Corps, it will be well to give a brief account of the founder and first commanding officer whose portrait is given here; it is taken from a photograph of him in the uniform of the Corps about 1868.
Captain Mason entered the army in 1825, he was posted to the 4th King's Own as Lieutenant in 1826, and promoted to the rank of Captain in 1828, he commanded the grenadier company of that distinguished regiment until he retired from the regular army in 1838; but though retired, he was still a soldier in spirit, and when the opportunity offered showed his patriotism and devotion to his Queen and country by throwing his whole heart and soul into the Volunteer movement.
Amongst his papers has been found the following, evidently drawn up for an address to be delivered at the first meeting he called to confer on the subject:-
"The surest mode of insuring peace is to be prepared for war. The power of steam and false economy have left our shores vulnerable at nearly all points.
"The French despot is a needy adventurer supported by a vast and unscrupulous army, thirsting to revenge its numerous defeats by land and sea. That they can ever conquer this country is not to be feared, but they may pay us a very disagreeable visit for all that. Is the country prepared to meet them? Army we have next to none, militia we have none as yet, our only disposable fleet is at Cork, it may be wind bound, and of no use.
"Whatever is done by the French will be done without warning, then where shall we be? Nowhere! Now if Boney finds that England rises as one man, he will never attempt the risk. But, unfortunately, John Bull is very procrastinating still. They are in many parts raising Volunteer Corps, why should we be behind hand? We may surely raise a company of rough and ready Volunteers in the parishes. to the east of the Flat, which (as it were) cuts us off from the rest of the county, we shall then be able to join any force or act independently, as may be found advisable. Volunteers, from want of discipline, cannot act in bodies, but they may render great assistance to our small army in its retreat, for retreat it must, if the French land in force. They may hang on the enemy's flanks and cut off supplies. as well as better soldiers, but before we can be of any use we must learn a few simple movements, and the use of the rifle or other weapon, and get used to one another. Then if they do not come we shall be none the worse, no harm will have been done, on the contrary, we shall know on whom to depend in the event of an emergency. What we may be out of pocket by the purchase of (very simple). equipment, we must set down to insurance.
"Then let us not hesitate; if the thing is worth doing at all it is worth doing promptly; it will pledge us to nothing until a further meeting has taken place, which it is proposed to call as soon as thirty names are entered. I shall offer no apology for putting myself forward at the occasion, any man has the right to do so, but, holding two commissions under Her Majesty, I feel myself peculiarly bound to set the machinery in motion; having done so, it will be for a committee to carry out the measure."
It is not necessary to agree with every opinion in the foregoing, subsequent experience has no doubt done much to throw further light upon the subject, and as a matter of fact the Corps was not confined to the district east of the Flat, but the enthusiastic disposition of the gallant officer may be seen in every line; as an Englishman his first thought was his country, and his belief in his fellow countrymen was unbounded; as a regular soldier he was most loyal to the regular army, not for a moment considering that any other organisation could approach it in efficiency, or be expected to do aught but assist it in the defence of the country by co-operation in a humble and respectful manner; as a Yateley man he had every confidence. in his native place.
Captain Mason was lieutenant in command of the Corps until it was made into a company in 1867, he was then promoted to the rank of captain. Nothing better showed the excellent spirit with which he was animated than the cheerful and loyal manner in which he served as a subaltern, though he was a captain in the regular army and as such was senior to the gentleman who was appointed to the command of the battalion, Colonel Thos. Faunce, who actually had been his subaltern when in command of his company in the 4th Foot. Captain Mason retired in 1870, being no longer equal to the fatigues of the work, nor permitted by his medical man to run the risk of doing his duty in camp. When he informed the officer commanding, Lieut.-Colonel Sir William Humphery, of his resolution to send in his resignation, that officer wrote to him as follows:
"I am very sorry indeed to hear that you have determined on retiring, as you have always assisted me in so ready and cordial a manner ever since I have commanded the battalion, and I always felt that in any difference there might arise, I could confidently rely on your support in upholding the discipline of the battalion. I cannot, however, contend against the reasonableness of your wish under the circumstances, and can only express my sorrow at the necessity; I would, however, suggest that as camp is so near that you should wait until after that, so that we may have the pleasure of meeting you in your old place once more."
To return to the formation of the Corps, from the minute book it appears that the first meeting was held at Yateley on the l5th December, 1859. Mr. Raikes Currie was called to the chair; presumedly Capt. Mason gave the address, of which we have recorded the draft, the usual resolutions were passed and carried, the intention was, however, to confine the Corps to the east of the Flat.
Several other meetings were held in the early part of the following year, 1860, and good progress was made in the formation of the Corps. There were at different times on the committee Sir William Cope, Bart., the Rev. Charles Kingsley, and in fact every man of light and leading in the neighbourhood lent his ready assistance. Drill was commenced in April, the first being ordered for the 8th.
On the 7th May a meeting was held at Eversley, Sir William Cope in the chair, at which it was decided to extend the area for recruiting and to call a meeting at Hartley Row as soon as possible. This meeting was accordingly held.
The Reading Mercury stated that:˜ On Friday, the 1st June, a meeting was held to promote the formation of the "Hants Rifle Brigade." It was to be drawn from the parishes of Yateley, Eversley, Hartley Wintney, and Elvetham. W. H. Hawley, Esq., of West Green, was in the chair, and the promoter, Captain Mason, furnished all the necessary particulars.
The Chairman, who had belonged for forty years to the Hants Yeomanry, explained that they were the mounted Volunteers, and he expressed a hope that should an Infantry Corps be raised no jealousy would exist between them.
The Rev. F. O. Giffard, Vicar of Hartley Wintney, spoke strongly in favour of the movement and the desirability of it on account of the restless state of the French.
Captain Mason explained that a drill sergeant of the 16th Foot had already been engaged, and that it was proposed that there should be drill for four hours a week in each village.
A certain Mr. Tilley, of Hartley Row, a man of much eccentricity and fond of opposing most things, argued that these meetings were "got up" to teach men to shoot each other, that the French had no ill-feeling against this country or they would have taken the priority long, long ago. This worthy tradesman was often given to bursting out in what he no doubt called poetry. There was once a doggerel effusion posted up on Mr. Tilley's door-post which ended-˜
"And now, dear Friends, don't think me silly,
My name in truth is William Tilley."
At this particular meeting, however, it was considered that his observations were silly and they were accordingly taken no notice of.
Several names were enrolled and the list was left open at the schoolmaster's residence.
On the committee formed on this occasion was Mr. William Cave, the father of the present Commanding Officer of the battalion and author of this history. Amongst those enrolled was Mr. William Henry Cave, his elder brother, who for so long as his health permitted was a very active member of the Corps.
A day or two after the meeting at Hartley Row the official acceptance of the service of the Corps was received, it was dated 30th May, 1860; the establishment thereby authorised was one lieutenant, one ensign, and fifty-nine men.
Page created by Admin March 2008 from a scan made by Chris Bunch from the book in his own collection
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