A militia force was organised in accordance with the order on 24 July 1203 of
King John to provide a "sufficiency of men and money to defend the Island from the enemy". In 1214
Eustace the Monk, a pirate, based in
Sark arrived under orders from
Philip II of France to harry the
Channel Islands. In
Guernsey Eustace met a newly raised and locally armed defence force comprising the whole manhood of the Island. This could be considered to be a militia.
Jersey would almost certainly have made the same preparations. The following year, in response to the threat of a repeat of this incursion, King
Edward III ordered Thomas de Ferrers, Warden of the Isles, to levy and equip a militia of "all men capable of bearing arms, and to form them into companies of thousands, hundreds and twenties, and to lead them well-armed and arrayed for the defence of the islands". This created an organised, compulsory, and unpaid Island militia. Jersey was invaded by French troops in 1461. They were supporters of the
Lancastrian force during the
Wars of the Roses, as was the Governor of
Mont Orgueil, who had surrendered the castle to the French. The militia was not strong enough to retake the castle and instead controlled half of the Island with their base in
Grosnez Castle The help given by the St Ouen militia earned them the honour to parade on the right flank of future militia parades. In October 1651
Oliver Cromwell sent a fleet of over 80 ships and military force to capture the island. The Parliamentary ships delayed landing for several days, moving from bay to bay, being followed by the 2,000 militia, until after three nights they started landing at
St Ouen's Bay. Opposed by a troop of militia cavalry, the invaders suffered casualties, but the militia infantry were dispersed and tired after three days of marching and could not reinforce the landing point faster than the Parliamentarian troops were being landed from the ships. The militia was reorganized and uniformed in
scarlet by the Governor of Jersey,
Sir Thomas Morgan, in 1678, and in 1685 a Troop of Horse was raised (which later became
Dragoons).
18th Century Around 1730, the militia was divided into five regiments, based on the
Parishes of the island, the 4th Regiment (that of the parishes of
Saint Lawrence and Saint Helier) consisting of two battalions. Compulsory military service was introduced in 1771 and the militia was increased to a Regiment of Cavalry, a Regiment of Artillery and five Regiments of Infantry. On 1 May 1779, a
Franco-Dutch force attempted a landing at St Ouen's Bay. The enemy fleet moved to St. Brelade's bay, only to see more defenders ready for them. The proposed invasion was abandoned. 50 regulars and 30 militia were casualties, very few of the French force escaped. To be manned by the militia and known as Conway's towers, 23 were eventually built. Discontent amongst Methodist militia troopers during the 1780s and 1790s about having to parade on a Sunday was eventually listened to, with the Privy Council agreeing to allow Methodists to drill on weekdays. The facings on uniforms were changed from buff to blue. A minor mutiny occurred in 1891 at a parade when men in the West Regiment objected to where they were to stand, calling out "N'Bouogi Pas!". A small number of the ringleaders were found guilty, spent a few days in the prison and were then treated to a meal out in the town by their comrades.
20th Century In 1905 the militia came under the
Army Act and was reorganised to create a regiment of artillery comprising two field and two garrison companies. An engineer company, a medical company and three battalions of infantry. The militia remained in Jersey throughout the war although many of the men went to serve in British Regiments, 6,292 Jerseymen serving in total, with 862 being killed. In 1917, the 7th Battalion was disbanded and its personnel transferred to 2nd Battalion,
The Hampshire Regiment. Other members of the Regiment served as guards at the Blanches Banques Prisoner of War Camp located at
St Brélade. The Militia was reconstituted in 1921 as one infantry battalion, the
Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey. In
World War II, the Island was demilitarised, 11 officers and 193 men of the militia left on the SS
Hodder to England, where they formed the nucleus of the 11th (Royal Militia Island of Jersey) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment. ==Battle honours==