The 1st Peeblesshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVC) was formed in 1860 as part of a nationwide campaign to counter French threats of invasion.
Peeblesshire was represented by 4 companies:
- 1st Peeblesshire RVC (Peebles: 90 men)
- 2nd Peeblesshire RVC (Broughton: 64 men)
- 3rd Peeblesshire RVC (Innerleithen/Walkerburn: 60+ men)
- 4th Peeblesshire RVC (West Linton: 60 men)
In 1862, the 4th Peeblesshire RVC was disbanded. In 1880, the remaining Peeblesshire RVCs were consolidated with Midlothian RVCs and renamed as the 2nd Midlothian & Peeblesshire Rifle Volunteer Corps.
In 1888, the 2nd Midlothian & Peebles RVC was renamed as the 6th Volunteer Battalion, The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
of The Royal Scots
The volunteer movement came to an end in 1908, when the Peeblesshire volunteers were transferred into the 8th (Territorial) Battalion of the Royal Scots.
For further reading, consider obtaining a copy of Robert Knox’s
‘The Peeblesshire Rifle Volunteers 1860-1908, A Short History‘ which contains copious information about the various personnel who volunteered.
