Donegal Artillery
| Donegal Artillery Militia The Donegal Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1793–1909 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Great Britain (1759–1800) United Kingdom (1801–1881) |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Artillery |
| Garrison/HQ | Letterkenny |
| Engagements | Second Boer War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | n/a |
The Donegal Artillery was a British Militia Artillery regiment of the 19th century (the militia had been a nominally infantry force, but had been tasked from 1852 with responsibility for manning coastal artillery batteries in wartime). It was based in and named after County Donegal in the modern Republic of Ireland.
The regiment was raised as The Donegal Infantry Militia in 1793.[1] In 1855 four out of its twelve companies were converted to form The Donegal Artillery Militia. In November 1855 it assumed the title The Donegal Artillery Militia (The Prince of Wales's).
Between September 1855 and September 1856 the unit was embodied for the Crimean War. In 1882 they were retitled the 3rd Brigade, North Irish Division, Royal Artillery.
From 2 May 1900 until 6 November 1900 the unit was embodied for the Second Boer War, sending a service company of five officers and 144 other ranks. On arrival they joined the service company of the Antrim Artillery. They departed Cape Town for return home on 7 June 1901.[1] After the end of the war the following year, the officers of the Donegal Artillery presented to Letterkenny church a brass lectern as a memorial to some members of the regiment who died in the war.[2]
In 1902 it was renamed The Donegal Artillery, Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia).[3] On the creation of the Territorial Force in 1908 the unit was transferred to the Special Reserve Royal Field Artillery. It was disbanded in 1909.
References
- ^ a b Litchfield, Norman E H, 1987. The Militia Artillery 1852-1909, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p.67
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36878. London. 20 September 1902. p. 9.
- ^ Army List, HMSO, 1902
Publications
- Beckett, Ian F W (2011). Britain's Part Time Soldiers. The Amateur Military Tradition 1558—1945 (2 ed.). Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 9781848843950.
- Hay, George Jackson (Colonel) (1987) [1908]. An Epitomized History of the Militia (The "Constitutional Force"). Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 0-9508530-7-0.
- Litchfield, Norman E H, 1987. The Militia Artillery 1852-1909, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham. ISBN 0-9508205-1-2