Introduction
Tracing
the history of these famous Corps is difficult, as early records
are scanty. Of the three Surrey Regiments, the First could trace
its descent from the Fyrd of Saxon times, from the Trained Bands
of the Tudors and the Stuart Militia. The earliest document in
the Public Record Office relating to the Surrey county force is
an incomplete muster roll of 1522 (Henry (VIII). In 1587, the
Surrey Militia was present, with 1,900 all ranks, in the camp
at Tilbury where forces were being assembled to repel a landing
from the Armada. Contingents furnished during Elizabeth I’s
reign served overseas, under the Earl of Essex in the Low Countries
and France, at the relief of Calais, and at the capture of Cadiz
in Spain. Under James I the Trained Bands were first reorganised
as Militia. The establishment of standing forces in peacetime
under the Protectorate resulted in adoption of the standard red
coat in place of the mix of coloured coats, worn at the whim of
colonels: green for example, is mentioned in a record of 1643.
A preserved muster roll of 1697 shows the then Duke of Norfolk
in command with fifteen companies, each of around 150 men, stationed
at Croydon, Reigate, Guildford, Kingston and other Surrey towns.
It was the practice to disembody Militia regiments during periods
of peace, and for nearly a century up to 1757 the regiments in
Surrey were practically untrained and disorganised, until an Act
of Parliament of that year reestablished the force. Responsibility
for raising personnel rested with Lord – Lieutenants, one
of the many causes of the Civil Wars. Uniforms now consisted of
cocked hat, long red coat with skirts hooked back to show white
facings, red waistcoat and breeches with white gaiters. Colours,
when held, consisted of a King’s Colour based on the Union,
and a white Regimental Colour, usually bearing the arms of the
Lord Lieutenant.
The Militia served during the American War on home duties and
was commended thus in the General Officer’s Dispatches for
its part in quelling the Gordon Riots of 1780:
“And
for their deeds and conduct in modern times, our fathers
have told us how during the Gordon Riots, when they, who
should have protected the State and Commonwealth hesitated
and looked coolly on, the Surrey Militia cleared with the
bayonet the City bridges, and rolling back the flood of
anarchy and rebellion, saved the metropolis and Empire from
pillage and fire.” |
Granted the title of ‘Royal’ in 1804, the Militia
served for several years in Ireland until 1811 and performed a
variety of duties during the Napoleonic Wars.
In 1815 large numbers of Surrey Militia recruits fought with Regiments
at Waterloo, clothed in the uniform of their own Corps, which
included sugar-loaf hats, red jackets, white breeches and black
gaiters.
The advent of Napoleon III brought a massive increase in strength
and the 3rd Royal Surrey Militia was raised at Kingston-upon-Thames
in 1853. With the introduction of territorial affiliations in
1881, the 1st Royal Surrey Militia became the 3rd Battalion of
The East Surrey Regiment, and its facings changed from Royal Blue
to White. The 2nd Royal Surrey Militia became the 3rd Battalion,
The Queen’s Royal Regiment and the 3rd Royal Surrey Militia
the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion of the East Surreys.
In 1908 the former Militia battalions formed the Special Reserve
under Haldane’s Reforms, and during the Great War supplied
large numbers of trained men for the army overseas. Indeed, the
BEF in 1914 could not have been brought up to strength and deployed
abroad without them.
Disembodied in 1919, the Militia remained on the Regimental orders
of battle until all militia regiments and special reserve battalions
were formally disbanded under Army Order 47 of 1953. |