GIBRALTAR VOLUNTEER CORPS (GVC) 1915-1920
Shortly after the outbreak of World War I a group of Gibraltarians, members of the
Calpe Rowing Club, pledged themselves to take up arms for King and Country. The group formed a committee which initially restricted membership only to those who belonged to the club, but such was the interest aroused that soon it was open to all citizens and some 400 joined. Mr Andrews-Speed formed what was termed the Council and it was this body that eventually obtained official recognition from the Governor, General Sir Herbert Miles on the 3rd July 1915. Addressing the volunteers at Wellington Front on that historic day the Governor reminded them that the Corps had come into being not because of any official demand but as a result of their patriotic fervour and of their love and respect for the Crown.
The Corps was initially based at Orange Bastion, with the Headquarters on the ground floor of what is now City Hall. Later the Corps moved to Wellington Front.
At first, due to equipment shortages and the scarcity of supplies, they were obliged to carry out their training with replica rifles and wearing their own civilian clothes. In fact when the proper uniforms became available, boots were only issued to those who could not afford them, whilst the better-off had to pay for them out of their own pockets! Indeed the volunteers received no pay for the four periods of training that they carried out every month or for their two weeks’ initial training. The Corps trained in musketry, small arms, drill, infantry tactics, and range practice. It consisted of four rifle companies, A, B, C and D, each commanded by a Captain, two subalterns, one Sergeant Major, four Sergeants, eight Corporals, two buglers and about 80 men. The first Commanding Officer was Major G B Roberts of the Royal Engineers.
The GVC provided the first Guard of Honour ever mounted by a body of Gibraltarian soldiers. This was on Saturday 18th December 1915 for the Governor, when he carried out his administrative inspection of the Corps at Wellington Front. The Guard was 100 strong, with each company providing 25 men, commanded by Captain A Gonzalez. During the war, the Corps provided substantial reinforcement to assist in the defence of the Rock. It was disbanded on the 1st February 1920 sometime after hostilities had ceased.
Shortly after the outbreak of World War I a group of Gibraltarians, members of the
Calpe Rowing Club, pledged themselves to take up arms for King and Country. The group formed a committee which initially restricted membership only to those who belonged to the club, but such was the interest aroused that soon it was open to all citizens and some 400 joined. Mr Andrews-Speed formed what was termed the Council and it was this body that eventually obtained official recognition from the Governor, General Sir Herbert Miles on the 3rd July 1915. Addressing the volunteers at Wellington Front on that historic day the Governor reminded them that the Corps had come into being not because of any official demand but as a result of their patriotic fervour and of their love and respect for the Crown.The Corps was initially based at Orange Bastion, with the Headquarters on the ground floor of what is now City Hall. Later the Corps moved to Wellington Front.
At first, due to equipment shortages and the scarcity of supplies, they were obliged to carry out their training with replica rifles and wearing their own civilian clothes. In fact when the proper uniforms became available, boots were only issued to those who could not afford them, whilst the better-off had to pay for them out of their own pockets! Indeed the volunteers received no pay for the four periods of training that they carried out every month or for their two weeks’ initial training. The Corps trained in musketry, small arms, drill, infantry tactics, and range practice. It consisted of four rifle companies, A, B, C and D, each commanded by a Captain, two subalterns, one Sergeant Major, four Sergeants, eight Corporals, two buglers and about 80 men. The first Commanding Officer was Major G B Roberts of the Royal Engineers. The GVC provided the first Guard of Honour ever mounted by a body of Gibraltarian soldiers. This was on Saturday 18th December 1915 for the Governor, when he carried out his administrative inspection of the Corps at Wellington Front. The Guard was 100 strong, with each company providing 25 men, commanded by Captain A Gonzalez. During the war, the Corps provided substantial reinforcement to assist in the defence of the Rock. It was disbanded on the 1st February 1920 sometime after hostilities had ceased.