Cambridgeshire Militia
Active	1759–1881
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain (1759–1800)  United Kingdom (1801–1881)
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Garrison/HQ	Ely, Nottingham (1814), Ely
Commanders
Current commander	n/a

The Cambridgeshire Militia was a militia regiment in Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, United Kingdom from 1759 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The Suffolk Regiment.

History

The Cambridgeshire Militia was formed under the Militia Act of 1757, replacing earlier less formal arrangements. From this date, better records were kept, and the men were selected by ballot to serve for longer periods. Proper uniforms and better weapons were provided, and the force was 'embodied' from time to time for training sessions. The regiment was raised in 1759.

Members were called up for training as shown in a newspaper announcement.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE. MILITIA. a General Meeting of Majesty's Lieutenancy for the County of Cambridge, held this Day at the Rose Tavern in Cambridge, It was Ordered, that the Militia Forces raised in and for the said County, to assemble and meet together at the said Cambridge, on Friday the 22d of Day May instant, to be there trained and exercised for the space of twenty-eight Days together ; of which all Persons serving in the said Militia are hereby required to take Notice and attend accordingly. Dated this Eleventh Day of May, 1767.

^[1]

It was embodied in 1778, at which time it was ranked the 31st regiment of militia, and remained active for five years. The militia were reviewed in May, 1778 by Lieut-General Sir Richard Pierson, K.B. previous to their march into Essex, where they will be encamped.^[2]

The militia also provided opportunities for socialising.

Monday 18th January being her Majesty's birthday, the Cambridgeshire militia quartered here in Ipswich fired a feu de joye and 3 vollies. There was also a grand dinner at Bamford's in honour of the day, at which were present a number of ladies and gentlemen, and in the evening there was a ball.

A man in the Cambridgeshire militia having been detected in stealing goods from Mr. Layman of this town, after receiving 150 lashes on Tuesday last, was drummed out of the regiment.

^[3]

It was regularly re-ranked through its embodiment, becoming the 27th in 1779, 44th in 1780, 34th in 1781, and 25th in 1782.

On 21 April 1788 George Manby obtained a commission as a Lieutenant in this militia, where he gained the rank of captain.^[4]

Those failing to appear at the annual muster were treated as deserters, lists of those not attending were published. On this occasion nearly 100 were named.

REGIMENT of CAMBRIDGESHIRE MILITIA. WHEREAS the following Private Militia Men belonging to the above named Regiment did not join the Regiment at annual exercise for the year 1789, pursuant to the act of parliament in that case made.

^[5]

CAMBRIDGESHIRE MILITIA. NOTICE is hereby given, THAT the Battalion of CAMBRIDGESHIRE MILITIA is to assemble at ELY, on TUESDAY the Eighth Day of May next, there to be trained and exercised for Twenty - eight Days from that Time. HARDWICKE. April 14th, 1792. The Act directs, that every Militia Man or Substitute, as well those who exercised last Year, as those who were dismissed, who shall not appear at the Time and Place appointed, shall be deemed a Deserter, and shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Twenty Pounds, or, in Default of Payment, shall be committed to Prison for Six Months, or until he shall have paid the said Penalty.

^[6]

Revolutionary Wars

It was embodied again in 1793 for the French Revolutionary Wars, ranked as the 11th, and disembodied in 1802, having seen garrison service in Ireland.

The Cambridgeshire Militia were under orders to march from Ipswich for their own county in November 1801.^[7]

Napoleonic Wars

With the resumption of hostilities in 1803, it was embodied as the 24th, and disembodied in 1816 following the peace at the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

None attendance at annual musters remained an issue in 1803.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE MILITIA. WHEREAS several of the men who were sworn and inrolled to serve in the said militia have neglected to APPEAR at ELY, on Friday the 25th instant (the day on which the said Militia was embodied): This is therefore to give Notice, That unless they immediately join the said Militia, they will be proceeded against as Deserters. By Order the Lieutenancy, JOHN INGLE, Clerk to the General Meetings. CAMBRIDGE, March 30th, 1803.

^[8]

Even those who attended muster might desert.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE MILITIA. DESERTED, May 2d 1803, WILLIAM BROWN, Substitute for Howard Dalby, for the Parish of Whittlesey. He is 26 years age, 5 feet 8 1/2 inches high', dark brown hair, grey eyes, (full eyed) rather pale complexion, born at Downham, Cambridgeshire and by calling a labourer. The above Deserter served last War in the Chatham Division of Marines was some time on Board, the Zealous Man of War, 74 guns, and lately worked with a Gang of Navigators. N. B. Deserted in his Regimentals. Whoever will apprehend the above Deserter, shall receive ONE GUINEA Reward, from Lieutenant-Colonel Yorke, (Commanding the above-named Regiment) over and above the usual allowance for apprehending Deserters.

^[9]

A reward of 20 shillings each was offered for the three deserters from the Cambridgeshire Old Militia at Ipswich barracks and five from the Cambridgeshire Supplementary Militia at Ely in July 1803. ^[10] In August the papers listed ten deserters.^[11]

On Friday 26 July 1803 the barracks of the garrison at Landguard Fort took fire, assisted by the Cambridgeshire Militia encamped nearby, it was extinguished in a very short time, without doing any material damage. Adjoining to the barracks was the magazine containing 300 barrels of powder, cartridges, and various kinds of combustible materials.^[12]

In September 1803 the Cambridgeshire Militia were ordered to march from Landguard Fort, and to encamp immediately with the Lancashire, at Danbury, in Essex.^[13] On their arrival then encamped on Danbury Common between the 1st and 2nd regiments Royal Lancashire militia whilst awaiting the completion of the barracks.^[14] In late November 1805 the regiment passed through Maidstone.^[15] In November 1805 the regiment moved into the barracks at Brabourne Lees, Kent.^[16]

The Cambridgeshire Regiment of Militia, numbering 472 in 8 companies under the command of Lt-Col Rt Hon Charles Yorke were in Lympne Camp in 1806.^[17]

Yarmouth 10 September, On Monday afternoon, about two o'clock, the City of Norwich Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Harvey, arrived here to do permanent duty for days. They mustered 26 officers, 30 serjeants, 25 corporals, and 500 rank and file, and marched into the town good order and with a firmness of step which was not expected after so long a march. The regiment has been ordered to take all the guards here, which employs 3 officers, 8 Sergeants, 8 corporals, and 100 privates every day. Col. Yorke and the officers of the Cambridgeshire Militia paid the Norwich Regiment the compliment of immediately inviting the Field Officers and Captains to dine with them the day after their arrival.^[18] YARMOUTH, 24 December 1807. Some French prisoners have been landed here from the Alacrity sloop of war, and were escorted to prison by a party of the Cambridgeshire militia.^[19]

In January 1808 the crews of two French luggers were landed at Hull by HMS Ariadne and escorted to prison by a detachment of the Cambridgeshire Militia. ^[20] In 1808 the regiment was based in Yarmouth, the Barrack master was Captain George Manby formerly an officer in Cambs Militia.

In the month of March last, Capt G. W. Manby, barrack master, of Yarmouth, in consequence of information he had received that a number of forged notes were in circulation in that town, and that the suspicion of uttering them had attached to; persons belonging to the Cambridgeshire militia who were quartered there, made an immediate application to the commanding officer of the regiment on the subject, by whose order a general muster was made of the different companies, including the cooks and the baggage as well as the persons. of the men, underwent a strict search by the officers of companies in the respective mess rooms. In the course of which the prisoner Hardy was observed by a sentry to the room where he was, and give a handkerchief tied in the shape of a handle to a woman, who went out with it. This the sentry reported to his officer, by whose order the woman delivered up a handkerchief bundle, which she swore in court to be the same that Hardy had given her to take care of; but she had not opened it, nor knew at the time what was in it. The handkerchief, however, was found to contain two £1 notes, purporting to be of the Bank of England, but proved on the oath of one of the Bank Inspectors of Notes to be both forged. Hardy in his defence said he had taken them of some smugglers, not knowing but that they were good notes. Hardy was sentenced to 14 years transportation. ^[21]

In August 1808 the Cambridgeshire militia commanded by Colonel Yorke were reported to have volunteered to serve in Spain or other parts of Europe.^[22][23]

In May 1809 the regiment moved from Yarmouth to Chelmsford.^[24]

The Militia acted as recruiting teams both for themselves and regular units.

The recruiting parties the Cambridgeshire militia have been very successful of late; 26 recruits marched on the 2d instant, for Peebles, the headquarters of the regiment, 16 on the 12th instant, and at this time there are 18 in the county, making in all 60; 30 of which have been enlisted since the 25th March. The annual quota of volunteers from the Cambridgeshire militia were attested at Peebles on the 2d Instant for the following regiments, viz. Third Foot Guards 9, 23rd Regiment of Foot, or Royal Welch Fusiliers 58, 103rd Regiment Foot, 2;— total 69. The whole were attested for limited service, except 13 of the Royal Welch Fusileers, who preferred unlimited service. The Cambridgeshire militia have received its route march in three divisions, the 22d, 23d and 26th this month, from Peebles Port Patrick, there to embark for Ireland.

^[25]

In May 1813 The Cambridgeshire regiment of militia landed at Donaghadee, Ireland on the 4th, 5th, and 6th inst and marched to Belfast, their present headquarters from whence two companies were detached to Antrim, two to Downpatrick, and two to Carrickfergus.^[26]

Upwards of 400 of the Cambridgeshire Militia now stationed at Lifford, Derry county, Ireland, have volunteered for extending their services to Government on the present emergency, and with them 4 captains and 8 subaltern officers. This regiment has ever been one of the foremost in supplying their quota on former occasions of volunteering.^[27]

January 1816 the Cambridgeshire regiment militia has this week marched into Ely, for the purpose of being disembodied.^[28]

Littleport Riots

Within months of this occurring riots took place.

Our alarm has considerably subsided, from intelligence just brought in from Ely, stating, that the main body of the insurgents were attacked on Friday morning (after the Riot Act had been read without effect), and completely touted. Sir Henry 15. Dudley and the Rev. 11. Law. two Magistrates of the isle, "arriving with Captain Wortham's Troop of Yeomanry early on Friday morning, and learning that the rioters had determined to set fire to Littleport that night, and the town Ely on the night following, called out the small detachment of the Ist Dragoons consisting of 18 men, commanded by Capt. Methuen, and sending 24 of the disbanded Militia, who were armed from the country depot by Lieut. Woolert, pushed on to Littleport, where, taking the insurgents by surprise, their defeat was speedy and complete. The savage rioters soon began to fire upon the Magistrates and the troops, from barricaded houses near the river, when the latter were ordered to fire into them. The conflict, though short, was sharp. The insurgents soon began to fly from every part of the town over the Fens, and were pursued in every direction : only two of the rioters were killed (one of them a Chief), and a few wounded - 104 were taken prisoners, and more are hourly bringing ; fortunately the soldiers had only two or three slightly wounded.^[29]

Dubbed the Ely and Littleport riots 1816 a number of those involved were later hanged.

In 1833, it was ranked as the 68th.

Militia Review.— The 68th Cambs. Regiment of Militia were inspected by Col. Knox, of the Coldstream Guards, on Monday (yesterday), and were highly complimented for the efficiency they had attained in their drill. The weather was very uupropitious, rain descending during the whole of the inspection.^[30]

Crimean War

It saw service during the Crimean War, being embodied in 1854. In September, 1854 Elizabeth Yorke, Countess of Hardwicke presented colours to the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely militia.^[31] It was disembodied in 1856.

Recruits to the militia were not always held in the highest regard.

The Pensioners — The veteran pensioners resident in this district have commenced their annual musket exercise, on Parker's Piece, under the command of Lieutenant Webster.

The Militia.—It has often been observed that the best soldiers are moulded from the roughest materials; assuming this the case, our Cambridgeshire Militia will do honor to the country. On Wednesday last, several hundreds of embryo heroes underwent the necessary examination at the Town Hall, the place being thronged with them throughout the day, and the effluvium left by them still hangs round the ancient edifice, and well might we exclaim

You may mop, you may deluge, the Hall if you will,

but the scent of Militia boys will stick to it still.

On seeing the crowd, and scanning their qualifications, we were forcibly reminded of Falstaff and the Justices, in Henry IV., when the men of Sir John were being examined; for surely, on Wednsday, there were the Mouldys, the Shadows, the Warts, the Feebles, and the Bullcalfs, multiplied by twenties; and if the Colonel of the Cambridgeshire Militia were present, he might have exclaimed with Falstaff 'Care I for the limb, the stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man! Give the spirit; master Shallow.—Here's a Wart; you sec what ragged appearanco it is: he shall charge you, and discharge you, with the motion of a pewterer's hammer ; come off, and on; and swifter than he that gibbets on the brewer's bucket. And this same half-faced fellow. Shadow, — give me the man; he presents no mark to the enemy; the foeman may with as great aim level at the edge a penknife; and, for a retreat, how swiftly will this Feeble, the woman's tailor, run off! Oh, give me the spare men — and spare the great ones'.

Unfortunately, two of the militia men are now in prison for delinquencies, and their time with Mr. Edia does not expire till after the time fixed for the exercises to come off at Ely has expired. "We hope, that this will not be looked upon as a national calamity however, they will both be prepared to do their duty with their brave companions in arms, at the promised invasion.

^[32]

The Cambridgeshire, or 68th regiment of militia, was embodied on 22 August 1854 in preparation for duty in Ireland.^[33] The PRESENTATION OF COLOURS TO THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE MILITIA by Countess Hardwicke took place at Ely Cathedral in September 1854, before the regiment moved to Ireland.^[34]

Cambridgeshire Militia.— The red-coats are again scattered about the city ; and we are informed that about 100 recruits have been added to this regiment, and they expect an order daily for Dublin. Report states that about the same number of this corps, now doing garrison duty at the Royal Barracks, Dublin, have volunteered into regiments of the line about to embark for the Crimea. All honour and success to the 68th Cambridgeshire Militia.— Cambridge Chronicle.

^[35]

In 1881, under the Childers Reforms, the regiment was transferred into The Suffolk Regiment as the 4th Battalion.^[36] The Haldane Reforms in 1908 converted the former Militia battalions into the Special Reserve, one per regiment. A number of duplicate battalions were disbanded; the Suffolk Regiment had two militia battalions, and so the junior - the 4th - was disbanded.

Commanding Officers

? -1792 Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Watson Ward^[37]

1792- ? Lieutenant-Colonel Hale Wortham^[38]

?-1808 Lieutenant-colonel Lord Viscount Royston 1808 -? Lieutenant-colonel Tanfield Nachell^[39]

?- 1811 Colonel Yorke ;^[40]

1811 - ? Colonel Francis Pemberton (c1778-1849)^[41]

1854 Colonel Duncan^[42]

1867 Colonel the Hon Octavius Duncombe M.P^[43]

1871 Lieutenant-Colonel R.G.Wade of Cambridgeshire Militia made honorary colonel.^[44]

Legacy

Publications

• Beckett, Ian F W (2011). Britain's Part Time Soldiers. The Amateur Military Tradition 1558—1945 (2 ed.). Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 9781848843950.
• Hay, George Jackson (Colonel) (1987) [1908]. An Epitomized History of the Militia (The "Constitutional Force"). Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 0-9508530-7-0.

References