303man Posted 14 April , 2009 Share Posted 14 April , 2009 I would get your cameras out, after yesterdays announcemnet that 10,000 TA will go reducing the strength by a third. Many drill halls will be sold off for a fast buck and development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Strawbridge Posted 14 April , 2009 Share Posted 14 April , 2009 Wandering down Furzeham Road, Chard over Easter I came across an ACF building which I assumed was a drill hall. It is red brick and frontage not unlike a house but looking down the side seems to be purpose built with height and depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clintmann Posted 17 April , 2009 Share Posted 17 April , 2009 Trying to trace my grandfather - a George Black, a Scottish or possibly Newcastle soldier who was at the Huddersfield Drill Hall in October 1916. Do you know where I might find any information about the regiments who were there at that time? regards Julianem This is probably not your George Black, but I do have information about a George Boyd Black who was Scottish and served with the RE. He was located at Abancourt in France and is buried at Blargies. Below is a summary of my information. If "your" George has any connection with this man I would be interested to know. Regards, Clint Mann G.B.BLACK George Boyd Black was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1867, the son of carpenter and joiner James Black (born Glasgow abt 1839) and Erskine (born Glasgow abt 1842). In 1871 he was living in Crewe Street in the ward of Boughton in Chester, alongside a two year old sister Marion. In 1881 he was living at 48 Union Street in Chorlton-upon-Medlock in Cheshire, working as an errand boy. His mother Erskine was at this time a 39 year old widow, working as a charwoman. George was living with four younger siblings: Maria Stewart (born Scotland 1870), James (born Crew, Cheshire 1872), Erskine (born Manchester 1874) and William Boyd (born Manchester 1876). The four younger children are all named as scholar. Three others are recorded as lodging with the Black family. He married about Sept 1895 in Chorlton Lancashire (Chorlton 8c 1027) to Ella Schofield. By 1911, George himself was a boarder, living at 15 Sedgewick Road in Leyton, Essex. At the age of 42 he was working as an accountant to a public company. His lodgings were with 69 year old William Phillipson, a general labourer for a Railway Box Officer. William had a 51 year old wife Eliza. They had been married for 16 years but had no children. In 1918 George’s regiment was the Corps of Royal Engineers and was serving with the 24th Base Park Company. His rank was S/Sgt. His regimental number was 36791. He was one of twelve men acknowledged in Percival Larke’s letter. sent to Ethel Day in sympathy after the death of Herbert Stanley Day on 27th May 1918. George Boyd Black died on the 19th October, 1918 and was buried in Grave III, C, 11 in Blargies Communal Cemetery, France. His army service and pension records would appear not to have survived. His details are indicated on a medal record card, showing that he was awarded the Victory and British medals. His sister applied for these on behalf of his widow on 19th December 1923. The address given was Mrs Black, 95 Norfolk Road, Cliftonville, Margate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Thompson Posted 17 April , 2009 Share Posted 17 April , 2009 Hi Julianem, If you are talking about the Drill Hall at St Pauls Street in the centre of Huddersfield the that was the home Drill Hall of the 5th Battalion the West Riding Regiment, Duke of Wellingtons, maybe some of the other Battalions used it as a war time measure. I'm more than sure that an expert on the Duke of Wellingtons will be along before long to put me right and give you the correct answer. There are a number of memorial panels within the Drill Hall of the 5th Battalion's men who fell in that war, there is also a smaller one of the 7th from a disued public building and as been lodged there for safe keeping, and I believe quite recently theyhave also taken a small one of the 2nd Battalion once again from a redundant building although I have never seen it, the others I have. Cheers Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 8 June , 2009 Share Posted 8 June , 2009 Thank you for the last few contributions. Graeme has visited the Sheffield Drill Halls and his photos are on the website. Is this the Chard building? I think the 2008 Hudderfield question has been amply answered: thanks. We have just uploaded Sussex. This may be of particular interest to people who generously helped by offering photos. We were given some very useful information by 'kebabking', but I can't specifically acknowledge it. He posted me some stuff and didn't give any name or contact details, so I don't know who to credit. I've tried sending him a message via the forum, but he hasn't picked it up. If anyone is in contact with him, please could you ask him either to retrieve the message or to email Graeme at the contact address on drillhalls.org, just to let us know what to do by way of credits? ('Anonymous' is fine, but I don't want to seem unappreciative.) Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 9 June , 2009 Share Posted 9 June , 2009 Just a quick update on Bedale Drill Hall Gwyn. Until recently it was being used as a bathroom showroom. It looks as if this business hasn't been a success and the building is empty once again. No sign of a For Sale/To Let board yet and haven't seen anything in the paper. I'll post here if there are any developements. Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 9 June , 2009 Share Posted 9 June , 2009 Thanks, Roger. That's useful. I had been wondering, when I reviewed the thread recently. I'll add it to my list of updates! Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Thank you very much for the information and the date. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 13 June , 2009 Share Posted 13 June , 2009 In 1965 the Drill Hall was demolished to make way for the M4 Motorway I believe you will find that this is the A/M40 Motorway known as the Westway. Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 15 June , 2009 Share Posted 15 June , 2009 Thank you for the clarification, Myrtle - but where has the original post gone? Now I don't know which drill hall that information relates to, and I don't know London, so it's lost. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 16 June , 2009 Share Posted 16 June , 2009 Gwyn I don't know where the original post has gone but I believe that you will find the details on this thread Post 38 That link doesn't appear to work so here is the information courtesy of Wienand 10th (County) - Paddington Rifles: 208-209 Harrow Road, Paddington W2 (LOST – now Harrow Road Health Centre) TBY1910 says 207-209 Harrow Road Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 24 June , 2009 Share Posted 24 June , 2009 Thank you, Myrtle. I'm sorry I missed your post at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew pugh Posted 6 July , 2009 Share Posted 6 July , 2009 Good Evening All. Any idea where the Special Reservists did their drilling prior to joining the 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London)Regt November /December 1914, my fella lived in Fulham London at that time. Hope you can help. Best Regards Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 6 July , 2009 Share Posted 6 July , 2009 Some of the London battalions used the White City Exhibition grounds; extensive open spaces as the pavilions and exhibits had mostly been cleared and these were only a few miles from Fulham and Chelsea for instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Gwyn This may or may not be useful to you, but when looking for something else in the 1881 census LDS transcription discs, I came across this, as evidence of a drill hall used by Volunteers: "Dwelling: Cooper Street Drill Hall Census Place: Elton, Lancashire, England Source: FHL Film 1341922 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 3859 Folio 16 Page 26 Evan PEREGRINE M 41 M Wales Rel: Head Occ: Sergeant Major 8th LRU (Vol)" [plus large family born locally.] ELTON is within Bury, now Greater Manchester but properly in Lancs. Cooper Street is or was off Bolton Road, but too small to be shown on my 1930s road atlas, and may adjoin the Lancs F. Depot, also in Bolton Road. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 9 July , 2009 Share Posted 9 July , 2009 (edited) Thank you for that. I can't find it in the database, so I'll make sure that it's added. I looked on the old maps and the street is there, though not named, off Bolton Street and there isn't a drill hall labelled. That doesn't mean much, though, as they are often not marked on the scale of maps which are online. I wonder what, if any, its relationship was to the one which was extended in 1907 and still exists. Edit: Having looked again, I'm confused. Google Maps gave me Cooper Street off Bolton Street. Have I got the right place? Or are Bolton Road and Bolton Street in different areas? Do you mean the area of the former militia barracks? Gwyn Edited 9 July , 2009 by Dragon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Thompson Posted 9 July , 2009 Share Posted 9 July , 2009 Hi there Gwyn and Daggers, Excuse a Yorkie butting in here, from what I can make out on the 1881 census and following the enumerator around(with the aid of a 16 year old A-Z), it looks like its in the area of the roundabout at Peel way/Bolton Street, Bolton Road. I have found a ref to the formation that was in there at the time, pre Lancashire Fusiliers time, they where the 8th Lancashire(Bury)Rifle Volunteer Corps formed 1859, this can be found on Wiki whatever its called and we know how wide of the mark they can be sometimes. The Lancashire Fusiliers Regimental Museum might be able to help more. Thats my 2 pennarth. Cheers Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Thompson Posted 9 July , 2009 Share Posted 9 July , 2009 Hi there Gwyn and Daggers, Excuse a Yorkie butting in here, from what I can make out on the 1881 census and following the enumerator around(with the aid of a 16 year old A-Z), it looks like its in the area of the roundabout at Peel way/Bolton Street, Bolton Road. Peel Way runs on into Bolton Street which in turn runs on into Bolton Road, so I would say yes to it being the site of the militia. I have found a ref to the formation that was in there at the time, pre Lancashire Fusiliers time, they where the 8th Lancashire(Bury)Rifle Volunteer Corps formed 1859, this can be found on Wiki whatever its called and we know how wide of the mark they can be sometimes. The Lancashire Fusiliers Regimental Museum might be able to help more. Thats my 2 pennarth. Cheers Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Thompson Posted 9 July , 2009 Share Posted 9 July , 2009 Hi again, Been having a look at the old maps again and on the 1854 there is shown Bury Barracks at what we now know as the Wellington Barracks, it does not show the Militia Barracks though. Looking at an uptodate A-Z the Militia Barracks looks like its called Elton Wellington House. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 10 July , 2009 Share Posted 10 July , 2009 The Barracks are marked on Bolton Road. In 1854 they're called Bury Barracks. By 1894 there are Wellington Barracks (20th Regt** something I can't read) , with Wellington Grounds adjacent, and Militia Barracks (disused), adjoining Lord Street. Of the two barracks, Wellington is slightly further down the road away from Bury. In 1911, these premises are marked Wellington Barracks (20th Regt** something I can't read) and Militia Barracks (disused). By 1931, Wellington Barracks is still labelled as such and 20th Regt something illegible. It's now edged by Orpington Street, a recreation ground and small reservoir, and Haig Street. Wellington Grounds has become Wellington Gardens. Militia Barracks has gone. Elton Square and Proctor Street seem to be roughly in that location. This is the geographical area I meant. I don't know Bury and can only form a superficial impression from the online old OS maps at 1:10560 scale. I would welcome input from someone better informed than I am at the moment. We have a lot of material on the planning and opening of the extended drill hall in 1907, because it was reported in minute detail in the local and national press, but I can't see that we have anything on Cooper Street Drill Hall, Elton. I don't know whether Graeme has anything. I will make a point of going to Bury sometime and trying to follow this up. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Thompson Posted 10 July , 2009 Share Posted 10 July , 2009 Hi Gwyn, The 20th something is the 20th Regiment of foot, which in 1881 became known as "The Lancashire Fusiliers" I know this as I have been helping somebody research there rellies in that Regiment, hehe. Cheers Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 10 July , 2009 Share Posted 10 July , 2009 Hi Roger I'm not sure. This is a screengrab of the 1894 map and the word I can't read. It's the same word in 1911. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 10 July , 2009 Share Posted 10 July , 2009 Gwyn Its 20th Regimental District. See: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalog...ls=True&j=1 Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Thompson Posted 10 July , 2009 Share Posted 10 July , 2009 Hi there Dave, Thanks very much for that head up, good reading, as I understand it the 20/20 mean as you say 20th Regimental district and the 20th of Foot. Cheers Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 10 July , 2009 Share Posted 10 July , 2009 Thank you for that, Dave and for your input, Roger. I'm happy that someone else understands the regular army structure so I can focus on what I do know about! My original question is whether this geographical area of the barracks is where Cooper Street, Elton, was. The only Cooper Street shown on modern maps is near Market Place which isn't in Elton as far as I can tell. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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