The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many Rifle and Artillery Volunteer Corps composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need.
The 1st Administrative Brigade of Ayrshire Artillery Volunteers was formed with its headquarters (HQ) at Irvine, North Ayrshire, in November 1860.
It comprised the following Ayrshire Artillery Volunteer Corps (AVCs):
1st Corps formed at Irvine on 22 December 1859, as one and a half batteries ; reduced to one battery in 1862.

2nd Corps formed at Ayr on 31 January 1860, as one and a half batteries; increased to two batteries in 1874.

3rd Corps formed at Largs on 1 March 1860, as one battery.

4th Corps formed at Ardrossan on 3 March 1860, as one battery.

5th Corps formed at Kilmarnock on 12 July 1860, as one battery; increased in 1864 to one and a half batteries.

In 1863, the following corps were added to the brigade:
1st Kirkcudbright Artillery Volunteers formed at Kirkcudbright on 2 February 1860, as one battery.

1st Wigtown Artillery Volunteers formed at Stranraer on 20 February 1860, as one battery.

2nd Wigtown Artillery Volunteers formed at Port Patrick on 22 February 1860, as one battery.

3rd Wigtown Artillery Volunteers formed at Sandhead on 4 May 1867 as one battery and became part of the Brigade.

The first commanding officer (CO) of the administrative brigade was Major Sir Edward Hunt-Blair, 4th Baronet of Dunskey, Wigtown, appointed on 8 May 1861, who was replaced on 17 July 1863 by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon Greville Vernon, whose his second-in-command (with the rank of major) was Captain (later Admiral) John Eglinton Montgomerie, Royal Navy.
Hunter-Blair was reappointed (with the rank of lieutenant-colonel) on 4 September 1866.

In 1863, brigade HQ moved from Irvine to Ayr, and in May 1880 the brigade was consolidated as the 1st Ayrshire & Galloway Artillery Volunteers, with headquarters at Ayr and 11 batteries as follows:
No 1, Irvine (late 1st Ayrshire Corps)
Nos 2 and 3, Ayr (late 2nd Ayrshire Corps)
No 4 at Largs (late 3rd Ayrshire Corps)
No 5 at Ardrossan (late 4th Ayrshire Corps)
Now 6 and 7 at Kilmarnock (late 5th Ayrshire Corps)
No 8 at Kirkcudbright (late 1st Kirkcudbright Corps)
No 9 at Stranraer (late 1st Wigtown Corps)
No 10 at Port Patrick (late 2nd Wigtown Corps)
No 11 at Sandhead (late 3rd Wigtown Corps)
The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many Rifle and Artillery Volunteer Corps composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need. The 1st Administrative Brigade of Ayrshire Artillery Volunteers was formed with its headquarters (HQ) at Irvine, North Ayrshire, in November 1860. It comprised the following Ayrshire Artillery Volunteer Corps (AVCs):
1st Corps formed at Irvine on 22 December 1859, as one and a half batteries ; reduced to one battery in 1862.
2nd Corps formed at Ayr on 31 January 1860, as one and a half batteries; increased to two batteries in 1874.
3rd Corps formed at Largs on 1 March 1860, as one battery.
4th Corps formed at Ardrossan on 3 March 1860, as one battery.
5th Corps formed at Kilmarnock on 12 July 1860, as one battery; increased in 1864 to one and a half batteries.
In 1863, the following corps were added to the brigade:
1st Kirkcudbright Artillery Volunteers formed at Kirkcudbright on 2 February 1860, as one battery.
1st Wigtown Artillery Volunteers formed at Stranraer on 20 February 1860, as one battery.
2nd Wigtown Artillery Volunteers formed at Port Patrick on 22 February 1860, as one battery.
3rd Wigtown Artillery Volunteers formed at Sandhead on 4 May 1867 as one battery and became part of the Brigade.
The first commanding officer (CO) of the administrative brigade was Major Sir Edward Hunt-Blair, 4th Baronet of Dunskey, Wigtown, appointed on 8 May 1861, who was replaced on 17 July 1863 by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon Greville Vernon, whose his second-in-command (with the rank of major) was Captain (later Admiral) John Eglinton Montgomerie, Royal Navy. Hunter-Blair was reappointed (with the rank of lieutenant-colonel) on 4 September 1866.
In 1863, brigade HQ moved from Irvine to Ayr, and in May 1880 the brigade was consolidated as the 1st Ayrshire & Galloway Artillery Volunteers, with headquarters at Ayr and 11 batteries as follows:
No 1, Irvine (late 1st Ayrshire Corps)
Nos 2 and 3, Ayr (late 2nd Ayrshire Corps)
No 4 at Largs (late 3rd Ayrshire Corps)
No 5 at Ardrossan (late 4th Ayrshire Corps)
Now 6 and 7 at Kilmarnock (late 5th Ayrshire Corps)
No 8 at Kirkcudbright (late 1st Kirkcudbright Corps)
No 9 at Stranraer (late 1st Wigtown Corps)
No 10 at Port Patrick (late 2nd Wigtown Corps)
No 11 at Sandhead (late 3rd Wigtown Corps)
1st Ayrshire and Galloway Artillery Volunteers