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The Trades House Virtual Museum

Trades House Military Heritage

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Trades House Regiment.

Introduction
The Kings colour of the 2nd Battalion Trades House Battalion may well have been recycled from the Colours which had been presented to the Trades Battalion of Royal Glasgow Volunteers in 1798.  The Battalion consisted of seven Companies and had a total of approximately 700 officers and men.  This Battalion was disbanded shortly after the threat from the French had subsided.
 
When the threat of invasion once again loomed, on the 3rd August 1803, a committee of the Trades House had prepared a report regarding the raising of a Battalion of craftsmen and indicated that all the Incorporations except the Incorporations of Bakers and Tailors agreed to the measures in the report.   The House therefore agreed to raise a Battalion of 600 craftsmen from amongst the second, third and fourth classes pointed out in the General Defence Bill.   The Convener was authorised to make the offer to the Government accordingly.   It was expressly understood that the express condition that the Corps would have the power to choose their own officers.
 
To create a general fund for clothing the Trades House Battalion and other contingencies which were not funded, the House voted £500 to this purpose on 1st September 1803.   The meeting also encouraged Incorporations to vote sums into the general fund.   A subscription was also opened to allow individuals to contribute to the cause even though they might not be able to serve.
 
It was also agreed that as soon as the Committee decided on the dress (which was to be neat and tidy, but not expensive) a complete suit was to be made and then estimates got from tailors or shopkeepers or both for supplying the Regiment with clothing.   The whole expense was to be paid for from the general fund.
 
It was also agreed that as soon as 300 people volunteered and were accepted and had taken their oath of allegiance, the officers would be chosen, and the men appointed to Companies for drill.
 
The Trades House Regiment desired to have a set of colours and it is likely that they repurposed a set from 1793.   The units were for local defence only.   The right-hand image of the Regimental Colour has the Trades House 14 Arrows in place of the Crown, as in the left-hand image.

In 1804 the Glasgow Volunteers along with regulars from Hamilton and Volunteers from Greenock, Port Glasgow, Dumbarton, Kilsyth, Cumbernauld, and Airdrie were reviewed on Glasgow Green by the Earl of Moira, Commander-in-Chief in Scotland.
 
During the parade each volunteer fired ten rounds.
 
Three pairs of Glasgow Colours from 1803 to 1809 survived.   They are the 2nd Trades House Regiment held in the Trades Hall of Glasgow, the Anderson Volunteers held Glasgow Museum Collection in relic condition and the Canal Volunteers, framed and held in the Glasgow Museum Collection.
 
The Trades House Colours are a rare and precious commodity that has survived for at least 218 years and possibly 227 years and reflects to the time when the Burgess of Glasgow defended the City against all invaders.
Trades Hall
Trades House
Copyright
Most photographs have been taken by George Mahoney and the Trades  House acknowledges and thanks him for his kind work.