Kerry Militia facts for kids

The Kerry Militia was a group of volunteer soldiers from County Kerry in Ireland. These soldiers were volunteers, meaning they chose to join. The group was set up by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who was the King or Queen's representative in Ireland. The Kerry Militia existed from the 1700s until the late 1800s. After that, it became part of a different army group.

History

Early Days (1700s)

The Kerry Militia was first mentioned in 1762. At that time, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, George Montagu-Dunk, appointed leaders for the group. For example, Francis Thomas-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Earl of Kerry, became a captain. William Crosbie, 1st Earl of Glandore, also became a captain.

Many important families in County Kerry, like FitzMaurice and Crosbie, had members who became officers in the Militia. These families had owned land and held important positions in Kerry for a long time.

The Kerry Militia became more active in the 1790s. When needed, they would march to different places across Ireland.

A Difficult Event in 1797

In July 1797, some Kerry Militia soldiers were passing through a town called Stewartstown, County Tyrone. They were trying to find places to stay in the town. However, some local people were upset by the green ribbons and bonnets worn by the soldiers' wives and children. A serious clash happened between the Militia and these locals, who were joined by soldiers from other regiments.

Sadly, ten private soldiers and a sergeant from the Militia were killed. Some people from the other side also died. The soldiers who died are remembered by a building called Kerry House in the town. There is also a headstone in the Roman Catholic graveyard.

Fighting in 1798

In 1798, the Militia had to march quickly north to Leinster. There, they took part in the Battle of Ballinamuck. In this battle, the French Army, which was helping the United Irishmen, was defeated.

Later Years (1800s)

During the 1800s, the number of soldiers in the Kerry Militia changed a lot. Sometimes, the Militia was called upon to help at big events, like the Killarney Races. The group would sometimes stop being active for a few years, and then start up again.

Recruitment Challenges

In 1854, an order was given to bring the Kerry Militia back into service. However, only 200 men showed up, which was 800 fewer than they needed. By January 1855, 369 men were active. They hoped to get twice that number soon.

There was also a shortage of doctors for the Militia. This was a problem for the regular army too, especially during the Crimean War. One reason for the shortage was low pay and not many chances for career growth.

A Protest in Limerick

On October 7, 1856, some of the Militia soldiers protested in Limerick. They were upset because a commanding officer reportedly said there would be no band playing as they went to a church service. A corporal, who admitted to encouraging the protest, was arrested. Another officer was also struck.

The rest of the soldiers then protested even more. They freed the corporal from the guardhouse and carried him on their shoulders. Because of this, the entire Militia was ordered to stay in their barracks.

The Militia stopped being active again on August 18, 1856, with 560 men. The year before, they had 1037 men. Nearly 400 soldiers had joined the regular army. Many militiamen had gone to fight in other countries over the years.

Henry Herbert, who was a Member of Parliament for Kerry and the leader of the Militia in the county, was told to recruit 672 more men. This was to reach a target of 1222 soldiers. The Militia started up again on November 2, 1857. On that day, 600 men arrived, and more were expected.

Becoming Part of a Larger Group

From July 1, 1881, the Kerry Militia changed its name and role. It became the 4th Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. Other militia groups from Munster also became battalions of this new regiment.

Even after this change, newspapers sometimes still called the group the Kerry Militia as late as 1888. The Royal Munster Fusiliers regiment was officially ended on July 31, 1922. This happened when the Irish Free State was formed.