Father of the Volunteer Force.

Manawatu Herald, 17 July 1894, Page 3

Father of the Volunteer Force.

A movement is now on foot for doing honour to the Father of the Volunteer force. The man who initiated the movement which led to the establishment of the First Vol* unteers was Dr John Charles Bucknill, at that time medical superintendant of the Devon County Asy* lum. Dr Bucknill, on January 27, 1852, invited three friends to dinner, and to them submitted the draft of a letter which he proposed to send to the third Earl Fortescue, at that time Lord-lieutenant of suggesting that the earl should obtain the sane tion of the Government to the es-

tablishment of corps of volunteer riflemen, with a view of allaying the feeling of uneasiness which prevailed in the country in consequence of threats of invasion from the Continent. The letter embodied suggested regulations for such a force. Earl Fortescue approved of the idea and communicated with Sir George Grey, who was Home Secretary in Lord John Russell's Government. Sir George Grey replied that the Government would be prepared to advise the acceptance of the services of volunteer corps. Upon this, names were at onoe enrolled in Exeter, and on March 20, 1852, the first corps was formed. Dr Bucknill's companions at the historic dinner party have all passed away ; so too have the whole of the members of the first committee, save Dr Bucknill himself. He is living at Bournemouth, and has attained the age of 76, but is now an invalid.