No. 54
With reference to my despatch No. 51 of
9th Instant
I have the honor to transmit copy of a Letter from
Captain
Holmes requesting me to apply to the Imperial
Govt for
Guns and Equipments for a Volunteer Artillery Corps
he he
has been selected to command.
2. It is worthy of remark that no application has been
made to me for pecuniary assistance by any of the several
corps now enrolled. All the men have come forward, purchased
their uniforms and pay a monthly subscription of half a dollar
each towards a Drill Instructor and other necessary expenses
incurred by the Corps.
3. I would propose, should
Her Her Majesty's Government accede
to the enclosed application that the Guns and Equipments be
forwarded to
Esquimalt by one of Her Majesty's Ships proceeding
to the Pacific Station as the expense of freight by any other
means would be considerable.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble Servant
Arthur N. Birch
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Macdonald
What Reports do we possess of the number of these
Volunteers, and of their proficiency?
Mr Elliot
We do not seem to possess any regular Returns about
the
B.C. Volunteers, but they are occasionally mentioned
incidentally in Despatches.
See page 3 of 1193. Also Blue Book page 39.
The Blue Book for
1864 mentioned only 63 volunteers at
New
Westminster. I suppose that the numbers must have much
increased since that time.
I suppose that this should be sent to the W.O. for
consideration, and that if we knew enough it might be
recomended, but our information seems to be very scanty.
Perhaps
Mr Seymour might be consulted before writing to W.O.?
When we do write, it should be with reference to our
letter of
Feb. 1856 and previous correspondence upon the arms &
stores which were rendered available for rifle Volunteers in
B.C.
Enquire first of
Mr Seymour whether he can give any
information as to this corps.
Lord Carnarvon
See a letter from
Mr Seymour now annexed, in which he
recommends compliance. Forward the despatch and also his
letter to the War Office for favorable consideration?
Yes, to W.O. as proposed.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Captain Holmes, Commanding
New
Westminster Artillery Volunteer
Corps, to Officer Administering the Government,
13 July 1866,
requesting an application be forwarded to the imperial government
to supply certain arms and equipment required by the corps.
"List of Articles more immediately required for the equipment of
the Volunteer Artillery Corps."
Seymour to
Elliot,
15 September 1866, recommending that the
equipment be forwarded to the colony.
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to Under-Secretary, War Office,
20 September
1866, forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosures for consideration.
People in this document
Birch, Arthur Nonus
Blackwood, Arthur Johnstone
Cardwell, Edward
Carnarvon, Earl
Elliot, Thomas Frederick
Fuller, F.W.
Holmes, Captain G. W.
Macdonald, Reginald John Somerled
Peel, Major General Jonathan
Seymour, Governor Frederick
Places in this document
British Columbia
Esquimalt
New Westminster