Defending the Empire
Burghs were responsible for defending their towns in the
event of war or unrest. In order to carry out this task local
militias were formed. One early example of the need of these armed
groups was the mobilising of militias in south west Scotland to
meet the threat posed by the first Jacobite rebellion in 1715 then
again in 1745. Towns like Ayr and Dumfries armed volunteers with
pikes and bills to meet the threat posed by the Southwards march of
the Jacobite host.
In the late 18th century the Ayrshire Fencible
Cavalry was formed by Archibald, Lord Kennedy, to counter the
threat posed by France. Their name was changed soon after to the
Ayrshire Yeomanry. They were later joined by a new force, the
Ayrshire Militia whose volunteers were organised into squads armed
with rifles or artillery. These units remained the first line of
defence for the region for many years during the hey day of the
British Empire and remained an independent regiment until 1968
serving in South Africa (1899 - 1902), World War
One and World War Two. It still exists however as a
squadron in the British Army and has a specialised role in
reconnaissance operations and is equipped with light tracked
vehicles.
