9th King's
HQ Everton Road Liverpool
Shortly
after the commencement of the Volunteer Movement in 1859, many members of the
newspaper and printing trades in Liverpool were desirous of forming a regiment
composed of men connected with those businesses. A meeting was held in the
Liverpool Town Hall, and the scheme was so well received that steps were taken
towards the formation of a corps. Sanction was obtained, and on the 21st
February, 1861, the officers and men of the new unit took the oath of
allegiance at St. George's Hall. Thus came into being the 80th Lancashire Rifle
Volunteers, and on the 2nd April, 1863, the 73rd Battalion of the Lancashire
Rifle Volunteers was amalgamated with it. In the early days of its existence
the new unit attended reviews and inspections at Mount Vernon,
Newton-le-Willows and Aintree. Some time afterwards it was renumbered the 19th
Lancashire Rifle Volunteers. Later—in 1888—it became the 6th Volunteer
Battalion of The King's (Liverpool Regiment).
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The White
Horse of Hanover cap badge of the Regiment. Pattern in use 1898-1927
Kipling and King 598
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The early
parades of the Regiment took place at Rose Hill Police Station, and the Corn
Exchange, Brunswick Street, until Headquarters were established at 16, Soho
Street.
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| Rose Hill Police Station - Spike Island |
In 1884 the
Headquarters in Soho Street were changed for more commodious and better
equipped premises at 59, Everton Road, where the Battalion remained domiciled
until 1914. During the South African War the Battalion sent out a company, and
the experience the men gained there proved very useful at the annual camps.
Several of the men who went to South Africa were privileged to serve in the
next war. On the formation of the Territorial Force the Battalion was once
again renumbered and henceforth it was known as the 9th Battalion of The King's
(Liverpool Regiment) Territorial Force.
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| The HQ of the 9th King's, 59, Everton Road (photographed in the late 1930s |
The Red
Triangle Karate club have used this drill hall for training for the last 30
years. They have kept it in as much the original condition as they could. A
fire door, lights and heating is all that has changed. As you will see
everything else is original, the floor, the ceiling, walls, windows, its all
here as it was. The Karate club are facing a fight to stay in the building, if
it had not been for them I dread to think what state the drill hall would be
in, or even if it would still be there. They are hoping to start a campaign to
stay there, if they do please support them. They have been in this area many
years, and they have saved the drill hall.
Below are a selection of photographs courtesy of Anthony Hogan showing the building as it is now with some past comparisons.
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| Inside the Courtyard looking up at the main building |
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| Doorways into the main buildings under the arch opening. |
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| The HQ in the 1930s you can see the 'Drill Hall' on the right supported by ioron columns |
The drill hall is to the right. You can just see it standing on top of the metal pillars. The building at the back was also used by the 9th King's.
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| The roof is the same as are the windows. Middle window has become a door and right door has been made a window. A fire escape runs up to the old Drill hall building. We will have more on the Drill hall later. |
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| the ground floor of the main building. Here we find the old officers mess.  |
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| The staircase leading to the' Drill Hall' |
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| The 'Drill Hall' with the original floor that soldiers paraded on 100 years ago |
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| At the back of the hall is this changing room. It was once a kind of kitchen that served drinks to the men after drill. Thats a hatch you can see for serving. |
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| The hatch was last opened 30 years ago, but they pulled it up for Anthony to take a photograph. It just flew up, great workmanship went into this, its over 100 years old.  Credits All Photography courtesy of Anthony Hogan World Wars Remembrance Site
Liverpool
Red Triangle Shotokan Karate Club
57/61
Everton Road,
Everton,
Liverpool, L6 2EH,
United
Kingdom
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