Following up his research on the city’s cycle tracks, historian and CovSoc member, Peter James, now shares his research on the rifle volunteer movement which evolved into the Terratorial Army. Peter writes…..
Formation
The Rifle Volunteer Movement was established on 12th May 1859 when the Secretary of State for War, Jonathan Peel sanctioned their formation across Great Britain. The 2nd Rifle Volunteer Rifle Corps in Coventry were formed later that year and renamed the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment during the 1883 reforms. The movement reflected fears of a French invasion and concern that the British Army was severely overstretched.
Allesley Hall
In 1859 a rifle range was established in the grounds of Allesley Hall which is positioned on an elevated promontory. Allesley Hall Drive stands between 15 and 20 metres higher than the Allesley Old Road. The range was built on this slope by the Coventry Volunteers and was completed by the autumn of 1859. The site used the natural slope to provide firing distances up to 600 yards with the targets at the top.
Opening of the Range & Competitions
Coventry established this dedicated rifle range to support training and marksmanship.
The first matches were organised by the officers of the 2nd. Warwickshire Rifle Volunteer Corps. One individual who often featured at the top of the leaderboard was Captain Richard Caldicott. He fired some ceremonial first shots to test the markers on the new 600-yard range. Richard was a Coventry silk merchant and ribbon manufacturer who worked with his brother John in Earl Street and also for over 20 years with John Gulson.
In the volunteer units the Non-Commissioned Officers were nearly always the highest scoring marksmen because of their experience with Enfield breech-loading rifles. Coventry A and B Companies won the top prizes in the opening series.
Competition Management
The opening events were divided into various prize categories with results featuring strongly in the local press.
1. The Allesley Stakes was the opening match with targets set at both 200 and 300 yards.
2. The Long-Range Competition used the full length of the parkland with volunteers shooting 500 and 600 yards from the valley and up the ridge.
3. The Ladies Prize was introduced in November 1869 and local wealthy ladies shared the expense of buying an expensive silver prize (usually a cup or a watch) awarded to the volunteer with the highest aggregate score.
Richard Caldicott was heavily involved in organising these competitions and also the prizes. His business partner John Gulson was someone who donated generously.
End of an Era
By the 1890s the range at Allesley and many others across the country were forced to close.
In 1888 the British Army introduced Lee-Metford rifles which used smokeless powder.
Now if a shot missed the target it could travel distances up to two miles.
The War Office condemned literally hundreds of local ranges during the 1890s because they lacked the protection required to cope with this new ammunition.
Move to Radford
By 1900 the Coventry Volunteers had moved to a more modern range with safety features at Radford where the cost had been borne by local subscriptions. The money was raised largely owing to the efforts of Alderman Marriott. Even this move did not preclude accidents though. There was a fatal accident at the Radford Butts in July 1904 when a marker was shot accidentally and killed.
Territorial Army Founded
The Territorial Army was founded in 1908 by Richard Haldane the Secretary of State for War. It was introduced originally to defend the homeland but was deployed abroad during both World Wars. Volunteer forces merged with the Yeomanry to create a second line of defence. They did not disappear immediately but were absorbed into this new structure. By 1910 the Radford Butts were no longer being used, as the Territorial Army unit were now using the range at Wedgnock Park.
In Allesley and Radford, the Coventry Volunteers were part of a wider story of civic duty, local pride and military readiness. Their activities may have been largely forgotten but their presence remains an important part of Coventry’s history.