For almost half a century Artillery Volunteers stood guard over the Slate Islands. They were part-time soldiers. Easdale’s quarrymen formed two companies of artillery, each with fifty men, two massive guns and a drill hall – one at Ellenabeich and the other on nearby Easdale Island. They served from 1860 to 1908.
The Volunteers were an entirely new military force, created to defend Britain against a growing threat from France. The concept was simple. All around the coast Artillery Volunteers would defend towns and cities against naval attack. Elsewhere Rifle Volunteers would harass the flanks of an invading army. Throughout Britain this new military force was greeted with huge enthusiasm. Argyll boasted a dozen artillery companies: the first two formed here at Easdale on 7th March 1860.
Over a century later, during repairs to the old drill hall at Ellenabeich, someone discovered a stack of military documents and pamphlets. They reveal a remarkable history. We can read every detail of their training and visualize the guns as they fire. We can see how competitive the soldiers were; and we can witness the occasional disagreement between the headquarters and the companies. We cannot doubt their dedication. Here, in one of the least accessible counties of Victorian Scotland, they stood ready to defend family, home and country.
This is the history of the men and the guns of the Easdale Volunteer Artillery.
