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Militia and Local Volunteers -The Militia were a home defence
unit, dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. They were part-time
soldiers, selected at random from each parish, who trained in
their spare time and were 'called out' in time of civil unrest
or invasion. The Worcester Militia helped to track down the
Gunpowder Plotters in 1605, when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up
Parliament, and served throughout the English Civil War in the
1640's.
This uniform dates from the 1830's, after the Napoleonic Wars
when the Militia had been on almost permanent duty. The hat
(shako) and plume are so high and wide because they are supposed
to make the wearer look taller and more impressive -
go to room plan. |
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The Napoleonic Wars - Both the
29th and 36th Regiments, later the 1st and 2nd Battalions, Worcestershire
Regiment, saw a lot of fighting during the Napoleonic Wars.
Soldiers had to march everywhere, and carry everything they
owned with them. They had to be very hardy, especially due to
the poor quality of the food and the conditions in which this
was stored and prepared. Most Napoleonic soldiers were as fit
as modern members of the Special Forces
- Click here for
further information
- go to room plan. |
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The Regiment, Early 19th Century - The 29th and 36th
Regiments of Foot both saw service all over the world during
the early 1800's. As the British Empire grew, they were called
on the serve in garrisons in Canada, the West Indies, Ireland,
India and the Mediterranean.
The 29th say active service in India during the Sikh
Wars (1845-9) and the Indian Mutiny (1857-9).
The 36th also saw active duty. In 1839 they were called in to
settle a border dispute in Canada, and in the late 1840's the
Regiment saw action in the Ionian Isles. |
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September 1848 a 12-man patrol led by Sergeant Luke Dunn saw
off an attack by hundreds of bandits in the town of Argostoli
on Corfu. Two of the soldiers were killed, but they saved the
town from being pillaged and destroyed -
go to room plan
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The Sikh Wars 1845-9 - Between
1845-9 the 29th fought in two wars against the Sikhs in north
western India - Click
here for more information and pictures.
The Sikhs were a very martial
nation, and their Army very well trained and equipped in modern
warfare. The battles in the two Sikh Wars were very hard and
bloody, and the jacket shown here - known as the Sikh jacket
- has always been a proud trophy and a popular attraction
in the museum - go
to room plan.
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Use the Room Plan to preview the exhibition by c
