The Jersey Militia 1781-1899
By Major F. A. L. De Gruchy, F.R.S.A.
[Jersey Life, 1966]
DURING THE 1793-1818 wars of the French Revolution and of the Empire the Militia ‘stood to’ throughout, the armed castles and batteries giving the Island a first-class system of all-round defence. Elizabeth Castle had 66 guns and St. Aubin’s fort 14, thus giving a complete system of cross-and-covering fire backed by supports and reserves of infantry and cavalry. In principle the regular troops of the garrison held the castles whilst the ’Militia occupied the 'strong points and bulwarks.
On November 17, 1814, during the interval between the first defeat of Napoleon and his return from Elba and the Hundred Days and Waterloo, Lieut.- General Sir Hillgrove Turner, on inspection, addressed the Militia in an Order of the Day as follows:—
“Considers it a dereliction of his duty, not to express his approbation to the Colonels, Officers, N.C.O’s and men of the several regiments, of their manly and soldier-like appearance, their expertness in the handling of their arms, the facility and precision of their movements and their general efficiency in the defence of the Island.”
“He has the satisfaction to observe that their labours have been highly beneficial and he attributes to them the full value they may justly claim for their services. The Lieut.-General looks to them with reliance for the further continuance of their necessary duties. He desires to call their attention to the fact that this state of efficiency was only brought to its present perfection by a long period of constant military exercise and application. He feels most anxious to impress deeply upon the minds of all Jerseymen that they may suddenly be called upon to defend their wives, children and houses at a moment when, after a period of peace, the enemy might hope to find them unprepared. Whenever a difference may arise between the French and the British an attempt upon the Island will probably be the first act of aggression.”
The truth of this warning was seen the following year when Napoleon returned to his Waterloo.
During the period 1793-1815, as in the Civil War, the sea-role of the Islands was splendid. An historian of the time remarks that, on one occasion, there were more enemy prizes in St. Helier Harbour than ships in St. Malo. Mont Orgueil, under Admiral Philippe d’Auvergne was the Headquarters of the Intelligence service which operated most efficiently between the Island and the France of Napoleon.
By Major F. A. L. De Gruchy, F.R.S.A.
[Jersey Life, 1966]
DURING THE 1793-1818 wars of the French Revolution and of the Empire the Militia ‘stood to’ throughout, the armed castles and batteries giving the Island a first-class system of all-round defence. Elizabeth Castle had 66 guns and St. Aubin’s fort 14, thus giving a complete system of cross-and-covering fire backed by supports and reserves of infantry and cavalry. In principle the regular troops of the garrison held the castles whilst the ’Militia occupied the 'strong points and bulwarks.
On November 17, 1814, during the interval between the first defeat of Napoleon and his return from Elba and the Hundred Days and Waterloo, Lieut.- General Sir Hillgrove Turner, on inspection, addressed the Militia in an Order of the Day as follows:—
“Considers it a dereliction of his duty, not to express his approbation to the Colonels, Officers, N.C.O’s and men of the several regiments, of their manly and soldier-like appearance, their expertness in the handling of their arms, the facility and precision of their movements and their general efficiency in the defence of the Island.”
“He has the satisfaction to observe that their labours have been highly beneficial and he attributes to them the full value they may justly claim for their services. The Lieut.-General looks to them with reliance for the further continuance of their necessary duties. He desires to call their attention to the fact that this state of efficiency was only brought to its present perfection by a long period of constant military exercise and application. He feels most anxious to impress deeply upon the minds of all Jerseymen that they may suddenly be called upon to defend their wives, children and houses at a moment when, after a period of peace, the enemy might hope to find them unprepared. Whenever a difference may arise between the French and the British an attempt upon the Island will probably be the first act of aggression.”
The truth of this warning was seen the following year when Napoleon returned to his Waterloo.
During the period 1793-1815, as in the Civil War, the sea-role of the Islands was splendid. An historian of the time remarks that, on one occasion, there were more enemy prizes in St. Helier Harbour than ships in St. Malo. Mont Orgueil, under Admiral Philippe d’Auvergne was the Headquarters of the Intelligence service which operated most efficiently between the Island and the France of Napoleon.
In 1831 the Jersey Militia became ‘Royal’ on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the defeat of de Rullecourt and ‘Jersey’ was inscribed on the Militia Colours, the first militia to bear such a distinction. In 1832 the Militia put down a riot and in 1844 arsenals were built and the guns which had previously been stored in the churches were henceforth kept at the arsenals.
A further reorganisation took place in 1877 when the Royal Jersey Artillery was formed with four batteries manned by 280 gunners under a Lieut.-Colonel. The three Infantry Regiments each consisted of 500 N.C.O’s and men under a Lieut.-Colonel. The 1st, or West Regiment, included men living in St. Lawrence; the 2nd (East) included the old North Regiment and the old East Regiment and the 3rd (South) included the St. Heller Battalion plus residents in St. Heller who had previously served in the St. Lawrence Battalion. The battle honour ‘Jersey 1781’ was awarded by Queen Victoria to each of the new regiments.
In 1889 the artillery organisation consisted of the four Militia Batteries which together with a regular battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery formed one regiment and covered the Southern defences—Noirmont, St. ‘ Aubin’s Port, Elizabeth Castle and St. Aubin’s Bay. Two mobile forces were raised as field artillery each with four 20-pounder guns; these were formed into two batteries, the West manned by artillerymen of the six Western Parishes and the East by the five Eastern Parishes. Thus, heavy batteries defended the South Coast and field defences, supported by three Militia Regiments to which were attached two field-batteries. The gunboat, based on Gorey, took part in all field-manoeuvres.
In 1871, in view of possible trouble with Napoleon III, the Jersey National Association was founded and similar organisations followed, the aim being to improve Militia shooting. Today these form the Jersey Rifle Club and the Jersey Rifle Association of which the writer was Chairman for some years and is now Patron.
In 1890 the Militia consisted of two field-artillery companies, four garrison- artillery companies and three infantry battalions, West, East and South. Each battalion had six Captains, six Lieutenants and six 2nd Lieutenants plus a permanent staff of Regular Officers and N.C.O’s, consisting of an Adjutant, a Sergeant- Major, a Quartermaster-Sergeant and three Sergeant-Instructors.
The field batteries were each armed with four rifled muzzle-101ding guns firing a nine pound shell. The garrison-batteries probably had 60-pounder guns and rifled muzzle- loaders. The infantry had the Martini rifle. The Militia was a school for the Regular Army and proved, for many, an easier channel of entry than Sandhurst.
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