Who will pay for the uniforms of the Burnley Volunteer Training Corps in December 1914?

Now I know that there has always been a strong tradition of voluntary support for our armed services during war time.

Officers of the Burnley Volunteer Traiing Corps circa December 1914

There are plenty of examples of wealthy individuals recruiting and equipping military units to go off and fight bestowing their name in the title of the regiment.

And I suppose for some at least the early months of the Great War were no different.  

Across the country Voluntary Red Cross hospitals were established which were staffed and supported by the efforts of the local community.

Here in Manchester private companies undertook to support families of men who were enlisting in the Pal’s regiments and promising to guarantee jobs after the war.

All of which brings me to the Volunteer Training Corps which was a  home defence militia made up of men who were over military age or engaged in important occupations.

They  sprang up all over the country in the months after the outbreak of the Great War and 

although there was a central committee which was recognised by the War Office the individual volunteer training units were not and had to be financially self supporting providing their own uniforms which could not be Khaki.

On parade, circa December 1914

Later during 1915 these units were recognised as Volunteer Regiments and in the following year the War Office decided to include them into the County Infantry Regiment and they became “Volunteer” battalions of their local regiments.

Now I didn’t know of their existence until recently and have yet to explore those based in Manchester, but I have begun to discover something of the Burnley Volunteer Training Corps.

This was the unit that George Davison joined soon after the war began.  So far all I have are some photographs an enamelled badge and a series of newspaper stories which appeared in the Burnley newspapers.

And the first of those comes from the Burnely News for December 1914 which reported on the first inspection of the Volunteers by a Captain Renham who “was impressed by the military bearing of those on parade.”

But the article is far more revealing about attitudes towards the corps and in particular to how they were to be funded and equipped.

Enamelled badge

From the outset there was concern that some of military age might use enlistment in the Volunteers as a way of avoiding joining the regular army.

“The committee have been most particular about the admission of men of military age, without very good reason being first given why they have not enlisted.”

A similar concern had exercised some in Manchester at the young men who had become voluntary medical orderlies in Red Cross hospitals and led to the Red Cross patiently explaining the role of these men and the fact that many did go on to serve.

That said the newspaper reported that "the Central Association had decided upon a grey green cloth [for a uniform] ........ and it is probable that the Burnely Corps will have grey green fatigue uniforms with brown buttons and the letters B.V.T.C. on the shoulder.”

And this would involve “a large sum of money.”  To this end an equipment fund had been opened with a target sum “of a 100,000 shillings.”

Now I have to confess that in the early months of what would eventually become a war where the whole nation was mobilized, either through conscription in 1916, rationing a year later and subjected to new regulations and the vast amount of propaganda this seems odd.

But that maybe to judge the outbreak with modern eyes.

Pictures; of the Burnley Volunteer Training Corps from the George Davison Collection courtesy of David Harrop

*Burnley News December 19 1914, courtesy of Sally Dervan