Dorset Trained Bands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dorset Trained Bands
Active	1558–1662
Country	England
Branch	Trained Bands
Role	Infantry and Cavalry
Engagements	Second Bishops' War Siege of Sherborne

The Dorset Trained Bands were a special group of part-time soldiers. They were like a local defence force, made up of people from Dorsetshire in South West England. This group was first set up in 1558.

These soldiers were called upon when the country needed protection. They helped defend England from invaders and kept peace inside the country. A famous time they were active was during the Spanish Armada scare in 1588. They also fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In 1661, they were reorganised and became the Dorset Militia.

Early History of Local Defence

The idea of a local defence force in England goes way back. It started with the Anglo-Saxons and their Fyrd. This was a military group made up of free men from each area, led by their local Sheriff.

This system continued even after the Norman kings took over. Later, laws like the Assize of Arms of 1181 and Assize of Arms of 1252 updated how these forces worked. King Edward I further improved them with his Statute of Winchester in 1285.

Dorset's Trained Soldiers

New laws in 1557 changed how the local defence forces were organised. These laws covered how soldiers were gathered and how their weapons and horses were kept. From 1558, each county's local force was led by a Lord Lieutenant. They were helped by Deputy Lieutenants and local judges called Justices of the Peace (JPs).

While all able-bodied men were expected to serve, it was hard to train everyone. So, after 1572, a special group was chosen. These were the "Trained Bands." They received regular training. In 1573, Dorset only needed 500 men. But by 1583, they had to be ready with 3,000 men.

Facing the Spanish Threat

When war started with Spain, training these local soldiers became very important. From 1584, counties were grouped for better training. Coastal areas like Dorset were given special attention. They got professional trainers and had to provide fewer, but better-trained, soldiers.

In 1584, Dorset was asked to have 800 men with firearms like calivers and muskets. They also needed 200 archers and 500 pikemen (soldiers with long spears). This made a total of 1,500 men.

In 1588, Sir John Norreys, a famous soldier, helped prepare Dorset's forces. The county had 1,500 trained men and 1,800 untrained foot soldiers. They also had 120 heavy cavalry, 90 light cavalry, and 40 cavalry with early firearms. Plans were made for where the Dorset Trained Bands would go if Spain invaded.

The Spanish Armada Arrives

When the Spanish Armada arrived in July 1588, the Dorset Trained Bands were called into action. The cavalry and 1,000 foot soldiers went to London. Some Dorset soldiers even offered money to be the Queen's bodyguards.

The main army gathered at Tilbury. There, Queen Elizabeth gave her famous Tilbury speech. Other Dorset men went to their assigned posts. They watched the Spanish fleet as it sailed up the English Channel. When warning fires were lit in Hampshire, the Dorset soldiers marched to help their neighbours.

After the Armada was defeated, the soldiers went home. But they had to stay ready. There were more alarms in the years that followed, especially in 1596. The Trained Bands continued to train regularly, but they were not called to fight again.

Sometimes, counties had to send soldiers for wars overseas. These were usually unemployed people or criminals, not the well-trained local soldiers. Dorset sent men to fight in Ireland, France, and the Netherlands.

In the early 1600s, the Trained Bands became less active. Later, King Charles I tried to make them a stronger national army. By 1638, the Dorset Trained Bands had 2,140 men. Most had muskets, and some had body armour. They also had 100 horsemen. Towns like Dorchester and Weymouth had their own groups of soldiers.

The Bishops' Wars

In 1640, Dorset was ordered to send 600 men to Newcastle upon Tyne for the Second Bishops' War. Many of these men were untrained replacements. They were also not very disciplined.

On the march north, a leader named Lieutenant William Mohun tried to make the Dorset soldiers follow orders. His strictness caused anger. The soldiers also thought he might be a "Papist" (Catholic), while many of them were Puritans.

When they reached Faringdon, the soldiers rebelled. A drummer hit Mohun. In return, Mohun hurt the drummer. The soldiers then attacked Mohun. Many Dorset men then ran away. Other soldiers stayed because they feared being blamed for the attack. Local soldiers from Berkshire were called to stop the mutineers. When the Dorset Trained Bands finally continued their march, only 340 men remained.

The English Civil War

Control of the local army was a big disagreement between King Charles I and Parliament. This led to the First English Civil War. Once the fighting started, both sides used the Trained Bands mainly to get new soldiers and weapons for their full-time armies.

In September 1642, during the Siege of Sherborne Castle, Dorset Trained Bandsmen were called out by both sides. About 1,000 men joined the King's army. Another group formed a regiment for Parliament. The Dorchester Trained Band also sent 250 foot soldiers to help Parliament.

The Parliamentarian forces blocked the castle. But the Royalists held on to Sherborne. Later, the King's forces left Sherborne. The Dorset Trained Bandsmen who did not join the full-time armies likely went home. The Dorchester Trained Band was present when Dorchester was captured by the Royalists in August 1643.

After Parliament took full control, new laws were passed in 1648 and 1650. These laws changed how the local forces were led. The name "Trained Band" also started to disappear. Under the Commonwealth and Protectorate, the local soldiers were paid when called out. They worked with the New Model Army to keep order in the country.

The Militia Returns

After the King returned to power in 1660 (Restoration of the Monarchy), the English local defence force was set up again. This happened with the Militia Act of 1661. The King's lords-lieutenant were in charge. Soldiers were chosen by a lottery system.

People saw this local force as important to balance the King's regular army. The local soldiers were trusted with defending the country and keeping peace. They were often called out during the reign of King Charles II. They helped stop religious groups that did not follow the official church.

The Dorset Militia was one of the few county forces that actually fought. This happened during the Monmouth Rebellion. Over the next centuries, the local defence forces were changed many times. They served in home defence during all of Britain's major wars. In its final form, the Dorset Militia was a reserve group for the Dorset Regiment. They trained thousands of new soldiers for fighting in World War I.

Colours

The Dorset Trained Bands had a special flag, called a "Colour." One flag for Colonel Hugh Rogers' Regiment was white. In the top left corner, it had a cloud with an eye looking out. Next to it was a shield with the Rogers family's Coat of arms. In the bottom left, there was a green leaf.

The flag also had two mottos written on swirling banners:

• (Above) 'Sume put their trusst in Charetes and som in horses but we will rember the nam of the Lord our God'
• (Below) 'Our Fathers hoped in thee tahy trusted in thee and yu didsst deleour them'