AN 18th-century sword sparked a seven-year journey which has ended with the publication of a military history book.
Iain Wilkinson was shown the light cavalry weapon by his mother-in-law in 2002. It belonged to Lt Richard Clegg, an officer in the Oldham Troop of Yeomanry Corps and Iain was motivated to look into the unit’s history.
This mushroomed into a study of all Oldham’s volunteer corps and the publication of “The History of Oldham Volunteer Corps 1798-1908”. Iain will be signing copies at the Museum of the Manchester Regiment at Ashton-under-Lyne Town Hall on Friday, May 6, between noon and 1pm.
During the Napoleonic wars, volunteer corps were formed all over Britain with the aim of protecting the country if France invaded. Later, yeomanry corps were created and dealt with the civil unrest which racked the country in the early 19th century.
A renewed threat of invasion from France, in 1859, prompted a new wave of corps known as the Rifle Volunteers. The 31st Lancashire Rifle Volunteers were based in Oldham. They later merged with the 23rd (Ashton) Lancashire Rifle Volunteers for around 20 years and some of the men saw service in the Second Boer War.
The 31st eventually became the 6th Volunteer Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. “The History of Oldham Volunteer Corps 1798-1908” normally sells for £14.99 but copies will be available for £12 on May 6.
For more information, contact curator Garry Smith. Call into the museum, phone 0161 342 2254 or e-mail garry.smith1@tameside.gov.uk
