Isle of Man Volunteers
Encyclopedia
The Isle of Man Volunteers was a battalion
of the British Army
formed during the 1860s and disbanded in 1920. During its existence, the battalion had the distinction of being the only representative of the Isle of Man
in the British Army.
It was formed in 1860 as the 2nd Isle of Man Rifle Volunteer Corps during the height of a perceived threat of invasion by France
. One of four such corps formed in the Isle of Man, the unit was attached to the 15th and 64th Lancashire
RVC in the 1870s, then renumbered the 1st in 1880.
In 1881, the unit was incorporated into the King's (Liverpool Regiment)
as the 7th (Isle of Man) Volunteer Battalion. A detachment of nine men accompanied the 6th King's to South Africa
during the Second Boer War
.
When the Territorial Force was established in 1908, all but one of the volunteer battalions joined. The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act was not extended to the Isle of Man, thus the 7th Battalion remained as the last volunteer force unit in the British Army.
The battalion was attached to the West Lancashire Division
at the beginning of the First World War
and was initially employed on guard duties. A service company was formed in 1915 and attached to the 16th King's. The company later transferred to the 3rd Cheshires and served with the 2nd Cheshires in Salonika.
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
formed during the 1860s and disbanded in 1920. During its existence, the battalion had the distinction of being the only representative of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
in the British Army.
It was formed in 1860 as the 2nd Isle of Man Rifle Volunteer Corps during the height of a perceived threat of invasion by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. One of four such corps formed in the Isle of Man, the unit was attached to the 15th and 64th Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
RVC in the 1870s, then renumbered the 1st in 1880.
In 1881, the unit was incorporated into the King's (Liverpool Regiment)
The King's Regiment (Liverpool)
The King's Regiment was one of the oldest infantry regiments of the British Army, having been formed in 1685 and numbered as the 8th Regiment of Foot in 1751...
as the 7th (Isle of Man) Volunteer Battalion. A detachment of nine men accompanied the 6th King's to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
When the Territorial Force was established in 1908, all but one of the volunteer battalions joined. The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act was not extended to the Isle of Man, thus the 7th Battalion remained as the last volunteer force unit in the British Army.
The battalion was attached to the West Lancashire Division
British 55th (West Lancashire) Division
The 55th Infantry Division was a British Territorial Force division which served on the Western Front during the First World War.- First World War:...
at the beginning of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was initially employed on guard duties. A service company was formed in 1915 and attached to the 16th King's. The company later transferred to the 3rd Cheshires and served with the 2nd Cheshires in Salonika.