Luton Volunteer Corps badge

[Doctord84]

Anyone know anything about this outfit? - a WWI period Home Guard type unit I presume? Badge handed down through my family.

Dave

[The Inspector]

Hi

This is the badge of the Luton Volunteer Training Corps. VTC. Google it and you will find a number of interesting posts

Regards Barry

[sonofacqms]

A Luton Volunteer Training Corps mufti badge for wear on civilian clothes.

Rob

[Doctord84]

Cheers both!

Dave

[Doctord84]

Just came across the following reference in "The Story of Luton" by James Dyer et al (1964) p186 - "There was a great desire to hep in the emergency and for men, too old for military service or otherwise exempt, there were the Luton Volunteer Battalion, who wore a grey-green uniform, attended drills and parades and took part in exercises which, if nothing else, helped to keep up their morale."

[Graham Stewart]

Just came across the following reference in "The Story of Luton" by James Dyer et al (1964) p186 - "There was a great desire to hep in the emergency and for men, too old for military service or otherwise exempt, there were the Luton Volunteer Battalion, who wore a grey-green uniform, attended drills and parades and took part in exercises which, if nothing else, helped to keep up their morale."

They went onto to form part of Bedfordshire Volunteer Regiment in 1916.

[Doctord84]

Following on from my earlier posting, I thought members might be interested in some details from the Bedfordshire Advertiser & Luton Times (11th December 1914) which describes the setting up of the LVTC. Presumably fairly typical of how these units came about in other towns and cities, but to me at least before I started this research, rather less familiar than the Home Guard of WWII.

The article is entitled “The Defence of Luton: Formation of Voluntary Training Corps” and relates the proceedings of a meeting at the town’s Corn Exchange where it was decided to set up the unit.

“Mr. H. Cumberland Brown, an old volunteer captain, has been appointed Commandant, a post for which he is well qualified [there was also a secretary, a treasurer and a committee including the Mayor]......It is our duty we feel, to take some action in forming a Volunteer Training Corps for Luton. We feel there is a call on us to defend our country and our town, but some of us are getting a bit frosty (laughter) and they won’t have us and it is almost impossible for some of the young business men to join the colours. If they left, some of these places like the electricity works....would have to stop – in fact the War Office won’t allow them to go.”

The speaker then notes that the people “did not wish to take any steps to make themselves into a corps for the purpose of defence unless they were able to gain Government recognition [which at first was withheld] as combatants under the International Convention”.......Eventually Government recognition was given. “The probability is that the organisation will be called the Luton Volunteer Training Corps....It is mainly for men over military age, [but also for] many men, employees and employed, who by reason of their business cannot leave their homes to take up full military service.” Anyone under 38 who joined had to “give an undertaking that if he is called upon he will be willing to enlist...it is not intended that these training corps shall become a skulking place for men who ought to join the colours but do not want to. There will be no enlistment or attestation form, but an enrolment only will take place. The Government will provide an armlet with the letters “G.R.” which it is stated will be a sufficient uniform to comply with the necessities of the international convention. If the corps wishes to have a uniform they will have to supply it themselves and the Government are also not prepared to find rifles and ammunition.”

The speaker goes on to estimate that they need £5 per man to properly equip them, so £1000 for 200 men. So the decision in Luton was to enrol men first, raise a subscription and worry about uniforms later. “There are some very fine ranges near Luton and there members will be able to make themselves more or less expert marksmen. In order to cover the cost of ammunition it is proposed that every member enrolled shall make a contribution of sixpence each week.” Later on it is noted that it will be possible to get some Martini-Enfield rifles for £2 10s each and “members will not be classed as efficient until they have put in forty drills of one hour each.” Sergeant instructors were to be recruited to help train the men. The Commandant noted that the unit would be “at the disposal of the Government for any part of this kingdom and in the case of emergency for any part of the world.”

Interesting stuff and hopefully some of this home front contribution will be brought out during the centenary. Is there a list anywhere of all the places that raised such units during WWI?

Dave