"British Fencible Cavalry" Topic
6 Posts
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Jemima Fawr | 16 Sep 2015 1:15 p.m. PST |
The Kent Archaeological Society has posted up a very interesting little history on the New Romney Fencible Dragoons (originally published in 1949), which answers a few questions that have previously been asked on TMP regarding Fencible Cavalry uniforms, size of units, organisation and terms of service: PDF link Strangely however, the document makes no mention of the regiment's involvement in the Fishguard emergency of 1797. The regiment didn't arrive in time to see active service, though it did respond extremely swiftly and made a very creditable forced march from its billets in Worcester and Gloucester, reaching west Wales in two days, where it took charge of the French prisoners. |
Green Tiger | 17 Sep 2015 4:12 a.m. PST |
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Gratian | 17 Sep 2015 10:54 a.m. PST |
Is it true to say that active duty for fencible cavalry was mostly as riot police / counter insurgency? |
Jemima Fawr | 17 Sep 2015 11:16 a.m. PST |
Yes, they were essentially a full-time Yeomanry corps, though unlike the Yeomanry, they could also be called upon to serve in Ireland. The Yeomanry, although being ostensibly a part-time home guard organisation, could also occasionally be called up for periods of several months and sent to the other end of the country for internal security duties, but the Fencible Cavalry were generally the main 'peacekeeping' force. There was also a short-lived organisation called the 'Provisional Cavalry', who were the cavalry equivalent of the Militia. Like the Militia, these were formed from men conscripted by ballot. However, they were a short-lived experiment (1796-1802 or thereabouts?) and a lot of the Provisional Cavalry regiments were converted to Fencibles. |
Green Tiger | 25 Sep 2015 3:39 p.m. PST |
They frequently volunteered for active service but it was sensibly thought that regulars would be better suited. |
Jemima Fawr | 25 Sep 2015 10:00 p.m. PST |
Indeed. Like the Militia, they also provided a useful service in feeding the regular cavalry regiments with a better class of recruit. |
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