The uniformed section of the Society is the Portsdown Artillery Volunteers (PAV) who dress as the 2nd Hampshire Volunteer Artillery from the 1880’s.

The original Volunteer corps was initially raised following a decision taken by the War Office in 1859. The decision allowed for Light Horse (Cavalry), Artillery, Engineers, Mounted Rifles and Rifle units to be formed using men from the general public to form an Army of "amateur soldiers”. Without the use of part-time gunners, it was impossible for the War Office to have provided sufficient artillerymen to man all of the Forts built in the 1860’s following the Royal Commission’s report.

At its peak the Volunteer Artillery movement had a maximum strength of 49,062 efficient soldiers spread across many of the counties of Great Britain. The 2nd Hampshire Volunteers were the local Portsmouth unit, and they would have drawn their membership from all sorts of trades with a number coming from the Dockyard.

The Artillery Volunteers ceased to exist on the 31st March 1908 when the Territorial Force was formed, the precursor to today’s Territorial Army.

The PAV draw its membership from the PFS in a similar way to the original volunteers. Most members have no knowledge of forces life. The PAV are based at Fort Nelson where they are able to interact with visitors. To explain the why the Victorian forts were built, the types and use of the guns and the social history of the volunteers.

Although Fort Nelson is the PAV’s home the members do enjoy visiting other fortifications to share their knowledge and learn from others.

The public enjoy the interpretation work that the PAV does at Fort Nelson and across the area.

If you are interested in joining the PAV and would like to experience fortifications from a different perspective. We are always looking for new members. Uniform and training are provided, but you must be a member of the PFS to take advantage of this very interesting and unusual hobby.