Penllergare Rifleman - Lionel Fanthorpe - Ghost скачать в хорошем качестве

Penllergare Rifleman - Lionel Fanthorpe - Ghost

1. Origins: The 1859 Invasion Scare In 1859, there was a widespread fear in Britain of a French invasion under Napoleon III. In response, the government authorized the formation of Volunteer Rifle Corps—essentially a Victorian "Home Guard" made up of local gentlemen and workers who provided their own uniforms and equipment. The Llewelyn family, who owned the vast Penllergare Estate, were quick to respond. While the main 3rd (Swansea Rifles) was formed in the town, the 5th Glamorgan RVC was raised specifically at Penllergare. 2. The Llewelyn Connection The unit was deeply tied to John Dillwyn Llewelyn, a famous pioneer photographer and scientist, and his brother Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn, a local MP. Estate-Based: The corps was largely composed of men who lived and worked on the Penllergare Estate (gardeners, foresters, and laborers). Practice on the Grounds: John Dillwyn Llewelyn’s journals and photographs record the men practicing their marksmanship on the estate. He even used his skills in chemistry and physics to help with technical aspects of rifle practice. 3. Service and Legacy Uniforms: They wore distinctive grey uniforms with red facings (a common choice for rifle units of that era to provide better camouflage than the "Red Coats"). Amalgamation: In 1864, the Penllergare unit (5th Glamorgan) was attached to the Swansea Rifles. It remained an active part of local defense until it was eventually disbanded in 1873, as the threat of invasion faded and the Volunteer Force began to consolidate into larger administrative battalions. The "Rifleman" Today: You can still find mentions of the riflemen in the archives of the Penllergare Trust. They are often remembered through the early photographs taken by John Dillwyn Llewelyn, which are among some of the earliest candid images of volunteer soldiers in Wales. The Penllergare Observatory If you visit the Penllergare Valley Woods today, the most tangible link to this military history is the Observatory. While it was built for astronomy, its location on the ridge made it a natural focal point for the estate's riflemen during their drills.