Corporal Fisher was elected to the vacant post of sergeant, whilst Bombardier Bonniwell was chosen corporal, and Gunner A. Tutt made bombardier.
A Second Company of Rifles (?) A proposal to form a second Company caused a good deal of agitation, there being various opinions as to the propriety of such a step. The enrolled strength of the existing company was 100; the actual strength was 96, exclusive of the band. A muster was held on the 22nd of March in the Market Hall, at which it was decided that no active measures should be taken towards the formation of another company until the efficiency of the existing company had been maintained. Sergt. and Secretary W. Ransom, having resigned & retired to the ranks as a private, solely for the want of sufficient time for the duties of those officers, the vacant sergeancy was filled by corporal John Ransom. Corporal Hale resigned his place in the Rifles for a commission in the Artillery. The two corporalships thus vacant were filled by Stanley Thos. Weston and James F. Neve.
The Artillery Volunteers of Hastings and St. Leonards, to the numbers of about 90 mustered at Carlisle parade on Sunday, April 7th, and marched to St. Clement’s Church to a service conducted by the Rev. W. G. Mayne (in the absence through illness of the Rev. T. Nightingale) who also preached from Matt. V, 16. The men looked very smart, and convenient arrangements were made for them.
The Admiralty Caving In. On page 147, an opinion was expressed that Lord Clarence Paget, the Admiralty secretary, would probably have to yield to Capt Harcourt’s reasonable request, notwithstanding the snub which he gave to that request. The following will show the drift of the case:- On the 15th of April, in reply to a question put by Lord Enfield in the House of Commons Lord Clarence Paget said – “The Admiralty was desirous of encouraging the Volunteer movement and for that purpose were willing to afford every facility in their power to the drilling of volunteers along the coast. Orders had been given for the preparation of batteries on the shore at the Coastguard Stations, with a view to the drilling of volunteers. As soon as the men had learnt their drill, the Admiralty would consider to what extent gun-boats might be appropriated for the purpose of embarking them and giving them their ‘sea-legs’”.
The Artillery Corps was rapidly nearing its brigade number of 200 men, and on the 15th of April a full muster took place, when Sergt-Major Polhill was appointed Brigade Sergt-Major; Sergt. Payne, Quarter-master sergeant; Sergt-Major Murray changed to No. 1 Battery; Repository-Sergt-Major Vidler appointed to Sergt-Majorship of No. 2 Battery; Corporal Walter promoted to be Sergeant; Bombardier Dowsell to be Corporal; and Gunner Hutchins to be Bombardier.
The Artillery Brigade, Viscount Palmerston, as Lord Warden, accepted the Fourth Royal Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers as a Brigade consisting of four companies.
The 1st Cinque-Ports Rifles. The Lord Warden also accepted the resignation of Lieut Crake, with an expression of regret that he should have given -
