Fencibles Regiments (Disbanded)

Image right - Colonel James Hope-Johnstone, 3rd Earl of Hopetoun Watercolor by Richard Cosway, 1742–1821, Wiki Commons

Commander of the Southern Regiment of the Scottish Fencibles. It was raised on 2nd March 1793 and Disbanded at Linlithgow12th April 1799. Served in Scotland.

Links will be added to projects where the fencibles listed below are are mentioned in British Army projects set up.

The term 'fencible' may come from 'defencible' and means a defence force.

The fencibles were British Army regiments raised in the United Kingdom and in the colonies for defence against the threat of invasion during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars in the late 18th century. Usually temporary units, composed of local volunteers, commanded by Regular Army officers, their role was, as their name suggests, usually confined to garrison and patrol duties, freeing the regular Army units to perform offensive operations.

Prior to 1793

Name; Uniform; Commander; Raised; Disbanded; Notes

• Argyll Regiment - Highland dress. Facings yellow; Colonel John, Duke of Argyll. July 1759 -1763;

When embodied was 1,000 strong. Quartered in different parts of Scotland until the peace of Paris (1763), when it was disbanded.

• Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) - Sutherland Regiment - Highland dress. Facings yellow; Colonel William, Earl of Sutherland.; July 1759 -1763

Raised July 1759, but the officers' commissions were dated in August. 1,500 men assembled within nine days after his Lordship had arrived in the north with his Letters of Service, but the authorised establishment being only 1,000 men, the remainder had to be rejected. Permission, however, was afterwards given to augment the strength to 1,100 men. This corps was remarkable for the fine appearance of the men, as well as for their peaceable, domiciliated habits in quarters. After doing garrison duty in various parts of Scotland it was disbanded.

• Argyll, or Western Fencible Regiment - Highland dress. Facings yellow; Colonel Lord Frederick Campbell. February 1778 -April 1783

Embodied at Glasgow. Volunteered to extend its services to any part of the world where their country required them. This offer was accepted, but their services were not required abroad. Served in Scotland, and disbanded at Glasgow.

• South Fencible Regiment. Facings green; Colonel Henry, Duke of Buccleuch. 10 April 1778 - 1 April 1783
  

Embodied at Edinburgh. Offered to serve in any part of Great Britain. Served in Scotland. Disbanded at Dalkeith.

• Duke of Gordon's North Fencibles - Highland dress. Facings Yellow; Colonel Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon. May 1778 - 1783
  

Embodied at Aberdeen. Served in Scotland. Disbanded at Aberdeen.

• Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) 2nd Sutherland Regiment - Highland dress. Facings Yellow; Colonel William Wemyss of Wemyss. January 1779 - 1783

Embodied at Fort George. Were stationed principally in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. Distinguished for "the sobriety, probity, and the most scrupulous and orderly attention to duty" of its men. Disbanded at Fort George.

• Fauconberg's Fencibles 1779 - 1783

Raised in 1779 in Yorkshire. Confined to garrison duty in England and disbanded in 1783.

• North's Fencibles 1779 - 1783

Raised in 1779, in the Cinque Ports. Confined to garrison duty in England and disbanded in 1783

.* Manx Fencible Corps 1779 - 1783

First corps. Raised in 1779 in the Isle of Man, consisted of three companies of infantry, disbanded in 1783.

---

Between 1793-1803

The British cavalry and light dragoon regiments were raised to serve in any part of Great Britain and consisted of a force of between 14,000 and 15,000 men. Along with the two Irish regiments, those British regiments that volunteered for service in Ireland served there. Each regiment consisted of eighteen commissioned officers and troops of eighty privates per troop. The regiments were always fully manned as their terms of service were considered favourable. At the beginning of 1800 all of the regiments were disbanded

• First Regiment - Colonel The Honourable John Villiers. 14 March 1794 - Early 1800
• Ancient British Regiment - Colonel Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn 14 March 1794 - Early 1800; Served in Ireland.
• Lancashire Regiment - Colonel Thomas Peter Legh. 14 March 1794 - Early 1800
• Rutland Regiment - Colonel Noel Edwards. 19 March 1794-Early 1800
• Somersetshire Regiment - Colonel John, Earl Poulett. 28 March 1794 - Early 1800
• Norfolk Regiment - Colonel William Harbord. 10 April 1794 - Early 1800
• Cinque Ports Regiment - Colonel Robert, Lord Hawkesbury. 1 May 1794 - Early 1800
• Windsor Foresters - Colonel Charles Rooke. 1 May 1794 - Early 1800
• Surrey Regiment - Colonel George, Lord Onslow. 1 May 1794 - Early 1800 (See also the Loyal Surrey Regiment)
• Hampshire Regiment - Colonel Thomas Cooper Everitt. 13 April 1795 - Early 1800
• Cornwall Regiment - Colonel George, Viscount Falmouth. - 4 April 1795 - Early 1800
• Loyal Essex Regiment Buff facings. - Colonel Montague Burgoyne. 20 April 1795 - Early 1800 Served in Ireland.
• Berwickshire Corps - Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Alexander Don 21 April 1795 - Early 1800. Served in Ireland.
• Cambridshire Regiment - Colonel Robert Jones Adeane. 25 April 1795 - Early 1800. Served in Ireland.
• Lanark and Dunbarton Regiment; Black facings, bonnet and trews or kilt. Colonel William Hamilton. 2 May 1795 - Early 1800. Served in Ireland.
• Dumfrieshire Regiment - Colonel Michael Stuart Maxwell. 4 May 1795 - Early 1800. Served in Ireland.
• Fifeshire Corps - Lieutenant-Colonel Comm. J. Anstruther Thomson. 8 May 1795 - Early 1800
• Warwickshire Regiment - Colonel George, Earl Warwick. 19 May 1794 - Early 1800
• Lothian (East & West) Regiment' - Colonel John Hamilton. 29 May 1795 - Early 1800
• Lothian (Mid) Regiment - William Earl of Ancram. 29 May 1795 - Early 1800. Served in Ireland.
• Sussex Regiment - Colonel Sir George Thomas. 13 April 1795 - Early 1800
• Princess of Wales's Regiment - Colonel William, Earl of Darlington. 14 April 1795 - Early 1800. Served in Ireland.
• Pembrokeshire Corps - Lieutenant Colonel Comm. Henry Davis. 18 April 1795 - Early 1800
• Oxfordshire Regiment - Colonel Thomas Parker. - 20 April 1795 - Early 1800
• New Romney (or the Duke of York's own) Regiment - Colonel Cholmely Dering. 20 April 1795 - Early 1800. Served in Ireland.
• Roxbrough and Selkirkshire Regiment - Colonel Sir John Scott. 21 April 1795 - Early 1800
• Princess Royal's own Regiment - Colonel Andrew McDowall. 1 May 1795 - Early 1800
• Perthshire Regiment - Colonel Charles Moray. 29 May 1795 - Early 1800
• Ayrshire Regiment - Colonel Andrew Dunlop. 19 June 1795 - Early 1800
  

Between 1793 and 1803

Scottish fencibles

The Scottish Fencibles raised in 1793 had eight companies each, except the Orkney, which had three.

Those raised in 1794–1802 had ten companies, except the 1st Battalion Rothesay and Caithness Regiment, which had eight, and three others — the Angus Volunteers, Ross-shire and Shetland Fencibles — which had only two companies.

Of the total number of Scottish corps raised from 1739 to 1802, independent of Colonel Macneil's Argyll, Colonel Robertson's Perthshire (both having very few Highlanders), and the Ross-shire Fencibles (which are not included, as their number was small), the total number of Fencibles raised in the Highlands, and considered as exclusively Highland, amounted to twenty-six battalions. Some of the other Scottish Fencibles, however, although not nominally Highland, had a number of men from the Highlands in their ranks, and this fact is noted in the above list under the regiments concerned.

(Name Uniform Commander Raised Disbanded Notes)

• Princess of Wales' (Aberdeen Highland) Regiment.* Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel Sir James Leith. 25 October 1794 11 September 1803 Raised 25 October 1794. Embodied at Aberdeen. Disbanded in Ireland, 11 September 1803.
• Angus Volunteers Facings Buff, or facings yellow, and bonnet and trews Major-Commandant John Fraser. 27 September 1794 1799 Strength, two companies.
• Angusshire Regiment Facings yellow Colonel Archibald Douglas. 20 October 1794 19 July 1802 Had a good many Highlanders from the Highland borders. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Perth.
• 1st Argyllshire Regiment Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel George, Marquis of Lorne, Afterwards George, 6th Duke of Argyll. 2 March 1799 Embodied at Stirling. Its services were confined to Scotland.
• 2nd Argyllshire Regiment Highland dress. Facings Blue Colonel Henry Mord Clavering. 25 October 1794 24 July 1802 Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Ayr.
• 3rd Argyllshire Regiment Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel Archibald Macneill of Colonsay. 15 June 1798 3 July 1802 The name of Argyll did not properly apply to this corps, as the number of Argyllshire men was very small. Its service extended to any part of Europe, and in 1800 was sent to Gibraltar. Ordered home at the peace of 1801. Disbanded at Dumbarton.
• Breadalbane Regiment Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel Earl of Breadalbane. 2 March 1793 28 July 1802 3 Battalions
• Breadalbane Regiment — 1st Battalion Lieutenant-Colonel William Maxwell Morrison (late 77th Foot). 2 March 1793 18 April 1799 Embodied at Perth. Volunteered for duty in Ireland, August 1798, but its services were not required. Remained in Scotland. Disbanded at Fort George.
• Breadalbane Regiment — 2nd Battalion Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Macdouall of Logan. 8 March 1793 18 April 1799 Embodied at Perth. In 1798 the greater part of this corps volunteered for service in Ireland, and landed at Carrickfergus in September. Returned to Scotland in March 1799. Disbanded at Paisley.
• Breadalbane Regiment — 3rd Battalion Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell of Achallader. 9 December 1794 28 July 1802 Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Ayr.
• En Loyal British Regiment Facings Blue Colonel Sir Robert Stuart, Bart. 24 October 1794 1802
• Caithness Legion. The bonnet and tartan pantaloons (truis). Facings yellow. Colonel Sir Benjamin Dunbar of Hempriggs. 15 November 1794 1802 Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Enniscorthy.
• Royal Clan Alpine Regiment Highland dress. Facings Blue. Colonel Alex. Macgregor Murray of Napier Rusky. 21 September 1798 24 July 1802 Raised for general service in Europe. Embodied at Stirling. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Stirling.
• Duke of York's Own (Banffshire) Regiment The bonnet and truis. Facings probably yellow. Colonel Andrew Hay of Mountblairey. 26 July 1798 1802 This regiment had a number of Highlanders in its ranks. Garrisoned Gibraltar.
• Dumbarton Regiment. Black facings, Highland dress, or trews Colonel Colin Campbell of Stonefield. 14 August 1794 5 October 1802 Embodied at Dumbarton. Served in Guernsey, and afterwards in Ireland during the rebellion, where it was actively occupied and employed as a light infantry corps in the mountains, under Sir John Moore, who kept it constantly near his person. "By the recommendation of General Moore, a detachment of the regiment was ordered as a guard to 400 rebel prisoners sent to Prussia, with directions that 'the detachment should consist entirely of Highlanders, as the service required confidential, trustworthy men'.". Disbanded at Dumbarton.
• Lord Elgin's Regiment. The bonnet and truis. Facings green Colonel Thomas, Earl of Elgin. 28 November 1794 15 October 1802 There were about 300 Highlanders in this corps. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Linlithgow.
• Fifeshire Fencibles Facings yellow Colonel James Durham of Largo. 20 October 1794 11 April 1803 Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Kilkenny.
• Fraser Regiment. Highland dress. Facings black Colonel James Fraser of Belladrum. 29 November 1794 12 July 1802 Embodied at Inverness. of the soldiers, 300 bore the name of Fraser. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Glasgow.
• Glengarry or British Highland Regiment Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel Alex. Macdonnell of Glengarry. 14 August 1794 1 July 1802 Raised as a Catholic corps. According to General Stewart, more than one-half of the men in this regiment were enlisted from the estate of Glengarry. Of the thirty-two officers, twenty-two were Macdonnells or Macdonalds. Served in Jersey, Guernsey, and in Ireland, where they were actively employed during the rebellion, earning for themselves the sobriquet of the "Devil's Bloodhounds". Disbanded at Ayr, after which the greater part of the regiment emigrated, together with their families and relations, to Canada, settling in a district to which they gave the name of their native glen.
• In February 1812, a regiment known as the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles was raised in Canada, a proportion of which was made up of soldiers of the former fencible regiment or members of their families. The colonel of the regiment was E. Baynes and a major in the regiment was George Macdonnell. It was disbanded in August 1816.
• Royal Inverness Highlanders Highland dress. Initially buff facings, became blue facings when they became the Duke of York's. Colonel John Baillie of Dunean. 21 November 1794 25 August 1802 Embodied at Inverness. Served in Ireland during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and after its suppression the designation of the corps was changed to "The Duke of York's Royal Inverness-shire Highlanders" as a compliment to their good behaviour. In 1801 the regiment voluntarily offered to serve in any part of the world, but owing to the preliminaries of peace having been signed, their services were not required abroad. Disbanded at Stirling.
• The Regiment of The Isles or Macdonald Fencibles. Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel Alexander, Lord Macdonald. 29 May 1798 26 July 1802 Embodied at Inverness. Served in Scotland and England. Disbanded at Fort George.
• Lochaber Fencibles Highland dress. Facings black Colonel Donald Cameron of Lochiel. 15 June 1798 26 June 1802 Embodied at Falkirk. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Linlithgow.
• North Lowland Regiment Facings green. Colonel Thomas Balfour. November 1794 6 August 1802 There were a number of Highlanders in this corps. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Dundee.
• West Lowland Regiment. Facings Green. Colonel Earl of Eglinton. 2 March 1793 26 March 1799 Disbanded at Musselburgh.
• Princess Charlotte of Wales' or Loyal Macleod Fencibles. Highland dress. Facings blue Colonel John Macleod of Colbecks. 15 June 1798 11 June 1802 Embodied at Elgin. Served in Ireland. Disbanded in England at Tynemouth Barracks.
• The Northern or Gordon Fencibles Highland dress. Facings yellow. Colonel Alexander, Duke of Gordon. 3 March 1793 1799 Embodied at Aberdeen. Its services were confined to Scotland, but the men having volunteered to extend it, the offer was accepted, and in 1794 the regiment moved to England. "When quartered in Kent, the King, who had never seen a Highland regiment, ordered them up to London, where they were reviewed in Hyde Park in the presence of His Majesty, who expressed himself highly satisfied with their appearance". Disbanded in Scotland.
• Orkney Battalion. Facings yellow Major-Commandant Thomas Balfour. 20 April 1793 1799 Strength, three companies.
• Perthshire Highlanders. Facings yellow. Colonel William Robertson of Lude. 20 October 1794 27 February 1799 Embodied at Perth. "Although called Perthshire Highlanders, this was a misnomer, as the number of Perthshire Highlanders, or Highlanders of any county, was very limited". Disbanded at Preston.
• Prince of Wales' Own The bonnet and truis. Facings yellow Colonel Sir William Johnstone, Bart. 15 June 1798 21 May 1802 Served in Ireland. May have garrisoned Gibraltar. Disbanded at Plymouth.
• Reay Highland Regiment Highland dress. Facings light grey-blue Colonel Mackay Hugh Baillie of Rosehall. 24 October 1794 13 October 1802 Embodied at Elgin. Served in Ireland. Was present at the battles of Tara Hill and Ballinamuck. Disbanded at Stirling.
• Ross-shire Highland Regiment Highland dress. Facings yellow Major-Commandant Colin Mackenzie of Mountgerald. 20 November 1794 1799 Strength, two companies. Although a small corps, the men were noticeable for their "exemplary character and physical capacity. No man was punished; none died during its service".
• Ross And Cromarty Rangers. Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel Lewis Mackenzie, Younger of Scatwell. 8 August 1798 27 July 1802 Raised for service in any part of Europe. Embodied at Inverness. Served in Scotland and Ireland. Disbanded at Inverness.
• Rothesay and Caithness Highlanders. Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel Sir John Sinclair of Ulster. 2 Battalions.
• Rothesay and Caithness Highlanders — 1st Battalion. Lieutenant-Colonel James, Earl of Caithness. 7 March 1794 6 May 1799 Embodied at Inverness. Remarkable for the size of its officers, twenty of whom averaged six feet in height, and who were consequently known as "Thier-nan-more" or "The great chiefs". Served in Scotland and the north of England. Disbanded at Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh.
• Rothesay and Caithness Highlanders — 2nd Battalion. Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Williamson. 19 November 1794 July 1802 Embodied at Forfar. Served in Ireland for two years, where it was distinguished for its exemplary conduct. In 1797 this battalion volunteered for service in any part of Europe, but was not called upon to go abroad. Disbanded at Glasgow.
• Shetland Battalion Facings — Major-Commandant George Malcolmson. 8 February 1798 1802 Strength, two companies.
• Southern Regiment. Facings Light grey-blue Colonel James Hope-Johnstone, 3rd Earl of Hopetoun. 2 March 1793 12 April 1799 Served in Scotland. Disbanded at Linlithgow.
• Grant or Strathspey Regiment Highland dress. Facings green. Colonel Sir James Grant of Grant. 2 March 1793 April 1799 Embodied at Forres. Served in Scotland. Disbanded at Inverness.
• Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) Sutherland Regiment. Highland dress. Facings yellow Colonel Major-general William Wemyss of Wemyss. 2 March 1793 March 1799 Embodied at Fort George. Extended its services to Ireland in 1797. Disbanded at Fort George, many of the officers and men transferring their services to the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, raised by General Wemyss on a letter of service dated 16 April 1799.
• Loyal Tarbert Regiment. Facings blue Colonel Sir Edward Leslie, Bart. 27 July 1798 19 June 1802 Disbanded at Plymouth.
• The Loyal Tay Regiment. Facings blue Colonel Sir Robert Anstruther, Bart. 25 October 1794 28 June 1802 This regiment had a good many Highlanders from the Highland borders. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Stirling.
  

English fencibles

• Royal Lancashire Volunteers. Blue facings Sir Thos. Egerton, Bt. 1779 1783 This regiment's services were confined to garrison duty in England.
• Royal Lancashire Lord Grey de Wilton.16 October 1794 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• Northampton Blue facings red collar. John Manners Ker. 20 October 1794 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• Loyal Essex John E. Urquhart. 20 October 1794 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• Loyal Nottingham Green facings. James O'Connor 20 October 1794 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• Suffolk John Robinson 20 October 1794 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• Loyal Somerset Yellow facings. W. F. Forster 20 October 1794 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• York Hon. G. A, C. Stapylton 20 October 1794 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• Devon and Cornwall Robert Hall 15 November 1794 1801–2 Ten companies.
• Prince of Wales' Leicester Major Parkyns 15 November 1794 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• Cheshire Charles Courtenay 17 November 1794 1801–2 Ten companies.
• Loyal Durham Green facings. Barrington Price 26 February 1795 1801–2 Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion
• Northumberland Francis Blake 28 February 1795 1801–2 Ten companies.
• Newfoundland Skinner 25 April 1795 1801–2 Ten companies.
• Scilly Captain Henry Gudgeon 19 April 1796 1801–2 One company.
• Loyal Surrey Regiment. Colonel George Augustus Pollen. 1799 1800 1794: formation as the Surrey Cavalry, From 1800 became the Loyal Surrey Regiment of Rangers.
• Royal Canadian Volunteers. 1799 The regiment was posted to Nova Scotia
• Fauconberg's Fencibles. 1799
• North's Fencibles. 1799
• Loyal Surrey Regiment of Rangers, or Pollen's Fencibles Colonel George Augustus Pollen. 1800 1802 Ten companies. Previously the Loyal Surrey Regiment of Fencible Infantry. In Nova Scotia.
  

Irish fencibles

• Loyal Irish (1st Battalion) Handcock 15 November 1794 1801–2 Ten companies.
• Loyal Irish (2nd Battalion) Handcock 15 December 1794 1801–2 Ten companies.
• Loyal Limerick Sir Vere Hunt 15 June 1798 1801–2 Ten companies.
• Ancient Irish T. J. Fitzgerald 4 June 1799 1801–2 Ten companies. The Ancient Irish volunteered for service abroad, and were actually sent to Egypt for a time, taking part in the operations against the French in 1801.
  

Welsh fencibles

• Cambrian Rangers William Edwards 8 August 1798 1801–2 This regiment was composed of ten companies. It served in the garrison of Gibraltar.
  

Manx fencibles

• Royal Manx Regiment (1st Battalion) Duke of Atholl. 20 February 1793 1801–2 Second corps. The 1st Battalion of Manx Fencibles had three companies (for first corps, raised in 1779 see the Manx Fencible Corps above).
• Royal Manx Regiment (2nd Battalion) Blue facings, fur crest around hat. Duke of Atholl 7 April 1795 1801–2 Second corps. Ten companies. The 2nd Battalion served in Ireland. Some of the men in this battalion were recruited in return and the list of officers shows a few names which suggests a connection with Perthshire.
• Royal Manx Regiment 12 July 1803 1811 Third corps. The services performed by this regiment was the defence of the Isle of Man, assisting the Revenue in the prevention of smuggling, and supporting the civil power. The four last companies of the Regiment were raised partly with the view of their supplying volunteers for line regiments.

  ---

  
  

Reference -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_fencible_regiments#Li...
http://www.thedearsurprise.com/the-sea-fencibles-1798-1802-and-1803...
https://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/fencibles/c_f...
https://wikivisually.com/wiki/List_of_British_fencible_regiments