The East Suffolk Militia'' was an auxiliary military unit in the English county of
Suffolk
Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include ...
in
East Anglia
East Anglia is an area in the East of England, often defined as including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Angles, a people whose name originated in Anglia, in ...
. First organised as one of two regiments in the county during the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754 ...
it served on internal security and home defence duties in all of Britain's major wars. It was converted to artillery in 1853 and continued in that role until its disbandment in 1909.
Background
The universal obligation to military service in the
Shire levy
A shire levy was a means of military recruitment in medieval England and Scotland. As opposed to a levy of noble families, a shire levy was effected within a geographical administrative area (a shire), entailing the mobilisation of able-bodied me ...
was long established in England and its legal basis was updated by two acts of 1557 (
4 & 5 Ph. & M. c. 3 and
4 & 5 Ph. & M. c. 2), which placed selected men, the '
Trained Bands
Trained Bands were companies of part-time militia in England and Wales. Organised by county, they were supposed to drill on a regular basis, although this was rarely the case in practice. The regular army was formed from the Trained Bands in the ev ...
', under the command of
lords-lieutenant appointed by the monarch. This is seen as the starting date for the organised
county militia in England. It was an important element in the country's defence at the time of the
Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada (a.k.a. the Enterprise of England, es, Grande y Felicísima Armada, links=no, lit=Great and Most Fortunate Navy) was a Spanish fleet that sailed from Lisbon in late May 1588, commanded by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, an ar ...
in the 1580s, and control of the militia was one of the areas of dispute between
King Charles I and
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
that led to the
English Civil War
The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I (" Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of r ...
. The
Suffolk Trained Bands were active in the
Siege of Colchester
The siege of Colchester occurred in the summer of 1648 when the English Civil War reignited in several areas of Britain. Colchester found itself in the thick of the unrest when a Royalist army on its way through East Anglia to raise sup ...
and
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 in and around the city of Worcester, England and was the last major battle of the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A Parliamentarian army of around 28,000 under Oliver Cromwell d ...
, and later in controlling the country under the
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
and
Protectorate
A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over most of its in ...
. The English militia was re-established under local control in 1662 after the
Restoration of the monarchy
Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to:
* Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
** Audio restoration
** Film restoration
** Image restoration
** Textile restoration
*Restoration ecology
...
, and the
Suffolk Militia played a prominent part in the
Second Dutch War
The Second Anglo-Dutch War or the Second Dutch War (4 March 1665 – 31 July 1667; nl, Tweede Engelse Oorlog "Second English War") was a conflict between England and the Dutch Republic partly for control over the seas and trade routes, wh ...
of 1667. However, after the
Peace of Utrecht
The Peace of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties signed by the belligerents in the War of the Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht between April 1713 and February 1715. The war involved three contenders for the vacant throne ...
in 1715 the militia was allowed to decline.
[Hay, p. 272.]
East Suffolk Militia
Under threat of French invasion during the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754 ...
a series of Militia Acts from 1757 re-established county militia regiments, the men being conscripted by means of parish ballots (paid substitutes were permitted) to serve for three years. There was a property qualification for officers, who were commissioned by the lord lieutenant.
[Holmes, pp. 94–100.][Webb, pp. 424–5.] Suffolk was given a quota of 960 men to raise. The militia was strongly supported by the new Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, the
3rd Duke of Grafton, and the county was one of the first to raise its quota. Grafton was ordered organise his men into two battalions as the
1st or West Suffolk Battalion at
Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as Bury, is a historic market, cathedral town and civil parish in Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St.Edmunds and Stowmarket Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton ...
and the 2nd or East Suffolk Battalion at
Ipswich
Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line ...
commanded by
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...
Francis Vernon
Francis Vernon (1637?–1677) was an English traveller and author.
Early life
Born about 1637, near Charing Cross, he was the son of Francis Vernon of London and brother of James Vernon. He was admitted in 1649 to Westminster School. He matricul ...
of Orwell Place (later
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
for
Ipswich
Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line ...
, who became Lord Orwell in 1762). The government would only issue arms from the
Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...
to militia regiments when they had enrolled 60 per cent of their quota: for the two Suffolk regiments this was on 27 April 1759, which was taken as their official date of formation. The regiments were embodied for full-time service on 16 October 1759.
[Frederick, p. 222.][Hay, p. 218.][Litchfield, pp. 130–3.][Parkyn.]
/ref>[Western, ''English Militia'', Appendices A & B.]
/ref>
Soldiers' pay was subject to various stoppages at the discretion of the Colonel for cleaning, repair and replacement of clothing and equipment. A venal colonel could make a great deal of money from his command, but the East Suffolks were proud that their regiment only had one stoppage, of 5 pence (2p) per week for 'small clothing'>
At the end of 1759 the Suffolk Militia regiments made their first marches outside the county, which was a novel experience for most of the junior officers and men. Ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
John Cobbold of the East Suffolks kept a diary of this march through Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...
, Kettering
Kettering is a market and industrial town in North Northamptonshire, England. It is located north of London and north-east of Northampton, west of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene. The name means "the place (or territory) ...
, and Market Harborough
Market Harborough is a market town in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, in the far southeast of the county, forming part of the border with Northamptonshire.
Market Harborough's population was 25,143 in 2020. It is the adm ...
to its assigned station at Leicester
Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands.
The city l ...
.[Western, ''English Militia'', p. 399.] On 14 October 1760 both regiments marched back to Bury St Edmunds and went into winter quarters in their home county, the East Suffolks at Beccles
Beccles ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 and A12 roads, north-east of London as the crow fl ...
from 23 October, and later Woodbridge. In May 1761 the East Suffolks moved back to Ipswich, with 5 companies deploying to Landguard Fort
Landguard Fort is a fort at the mouth of the River Orwell outside Felixstowe, Suffolk, designed to guard the mouth of the river. It is now managed by the charity English Heritage and is open to the public.
History
Originally known as Lange ...
in June. In October the regiment returned to Woodbridge for the winter. By January 1762 the East Suffolks had been expanded to 12 companies, with 7 in Ipswich and 5 at Landguard Fort. In June, under Lord Orwell, it attended a training camp at Sandheath, near Ripley. It spent the winter from October at Woodbridge as usual.[Webb, pp. 425–8.]
With the Seven Years War drawing to a close, Grafton and Orwell were instructed on 20 December 1762 to disembody the two battalions, and the East Suffolks returned to Ipswich to carry this out.[ Annual training continued thereafter, and officers were commissioned to fill vacancies. Although Ensign Cobbold was described as a ]Yeoman
Yeoman is a noun originally referring either to one who owns and cultivates land or to the middle ranks of servants in an English royal or noble household. The term was first documented in mid-14th-century England. The 14th century also witn ...
, the officers were generally drawn from the landed gentry of the county and guarded their status jealously: in 1768 one of the Suffolk battalions demanded the resignation of one of their ensigns who had become an innkeeper.[
]
War of American Independence
The militia was called out after the outbreak of the War of American Independence
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
when the country was threatened with invasion by the Americans' allies, France and Spain. On 26 March 1778 Grafton was ordered to embody the two regiments once more. The regiments were inspected by general officers to determine if they were fit for service. The East Suffolks were reported as one of those regiments that had 'few or bad officers', but the regiment was nevertheless adequately trained.[
]
On 1 June 1778 the East Suffolks marched out to Warley Camp
Warley Barracks was a military installation at Warley near Brentwood in Essex.
History
The local common was used as a military camp in 1742, with thousands of troops camped there during the summer months. It was an ideal base, as it was less th ...
in Essex
Essex () is a Ceremonial counties of England, county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the Riv ...
. At these summer encampments the completely raw Militia were exercised as part of a division alongside Regular troops while providing a reserve in case of French invasion of South East England. In November the regiment went into winter quarters in Essex, with 4 of its 8 companies at Romford
Romford is a large town in east London and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. Historically, Romfo ...
and Hare Street
Hare Street is a road in the Indian city of Kolkata, in Kolkata district, West Bengal, India. It connects the junction of Council House Street and Netaji Subhas Road in B.B.D. Bagh to Millennium Park on Strand Road.
History
Hare Street was c ...
, and the remainder distributed between Woodford, Epping, Ongar, Dagenham
Dagenham () is a town in East London, England, within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Dagenham is centred east of Charing Cross.
It was historically a rural parish in the Becontree Hundred of Essex, stretching from Hainault Fore ...
and Ilford. On 1 June the following year it went to at Coxheath Camp near Maidstone
Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it wi ...
in Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
, which was the army's largest training camp. The East Suffolks formed part of the Right Wing under Maj-Gen Staats Long Morris
General Staats Long Morris (27 August 1728 – 28 January 1800) was a British Army officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons representing the constituency of Elgin Burghs from 1774 to 1784. He also served as governor of Quebec fr ...
, an American Loyalist officer.[
After the camp broke up, the East Suffolks returned to Ipswich on 27 November and were then quartered in detachments across Suffolk, at Beccles, ]Bungay
Bungay () is a market town, civil parish and electoral ward in the English county of Suffolk.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . It lies in the Waveney Valley, west of Beccles on the edge of The Broads, and at the neck of a mean ...
, Halesworth
Halesworth is a market town, civil parish and electoral ward in north-eastern Suffolk, England. The population stood at 4,726 in the 2011 Census. It lies south-west of Lowestoft, on a tributary of the River Blyth, upstream from Southwold. T ...
, Yoxford
Yoxford is a village in East Suffolk, England, close to the Heritage Coast, Minsmere Reserve (RSPB), Aldeburgh and Southwold. It is known for its antique shops and (as "Loxford") for providing the setting for a Britten opera.
The name 'Yoxfor ...
, Saxmundham
Saxmundham ( ) is a market town in Suffolk, England, set in the valley of the River Fromus about north-east of Ipswich and west of the coast at Sizewell. The town is bypassed by the main A12 road between London and Lowestoft. The town is ser ...
and Lowestoft
Lowestoft ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish in the East Suffolk (district), East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . As the List of extreme points of the United Kingdom, most easterly UK se ...
. From 30 May 1780 the regiment was at the defended port of Chatham, Kent
Chatham ( ) is a town located within the Medway unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Kent, England. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham.
The town developed around Chatham ...
, with the recruits detached to nearby Faversham
Faversham is a market town in Kent, England, from London and from Canterbury, next to the Swale, a strip of sea separating mainland Kent from the Isle of Sheppey in the Thames Estuary. It is close to the A2, which follows an ancient Briti ...
on 29 September. It was not until 20 October the following year that it returned to Suffolk for winter quarters, with headquarters and 4 companies at Beccles, lowestoft and Bungay, 2 distributed between Woodbridge, Wickham Market
Wickham Market is a large village and electoral ward situated in the River Deben valley of Suffolk, England, within the Suffolk Coastal heritage area.
It is on the A12 trunk road north-east of the county town of Ipswich, north-east of Woodbr ...
, Framlingham
Framlingham is a market town and civil parish in Suffolk, England. Of Anglo-Saxon origin, it appears in the 1086 Domesday Book. The parish had a population of 3,342 at the 2011 Census and an estimated 4,016 in 2019. Nearby villages include ...
and Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh ( ) is a coastal town in the county of Suffolk, England. Located to the north of the River Alde. Its estimated population was 2,276 in 2019. It was home to the composer Benjamin Britten and remains the centre of the international Ald ...
, and the remaining 2 across Blythburgh
Blythburgh is a village and civil parish in the East Suffolk district of the English county of Suffolk. It is west of Southwold and south-east of Halesworth and lies on the River Blyth. The A12 road runs through the village which is split ...
, Halesworth, Saxmundham and Southwold
Southwold is a seaside town and civil parish on the English North Sea coast in the East Suffolk district of Suffolk. It lies at the mouth of the River Blyth within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is ...
. On 22 June 1782 the regiment was ordered to march to Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town in the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the East of England. It is in the London commuter belt, situated 20 miles (30 km) east-north-east of Charing Cross and close by the M25 motorway. In 2017, the p ...
, then on 8 November the remaining 7 companies were distributed in small detachments across Suffolk and Essex. By the end of 1782 a peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a state of war between the parties. It is different from an armistice, which is an agreement to stop hostilities; a surre ...
had been agreed and the war was coming to an end, so orders to disembody the Suffolk Militia were issued on 4 March 1783.[
From 1784 to 1792 the militia were supposed to assemble for 28 days' annual training, even though to save money only two-thirds of the men were actually called out each year. In 1786 the number of permanent non-commissioned officers (NCOs) was reduced, and Captain Walter Waring, a company commander of the East Suffolks, quarrelled with his commanding officer, Col Edward Goate, over the demotion of a corporal: both officers claimed the right to make such decisions (Waring accused Goate of using NCOs' places to provide for musicians whom he ought to have paid out of his own pocket). The dispute continued to 1789, with Waring offering to transfer to the West Suffolks. Both sides appealed to the Duke of Grafton as Lord Lieutenant, who referred the question to the ]Home Secretary
The secretary of state for the Home Department, otherwise known as the home secretary, is a senior minister of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom. The home secretary leads the Home Office, and is responsible for all nationa ...
. He in turn insisted that it was Grafton's decision, and the duke reluctantly recommended Waring's transfer.
French Revolutionary War
The militia was already being called out when Revolutionary France
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...
declared war on Britain on 1 February 1793. The order to embody the Suffolk Militia had gone out on 4 December 1792. Each of the Suffolk battalions was to consist of eight companies, one of which was a light company. They were also issued with two light 'battalion guns'.[Webb, pp. 428–31.]
The French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars (french: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted France against Britain, Austria, Pruss ...
saw a new phase for the English militia: they were embodied for a whole generation, and became regiments of full-time professional soldiers (though restricted to service in the British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isl ...
), which the regular army increasingly saw as a prime source of recruits. They served in coast defences, manning garrisons, guarding prisoners of war, and for internal security, while their traditional local defence duties were taken over by the Volunteers
Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...
and mounted Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Army Reserve, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units serve in a variety of different military roles.
History
Origins
In the 1790s, f ...
.[
On 7 February 1793 the East Suffolks deployed on the coast with 6 companies at ]Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth (), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside town and unparished area in, and the main administrative centre of, the Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. A pop ...
in Norfolk
Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the Nor ...
and the other 2 at Lowestoft, then on 19 June it went to summer camp at Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England, and one of the Haven ports on the North Sea coast. It is in the Tendring District, Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the north-east, Ipswich to the north-west, Colchester to the south-w ...
, along with the Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...
and West Kent Militia. The camp broke up on 10 October, when the East Suffolks went to winter at Newmarket, with 11 detachments in the surrounding area.[
With a French invasion possible, the Government augmented the strength of the embodied militia in early 1794: the East Suffolks by 59 men, recruited by voluntary enlistment and paid for by county subscriptions.][Hay, pp. 148–9.]
The regiment spent from 7 May to 31 October that year encamped at Caister
Caister-on-Sea, also known colloquially as Caister, is a large village and seaside resort in Norfolk, England. It is close to the large town of Great Yarmouth. At the 2001 census it had a population of 8,756 and 3,970 households, the populati ...
in Norfolk before moving into Great Yarmouth (5 companies), Lowestoft (1 company) and several small detachments (2 companies) for the winter. Its summer camp in 1795 was at Warley (12 May–16 October) after which it wintered in Harwich (2 companies0, Landguard Fort (4) and detachments (2). On 19 April 1796 the East Suffolks moved to Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of t ...
, beginning a stay of several years in Kent. The regiment was dispersed across the county on 17 May, with 2 companies going to Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in Kent, England, southeast of central London. It lies close to the border with East Sussex on the northern edge of the High Weald, whose sandstone geology is exemplified by the rock formation High Rocks. T ...
, 2 to Penshurst
Penshurst is a historic village and civil parish located in a valley upon the northern slopes of the Kentish Weald, at the confluence of the River Medway and the River Eden, within the Sevenoaks district of Kent, England.
The village is situ ...
, and 4 between Tonbridge
Tonbridge ( ) is a market town in Kent, England, on the River Medway, north of Royal Tunbridge Wells, south west of Maidstone and south east of London. In the administrative borough of Tonbridge and Malling, it had an estimated population ...
, Malling, Mereworth
Mereworth is a village and civil parish near the town of Maidstone in Kent, England. The Wateringbury Stream flows through the village and powered a watermill, the site of which now lies within the grounds of Mereworth Castle.
Mereworth is pronou ...
, Teston
Teston /ˈtiːstən/ The Place Names of Kent,Judith Glover,1976,Batsford. or /ˈtiːsən/ BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names — is a village in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. It is located on the A26 road out of Maidston ...
and Yalding. In the autumn it concentrated at Ashford Ashford may refer to:
Places
Australia
*Ashford, New South Wales
*Ashford, South Australia
*Electoral district of Ashford, South Australia
Ireland
*Ashford, County Wicklow
*Ashford Castle, County Galway
United Kingdom
*Ashford, Kent, a town
**B ...
for the winter.[
On 17 February 1797 the militia were directed to be formed into brigades for their summer training. The East Suffolks, together with the Bedfordshires, Derbyshires, East Hampshires, and Yorkshire West Ridings, formed Gen Sir Charles Grey's 4th Brigade of the division under Gen ]Sir William Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB PC (10 August 172912 July 1814) was a British Army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British land forces in the Colonies during the American War of Independence. Howe was one of three brot ...
. In May the East Suffolks marched to Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England and is Grade I listed. It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history. Some sources say it is th ...
to relieve the West Yorkshire Militia, who took over their quarters at Ashford. An eyewitness observed that the East Suffolks marched in with 14 loads of baggage, carried in hired waggons. In August the regiment was inspected at the castle by the Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of York
Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of English (later British) monarchs. The equivalent title in the Scottish peerage was ...
, accompanied by Sir Charles Grey. During the year nearly 300 men drawn from the East Suffolk and Montgomeryshire Militia were employed in constructing the modern defences at Dover Castle. In May 1798 the regiment returned to Ashford Barracks.[
In a fresh attempt to have as many men as possible under arms for home defence in order to release regulars, the Government created the Supplementary Militia in 1796, a compulsory levy of men to be trained in their spare time, and to be incorporated in the Militia in emergency. Suffolk's additional quota was fixed at 1470 men, and these were called out at Ipswich on 31 January 1798, where the West Suffolks were stationed and could carry out their initial training. The supplementary battalion of the East Suffolks then marched to join its regiment at Ashford. The purpose of the call-out was to replace militiamen who had volunteered to transfer to the Regular Army, and to augment the embodied militia for the possibility of serving in Ireland, the East Suffolks' new establishment being 1073 all ranks in 8 companies.][
In the autumn of 1798 the East Suffolks moved to ]Dungeness
Dungeness () is a headland on the coast of Kent, England, formed largely of a shingle beach in the form of a cuspate foreland. It shelters a large area of low-lying land, Romney Marsh. Dungeness spans Dungeness Nuclear Power Station, the hamlet ...
for the winter. The following spring they left Kent and moved to Northern England, marching out on 16 April for their new station at Hull
Hull may refer to:
Structures
* Chassis, of an armored fighting vehicle
* Fuselage, of an aircraft
* Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds
* Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a ship
* Submarine hull
Mathematics
* Affine hull, in affi ...
, the Grenadier Company (which had been detached to Canterbury) rejoining at Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a town in Kent with a population of 29,506 situated south-east of London, England. Also classified as a civil parish, Sevenoaks is served by a commuter main line railway into London. Sevenoaks is from Charing Cross, the traditio ...
during the march. By now the danger of invasion seemed to have passed, and the militia were reduced, the two Suffolk battalions to less than 500 each. When the East Suffolks were inspected at Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popul ...
in September 1800, the regiment mustered 32 officers and 459 ORs, reported as 'a serviceable body of men'. The regiment arrived at Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire ...
on 12 November, when it was sent to the Midlands, marching in two 'divisions' to Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands, England, situated on the River Stour. Historically in Worcestershire, it was the centre of British glass making during the Industrial Revolution. The ...
, Dudley
Dudley is a large market town and administrative centre in the county of West Midlands, England, southeast of Wolverhampton and northwest of Birmingham. Historically an exclave of Worcestershire, the town is the administrative centre of the ...
and adjacent places for the winter. By January 1801 it was at Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton () is a city, metropolitan borough and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. The population size has increased by 5.7%, from around 249,500 in 2011 to 263,700 in 2021. People from the city are called "Wulfrunians ...
. On 2 September that year it was sent back to Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Southend-on-Sea and Colchester. It is located north-east of Londo ...
in Eastern England.[
The French Revolutionary War was drawing to a close, and hostilities ended with the ]Treaty of Amiens
The Treaty of Amiens (french: la paix d'Amiens, ) temporarily ended hostilities between France and the United Kingdom at the end of the War of the Second Coalition. It marked the end of the French Revolutionary Wars; after a short peace it s ...
on 27 March 1802. The East Suffolks were marched to Ipswich on 12 April and two days later warrants were issued to disembody both regiments of Suffolk Militia.[
]
Napoleonic Wars
However, the Peace of Amiens was shortlived and Britain declared war on France once more in 1803 when both Suffolk Militia regiments were re-embodied on 12 May. The East Suffolks at Ipswich had a new establishment of 30 officers, 28 sergeants, 19 drummers and 547 rank and file. It was still under the command of Col Goate, though he was replaced on 26 May 1803 by Charles, Viscount Brome, eldest son of Marquess Cornwallis
Earl Cornwallis was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1753 for Charles Cornwallis, 5th Baron Cornwallis. The second Earl was created Marquess Cornwallis but this title became extinct in 1823, while the earldom and its ...
; he succeeded as the 2nd Marquess two years later.[Webb, pp. 430–4.][''Militia List'', 1805.] Militia duties during the Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fre ...
were much as before: home defence and garrisons, guarding prisoners of war, and increasingly internal security in the industrial areas where there was unrest. Increasingly the regular army regarded the militia as a source of trained men and many militiamen took the proffered bounty and transferred, leaving the militia regiments to replace them through the ballot or 'by beat of drum'.[
The East Suffolks remained at Ipswich until 21 June when it marched to Hull. Now 715 strong in 10 companies, it, was part of the militia brigade garrisoning the port alongside regular artillery. Another duty of the militia here was to prevent smuggling by the local inhabitants. The regiment left Hull on 4 July 1805 when it moved to ]Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (), sometimes known as Berwick-on-Tweed or simply Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, and the northernmost town in England. The 2011 United Kingdom census re ...
and Tweedmouth on the Scottish Border. In November it moved to Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), a ...
for the winter, and subsequently spent two years in Scotland.[
In 1807 the regiment went back to Kent, spending the winter at ]Sheerness
Sheerness () is a town and civil parish beside the mouth of the River Medway on the north-west corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 11,938, it is the second largest town on the island after the nearby tow ...
. It was in Maidstone during 1808 before returning to Sheerness on 15 February 1809. In June it was at Ashford for the summer, then went to Winchelsea
Winchelsea () is a small town in the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex, within the historic county of Sussex, England, located between the High Weald and the Romney Marsh, approximately south west of Rye and north east of Hastings. The ...
in Sussex
Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the Englis ...
on 14 October. From 28 November it was in winter quarters in Berkshire
Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...
at Hungerford
Hungerford is a historic market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, west of Newbury, east of Marlborough, northeast of Salisbury and 60 miles (97 km) west of London. The Kennet and Avon Canal passes through the town alongside the ...
and Speen, Newbury. On 8 April 1810 the regiment moved to Middlesex
Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...
, first at Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in West London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It lies at the confluence of the River Brent and the Thames, west of Charing Cross.
Its economy has diverse company headquarters buildings whi ...
, then on 14 May to Acton Acton may refer to:
Places Antarctica
* Mount Acton
Australia
* Acton, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra
* Acton, Tasmania, a suburb of Burnie
* Acton Park, Tasmania, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, formerly known as Acton
Canada ...
, Ealing
Ealing () is a district in West London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. Ealing is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan.
Ealing was histor ...
and Hanwell
Hanwell () is a town in the London Borough of Ealing, in the historic County of Middlesex, England. It is about 1.5 miles west of Ealing Broadway and had a population of 28,768 as of 2011. It is the westernmost location of the London post t ...
; in June it sent a detachment to do duty at the Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...
. In August 1810 the East Suffolks moved to Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
in Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
, in which area they would spend the new few years. In October 1811 they were t Porchester, and spent 1812–13 at Gosport
Gosport ( ) is a town and non-metropolitan borough on the south coast of Hampshire, South East England. At the 2011 Census, its population was 82,662. Gosport is situated on a peninsula on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour, opposite t ...
.[
]
France and Ireland
During the period 1803–1813 the regiment supplied 1119 volunteers to regiments of the line (from its established strength of 521 men), mainly to the 43rd Light Infantry. In addition, from November 1813 the militia were invited to volunteer for limited overseas service, primarily for garrison duties in Europe. From the East Suffolks 2 officers and 83 ORs volunteered, serving in the 2nd Provisional Battalion under Lt-Col Edward Bayley of the Royal West Middlesex Militia
The Royal West Middlesex Militia, later the Edmonton Royal Rifle Regiment, was an auxiliary regiment reorganised in Middlesex in the Home counties of England during the 18th Century from earlier precursor units. It later became part of the King' ...
. The 2nd Provisional Bn assembled at Chelmsford and marched to Portsmouth where the Militia Brigade was assembling, arriving on 5 March. The brigade embarked on 10–11 March 1814 and joined the Earl of Dalhousie
Earl of Dalhousie, in the County of Midlothian, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, held by the Chief of Clan Ramsay.
History
The family descends from Sir George Ramsay, who represented Kincardineshire in the Scottish Parliament in 1617. ...
's division that had occupied Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
just as the war was ending. The brigade did not form part of the Army of Occupation after the abdication of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
and returned to England in June.[
Meanwhile, the rest of the East Suffolks went to Ireland in February 1814, and were still serving there while the short ]Waterloo campaign
The Waterloo campaign (15 June – 8 July 1815) was fought between the French Army of the North (France), Army of the North and two Seventh Coalition armies, an Anglo-allied army and a Prussian army. Initially the French army was commanded by ...
was fought in 1815. Indeed, even after the battle, on 16 August and 25 November two strong drafts of recruits were sent from Ipswich to Liverpool to be sent to reinforce the regiment in Ireland. The East Suffolks finally returned to Ipswich in January 1816 to be disembodied the following month.[
]
Long Peace
After Waterloo there was another long peace. Although officers continued to be commissioned into the militia and ballots were still held, the regiments were rarely assembled for training and the permanent staffs of sergeants and drummers were progressively reduced.[Hay, p. 154.][Webb, pp. 434–5.]
After the death of Marquess Cornwallis in 1823, Henry, Earl of Euston (later 5th Duke of Grafton), a half-pay Lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
in the 7th Hussars, was appointed colonel of the regiment on 23 September 1823.[''London Gazette'', 13 December 1823.]
/ref> On 24 May 1830 he transferred to the vacant colonelcy of the West Suffolk Militia and was succeeded in command of the East Suffolks by John Rous, 2nd Earl of Stradbroke
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second ...
, who had served in the Coldstream Guards
The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonia ...
during the Peninsular War
The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spain ...
and at the Battle of Quatre Bras
The Battle of Quatre Bras was fought on 16 June 1815, as a preliminary engagement to the decisive Battle of Waterloo that occurred two days later. The battle took place near the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras and was contested between ele ...
.[''London Gazette'', 8 June 1830.]
/ref>
The East Suffolks became a Light Infantry regiment in 1831.[Frederick, p. 980.][Webb, pp. 434–5.]
Henry Bence Bence of Thorington Hall was promoted to colonel of the East Suffolk LI on 3 May 1844. He had served in the 16th Light Dragoons
The 16th The Queen's Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1759. It saw service for two centuries, before being amalgamated with the 5th Royal Irish Lancers to form the 16th/5th Lancers in 1922.
History
Early war ...
during the Peninsular War, being wounded at the Battle of Talavera
The Battle of Talavera (27–28 July 1809) was fought just outside the town of Talavera de la Reina, Spain some southwest of Madrid, during the Peninsular War. At Talavera, a British army under Sir Arthur Wellesley combined with a Spanish ar ...
, and had joined the East Suffolks as a major at the same time that the Earl of Euston became colonel, being promoted to lt-col on 24 May 1837.[ His second-in-command, also appointed on 3 May 1844, was Lt-Col Charles Blois of ]Cockfield Hall
Cockfield Hall in Yoxford in Suffolk, England is a Grade I listed private house standing in of historic parkland, partly dating from the 16th century. Cockfield Hall takes its name from the Cokefeud Family, established there at the beginning ...
, who had served in the Royal Dragoons
The Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) was a heavy cavalry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1661 as the Tangier Horse. It served for three centuries and was in action during the First and the Second World Wars. It was amalgam ...
and been wounded at Waterloo.[
]
Suffolk Artillery Militia
The Militia of the United Kingdom was revived by the Militia Act 1852, enacted during a renewed period of international tension. As before, units were raised and administered on a county basis, and filled by voluntary enlistment (although conscription by means of the Militia Ballot might be used if the counties failed to meet their quotas). Training was for 56 days on enlistment, then for 21–28 days per year, during which the men received full army pay. Under the Act, Militia units could be embodied by Royal Proclamation for full-time home defence service in three circumstances:[Dunlop, pp. 42–5.][Litchfield, pp. 1–7.][Webb, pp. 435–6.]
* 1. 'Whenever a state of war exists between Her Majesty and any foreign power'.
* 2. 'In all cases of invasion or upon imminent danger thereof'.
* 3. 'In all cases of rebellion or insurrection'.
The 1852 Act introduced Artillery Militia units in addition to the traditional infantry regiments. Their role was to man coastal defences and fortifications, relieving the Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
(RA) for active service.[ In 1853 the East Suffolk Light Infantry was converted into the ]Suffolk Artillery Militia
The East Suffolk Militia'' was an auxiliary military unit in the English county of Suffolk in East Anglia. First organised as one of two regiments in the county during the Seven Years' War it served on internal security and home defence duties i ...
with five batteries based at Ipswich. While Henry Bence Bence remained Colonel of the Regiment
Colonel (Col) is a rank of the British Army and Royal Marines, ranking below brigadier, and above lieutenant colonel. British colonels are not usually field commanders; typically they serve as staff officers between field commands at battalion ...
, Robert Shafto Adair, MP, (who later became Lord Waveney) was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant.[ In 1854 the new unit was painted by John Duvall undergoing training with heavy field guns on Landguard Common, and drilling in ]Landguard Fort
Landguard Fort is a fort at the mouth of the River Orwell outside Felixstowe, Suffolk, designed to guard the mouth of the river. It is now managed by the charity English Heritage and is open to the public.
History
Originally known as Lange ...
.[ The corps was provided with a purpose-built barracks on the north side of Ipswich, opened in 1855.]['New Artillery Militia Barracks', ''Illustrated London News'', 17 February 1855.]
/ref>
Crimean War and Indian Mutiny
War having broken out with Russia in 1854 and an expeditionary force sent to the Crimea
Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a pop ...
, the militia began to be called out for home defence. The Suffolk Artillery Militia was embodied at Ipswich early in 1855, and detachments were stationed at Landguard Fort, Tilbury Fort, and at Hull, later concentrated at Landguard. The unit volunteered for overseas service in the Mediterranean, but this offer was not taken up. It was disembodied in July 1856[
It was also embodied on 12 April 1859 during the absence of much of the regular army fighting in the ]Indian Mutiny
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the fo ...
. This time it served in the defences of Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
until November 1860.[
]
Cardwell Reforms
Following the Cardwell Reforms
The Cardwell Reforms were a series of reforms of the British Army undertaken by Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell between 1868 and 1874 with the support of Liberal prime minister William Ewart Gladstone. Gladstone paid little attention ...
a mobilisation scheme began to appear in the ''Army List'' from December 1875. This assigned places in an order of battle of the 'Garrison Army' to Militia Artillery units: the Suffolk Artillery's war station was in the Harwich Defences, including Landguard Fort
Landguard Fort is a fort at the mouth of the River Orwell outside Felixstowe, Suffolk, designed to guard the mouth of the river. It is now managed by the charity English Heritage and is open to the public.
History
Originally known as Lange ...
, the Circular Redoubt, Angel Gate Battery, Shotley
Shotley is a village and civil parish south-east of Ipswich in the English county of Suffolk. It is in the Babergh District, Babergh district and gives its name to the Shotley peninsula between the Rivers River Stour, Suffolk, Stour and River ...
Battery, and adjacent towers.[''Monthly Army List'', various dates.]
The Artillery Militia was reorganised into 11 divisions of garrison artillery in 1882, and the Suffolk unit became the 3rd Brigade, Eastern Division, RA. from 1 April 1882. This was changed to The Suffolk Artillery, Eastern Division, RA, on 1 July 1889.[
]
Second Boer War
After the disasters of Black Week
Black Week refers to the week of 10–17 December 1899 during the Second Boer War, when the British Army suffered three devastating defeats by the Boer Republics at the battles of Stormberg, Magersfontein and Colenso. In total, 2,776 British ...
at the start of the Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...
in December 1899, most of the regular army was sent to South Africa, and many militia units were embodied to replace them for home defence and to garrison certain overseas stations. The Suffolk Artillery was embodied from 1 May to 6 November 1900.[
In the postwar reorganisation of the Royal Artillery, the divisions were scrapped and the Suffolk Artillery became the Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia) in 1902.][
]
Special Reserve and disbandment
Under the more sweeping 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. They were the first major reforms since the " Childers Reforms" of the ...
of 1908, the Militia was replaced by the Special Reserve
The Special Reserve was established on 1 April 1908 with the function of maintaining a reservoir of manpower for the British Army and training replacement drafts in times of war. Its formation was part of the Haldane Reforms, military reforms im ...
(SR), a semi-professional force whose role was to provide reinforcement drafts for regular units serving overseas in wartime.
The Suffolk RGA (M) converted into the Suffolk Royal Field Reserve Artillery on 24 May 1908, but after a change in policy it was disbanded on 15 October 1909.[
]
Heritage & Ceremonial
Uniforms & Insignia
In 1762 both battalions of the Suffolk Militia wore red facings
A facing colour is a common tailoring technique for European military uniforms where the visible inside lining of a standard military jacket, coat or tunic is of a different colour to that of the garment itself.René Chartrand, William Younghusba ...
on their red coats and the East Suffolks were recorded at Warley Camp in 1778 as still wearing red.[ But by 1780 both regiments wore yellow facings, and continued with these through the Napoleonic Wars.][ By 1850 the East Suffolk LI had changed to white facings.][
The East Sussex LI wore buttons with the numeral '34' within the strings of a light infantry bugle-horn.][
When the unit became artillery militia in 1853 it adopted a similar uniform to the Regular RA, in blue with red facings and trouser stripe, but with silver/white lace and piping instead of gold/yellow. The officers' waistbelt clasp in about 1880 was gilt, with the intertwined letters 'SA' in silver. From 1882 the officers wore the standard Eastern Division RA helmet plate, but in 1889 the words 'EASTERN DIVISION' on the lower scroll were replaced with "SUFFOLK ARTILLERY'.][ The officers' pouch flaps and ]sabretache
A sabretache (derived from german: Säbeltasche) is a flat bag or pouch, which was worn suspended from the belt of a cavalry soldier together with the sabre.
Origins
The sabretache is derived from a traditional Hungarian horseman's flat leather ...
s were embroidered with the Sea Holly (''Eryngium maritimum
''Eryngium maritimum'', the sea holly or sea eryngo, or sea eryngium, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae and native to most European coastlines. It resembles a plume thistle in appearance on account of its burr-shap ...
'') found growing on Landguard Common.
Precedence
In the Seven Years War militia regiments camped together took precedence according to the order in which they had arrived. During the War of American Independence the counties were given an order of precedence determined by ballot each year. For the Suffolk Militia the positions were:[Baldry.]
/ref>
* 39th on 1 June 1778
* 36th on12 May 1779
* 42nd on 6 May 1780
* 31st on 28 April 1781
* 26t on 7 May 1782
The militia order of precedence balloted for in 1793 (Suffolk was 19th) remained in force throughout the French Revolutionary War: this covered all the regiments in the county. Another ballot for precedence took place at the start of the Napoleonic War, when Suffolk was 59th.This order continued until 1833. In that year the King drew the lots for individual regiments and the resulting list remained in force with minor amendments until the end of the militia. The regiments raised before the peace of 1763 took the first 47 places: the East Suffolk LI was 34th. Formally, it became the '34th, or East Suffolk Light Infantry Militia'; most regiments paid little notice to the additional number, the East Suffolks included it in their insignia. When the Militia Artillery was formed its regiments took precedence alphabetically, Suffolk being 25th.
/ref>
Colonels
The following served as Colonel of the East Suffolk Militia:
* Col Francis Vernon, 1st Earl of Shipbrook, from 27 April 1759[
* Col ]William Wollaston
William Wollaston (; 26 March 165929 October 1724) was a school teacher, Church of England priest, scholar of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, theologian, and a major Enlightenment era English philosopher. He is remembered today for one book, which he ...
, until 1780[
* Col Gibb, promoted 1780][
* Col Edward Goate, until 1803][
* Col ]Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis (19 October 1774 – 9 August 1823), styled Viscount Brome until 1805, was a British Tory politician. He served as Master of the Buckhounds between 1807 and 1823.
Background
Cornwallis was the only so ...
, appointed 26 May 1803[ died 9 August 1823
* Col Henry, Earl of Euston (later 5th Duke of Grafton), appointed 23 September 1823;][ transferred to West Suffolk Militia 24 May 1830][
* Col ]John Rous, 2nd Earl of Stradbroke
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second ...
, appointed 24 May 1830[
* Col Henry Bence Bence, promoted 3 May 1844 ][
After 1852 regimental colonels were abolished in the militia and replaced by Honorary Colonels:
* Col ]Robert Adair, 1st Baron Waveney
Robert Alexander Shafto Adair, 1st Baron Waveney (25 August 1811 – 15 February 1886) was a British Liberal Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cambridge for 8 of the years from 1847 to 1857.
Life
Born in Ballymena, ...
(first CO of Suffolk Artillery Militia), appointed 19 November 1881[
* ]Frederick Thellusson, 5th Baron Rendlesham
Frederick William Brook Thellusson, 5th Baron Rendlesham (9 February 1840 – 9 November 1911), was a British Conservative politician.
He was born in Florence, Italy, to Frederick Thellusson, 4th Baron Rendlesham, and his wife Elizabeth Charlot ...
, appointed 12 February 1887[
]
See also
* Militia (Great Britain)
The Militia of Great Britain were the principal military reserve forces of the Kingdom of Great Britain during the 18th century.
For the period following the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801, see Militia (United ...
* Militia (United Kingdom)
The Militia of the United Kingdom were the military reserve forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Union in 1801 of the former Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland. The militia was transformed into the Specia ...
* Special Reserve
The Special Reserve was established on 1 April 1908 with the function of maintaining a reservoir of manpower for the British Army and training replacement drafts in times of war. Its formation was part of the Haldane Reforms, military reforms im ...
* Suffolk Militia
* West Suffolk Militia
Footnotes
Notes
Bibliography
W.Y. Baldry, 'Order of Precedence of Militia Regiments', ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', Vol 15, No 57 (Spring 1936), pp. 5–16.
* Ian F.W. Beckett, ''The Amateur Military Tradition 1558–1945'', Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1991, ISBN 0-7190-2912-0/Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2011, ISBN 8799978-1-84884395–0.
W.Y. Carman, 'Militia Uniforms 1780', ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', Vol 36, No 147 (September 1958), pp. 108–9.
W.Y. Carman, 'Philip J. de Loutherbourg and the Camp at Warley, 1778'. ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', Vol 71, No 288 (Winter 1993), pp. 276–7.
* Sir John Fortescue John Fortescue may refer to:
* Sir John Fortescue (judge) (c. 1394–1479), English lawyer and judge, MP for Tavistock, Totnes, Plympton Erle and Wiltshire
* Sir John Fortescue of Salden (1531/1533–1607), third Chancellor of the Exchequer of Engl ...
, ''A History of the British Army'', Vol I, 2nd Edn, London: Macmillan, 1910.
* Sir John Fortescue, ''A History of the British Army'', Vol II, London: Macmillan, 1899.
* Sir John Fortescue, ''A History of the British Army'', Vol III, 2nd Edn, London: Macmillan, 1911.
* J.B.M. Frederick, ''Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978'', Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
* Lt-Col H.G. Hart, ''The New Annual Army List, and Militia List'' (various dates from 1840).
Col George Jackson Hay, ''An Epitomized History of the Militia (The Constitutional Force)'', London:United Service Gazette, 1905.
Brig Charles Herbert, 'Coxheath Camp, 1778–1779', ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', Vol 45, No 183 (Autumn 1967), pp. 129–48.
* Richard Holmes, ''Soldiers: Army Lives and Loyalties from Redcoats to Dusty Warriors'', London: HarperPress, 2011, ISBN 978-0-00-722570-5.
* Frank Hussey, ''Suffolk Invasion: The Dutch Attack on Landguard Fort, 1667'', Lavenham: Terence Dalton, 1983; Landguard Fort Trust reprint 2005, ISBN 0-86138-027-4.
Jeremy Ive, 'The Local Dimensions of Defence: the Standing Army and Militia in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, 1649–1660', Cambridge University PhD Thesis, 1987.
* Roger Knight, ''Britain Against Napoleon: The Organization of Victory 1793–1815'', London: Allen Lane, 2013/Penguin, 2014, ISBN 978-0-141-03894-0.
* Norman E.H. Litchfield, ''The Militia Artillery 1852–1909 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges)'', Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1987, .
* Col K. W. Maurice-Jones, ''The History of Coast Artillery in the British Army'', London: Royal Artillery Institution, 1959/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2005, ISBN 978-1-845740-31-3.
* ''Militia List'', House of Commons Paper, 18 July 1839.
H. Moyse-Bartlett, 'Dover at War', ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', 1972, Vol 50, No 203 (Autumn 1972), pp. 131–54.
* Col R.W.S. Norfolk, ''Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteer Forces of the East Riding 1689–1908'', York: East Yorkshire Local History Society, 1965.
* Sir Charles Oman
Sir Charles William Chadwick Oman, (12 January 1860 – 23 June 1946) was a British Military history, military historian. His reconstructions of medieval battles from the fragmentary and distorted accounts left by chroniclers were pioneering. ...
,'' A History of the Peninsular War''
Vol VII, ''August 1813 to April 14, 1814''
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1930/London: Greenhill Books, 1997, ISBN 1-85367-227-0.
H.G. Parkyn, 'English Militia Regiments 1757–1935: Their Badges and Buttons', ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', Vol 15, No 60 (Winter 1936), pp. 216–248.
* Capt B.E. Sargeaunt, ''The Royal Monmouthshire Militia'', London: RUSI, 1910/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, nd, ISBN 978-1-78331204-7.
* Arthur Sleigh, ''The Royal Militia and Yeomanry Cavalry Army List'', April 1850, London: British Army Despatch Press, 1850/Uckfield: Naval and Military Press, 1991, ISBN 978-1-84342-410-9.
Percy Sumner, 'Militia Facings 1762', ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', Vol 27, No 110 (Summer 1949), p. 88.
* War Office, ''A List of the Officers of the Militia, the Gentlemen & Yeomanry Cavalry, and Volunteer Infantry of the United Kingdom'', 11th Edn, London: War Office, 14 October 1805/Uckfield: Naval and Military Press, 2005, ISBN 978-1-84574-207-2.
* Lt-Col E.A.H. Webb, ''History of the 12th (The Suffolk) Regiment 1685–1913'', London: Spottiswoode, 1914/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2001, ISBN 978-1-84342-116-0.
J.R. Western, 'The County Fencibles and Militia Augmentation of 1794', ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', March 1956, Vol 34, pp. 3–11.
* J.R. Western, ''The English Militia in the Eighteenth Century: The Story of a Political Issue 1660–1802'', London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1965.
External sources
{{British Militia Regiments
Suffolk Militia
Suffolk
Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include Lowes ...
Military units and formations in Suffolk
Military units and formations in Ipswich
Military units and formations established in 1759
Military units and formations disestablished in 1909