Fencibles

The Fencibles (from the word defencible) were army regiments raised in the United Kingdom and in the colonies for defence against the threat of invasion during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars in the late 18th century. Usually temporary units, composed of local volunteers, commanded by Regular Army officers, their role was, as their name suggests, confined to garrison and patrol duties, freeing the regular Army units to perform offensive operations. They had no liability for overseas service.

They included naval forces known as "River Fencibles", made up of boatmen on the Thames and other southern English towns and cities.

American Revolutionary War

The Royal Fencible Americans were a Loyalist unit raised by the British in Nova Scotia in 1775, that successfully withstood an attack by Patriot forces under Jonathan Eddy at the Battle of Fort Cumberland. i hacked this hehehe

French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Fencible units were raised in the United Kingdom during the early years of the war, but by the Peace of Amiens in 1802, all Fencible Regiments had been disbanded and those members willing to continue serving had been transferred to regular army regiments, though some Fencibles were raised again to meet the threat of Napoleon's invasion of England in 1803 to 1805.

War of 1812

In the early years of the 19th Century, five regiments of Fencibles were raised in Canada, Newfoundland and New Brunswick, liable for service in North America only (although the New Brunswick Fencibles volunteered for general service and became the 104th Regiment of Foot in the regular army). All but one of these regiments saw action in the War of 1812. They were disbanded in 1816, after the end of the war. See also Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry.

New Zealand

In 1847 the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps were raised and sent to New Zealand for the defence of the early settlers there.

Ireland

Fencibles were raised for the entirety of the British Isles. In Thomas Flanagan's The Year of the French Fencibles are raised by Cornwallis and other generals to combat the rebel Irish and French soldiers. Fencibles were a sort of substitute militia often composed of Scottish tenants.

Standards

Fencible regiments were less effective than regular troops for military duties, with problems of lack of education and disease. The men would take part in inter-regimental brawls and attacks on soldiers. Some regiments of Fencibles, however, were noted for exceptional service.

See also

• Sea Fencibles
• Home Guard

External links

• The Glengarry Fencibles, Ontario
• Ontario's Provincial Plaques
• The Royal New Zealand Fencibles
• Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies - Royal Fencible Americans