Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey
Encyclopedia
Formed in 1337, the Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey can claim to be the oldest regiment of the British Army
, although, because it is a Militia
regiment, and was disbanded for some years in the late 20th Century, it is not the most senior.
raided the island of Jersey
whilst in exile in France
. The following year, in response to the threat of a repeat of this invasion, King Edward III ordered Thomas de Ferrers, Warden of the Isles, to levy and equip a militia of "all men capable of bearing arms, and to form them into companies of thousands, hundreds and twenties, and to lead them well-armed and arrayed for the defence of the islands". Although this threat came to nothing, Jersey was invaded by the French in 1461 and occupied until 1468 when the invaders were expelled by an English army supported by the Seigneur of Saint Ouen
.
In 1545, the Jersey Militia consisted of 12 parochial bands which, in 1622, were organized into three regiments, the North, West and East. It was reorganized and uniformed in scarlet
by the Governor of Jersey, Sir Thomas Morgan
, in 1678, and in 1685 a Troop of Horse was raised (which later became Dragoons). Around 1730, it was divided into five regiments, based on the Parishes
of the island, the 4th Regiment (that of the parishes of Saint Lawrence
and Saint Helier
) consisting of two battalions. Compulsory military service was introduced in 1771 and the militia was increased to a Regiment of Cavalry, a Regiment of Artillery and five Regiments of Infantry.
The Militia fought alongside Regiments of the regular British Army at the Battle of Jersey
in 1781, when an attempted French invasion (intended to remove the threat the island posed to American shipping in the American Revolutionary War
) was defeated. In 1831, it was designated the Royal Jersey Militia on the 50th anniversary of this battle. The regiments were re-organized on several occasions between 1870, when the Troop of Dragoons was disbanded, and the outbreak of the Great War.
In 1915, one Company was detached to the 7th (Service) Battalion, the Royal Irish Rifles. In 1917, the 7th Battalion was disbanded, and personnel transferred to 2nd Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment. Other members of the Regiment served as guards at a Prisoner of War Camp located at St Brélade.
The Militia was reconstituted in 1921 as one infantry battalion, the Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey.
In World War II
, it served as the 11th (Royal Militia Island of Jersey) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, which was disbanded in 1946. Because the National Service Act did not apply in the Channel Islands
, the Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey went into suspended animation (sc. it existed on paper, but had no personnel) until it was formally disbanded, along with the other British Militia regiments, in 1953.
In 1987, it was re-formed as a Territorial Army regiment, the Jersey Field Squadron (The Royal Militia Island of Jersey), 111th Regiment, Royal Engineers
, later 73rd Regiment, Royal Engineers. In 2007, it came under the operational control of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers
.
Battle honours
Both these honours are unique to the regiment.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, although, because it is a Militia
Militia (United Kingdom)
The Militia of the United Kingdom were the military reserve forces of the United Kingdom after the Union in 1801 of the former Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland....
regiment, and was disbanded for some years in the late 20th Century, it is not the most senior.
History
In 1336, King David II of ScotlandDavid II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
raided the island of Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
whilst in exile in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The following year, in response to the threat of a repeat of this invasion, King Edward III ordered Thomas de Ferrers, Warden of the Isles, to levy and equip a militia of "all men capable of bearing arms, and to form them into companies of thousands, hundreds and twenties, and to lead them well-armed and arrayed for the defence of the islands". Although this threat came to nothing, Jersey was invaded by the French in 1461 and occupied until 1468 when the invaders were expelled by an English army supported by the Seigneur of Saint Ouen
Saint Ouen, Jersey
-Cueillettes:Unlike the other parishes of Jersey, the subdivisions of this parish are not named vingtaines, but cueillettes . Vingteniers are still elected, however, in the cueillettes.*La Petite Cueillette*La Grande Cueillette...
.
In 1545, the Jersey Militia consisted of 12 parochial bands which, in 1622, were organized into three regiments, the North, West and East. It was reorganized and uniformed in scarlet
Red coat (British army)
Red coat or Redcoat is a historical term used to refer to soldiers of the British Army because of the red uniforms formerly worn by the majority of regiments. From the late 17th century to the early 20th century, the uniform of most British soldiers, , included a madder red coat or coatee...
by the Governor of Jersey, Sir Thomas Morgan
Sir Thomas Morgan, 1st Baronet
Major-General Sir Thomas Morgan, 1st Baronet was a Welsh soldier during the English Civil War, and Commander-in-Chief in Scotland during the Restoration....
, in 1678, and in 1685 a Troop of Horse was raised (which later became Dragoons). Around 1730, it was divided into five regiments, based on the Parishes
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of the island, the 4th Regiment (that of the parishes of Saint Lawrence
Saint Lawrence, Jersey
Saint Lawrence is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey in the Channel Islands. The parish covers 5,258 vergées and occupies the centre of the Island....
and Saint Helier
Saint Helier
Saint Helier is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. St. Helier has a population of about 28,000, roughly 31.2% of the total population of Jersey, and is the capital of the Island . The urban area of the parish of St...
) consisting of two battalions. Compulsory military service was introduced in 1771 and the militia was increased to a Regiment of Cavalry, a Regiment of Artillery and five Regiments of Infantry.
The Militia fought alongside Regiments of the regular British Army at the Battle of Jersey
Battle of Jersey
The Battle of Jersey was an attempt by France to invade Jersey and remove the threat the island posed to American shipping in the American War of Independence. Jersey was used as a base for privateering by the British, and France, engaged in the war as an ally of the United States, sent an...
in 1781, when an attempted French invasion (intended to remove the threat the island posed to American shipping in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
) was defeated. In 1831, it was designated the Royal Jersey Militia on the 50th anniversary of this battle. The regiments were re-organized on several occasions between 1870, when the Troop of Dragoons was disbanded, and the outbreak of the Great War.
In 1915, one Company was detached to the 7th (Service) Battalion, the Royal Irish Rifles. In 1917, the 7th Battalion was disbanded, and personnel transferred to 2nd Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment. Other members of the Regiment served as guards at a Prisoner of War Camp located at St Brélade.
The Militia was reconstituted in 1921 as one infantry battalion, the Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey.
In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it served as the 11th (Royal Militia Island of Jersey) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, which was disbanded in 1946. Because the National Service Act did not apply in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, the Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey went into suspended animation (sc. it existed on paper, but had no personnel) until it was formally disbanded, along with the other British Militia regiments, in 1953.
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, later 73rd Regiment, Royal Engineers. In 2007, it came under the operational control of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers
Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers
The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers is the most senior regiment in the British Territorial Army, having given continuous loyal service to the crown since 1539. It is part of the reserve forces, and is the only remaining Militia unit in the British Army...
.
Battle honoursBattle honours of the British and Imperial ArmiesThe following battle honours were awarded to units of the British Army and the armies of British India and the Dominions of the British Empire. From their institution until the end of the Second World War, awards were made by, or in consultation with, the British government, but, since 1945, the...
- Jersey 1781Battle of JerseyThe Battle of Jersey was an attempt by France to invade Jersey and remove the threat the island posed to American shipping in the American War of Independence. Jersey was used as a base for privateering by the British, and France, engaged in the war as an ally of the United States, sent an...
, The Great WarWestern Front (World War I)Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
Both these honours are unique to the regiment.