algy Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Some interesting facts regarding the little known 'Warrington Army'. I obtained the information which is out of copyright, from the "Internet Archive". sorry about the quality as I had difficulty in obtaining copies from the pdf document. The original book may be obtained and downloaded as a pdf file from this link (the title page is of my own making and obviously not included in the original publication): http://www.archive.org/details/proceedingspaper06hist Continued.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Part 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Amazing stuff Algy. I like the "let us be a little blind to the faults" sentence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Peter, I may have added more information since your first viewing - worth a look!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Very good reading Algy. Well done. Wonder if anyone had a drink in there being by the market;potato market/fairground and fire station. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 No, 9 lines up from the bottom of the last page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted September 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2011 Nothing like a good 'goose' in Penketh, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted September 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'm surprised, Nay! shocked that this topic regarding the very first Regiment raised in Warrington by our stalwart forebears to defend our town and ancestors against the anticipated aggression of Napoleon Bonaparte has raised hardly any interest, perhaps the title has let it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Thanks so much Algy for posting this story, another wonderful and interesting piece of Warrington history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 They were principly raised to keep the peasants in order and maintain the status quo - following the scare that the French revolution caused the ruling elite. Such militia, wouldn't have lasted two minutes against regular troops anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted October 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 They were principly raised to keep the peasants in order and maintain the status quo - following the scare that the French revolution caused the ruling elite. Such militia, wouldn't have lasted two minutes against regular troops anyway. No obs I don't suppose they would but there again neither would our Home Guard against the might of the German army in WWII, but they would have 'had a go'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 "Having a go" isn't a particularly sound military strategy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 "Having a go" isn't a particularly sound military strategy! May have been of nuisance value or used as delaying tactics, remember if we had been in a situation where these men would have been 'called to arms' Britain would almost certainly have been in dire straights, Hitler's last stand in Berlin involved the arming of old men and youths as a last resort, I agree it did not work however better than lying down and instantly capitulating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 But getting back to your "blue backs"; fighting the enemy wasn't their prime purpose; it was suppressing internal insurrection - as the militia did later in Manchester at Perterloo. :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 But getting back to your "blue backs"; fighting the enemy wasn't their prime purpose; it was suppressing internal insurrection - as the militia did later in Manchester at Perterloo. :shock: First page (paged numbered 22.) of the above paper at the beginning of this topic in the second paragraph: Quote] But in the spring of the year 1998, it was no fancied, no even distant invasion, which roused the martial spirit of the loyal men of England, to embody themselves, as their name implies, in Volunteer Regiments, for the defence of this country against foreign aggression,and for the suppression of internal disloyalty,no worse a foe.[unquote. In the Spring of 1798 England were having problems with Ireland so I would suggest that the government of the day weren't expecting trouble from within the English populace but with the Irish workers who were here in large numbers and prepared to create problems in a shadowed support of the French. So obs not quite as you said, I would say there prime purpose was to defend the country against foreign aggression with a secondary role of suppressing internal disloyalty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Beg to differ: our aristocracy got an absolute fright when the French revolution kicked off, and their priority was to ensure the same thing didn't happen here. :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 So what your saying is by increasing the size of Englands army that would prevent a revolution happening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 They wern't "the Army"; they were local militias; armed and officered by the local gentry: effective enough against any rioting prols. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wireboy Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 They wern't "the Army"; they were local militias; armed and officered by the local gentry: effective enough against any rioting prols. Is the National Guard in the USA similar to this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Half and half, they've been used regularly for internal social unrest, but, like our TA, have (I think?) been used abroad to supplement the Army. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latchford Locks Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 May have been of nuisance value or used as delaying tactics, remember if we had been in a situation where these men would have been 'called to arms' Britain would almost certainly have been in dire straights, Hitler's last stand in Berlin involved the arming of old men and youths as a last resort, I agree it did not work however better than lying down and instantly capitulating. I remember in the early/mid 50's playing in the Anti Tank Bunkers that were placed either side of the Cantilever and Swing Bridges. I wonder if the Panzers had reached Latchford whether a couple of bunkers would have stemmed the Third Reich in full steam ahead mode.I imagine Churchill would already have been forming his new government in Canada Does anyone have photos of these emplacements or know where I could obtain copies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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