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THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT. 171
another invasion by the French were disseminated and some of the townspeople were induced to ascertain which of the inhabitants would be ready to take up arms in case their hearths and homes were threatened. On July 12th of that year a public meeting was convened by Mr. R. Crawfurd, of Saint Hill, and the matter was talked over, but nothing definite was done. The Crimean war soon began and the Alliance between England and France caused public fears to subside, and no further attempt to re-establish a local Volunteer Company was made for seven years. Then came the Carbonari's attempt to assassinate Napoleon III. The conspirators had lived and prepared their bombs in London and the French soldiers looked on our Metropolis as a centre of conspiracies. A number of French colonels sent an address to the Emperor asking to be allowed to invade England and "rout out this nest of treasons." The address was published in the official organ of the French Government and England's immediate reply was the formation of the present body of Volunteers.
East Grin stead again took its fair share in the movement. A Rifle Club was formed in 1859, with Mr. W. A. Head as its Honorary Secretary, and a large sum of money was raised for its support. But it was thought better to form a Rifle Corps and some members were sworn in during November, 1859, but owing to informalities the ceremony had to be gone through again a few months later. The oath was administered by Earl De la Warr, and present on the Bench when the first contingent made allegiance was Mr. John Stenning, who was not a Magistrate, but had served in the local Company of the North Pevensey Legion as a Sergeant 56 years before. The first officers were Major A. R. Margary, Captain ; Mr. A. C. Ramsden, Lieutenant; and Mr. W. A. Head, Ensign; and all three attended the reception of Volunteer officers held by Her late Majesty early in 1860. The first muster was on February 23rd, 1860, and 60 members formed the local Corps, which was known as the 5th Sussex Rifle Volunteers. In April of the same year three Administrative Battalions were formed for the whole |
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