Watnall Troop S.N.Y.C. local history

 One advantage of being a  Trooper serving in a Yeomanry Regiment was the awarding of prizes and trophies. The South Notts Yeomanry Cavalry like other Yeomanry regiments was led by members of the local gentry who could afford to present quality awards on parade days, training days and regimental competitions.  J.W. Thackeray was formerly in the 41st of Regiment Foot . He was made Cornet in the S.N.Y.C. on the 10th of March 1870 of "D", Bingham Troop. He appeared on the officers list for the regiment in January 1871 as such, and again in October 1871 as Cornet of the Bingham Troop. In May 1872, he presented a silver chalice to Sergeant Neale for being the "SMARTEST MAN Riding his own horse, BINGHAM TROOP S.N.Y.C.".  J.W. Thackery became Lieutenant Thackeray on the 1st of June 1873, and appeared on the 1875 Officers lst as such. In July1878 he was part of the parade which escorted His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales from Nottingham Castle during his visit to Nottin

 In 1900, Captain Lancelot Rolleston took a contingent of around 120 local South Notts Hussars Officers and Troopers to fight in the Boer War. They were to become the 12th Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry.  120 was not enough to make a full company. There were around 300 of all ranks who served in the 12th Company during the Boer War, many men drawn from other units / regions to make up the numbers. One such man was 23981 Shoe-Smith (Farrier in modern terms) W.S. Stone, who joined the 12th Company 7-5-1901. One of only four who held the rank of Shoe-Smith in the Company. With Lancelot Rolleston's keen interest in horses, there is a fair chance he crossed paths with Stone a few times. Stone was awarded the Queens South Africa medal along with the clasps, Cape Colony, and the 1901 and 1902 South Africa. Stone had landed in South Africa on the 16th of March 1901, and returned home in August 1902. By trade he was a plasterer and came from Salcombe in Devon.  One of

 A Universal Pattern 1853 Cavalry sword. Marked to the hand guard, S.N.  B 5. - South Notts, B troop, weapon rack number five. The P-1853 sword designed to end the practice of having a light, and heavy pattern of sword for Cavalry / Dragoons into an one easier to issue general purpose sword for all mounted fighting troops.  Yeomanry units such as  the S.N.Y.C. in the second half of the 19th century were equipped by the Ordnance rather than at the expense of their local commanders as they had in the past. Of less priority to the Ordnance than regular units, it is likely that the P-1853 was the sword on issue to the S.N.Y.C. throughout the later part of the 19th century rather than issuing sub-variants such as the P-1864 Cavalry sword.  It is likely the S.N.Y.C. was equipped with the P-1853 until it was re-equipped with the P-1885 Cavalry sword for use in the Boer-War.  Throughout the second half of the 19th century, the strength of Watnall "B" Troop, along with the other Troop

Dertermining issue marks of weapons issued to the South Notts Hussars has been slightly complicate by the Regiment having gone through several name changes in its long history.  A 1796 Patt cavalry troopers sword is held in the Nottingham Castle collection with the blade etched "NYC" for Notts Yeomanry Cavalry. This term was also used b the Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, although observed pieces also carry a marking for west and north with "w" nad "n". A light dragoon flintlock pistol  of private purchase / volunteer type has been observed with "NOTTS YEOMANRY" engraved to the side nail plate, and would date to pre-1826 before the regiment was divided into north, the Sherwood Rangers,  and south, the Southern Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry.  The regiment was issued with 1844 Patt Yeomanry carbines in 1844. These are likely to carry markings to the butt plate tang along the lines of, S.R.Y.C., or S.N.Y.C. In the later period, two 1853 Patt Cavalry Troppe

   During the leadership of Colonel Robert Holden of Nuthall Temple, in command 1848 to 1868, saw the appointment of Captain J.T. Wightman. Made Captain, 12th February 1851, and appointed Adjutant to the Regiment at the rank of Captain , 18th February 1851. This increased the number of Officers in the regiment to 25 with a total of 383 in all ranks. He appeared in the Officers list of 1856 as Adjutant J.T.Wightman. In 1857, unemployment was widespread in Nottingham. This led to a general public meeting in the Market Place, 17th November. A serious riot broke out in the centre of Nottingham resulting in many properties being plundered and damaged. The riot was largely suppressed by the local Police. The Magistrates at the time requested Colonel Holden to have the South Nottinghamshire Regiment available at a moment's notice in case things got out of hand. The following letter was issued to the Captains commanding troops. - Cavalry Stores Granby Street Nottingham19th November 1857. S

  Thomas Webb - Edge was part of Nottinghamshire's landed gentry, living at Strelley Hall to the West of the County. Not too far away from both Watnall and Wollaton. With the reorganisation of the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1817, the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry was divided into four Troops including two new Troops, Watnall and Wollaton. The commanding officer of the new Wollaton troop was Captain Henry Willoughby, 25-8-17, with Thomas Webb Edge as its Lieutenant. The Coronet being W.Pepper. The Wollaton Troop was given the title, "The Wollaton Yeomanry Cavalry". The bill to equip the troop came to £824, which was to be met by Lord Middleton, the owner of Wollaton Hall, along with the officers incharge including a £48 payment by Thomas Webb-Edge. The Wollaton was called out in June 1818 when disorder occurred in Nottingham, the Watnall Troop arriving the following day. As the threat dissipated, the Wollaton Troop were dismissed on June 25th, and the Watnall

  Along with the Rollestons of Watnall Hall, there was another family of the landed gentry in our area, the Barber family of Lamb Close House Greasley. In close proximity to each other, there are close historic ties between the two families and similarities. Both families have memorials placed in St Mary's Church in Greasley. Both families were noted for their charitable donations to the local community. One notable comparison between the two families was the strong tradition amongst the landed gentry to give the new born sons the same name as the father. This led to a succession of Lancelot Rollestons and Thomas Barbers. The strongest tie between the two families can be found in the history of the local regiment, the South Notts Yeomanry. Both families had a long run of officers in the local unit. The Watnall Troop of the South Notts Yeomanry established in 1817, its first two officers were Lancelot Rolleston, and Thomas Barber. Several more officers were supplied through the 19th