Part 18 (1/2)

Babington, F. Gilliat, F. W. Tweed, J. R. Banks, and most of the chief tradesmen and residents in town and neighbourhood.

[Picture: The Stanch]

The Muster Roll, which is still preserved, of the corps then formed, and designated the ”G Company of the 1st Battalion of the Lincolns.h.i.+re Regiment of Volunteers,” has at its head the name of Henry Francis Conington, as Captain, March 9th, 1860, with Richard W. c.l.i.therow and Robert Jalland, as officers under him, at the same date; then follows a long list of non-commissioned officers and privates, numbering, in the course of a few years, more than 2,000 names. Captain Conington, promoted Major in 1870, was succeeded in due course, on his going abroad, by Captain, afterwards Major, Robert Clifton Armstrong, who had begun service as Sergeant, and then Lieutenant; having under him, as Lieutenants, Messrs. W. Jeffery and W. S. c.l.i.therow, who were succeeded by Richard W. c.l.i.therow and Robert C. Isle; with Dr. Hugh George as surgeon.

Mr. Arthur Ellwood, of Mareham-le-Fen, who had joined the corps in 1865, succeeded to the command in 1891, with Dr. Keogh, of Coningsby, and F. S.

Dymoke, Esq., as Lieutenants, Dr. Hugh George still acting as Surgeon; Ellwood was promoted as Captain in 1891, succeeded to the Colonelcy of the head-quarters staff in 1894, and is now Hon. Colonel of the Battalion, ent.i.tled to wear the regimental uniform.

In 1894 Mr. H. Tweed succeeded to the command as Captain, with Messrs. T.

Levett and Granville Sharpe acting as Lieutenants (Mr. F. W. S. Heywood, of Holbeach Hall, being temporarily attached). In 1899 Granville Sharpe succeeded to the command, but his health failing, he resigned after a year's service. He was succeeded in 1900 by Dr. J. W. Jessop as Captain, who had joined in 1895, and was in 1906 promoted Major of the Battalion; A. A. Ellwood becoming Lieutenant. Dr. Herbert A. Howes, who had joined in 1900, succeeded in 1906 to the command, which he still holds, 1908.

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, Inc.u.mbent 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 Ches.h.i.+re), and afterwards in the South Lincolns.h.i.+re 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 Suss.e.x, and previously to that in the 2nd Battalion of the North Staffords.h.i.+re 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 WORs.h.i.+PFUL THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF LINCOLNs.h.i.+RE, THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF YARBOROUGH, P.C., D.L., Past Grand Warden of England, R.W. Provincial Grand Master; a.s.sISTED BY THE WORs.h.i.+PFUL THE DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER, BRO. W. H. SISSONS, D.L., J.P., And Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge.

CEREMONIAL.

The Members of the Provincial Grand Lodge and Visiting Brethren will a.s.semble at the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Horncastle, at 12 o'clock.

A Procession will be formed at 1215 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. Cornucopiae with Corn Prov. Grand Steward.

and Salt, borne by Masters of Lodges

Prov. Grand Steward. Ewers with Wine and Prov. Grand Steward.

Oil, borne by Masters of Lodges.

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.