Royal Wiltshire Militia
Encyclopedia
The Royal Wiltshire Militia was a militia
regiment in the United Kingdom
from 1758 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment).
The regiment was organised in late 1758, as the Wiltshire Militia. It was embodied in 1778, at which time it was ranked the 19th regiment of militia, and remained active for five years. It was regularly re-ranked through its embodiment, becoming the 38th in 1779, 22nd in 1780, 37th in 1781, and 9th in 1782.
It was embodied again during the French Revolutionary Wars
, ranked as the 35th. With the resumption of hostilities in 1803, it was ranked as the 8th. In 1833, it was ranked as the 33rd, and in 1841 designated "Royal". It saw service during the Crimean War
, being embodied in 1854 and volunteering for garrison service in the Mediterranean.
In 1881, under the Childers Reforms
, the regiment was transferred into The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment) as the 3rd Battalion. This was embodied during the South African War in 1900, and disembodied in 1902.
During the Haldane Reforms
in 1908 the battalion was transferred to the Special Reserve, and was embodied on mobilisation in 1914 for the First World War. As with all Special Reserve battalions, it served as a regimental depot, and was disembodied following the end of hostilities in 1919, with personnel transferred to the 1st Battalion. The battalion nominally remained in existence throughout the Second World War, but was never activated, and was finally disbanded in 1953.
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
regiment in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1758 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment).
The regiment was organised in late 1758, as the Wiltshire Militia. It was embodied in 1778, at which time it was ranked the 19th regiment of militia, and remained active for five years. It was regularly re-ranked through its embodiment, becoming the 38th in 1779, 22nd in 1780, 37th in 1781, and 9th in 1782.
It was embodied again during the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, ranked as the 35th. With the resumption of hostilities in 1803, it was ranked as the 8th. In 1833, it was ranked as the 33rd, and in 1841 designated "Royal". It saw service during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, being embodied in 1854 and volunteering for garrison service in the Mediterranean.
In 1881, under the Childers Reforms
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
, the regiment was transferred into The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment) as the 3rd Battalion. This was embodied during the South African War in 1900, and disembodied in 1902.
During the Haldane Reforms
Haldane Reforms
The Haldane Reforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane...
in 1908 the battalion was transferred to the Special Reserve, and was embodied on mobilisation in 1914 for the First World War. As with all Special Reserve battalions, it served as a regimental depot, and was disembodied following the end of hostilities in 1919, with personnel transferred to the 1st Battalion. The battalion nominally remained in existence throughout the Second World War, but was never activated, and was finally disbanded in 1953.