The 1802 Notts Yeomanry Stand Down Medal.

 Silver medal presented to members of the Nottingham Troop by Lord Newark in 1802 in commemoration of their important services. 


Along with many other Regiments, the South Nottinghamshire Yeomanry was established in 1794 in response to fears of a French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars as a potential home defence force. Organised into four Troops including the Nottingham Troop. The S.N.Y. never saw service against the French, but while established did take on the role as a civil defence force for civil unrest. In April1795 the Nottingham Town Troop assisted the Inniskilling Dragoons in quelling the Nottingham Bread Riots. The Regiment was again called in to assist the Army, this time  the 12th Light Dragoons in further rioting in 1796. Two more riots occurred in 1800, the first in April quickly quelled by the Yeomanry, and a more serious riot in August which lasted for three days and involved looting shops and granaries. This riot was suppressed by three Troops of the Blues, and Three Troops of the S.N.Y. 

In response to the Peace of Amiens in 1802, it was decided that the threat from France had eased, and the Yeomanry were to be disbanded. In May 1802 the S.N.Y. stood down. On the 13th of May, the Nottingham Troop Commanded by Captain Wright were assembled and treated to a sumptuous dinner, around 100 men in attendance previous to their disembodiment. Individual presentations were made to the Captain, the Sergeant, and the Trumpeter. Lord Newark in attendance presented all of the men with the Notts Yeomanry Stand Down Medal, these in gold to the Officers, and Silver to the N.C.O.s and Troopers. 

The obverse of the medal with the image of King George and GEORGIUS III REX, and with the date, MDCCCII. The reverse with NOTTS YEOMANRY and a named image of the Greendale Oak which at the time was still standing proudly in Sherwood Forest, so large that a walk-way went through the middle of it. To the walk-way of the tree, on the medal, the words FOI LOI ROI, the motto of the troop, - FAITH, LAW, KING. A finely struck medal believed to have been made by the Royal Mint. 

Only a short break for the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, the Regiment was reformed the following year in May after the war against France was resumed. 




Popular posts from this blog

THE BARBER FAMILY OF GREASLEY

Image
  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...
Read more

RAF STATION WATNALL

Image
  It may come as a surprise to some just how much of Watnall was covered by the RAF station in the 1940's, and equally surprising how little of it remains today. From Trough Road to the end of Common Lane was taken over by the RAF. All that remains above ground today - as far as I know, and please correct me if I am wrong, are, the covered Stanton Air-raid shelter in Watnall Spinney, "the Hut" at the back of the Royal Oak, the entrance to the underground operations block in the grounds of the HGV testing station facing the Royal Oak, and the Filter room aside Common Lane, below ground level and recently renovated and shown in the TV programme, "Restoration Man". Please examine the map of RAF Watnall dated 1949, image-2. It may be an idea to save the image to your pictures to enable you to zoom in. It is scanned from a book I have, if the details are too poor, p/m me your email address and I will send you the image in a higher resolution. It is not a brilliant ...
Read more

Two books from the library of Watnall Hall, and the 1954 auction

Image
  Two very rare books by Thomas Kirkland  (1721 - 1798)  given to Lancelot Rolleston  (1737 - 1802) by the author have recently come to light. In the library of Watnall Hall from the 1790's till sold off in 1954, they were discovered in Jersey by a book dealer in 2022. In the sale of the contents of Watnall Hall held in December 1954, they were described as  --  437 Kirkland (Thomas) A Commentary on Paralytic Affections , full calf, London 1792 438 Kirkland (Thomas) Essay on different branches of Medicine, half calf Both books have personal dedications inside to Lancelot Rolleston  from Thomas Kirkland . It is often found that libraries in such Great Halls and Houses have a family book label to the inside of the front board with name and crest of the family. Neither of these books do, which suggests that the Rollestons of Watnall Hall did not choose to have library labels made. Unless any of the many other books sold in the auction have personal d...
Read more