Pte A.Bennett, Bethnal Green Volunteer Training Corps (1916)

[Qu1ckn1ck]

I am looking for any details on A. Bennett, the Bethnal Green Volunteer Training Corps and the Bethnal Green Municipal Rifle Range opened February 1915.  I have been lent a small silver shooting champion's medallion awarded to Pte Bennett in 1916.

[alan o]

Unfortunately the VTC were a very-volunteer organisation and very few of their records have been kept.  Local libraries may have something but its a very long shot I am afraid.

[MaxD]

They were run by something called the Association of Volunteer Training Corps and were primarily for veterans although younger folk were not discouraged to join.  Hansard http://hansard.millbanksystems.com (search Volunteer Training Corps) has a number of mentions, many in 1915 which is worth a look to get the flavour.  Good article at http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/5th-february-1916/14/the-central-association-of-volunteer-training-corp
The Shoreditch Observer has a good article on the opening of the rifle range in Feb 1915.

maxD

[newburychap]

VTCs sprang up all over the country as a response to the war starting - local people getting together in a Dad's Army sort of way - with no official standing whatsoever. Drill a couple of times a week after work, the occasional route march or manoevres at the weekend, rifle practice where practicable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteer_Training_Corps_(World_War_I)

[Qu1ckn1ck]

Many thanks for all the helpful suggestions and links.

Nick