2nd Royal Cheshire Militia
2nd Royal Cheshire Militia were raised and based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England in 1853. Later embodied (converted from a Militia to a Regular Army Battalion) - the 4th (Militia) Battalion Cheshire Regiment and served in the Boer Wars.
Military History
- 1620 Cheshire Militia
- pre 1798 called the Royal Cheshire Supplementary Militia.
- 1778 Cheshire Militia redesignated as Royal Cheshire Militia
- Renamed 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia on 25 August 1798 vice the Royal Cheshire Supplementary Militia.
- Gap - possibly disbanded 1800 ?
- 25-Jul-1853. 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia created in Macclesfield.
- 18 January 1855 - 24 July 1856 - Mobilised.
- 9 May 1855 - Riot in Plymouth - fighting the Royal Marines.
- April 1856 - departed barracks in Belfast, bound for Dublin.
- End June 1856. - Bn departed Dublin.
- 10 November 1857 - 12 October 1860 - Mobilised.
- In 1857 the County Quarter Sessions resolved that a barracks should be provided for the arms, stores and permanent staff of the Second Regiment of the Royal Cheshire Militia.[1] Barracks Square, Macclesfield, England
- 01-Jul-1881. Renamed (embodied to become a regular Bn) 4th (Militia) Battalion Cheshire Regiment.
Other Military units with links to Macclesfield are:-
1/4th Battalion. August 1914 : in Birkenhead. Part of Cheshire Brigade, Welsh Division. Moved immediately on mobilisation to Shrewsbury and Church Stretton but by the end of August 1914 had moved to Northampton. In December 1914 moved again to Cambridge and by March 1915 was at Bedford. 13 May 1915 : formation became 159th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. Sailed in July 1915 from Devonport, going via Alexandria to Gallipoli where it landed on 9 August 1915. December 1915 : withdrawn from Gallipoli and moved to Egypt. 31 May 1918 : left the Division and moved to France. 1 July 1918 : attached to 102nd Brigade in 34th Division.
1/7th Battalion. August 1914 : in Macclesfield. Part of Cheshire Brigade, Welsh Division. Record same as 1/4th Bn. It is not known if they were based in the Barracks Square, Macclesfield, England.
2/7th Battalion. Formed at Macclesfield on 10 October 1914 as a home service ("second line") unit. March 1915 : attached to 204th Brigade, 68th Division at Northampton. Moved in August 1915 to Bedford. 8 December 1915 : absorbed the 2/4th Bn. Moved to Lowestoft in September 1916, thence to Wrentham in May 1917 and Southwold by March 1918. 31 March 1918 : disbanded in UK.
Commanding Officers
Roger BARNSTON (born circa 1749) became the first Colonel of the Royal Cheshire Militia (Bn n/k).
20 March 1869. Major George Cornwall Legh, M.P. promoted from Major to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Davenport, deceased.
5 April 1853. Lt Col William Davenport DAVENPORT(sic) JP DL. born 15 September 1811, died 21 February 1869. Promoted to Lt Col. William Davenport HUMPHREYS Changed name to William Davenport DAVENPORT
Col George Cornwall Legh born 30 August 1804, died 16 June 1877.
1715 Col Sir Samuel Daniel of Over Tabley
Adjutants
(1881 census) Capt George A Christian
22 March 1871 William Thomas FOSTER
(1871 census) Capt William Thomas Foster
9 April 1853. Captain Trevor DAVENPORT late of the 1st Regiment of Foot, to be Adjutant.
Officers post-1798
1891. (1891 census) Captain Gregory S HARRIS
1881. (1881 census) Capt Cephas HOWARD
23 October 1880. Lieutenant Alfred Ernest BINYON transferred to the 106th Foot to be 2nd Lieutenant.
15 March 1880. Gentleman Evan Paul Arbuthnot HAINES to be 2nd Lieutenant.
15 March 1880. Gentleman Arthur Henry RAINEY to be 2nd Lieutenant.
15 March 1880. Gentleman Frederick MORGAN to be 2nd Lieutenant.
4 December 1878. Lieutenant Gregory Sinclair HAINES transferred to 54th Foot as 2nd Lieutenant.
23 October 1878. Lieutenant James William TRAILL transferred to the 1st Royal Lancashire.
21 August 1878. Lieutenant Granville Henry LOCH to be Second Lieutenant, in succession to Lieutenant G. G. BRITTAN, deceased.
15 August 1878. Lieutenant Edmund Ashton OGLE to be 2nd Lieutenant vice Lieutenant R. V. S. RIALL who was promoted.
30 December 1876. Sub-Lieutenant John William ARROWSMITH transferred to 5th Royal Lancashire (same rank).
29 November 1876. Lieutenant Harry Ashworth TAYLOR transferred to 47th Foot (same rank).
29 November 1876. Lieutenant Henry Dent BROCKLEHURST transferred to the 5th Hussars (same rank).
2 December 1874. Lieutenant John Fielding BROCKLEHURST transferred to Royal Regiment of Horse Guards.
25 November 1874. Captain John Duncan CAMERON transferred to the West Kent Militia.
12 November 1873. Lieutenant Herbert Edward HUDSON transferred to the 45th Foot (same rank).
22 January 1873. Lieutenant Edward Aickin William Stewart GROVES resigned.
1873. Edward Aickin W. GROVE joined the 2nd RCM and transferred the the 97th Regiment in the same year.
24 September 1871. Captain and Quartermaster Thomas Itchenor WATTS died.
1871. John Duncan CAMERON Captain. b.22 May 1844 Preston, Lancs. d.03 Mar 1928 Berthersden, Ashford, Kent.
18 August 1869. James Smith BARRY, Esq. late Grenadier Guards to be Captain.
4 December 1866. Captain G. L. CUMING resigned.
8 April 1866. Lieutenant WHITEWAY resigned.
19 May 1865. Assistant-Surgeon G. D. POWELL resigned.
20 April 1865. Lieutenant H J. G. HARRISON resigned.
10 June 1864. Lieutenant George Robert WILLSON promoted to be Captain, vice SMYTH, who resigned.
19 October 1863. Ensign A. W. BOLTON was removed from the strength of the Regiment due to being absent without leave from training.
7 May 1863. Lieutenant Frederick WILKIN resigned.
7 May 1863. Captain John FITZGERALD resigned.
17 April 1863. Captain Wilks HILL resigned.
31 March 1863. Captain Ralph SMYTH resigned.
8 February 1863. Lieutenant Edward George McDougall ICK to be Adjutant 1st Administrative Battalion of Cheshire Rifle Volunteers.
30 April 1861. Ensign William Bennion FOULKES resigned.
15 February 1861. Lieutenant William John ST. AUBYN transferred to the 5th Light Dragoons as Cornet (by purchase).
18 January 1861. Lieutenant Edgar GARDNER transferred to 2nd West India Regiment as Ensign (by purchase).
12 January 1861 or 8 December 1860. Captain Nassau William STEPHENS, Esq previously Captain in 94th Regiment to be Adjutant in the 11th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps.
7 December 1860. Captain Nassau W. STEPHENS resigned.
10 November 1860. Captain Francis LLOYD transferred to be Adjutant of the 4th Battalion of Cheshire Rifle Volunteers.
25 January 1860. Gentleman Arthur Bradshaw Salisbury ISHERWOOD promoted to Ensign vice Walter Alexander James WAKEMAN (promoted).
20 January 1860. Walter Alexander James WAKEMAN promoted from Ensign to Lieutenant vice James TAYLOR who was removed from the Regiment.
29 April 1859. Ensign George West BARNES transferred to the 41st Foot as Ensign (without purchase).
28 December 1858. Quarter-Master William BARNES Died at Portsmouth aged 46.
31 December 1858. Lieutenant Robert WARREN to be Ensign (without purchase) vice CUNNINGHAME who was promoted.
20 August 1858. Gentleman Walter Alexander James WAKEMAN to be Ensign, vice J. D. BARNES, resigned.
10 November 1857. Gentleman William Ley HUNT to be Paymaster, vice John Francis COLLIER, resigned.
2 October 1857. Captain Richard Trevor IRWIN declared insolvent.
26 February 1856. Arthur Lloyd READE transferred to be Ensign in 62nd Foot to rise to rank of Lt Col.
26 November 1856. Band Master William Huntingdon HANDLEY declared insolvent and out of business and employ.
1 August 1855. Arthur Lloyd READE promoted to 2Lt.
02 Apr 1856. Lieutenant Robert Bologne HOWARD. Born 1828, died at Belfast Barracks.
4 April 1856. Lieutenant Robert Boleyn HOWARD Unmarried. Buried with full military honours in Shankhill Cemetery, Belfast.
5 December 1855. Gentleman Edgar GARDNER to be Ensign.
20 August 1855. Gentleman John HAMILTON to be Lieutenant.
10 August 1855. Ensign Oswald Peter LEIGH to be Lieutenant.
5 May 1855. Ensign Canon William Cooper
31 January 1855. Ensign Salusbury Sewell DAVENPORT to be Ensign in the Rifle Brigade (without purchase).
15 January 1855. Gentleman Charlton Montresor Rodnsy REYNE to be Ensign.
15 January 1855. Ensign Edward REDDISH promoted to Lieutenant
12 January 1855. Gentleman Henry Francis George WEBSTER to be Ensign.
5 January 1855. Arthur Lloyd READE to be Ensign.
5 January 1855. Lieutenant John Jestyn Williams FREDRICKS promoted to Captain.
10 October 1853. Gentleman Edward REDDISH to be Ensign.
5 October 1853. Ensign Thomas Edmund MARSLAND transferred from 1st Regiment of Royal Cheshire Militia, to be Ensign.
5 October 1853. Lieutenant James Grolden HEAP transferred from 1st Regiment of Royal Cheshire Militia, to be Lieutenant. Later to be Captain (date n/k).
30 September 1853. Lieutenant Charles POPPLETON transferred from 1st Regiment of Royal Cheshire Militia, to be Lieutenant.
30 July 1853. Clement SWETENHAM, Esq., to be Captain
30 July 1853. Captain George Cornwall LEGH, M.P., transferred from the 1st Regiment of Royal Cheshire Militia, to be Major.
25 April 1853. James NEWTON, Esq., to be Captain.
25 April 1853. Captain George Francis STUART late of the 49th Regiment of Foot, promoted to Major.
Date n/k. William BUCKLEY.
Officers pre-1798
Captain Edward Davies Davenport
Sgts Mess (1881 census)
QMS John Fletcher
Drum Major John Clarkin
SSgt Arthur Armstrong
CSgt James Jackson
CSgt Thomas Liptrot
CSgt John Lock
CSgt John Miles
CSgt John W Pennington
CSgt (Chelsea Pensioner) David Sach
CSgt (Chelsea Pensioner) Sam Shaw
Sgt Thomas Cronin
Sgt Charles Dearden
Sgt (Chelsea Pensioner) Patrick Flanagan
Sgt (Chelsea Pensioner) John Henney
Sgt George Jones
Sgt (Chelsea Pensioner) Matthias O'Hegan
Sgt (Chelsea Pensioner) Thomas Pike
Sgt (Chelsea Pensioner) Henry Tuffs
Sgt (Perm Staff, Chelsea Pensioner) Henry Wright
Sgt William Wright
Sgts Mess (1871 census)
QMS George E Dalley
SSgt Richard Allrick (?)
SSgt James C C????ane
SSgt David Jack
SSgt John Fletcher (?)
SSgt John Griffin (?)
SSgt George Jones
SSgt James Meryman
SSgt W Mort
SSgt Thomas Pike
SSgt John McJofi (?)
Paymaster Sgt Alfred Granville Branch
Sgt Arthur Armstrong
Sgt John Cooke
Sgt Samuel Cooper
Sgt Alexander Dallas
Sgt James Dean
Sgt John Henny
Sgt john Lock
Sgt John Macanley
Sgt Charles Peny
Sgt Thomas Wilson
Sgts Mess (1861 census)
CSgt Matthew Arundale
CSgt James Gill
CSgt George Goodwin
CSgt William Haswell
CSgt Thomas Jenkins
CSgt Anderson Kelly (sic)
CSgt James Morley
CSgt Matthew Stanton
CSgt William Troop - (b.1817, d.1872). Left 46th Foot to join 2nd RCM on 27 March 1856. Discharged 30 June 1869.
Sgt ? William Bailey
Drum Sgt ? Joseph Cooper
Sgt Trevor Davenport
? Sgt William Gannon
Pay ? Sgt ? Hy (Henry ?) Gorin
Sgt George Holmes
Sgt Charles Jenkins
Sgt ? James Kelly
? Sgt Michael Lawler
Sgt Matthew Lowe
Sgt James Reynolds
Sgt Michael Thompson
Drummers (1881 census)
Drummer James Hague
Drummer William Howson
Drummer Alfred Perry
Drummer Thomas Stott
Musician Frederick Collier
Patrick Page ?
Michael Coyne ?
Drummers (1871 census)
Drummer Robert Barr
Drummer James Bayley
Drummer James Hallmark
Drummer James Knobles
Drummer William McKinnell
Drummer William Seanlon
Drummer James Sharples (?) Wilson
Drummers (1861 census)
Drummer William Allen
Drummer James Barnett
Drummer George Blything
Drummer Robert Clark
Drummer William Gill
Drummer William Holland
Drummer John Lawler
Drummer George Lowe
Drummer William Edward Swindles
Drummer Abraham Ward
Transferees to Royal Marines
The National Archives record 76 soldiers from the 2nd RCM who later joined the Royal Marines.
Misc. Soldiers
(1891 census) Pte William HEYWOOD.
23 May 1876. Sergeant Master-Tailor Frederick OLIVER first enlisted. He later transferred to the Royal Artillery. He served in India from December 1880 but his discharge papers do not record for how long, nor do they show when he transferred to the South Wales Borderers. However, he was discharged from the South Wales Borderers at Aldershot on 31 July 1902, having served 26 years and 70 days.
1870 Drummer John BUTTERWORTH. born Oct 29, 1849, died approx. 1894/95.
Useful links
Moretonhampsted Historical Society extracts from 1799 diary
Notes
- ^ Home.
References
- Home, Robert (1978). Macclesfield as it was. Nelson, Lancashire: Hendon Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 0-860-67032-5.
- Macclesfield Times (Reel 31a). 6 June 1940.
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Other useful links
- View Barracks Square on Google Maps.