Militia Attestation Documents at the National Archives

[themonsstar]

The militia was a trained local part-time force,with its origins in the Middle Ages for home defence in times of rebellion or invasion. The militia act of 1757, re-established one or more regiments for each county, raised from volunteers, conscripts  chosen by ballot from each parish. Until 1871, rising and training of local militias, was the responsibility of the Lord-Lieutenant of the county.

After the reorganisation of the Army on a territorial basis in 1881, the County militia regiments became the third and fourth battalions of their local regiments, during the period of the Boer War 1899-1902  the third and fourth militia battalions of the Manchester Regt became regular battalions and were deployed to South Africa, so two new militia battalions were formed the 5th & 6th militia battalions. Not long after the boer war had finished the 5th & 6th Bn were stood down, and the third and fourth reverted back to being militia battalions.

In 1908, the militia were renamed the special reserve, those in the special reserve held the same liabilities as ordinary Army reservists of being called out for permanent service at home or abroad in an emergency.All reservists had to undergo annual training at the local depot.


The Militia records for the 63rd Foot (Manchester) 1886-1908 are held at the National Archives.

The records are in WO96, in alphabetical order, to order a file at the NA KEW, for example you'll need the WO96 and then sub file number "eg" WO96/1013 will get you the surnames of "KERR-LEA"

986 AAR-AYL.
987 BAC-BIR.
988 BASS-BIR.
989 BIRD-BRA.
990 BRAD-BRO.
991 BROW-BUR.
992 BURN-CAL.
993 CAP-CHA.
994 CHAP-COL.
995 COLL-COP.
996 COR-CUM.
997 CUN-DAW.
998 DAY-DON.
999 DOO-DYS.
1000 EAG-EZA.
1001 FAG-FIT.
1002 FITZ-FUR.
1003 GAB-GIL.
1004 GIM-GRE.
1005 GREG-HAN.
1006 HAND-HAR.
1007 HAS-HIG.
1008 HIGG-HOL.
1009 HOLT-HUN.
1010 HUNS-JOH.
1011 JOHN-JUS.
1012 KAD-KER.
1013 KERR-LEA.
1014 LEAC-LLO.
1015 LOA-McC.
1016 McCA-McL.
1017 McM-MAS.
1018 MASO-MIT.
1019 MITF-MOR.
1020 MOS-MYO.
1021 NAB-OBY.
1022 OCO-PAR.
1023 PARK-PLA.
1024 PLE-RED.
1025 REDF-ROB.
1026 ROBI-RYE.
1027 SAD-SHE.
1028 SHEP-SMI.
1029 SMIT-SPE.
1030 SPI-SYM.
1031 TEA-THO.
1032 THOM-TYS.
1033 ULL-WAL.
1034 WALS-WES.
1035 WEST-WIL.
1036 WILL-WOM.
1037 WOO-ZUI.

            



 

[swinno]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone will be visiting  Kew at any time.  If so
would it be possible to look for a Fred Swinnerton in the Militia.
Fred has been a topic of conversation recently on this site.

He said that he was in the 63rd Manchester Regiment when he
was married, but no proof has been found.  The last resort is that
he was in the Malitia.  The archives document WO96 1030 will
confirm if he was.

Many Thanks,
Swinno.

[John W]

I found my great grandfathers Militia Attestation on Ancestry, tucked in with his WW1 Pension details, it's worth a look and is online.

[Douglas]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone will be visiting Kew and would be so kind as to find time for a little search for me.  The effort on my behalf would be very much appreciated.  If so would it be possible to look for a Samuel Hill (my grandfather).  On his Canadian army attestation (1915...45th Battalion...Manitoba) papers he lists previous military experience as 2 years with the Manchester 4th regiment.  W096 archives document 1008.

[themonsstar]

First name(s):    Samuel
Last name:    HILL
Calculated year of birth:    1861    
Parish of birth:    Stalybridge
Town of birth:    Stalybridge
County of birth:    Lancashire
Age at attestation:    22 years 5 months
Attestation date:    25 August 1883
Attestation corps:    3RD BATTALION MANCHESTER REGIMENT


First name(s):    Samuel
Last name:    HILL
Calculated year of birth:    1877    
Parish of birth:    Taxal
Town of birth:    Whaleybridge
County of birth:    Cheshire
Age at attestation:    20 years
Attestation date:    12 March 1897
Attestation corps:    Manchester Regiment


These are the only two who show up with service records from the Manchester Regiment. The second one served in the South African War.

[Douglas]

I appreciate the reply from themonsstar.  I made a mistake when I said my Grandfather's service was 2 years when it was actually 3 years.  The two service records posted don't match my grandfather as he was born in 1887 and though he might have lied about his age to enter the military, I doubt that at 10 years old he could have looked anywhere near being 20 years old.  I am puzzled as to when he served as I can find nothing from what I have collected.  If he was born in 1887 what would have been the earliest he could have served?

[Sadies Search]

I'm trying to find information about my daughter's 2nd Great-Grandfather who was a Private in the 2nd Manchester Regiment.  He was born in 1875 .  He was a Collier at the time of his marriage in Manchester 1901.  On his daughter's 1903 birth record, it is stated he is a soldier.  On his wife's 1907 death certificate, it is stated she died a widow and her husband James Brown was a "Private, 2nd Manchester Regiment".  So my James Brown died sometime between 1903 and 1907.  I can not find his Army number or anything regarding his death. Also, does 2nd Manchester Regiment mean he was in the 2nd battalion in the Manchester Regiment?  This is my first time on an online forum.  I need a guide.  I'm completely lost on here.  I'm not even sure how to post this.

[Tim Bell]

The James Brown I think is your man enlisted in 4th VB on 06/10/1893 and attested in the Regular Army very soon after. 
Better to keep the rest of the research on the other thread.
http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=11664.msg74510#msg74510