VOLUNTEER DAYS Survivor's Reminiscences Deposits on Uniforms A Unique Agreement
The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Thursday 27 June 1929 p 5 Article Illustrated
VOLUNTEER DAYS
Survivor's Reminiscences
Deposits on Uniforms
A Unique Agreement
Nowadays voluntarily - enlisted soldiers receive their uniforms and accoutrements without very much fuss, but it is not such a far cry to the days when men who chose the military life to occupy their spare time had to pay a deposit on their uniforms, and signed an agreement to that effect. One such agreement, dated 1861, is in the possession of Mr. A. V. Giblin, of the legal Firm of Giblin and Piesse, but all the persons directly concerned in it, except one, Mr, Thomas Fletcher Jones, are dead.
It is an interesting ciicumstance that the company with which the particular agreement deals has some direct links with 'The Mercury". The signatory "of the first part" is "John Davies of Hobart Town in Tasmania Esquire the Captain Commanding the Second Rifles of the Southern Tasmanian Volunteers " who was the founder of "The Mercury". The signatories "of the second part" (men in the ranks) include many persons who had long terms of service in "The Mercury," and the sole survivor had perhaps the most remarkable service of all, since he had the honour of printing the first issue of the "Tas- manian Mail" in 1887. Mr. C. B. Davies, the chairman of directors of the present Board, is a grandson of the founder.
The memorandum of agreement is dated February 11, 1861 and is couched in strict legal phraseology. Robbed of these terms, it contains the following information -"The Colonial Government has consented to advance to John Davies as commanding officer the sum of £2 in aid of uniform for every effective member of the company. John Davies has advanced and paid on account of each effective member the sum of £2 and has taken from each a promissory note payable on demand to the order of John Davies. It is agreed that in the event of the parties of the second part quitting the service of the company within six months of the date of the promissory note it shall be im- mediately enforced, and the whole sum shall be payable. If any of the persons within nine months quit the service of the company the sum of £1 shall immediately become payable. If any of the parties shall after nine months and within 12 months of the date of the pro- missory note quit the service of the company the sum of 10s. shall immediately become payable. After each of the persons shall have served in the company for the full period of 12 months the promissory note shall be held to be fully satisfied and discharged to all intents and purposes, and shall there- upon be given up to him."
SEVENTY SIGNATURES.
Tho agreement was signed by 70 members. How many of these had the promissory notes returned to them there are no means of finding out. As far as can be ascertained, only one of the 70 is living. Mr. Thomas Fletcher Jones, although he has celebrated the 91st anniversary of his birth, still recalls incidents of his voluntary military career. Some of the men have written in with their signature in a flourishing hand with the result that slight amendments in spelling might be necessary but as far as they are decipherable they are as follows: -R. Chadwick, W. H. Jolly, W. R. Hands, Charles Collins, Hugh Boon, edward Austin, John Cooproy or Cooper, Thomas Gallaway, Alex. Clark sen., John Chew, David Jones, John A. Broome, Thomas Swinten, John Dug- gan, Joseph Louis Hill, Alexander Clark jun., Joseph Matthews, G. M. Richards, John Wright, William Taylor, F. B. Cook, Robert Wright, John Kennally, H. J. West, J. H. Rowland, Thomas Milton, J. C. Watson, Daniel Gurn, John Thompson, Henry Thompson, William Gomey or Gorney, Michael Bownen, Thomas Cook, A. C. Kirk, Hugh M. Hull, Stuart J. Dandridge, John Moore, John McCIaskey, George Purchase, Thomas L. C. Semply, L. H. Rosman, James Rosman, R. Harrington, James Dobie, William Owers, Benjamin Hall Burn, John Lancelot Shadwell Keen, Richard Green Norton, Thomas Flet- cher Jones, William H. Rosman, David Jameson, William Haines, William Grainger, Marryat Hornsby, Richard Cowles, John Aquila Peasgood, William Henry Peasgood, Charles Edmunds, David Lewis, Robert Alex. Jeffrey, Thomas Durby, James Isherwood, Ed- ward H. Palmer, A. Spurling, E. A. Brownell, R. J. Rogers, George Fisher, R. Murphy, George W. Rex.
IN REMINlSCENT VEIN.
When the interviewer sought Mr. Thomas Jones he was abed. However he declared that his general health was all right but that his legs troubled him somewhat. The doctor had suggested that he remain in bed. For a man of his ago and experience he showed a remarkable tenacity for dat,es and could place the sequence of things with only the slightest hesitation. He talked for a little time about himself and his as- sociation with "The Mercury" stating that he was emploved there when it was litte better than a woodshed. He related, too, how he started in the butchering business and spent five years of his time at that trade before the printing business occupied his attention. Mr. Jones said he had not been outside for about four years but expected his surroundings had not changed. He still enjoys his pipe.
When a copy of the old agreement was perused, Mr. Jones smiled reminiscently. "I remember the old Second Rifles all right," he said ' I was in a company of rifles before that but thought I would rather go to dances than drill, and left it. Later some of us at "The Mercury" were induced to join the Second Rifles but I did not pay for my uniform. I think Mr. John Davies found the deposit for some of them. They were good uniforms -dark green coat and trousers, and a hat similar to the French military hat. We used to drill in a big weatherboard ballroom on the site of the present Town Hall, and men from the Barracks used to come
down there to supervise the instruction. Later, we went to a new drill-hall that was part of the old markets on the site of the City Hall. The men paid so much money on their uniforms and band Instruments, but it was given back after they had done so much training. I do not know what became of the band, but Mr. John Davies induced 10 or 12 members of the old 96th Regiment - I think it was - to join the band, and a fine band it was. We were supplied with carbines by the Government. I was not in the Second Rifles very long. As far as I can remember, there was a squabble, and seven or eight of the members left. I kept my uniform and rifle for a long time, but the rifle was eventually commandeered by the Government."
Mr. Jones said that at the time of the formation of his company the volunteer movement was in a flourishing condi- tion. Almost every town of any size possessed its volunteer unit - New Norfolk, Green Ponds, Glenorchy, in the Huon, and other places. The First Rifles were formed during the Crimean War by a band known as the Primitive Order of Oddfellows. Mr. John Davies was responsible for the formation of the Second Rifles, and the Thrid Rifles was a company consisting of members of the Manchester Unity. Often the Second Rifles would hold a parade at a country town, and - he assured the interviewer the members always had a good time.
STORMING PARTY.
Mr. Jones recalled how on one occasion the company had completed a route march out towards New Town, and they stormed the old Harvest Home Hotel, on the Main Road. That building has now ceased to function as a public house. "There was a devil of a row about that," he said. "Another big row I remember arose out of a sham-fight at Rosny. We were over there drilling, and one man was shot. It appeared that somebody had put a stone in his rifle. It did not kill him, but it was only his belt that saved him. The stone gashed his belt." He laughed over another incident that occurred during the Queen's Birthday celebrations. Old Government House was about 2ft. above the level of the road, and when the company was marching parallel with the road their lieutenant gave an order "Right wheel." Either the troops following misunder- stood the order, or temporarily forgot their right, and wheeled to the left, with the result that the officer was almost knocked over and his sword lost.
LATER UNITS.
From another source, the fertile memory of Mr. Andrew Kirk, some interesting information was obtained of subse- quent units. Mr. Kirk's father was quartermaster-sergeant in the Second Rifles, and Mr. Kirk held a similar post in a unit more recently formed. He stated that his father, Mr. A. C. Kirk, remained with the Second Rifles until it was disbanded, and he then joined the Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery. After association with the Tasmanian Rifle Association, he joined the Tasmanian Volunteer Rifle Regiment in 1878, which was formed as a result of the Russian scare. Only two members of the old Second Rifles came over to the Rifle Regiment - his father and J. Isherwood. The continuity had been maintained up to the present day, and the 40th Battalion was now carrying on the traditions.