Bermuda Militias 1612–1815 facts for kids
Bermuda had groups of citizen-soldiers called militias. These militias helped protect the island. They worked alongside the British Army and Royal Navy. This happened between 1612 and 1815.
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History of Bermuda's Citizen Soldiers
Bermuda was first settled by accident in 1609. This happened when a ship from the Virginia Company crashed there. The first planned settlers arrived in 1612 on a ship called the Plough.
Early Defenses and Militias
The first Governor, Richard Moore, worried about attacks from Spain. He quickly built forts around St. George's and Castle Harbour. He also created militias to defend these forts. These local militias were in charge of Bermuda's defense. This continued until 1701. That's when regular British soldiers were stationed in Bermuda.
The early Bermuda militias had different types of soldiers. There were artillery units with cannons. There were also infantry (foot soldiers) and mounted troops (soldiers on horseback).
Changes After American Independence
After the United States became independent, the Royal Navy started building a large base. This base was the Dockyard in Bermuda. To protect this important naval base, the British Army also sent more soldiers. This group of soldiers was called the Bermuda Garrison.
Bermuda's militias often struggled to find enough people. Many Bermudian men worked at sea, so they were often away. As more regular British soldiers arrived, the islanders became less interested in joining the militias.
Militia Decline and Revival
By the time the United States declared the War of 1812, Bermuda's militia was almost gone. The law that supported the militia had expired in 1802. In 1813, a new law was quickly passed to bring the militia back. This was done because of the war. However, after the war ended in 1815, the militia was allowed to disappear again.
The British government often asked Bermuda to keep its militias active. But without new laws or money from the local government, no part-time Bermudian units were formed. This changed much later, in 1895, when new Volunteer Army units were created.
Bermuda's Action in the Turks Islands
Bermudians also formed militias in the Turks Islands. Bermuda had control of these islands from about 1681. This lasted until the British government gave them to the Bahamas. In 1706, Spanish and French forces took over the Turks Islands. But Bermudian forces drove them out four years later. This was probably Bermuda's only independent military action.
