A HISTORY OF YORKSHIRE 



in 1688. A second battalion was constituted in 169 1 out of a regiment raised in 1689, but it was 

 disbanded in 1697. In 1782 it was called the 'First Yorkshire North Riding.' The 19th saw 

 service in the Crimea, at Alma, Inkerman and Sevastopol and afterwards in the Tirah campaign of 

 1897-8. They also played a prominent part in South Africa, especially at Paardeburg, and their 

 volunteer battalions did good work in guarding communications. 



The 49th, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, was constituted in 1881 ; the first battalion 

 being the old 51st King's Own Light Infantry, raised in 1755 from the West Riding under the 

 Marquess of Rockingham and Sir George Savile. The 51st served with distinction at Minden on 

 I August 1759, on the anniversary of which battle the men of all ranks wear roses (the regimental 

 badge being a white rose). During the gallant defence of Minorca the regiment was reduced to 

 270 men, but it was refilled with Leeds men and obtained six war honours in the Peninsula, as well 

 as Waterloo. The second battalion had been raised in 1 839 as the 2nd Madras European Light 

 Infantry, being incorporated in the British army in i86i. Pontefract, the head quarters of the 

 49th, is also the depot of the 55th, York and Lancaster Regiment, constituted in 1881 out of the 

 65th, which had seen service in New Zealand in 186 1-3, and the 84th, which won distinction in 

 the Indian Mutiny. 



In the history of the auxiliary forces Yorkshire plays an important part, the raising of a regiment 

 of light horse, known as 'The Royal Regiment of Hunters,' in September I745> being often con- 

 sidered the first germ of the Yeomanry. As a matter of fact the county had been anticipated by the 

 Northampton Association of 1 744,' but the Yorkshire Light Horse were a noticeably early instance 

 of volunteer cavalry. Their first rank was formed by the gentlemen subscribers and the second and 

 third by their servants. General Oglethorpe, who was appointed to command them, reported very 

 favourably of their form.' The Government of that time do not seem to have been any more 

 prompt to encourage voluntary militarism than some of their successors, and Lord Malton 

 complained bitterly of their neglect, pointing out that when 1,308 stands of arms were needed for 

 the West Riding volunteers they had only sent 240.* 



The Napoleonic War revived the volunteer movement throughout England, and Yorkshire was 

 again well to the fore. In the first period of activity (1797-9) regiments were raised at Burlington, 

 Dickering, Driffield, Hull, and Wansford in the East Riding ; Northallerton, Scarborough, and 

 Whitby in the North; and Barkston Ash, Bradford, Halifiix, Huddersfield, Pontefract, and Sheffield, 

 as well as at York itself.' These included the Hull Artillery, a little over 100 strong. The 

 men of this corps were engaged at if. the day and were at first expected to train for two days every 

 week, six hours each day. But in view of the fact that working men could get from 31. to 3^. bd. 

 a day it was found that the loss of two days deterred possible recruits. It was therefore arranged 

 that in future they should train for only one day.' The fear of a French invasion gave a further 

 impetus to the volunteer movement and fifty more corps were raised in the county at different 

 centres between 1803 and 1865, including another corps of artillery at Whitby. There seems to 

 have been at that time, as at the present, some difficulty in obtaining, or at least maintaining, a 

 supply of officers, if we may judge from the fact that in the Teesdale Infantry in 1805 seven 

 captaincies were vacant.' This corps, which was raised in 1803, consisted of five companies averag- 

 ing forty men, a Rifle Company of sixty, a Light Company of sixty-five, and a Grenadier Company 

 of seventy-two. 



In the Volunteer organization of the late 19th century and again in the recent Territorial 

 scheme Yorkshire has shown that she is not lacking in the military enthusiasm which has 

 distinguished her past history. 



' C. Sebag Montefiore, //if/, of Volunteer Forces, 74. 



• Ibid. * Ibid. 76. 

 » Muster Rolls and Pay Lists (W.O.). 



• Ibid. Ibid. 



434 



