Beginnings
The unit has its origins in 1867 in the recruitment of 1,600 post office staff as special constables under Major John Lowther du Plat Taylor, private secretary to the Postmaster General. This was done in response to explosions in London and Manchester and disturbances elsewhere, in the name of Irish independence.
In 1868 the constables were reorganised as a permanent unit of the Volunteer Force as the 49th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers (Post Office Rifles), with du Plat Taylor becoming the first commanding officer. In 1880 a reorganisation of the volunteer corps under saw the unit renumbered as the 24th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers (Post Office Rifles).
Read more about this topic: Post Office Rifles
Famous quotes containing the word beginnings:
“These beginnings of commerce on a lake in the wilderness are very interesting,—these larger white birds that come to keep company with the gulls.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The beginnings of altruism can be seen in children as early as the age of two. How then can we be so concerned that they count by the age of three, read by four, and walk with their hands across the overhead parallel bars by five, and not be concerned that they act with kindness to others?”
—Neil Kurshan (20th century)
“[Many artists], even the greatest ones, are not sure of their own existence. So they search for proof, they judge, they condemn. It strengthens them, it is the beginnings of existence. They are alone!”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)