1st. Orkney Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers)
- Reference:GB 241 D1/425
- Dates of Creation:1907
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:0.01 Linear Metres
Scope and Content
Printed regimental orders including gun practice, corps' practice reports, musketry, saluting, proposed camp and corps' competitions, 17 January 1907
Administrative / Biographical History
Following criticisms of the nation’s volunteer forces by the Duke of Wellington in 1847, Orkney and Shetland decided to raise volunteers to defend the coast. In 1859 a petition was sent to the Lord Lieutenant of Orkney, asking for a meeting to discuss the question. A resolution to set up the force was passed at the meeting on the 29 December 1859: it was backed by the Government but there was no finance available. Public subscriptions were arranged, and a committee was set up to choose between rifles and artillery. In January 1860 artillery was chosen and the unit was accepted by the War Office in March. It was given 55th precedence order in the Voluntary Artillery. Under the Volunteers Act (44 Geo III c.54) the unit was to have one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant and 80 men, to be supplied with smooth bore carbines. The first meeting of the Kirkwall Company was held in March 1860 with 50 members: the first captain was John Heddle of Melsetter, the first first lieutenant was Alexander Bain, Magistrate, Andrew Gold, Chamberlain to Lord Zetland, was to be second Lieutenant, and Dr. Edward Mitchell of Glaitness was appointed honorary Assistant Surgeon (the highest rank available in a small company and technically equivalent to regimental surgeon). Officially the company was allied to Caithness and Sutherland Artillery but essentially it acted independently. The first uniform was a blue tunic with red facings, blue trousers with broad red stripe, a black cap with two red stripes, and a white belt (a black belt was substituted on account of the expense of the white one). There was further fundraising, from events and from Honorary Members who paid annual or life subscriptions and could wear uniform (the Honorary Members included the explorer Dr. John Rae). It was decided that a corps of reserve was also to be trained, and full training began in June 1860 with the arrival of a Sergeant Instructor and a 32 lb muzzle loader gun. A battery was soon constructed at the Mount in Kirkwall. Sanday and Shapinsay companies followed, then a Stromness one, then Stronsay, Holm, Firth, Evie, Rousay and Birsay. Eventually the companies were made into the Orkney Brigade in 1867. In 1880 regulation Royal Artillery uniform was adopted, and under the Cardwell Reforms of 1881 the company became 1st Orkney Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers). Activities including drilling, competing, and summer camps, with other units when affordable. In 1908 with the abolition of Volunteer forces and the formation of the Territorial Army the unit became the Orkney Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial). The men were mobilised at the beginning of the First World War to guard the coast of Orkney, but in 1915 the Royal Marines took over, and Orkney Artillery was disbanded, with the men posted to positions with other units. For e.172
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