Volunteer Movement
Richards was an advocate of enrolling of rifle corps throughout United Kingdom as a precaution against invasion; and while editor of the Daily Telegraph he publicised the subject. In 1858 he was appointed secretary of the National and Constitutional Defence Association, which was formed to give effect to the scheme. A public meeting was held, through his efforts, in St. Martin's Hall, Long Acre, on 16 April 1859; Admiral Sir Charles Napier presided, and, as a result, the War Office issued, on 12 May 1859, a circular which authorised the enrolling of rifle volunteers. Richards then hired rooms in the City of London, and enlisted one thousand working men as volunteers, who were formed into the 3rd City of London Rifle Corps. In it Richards was appointed major, and then colonel. He held his commission until 1869.
Read more about this topic: Alfred Bate Richards
Famous quotes containing the words volunteer and/or movement:
“We should have an army so organized and so officered as to be capable in time of emergency, in cooperation with the National Militia, and under the provision of a proper national volunteer law, rapidly to expand into a force sufficient to resist all probable invasion from abroad and to furnish a respectable expeditionary force if necessary in the maintenance of our traditional American policy which bears the name of President Monroe.”
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