W. T. Agar, Esq. as 1st Lieut.; and Rowland Lake, Esq. (of Winchelsea) as 2nd Lieutenant.
A Squad of “Lunatics”, as they dubbed themselves, consisting of 14 of the 1st Company of the Cinque Ports Rifles, started off on the 9th of March for a march of their own, under Luna’s rays, for Rye. The party was made up of Messrs. W., J., and F. Ransom (three brothers) Penhall, Ward, Langham, Stewart, Webbe, Balding, Harman, Cole, Edwards, French and Wingfield. They began the journey in a slight snowstorm, but soon traveled through it into bright weather. A detachment of the Rye Rifles marched out to meet them, and conducted them to their drill-room, where they (the Ryers) had provided refreshments for their visitors. The meeting was extremely cordial, and after a stay of about two hours, the self-stiled(sic) lunatics started for the return half of 24 miles, with a light heart over heavy and hilly roads. The entire march, out and home occupied six hours.
A Lot of Swearing (but without bad language) had still to be done by the 4th Cinque Ports and the 2nd Sussex Volunteer Artillery; and, to take the last first, it should be said that on the 22nd of March the Ore section of this company, and a few friends assembled in the school-room of that parish, for the purpose of being sworn in, and to hear from Capt. Lucas-Shadwell what had already been done and what it was proposed further to do. He stated that twenty out of twenty-three members of the Winchelsea section had been sworn in by the Mayor (Capt. Stileman) and as many of the Fairlight and Pett section had also undertaken the same obligation, the latter leaving five more to take the oath with those of the Ore section that evening. The Captain was then himself sworn, as were also Lieut. Agar and twenty-three other members. Capt. Shadwell next gave an extremely interesting address, in which was a minute detail of the origin and movements of the corps and the arrangements that were being made, under efficient instructors, at Ore, Fairlight and Winchelsea. He congratulated the members on their proud position as the 2nd Company of Sussex Artillery, and upon the fact that although they started with the hope of only 70 men, so great was the volunteer spirit that nearly 100 men had offered themselves. The cost of an outfit would be £3 12s., and Mr. Bevins, a Hastings tailor, had promised to have the whole of the uniforms ready by Easter, when it was proposed to have a grand muster. Capt. Shadwell also said that he had engaged to find quarters for the drill-sergeant, and he would present the corps with three bugles, at the same time hoping that they might not be long without a band. A letter was received from R. B. Kaye, Esq., of Guestling, suggesting that a reserve fund should be formed, and if such were done, he would add an 0 to his £5, thus -
