Completely agree with David. The Volunteer movement was a massive part of Victorian society, they these are of major importance to family and social historians, and academics.

The years 1878 and 1881 are missinng from the 19thC coverage of the Volunteer Service Gazette. This is a unique newspaper providing history of the popular Volunteer Movement. I am not aware of any libraries that hold copies. Its content is invaluable to military, social and family historians and provides information not available in the National or Local press. Please close the gap in coverage by uploading these two missing years to your otherwise comprehensive coverage. Thanks. David

I completely agree with David M and R Hanson further additions will enhance the knowledge base of researchers and readers of interest. This was a decade of great change in Great Britain and upheaval in Europe.

Laudable as the continuing updates and additions of local newspapers are, please can we have some more updates of the 'Volunteer Service Gazette'. The VSG remains a unique resource on this site and a very rare newspaper to find in any local archives/libraries. The Volunteer Movement in the 19th Century saw thousands and thousands of recruits for home defence and got many working men to sample military life and outdoor activities. It is a rich resource for the familiy historian, local historian and military historian, but so hard to find that many will not know of it and its immense value. It also provides a rich study of the development of small arms which collectors, museums and institutions around the world would benefit from access to. Please extend the content beyond the 5 years currently available. Thanks.

I have enjoyed immensely the few years of the Volunteer Service Gazette and Military Dispatch that have been added. Please though when can we have some more years? This paper remains unique in the collection yet representation of its content is small.

Laudable as it is adding more local newspapers, there is much regional duplication of news.

The Volunteer Service Gazette and Military Dispatch offers a fantastic wealth of information for the family, local and military historian and is a very scarce resource.

More please! :)

David

Can we have later years as this paper provides real detail for collectors of militaria , but also for authors gathering material from that period.

I am a member of an antique firearms collecting society and from local to International contacts you have done us a great service by posting The Volunteer Service Gazette and Military Dispatch, 1859 -1863 on line.

Between 1859 -1872 there was a revolution in terms of the design of fire arms, from muzzle loaders to capping breech-loading rifles to metalic cartridge breech -loading rifles. The VSGMD shows some wonderful examples of write ups and advertising of the day and I would employ you to digitise further years upto 1872. I can guarantee those across the world from Musesums to individual collectors would take out a subscription to read about their own rifles etc shown in your material.

Thanks for starting to add the Volunteer Service Gazette. This is a very scarce resource so I'm delighted to see it added. Keenly looking forward to new additions appearing in due course.

David

That is really positive news. Do you have any idea win this publication is likely to be on line?
Best wishes
David.

You're very welcome, David. Hope you have a super Christmas and New Year!
Best wishes,

Team BNA

What a great Christmas present! Thanks for the positive news.
David

What a great Christmas present! Thanks for the positive news.
David

Volunteer Rifle Corps were established in 1859 due to perceived threat of French invasion. The movement was not expected to last but by 1888 there were over 220,000 members. Great reviews took place and rifle tournaments were widely reported and patronised by Royalty. Volunteer Rifle Corps are the forerunners of the Territorial Army. Battalion records are scattered around the country. The "Volunteer Service Gazette" was the service newspaper but copies are scare.

Making the "Volunteer Service Gazette" available on line would do family, local and military historians a great service in gaining access to a rich but largely untouched source of information. It would make a welcome change from local newpapers and a valuable supplement.

Please add the "Volunteer Service Gazette" to the online resources. Thanks.

The Rifle Volunteer movement was a hugely significant social aspect of Victorian life and lead to the foundation of the Territorial Army.

In 1860 there were 106,443 efficient Volunteers, and the numbers steadily increased in 1870 to 170,671; in 1880 to 196,938, and in 1888 to 220,124.

Much local interest can be gleaned from this hard to find source.

David