1914 - The Old Drill Hall - Wolverton - Bucks - Dated Buildings and Cornerstones on Waymarking.com

The plaque shows the Royal Coat of Arms for Buckinghamshire, with the
insignia of The Bucks Battalion - Oxford & Bucks - Light Battalion.
History :
the opening of a town's drill hall was generally reported with pride and excitement, reflecting the views of local opinion formers that the training activities which would take place therein could only be good for the community and for the country.

Local newspapers record 'the weekly company drills and ... almost nightly training of recruits' which had an additional benefit for towns, 'because the training and discipline of so many of her young men must have a healthy effect upon the tone of the inhabitants at large'. Indeed, the physical activity of drill was seen by some as beneficial to the health of the nation too; apparently boys and young men in large towns, 'saw great want of physique in the boys who would be the future men of [the] country'; and some argued that their health and physical development would be improved by drill.
Preparation and instruction in drill halls 'developed men physically and taught them organisation and self-reliance, besides training them in the use of arms for the defence of the county against invasion.' (

'...They had but one thing to do, and that was to do what they were told, and to do their duty to their country. ... [They were] brought up to that high state of efficiency which was required by modern warfare. ... eager to go into camp realising what practical work in camp meant, realising that a fortnight in camp was infinitely more valuable than one week, and realising that 900 good men were better than 1200 who were only partially efficient.'
'The day will come when the country will have to depend on its Grand Volunteer Army. When the country is at war, it is probable that the Regular army will be engaged elsewhere, and England will have to depend mainly upon our Volunteers for her very existence.'


details from MK Heritage Site

Year of construction: 1914 Cross-listed waymark: [Web Link] Full inscription: Not listed

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