Volunteer Training Corps ( World War I ) The Volunteer Training Corps was a voluntary home defence militia in the United Kingdom during World War I . Early development . After war had been declared in August 1914 , there was an immediate demand for a means of service for those men who were over military age or engaged in important occupations . Combined with the perceived risk of a German invasion , this resulted in the spontaneous formation of illegal " town guards " and volunteer defence associations around the country , often organised by former Regular Army or Volunteer Force officers . By September 1914 , a central committee had been formed and on 19 November 1914 , a renamed Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps was recognised by the War Office . Lord Desborough became the President of the Association and General Sir O ' Moore Creagh VC was appointed the Military Advisor . Official recognition . Although the Central Association had been officially recognized , the new Volunteer Training Battalions were not . Units had to be financially self - supporting and members had to provide their own uniforms , which could not be khaki ; the Association recommended Lovat green . All members were required to wear a red brassard or arm band , bearing the letters " GR " for " Georgius Rex " . No weapons or equipment were provided , although local Territorial Army Associations were asked to supply a few " DP " rifles , which were dummy weapons intended for " Drill Purposes " . Membership of the Corps was only open to those who had " genuine reasons " for not enlisting in the regular armed forces . In October 1915 , the Marquess of Lincolnshire attempted to give the Volunteers legal status by means of a private member ' s bill in the House of Lords . but it ran out of parliamentary time . However , MPs discovered that the Volunteer Act 1863 had never been repealed and the VTC Battalions legally became Volunteer Regiments in July 1915 . In August 1916 , the War Office decided to include the VTC Battalions into the County Infantry Regiment system , and they became numbered " Volunteer " battalions of their local regiment . With the introduction of conscription in 1916 , came the power of the Military Service Tribunals to order men to join the VTC ; however , the clause in the 1863 act which allowed resignation after fourteen days ' notice made it unenforceable , so a Volunteer Act 1916 was passed which obliged members to remain in the Corps until the end of the war . By February 1918 , there were 285 , 000 Volunteers , 101 , 000 of whom had been directed to the Corps by the Tribunals . Equipment , training and role . During 1917 , P . 14 Enfield Rifle s began to be issued , followed by Hotchkiss Mk I machine gun s . The Corps trained in drill and , if the equipment equipment was available , use of the rifle . In case of a German invasion , battalions were tasked with roles such as line of communication defence and forming the garrison of major towns ; 42 battalions were to defend London . Volunteers undertook a wide range of other tasks including ; guarding vulnerable points , munitions handling , digging anti - invasion defence lines , assisting with harvesting , fire fighting and transport for wounded soldiers . In 1918 , when there was an acute shortage of manpower because of the German spring offensive , 13 , 000 Volunteers undertook three - month coast defence duties in East Anglia . The force was sometimes ridiculed by the public ; there were jokes that the " GR " on their armbands stood for " George ' s Wrecks " , " Grandpa ' s Regiment " , " Genuine Relics " , " Gorgeous Wrecks " or " Government Rejects " . The Easter Rising in Dublin . The only time that Volunteer Training Corps men were engaged in actual combat , was in the Easter Rising in Dublin starting on Easter Monday , 24 April 1916 . Some 120 members of the 1st ( Dublin ) Battalion , Associated Volunteer Training Corps were returning from field exercises at Ticknock , when they heard news of the uprising . The commanding officer , Major Harris , decided to march to Beggars Bush Barracks . They carried rifles but were without ammunition or bayonets . They were fired on by a party of Irish Volunteers from a railway bridge . Part of the VTC force entered the barracks by the front gate , others made their way to the rear and scaled the wall . About 40 men at the rear of the column were pinned down by fire from surrounding houses and four were killed , including the first - class cricketer , Francis Browning , who had been second - in - command . The VTC men then assisted the small garrison of regular soldiers to hold the barracks for eight days . In total , five members of the battalion were killed and seven wounded . Disbandment . The Volunteer Training Corps was suspended in December 1918 , and officially disbanded in January 1920 , with the exception of the Volunteer Motor Corps which was retained until April 1921 in case of civil disorder .