Palmerston Forts Society

The Portsmouth Artillery Volunteers 1797-1908

The Palmerston Forts Society has published this excellent book about the Volunteer Artillerymen that would have manned the nations fortifications from the late 18th to early 20th centuries. This full colour 36 page booklet, published in 2021, covers three different eras of the Volunteer Artillery, beginning with the units formed during the Napoleonic wars, through those formed for the protection of the Royal Dockyards in the mid 19th Century, then the Artillery Volunteers that were formed in 1859 when, once again, the country was in fear of invasion from the French: this Artillery Volunteer force lasted until 1908 when it became part of the territorial army. Although the book uses the units formed in Portsmouth to illustrate the development of the nation's Volunteer artillery force, the information would be useful to anybody with an interest in a rarely covered topic on British military history or the local history of Portsmouth.

It has the following sections:

  • Introduction.
  • The first formation of the Artillery Volunteers.
  • 1845 - The state of the maritime defences.
  • The Dockyard Battalions.
  • A Bonaparte returns to power.
  • Heightened risk of invasion.
  • Britons to Arms!
  • The formation of the Hampshire Artillery Volunteer Corps.
  • Initial Organisation of the Artillery Volunteers.
  • The first years of the Portsmouth Corps.
  • Royal Commission review the condition of the Volunteer Force.
  • New Head Quarters for the 3rd Hants.
  • Easter Volunteer Review.
  • 1868 Easter Volunteer Review.
  • 1869 Hampshire Volunteer Review.
  • Amalgamation of the Portsmouth Corps.
  • Army Organisation Reforms and Increased Regulation for the Volunteers.
  • Portsmouth Corps name changes.
  • 1882 Easter Volunteer Review.
  • Further Reorganisation and Name Changes.
  • Portsmouth Attacked - Whitsuntide Manoeuvres.
  • Drill Halls and Headquarters.
  • Awards and Trophy's.
  • The end of the Artillery Volunteers.
  • The Officers and Men of the Portsmouth Artillery Volunteers.
  • The Legacy of the Portsmouth Artillery Volunteers.
 

The book is richly illustrated with:  8 maps ■ 23 photographs including 15 antique illustrations and photographs.

This book can be purchased at the Fort Nelson museum shop or via Paypal using the button below including Royal Mail p&p:

Your Location  Total
 Price
       Buy it Now using Paypal
 United Kingdom  £8.65  
 Europe  £10.85  
 The Rest of the World  £13.40  

 

OR to purchase a copy of both British Fortifications and The Portsmouth Artillery Volunteers including Royal Mail p&p:
Your Location  Total
 Price
       Buy it Now using Paypal
 United Kingdom  £13.65  
 Europe  £16.25  
 The Rest of the World  £20.85  

 

News

Volunteers needed to help get the big guns firing at Fort Nelson.

Volunteers are needed to help bring gun firing back to Fort Nelson in Portsmouth. The Portsdown Artillery Volunteers (PAV) were established to reenact the firing of the Victorian guns at Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill and they are looking to recruit new volunteers to help both fire and maintain the mighty Victorian guns. If you are interested in joining the Portsdown Artillery Volunteers and demonstrating this forgotten part of Britain’s history, you can contact the team at enquiries@palmerstonfortssociety.org.uk or you can talk to some of the volunteers at their Fort Nelson open day between 10am and 4pm on Sunday 22 October
read more ...

R.I.P. David Moore

The PFS is saddened to announce the passing of a founding member and great friend of the PFS - David Moore - a person of vast Victorian fortifications knowledge. The delay in advising the membership is out of respect for David's family who did not want it to be publicised until after his funeral.

Fort Gilkicker sold for £1.386M

The online auction on the Clive Emson site has just ended with Fort Gilkicker being sold for £1.386 million against a guide price of £1.5 million.  There were four bidders willing to pay at least £1.35 million. We also have just had a recent report that intruders to the site – which is hardly secure – have done more permanent damage to the barracks block. We can only hope that the new owner – whatever their intentions – gets this site secure and safe very soon.

Horse Sand Fort sold for £715,000

The BBC website has just announced the following.... 'A derelict sea fort built to deter a French invasion in the 19th Century has been sold for £715,000.
read more ...