A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 



regards the position of the men, and consequently there was only a small 

 number present.' In 1872 the strength was increased from 555 to 600 

 privates, and in 1878 it was made up to 720 privates, or 820 in all. In the 

 latter year the regiment was called out on the threat of war with Russia ; 

 the militia reserve was also mobilized, and of 169 men on the Bedfordshire 

 reserve list 168 turned out. The new barracks at Kempston were first 

 occupied that year. In 1879 Sir Richard Gilpin was succeeded by Lieut.- 

 Col. William Stuart as Honorary Colonel."" 



In 1 88 1 the territorial system was adopted ; the old dark green facings 

 disappeared, and the Militia became the 3rd Battalion of the Bedfordshire 

 Line Regiment. The recruiting fell off, and the regiment was for the 

 first time more than one hundred under strength. On the resignation of 

 Col. Stuart in 1882 Sir John Burgoyne, bart., succeeded to the command. 



The Hertfordshire Militia, as the 4th Battalion of the Bedfordshire, 

 volunteered for active service in South Africa, embarking in February 1900, 

 and returning in June 1902. It did much escort and guard-work, and 

 furnished ' an excellent company of mounted infantry,' which received praise 

 for 'gallantry in the field and endurance of continuous hardships.'"'* 



In 1803 Napoleon's threat of invasion led to the enrolment of volunteer 

 corps throughout England. By the end of the year a Bedfordshire corps had 

 been formed under the following officers : — Col.-in-Chief, the Earl of 

 Upper Ossory ; Cavalry: Bedford Troop, Captain Alston ; {Loyal) Warden 

 Troop, Captain Lord Ongley ; Woburn Troop, Captain the Duke of Bedford ; 

 Infantry : Lieut.-Col. Commandant, the Hon. John Trevor ; Lieut. -Col. 

 Francis Pym ; Majors, John Miller, John Harvey. The regiment was com- 

 posed of fourteen companies. In 1808 the volunteer regiment became two 

 regiments of ' Local Militia.' "" The First Regiment, Lieut.-Cols. Samuel 

 Whitbread, esq. and the Marquis of Tavistock. The Second Regiment, 

 Lieut-Cols. Lord St. John and R. Garstin, esq. Each regiment had eight 

 companies, and Lord John Russell (afterwards Earl Russell) held a captain's 

 commission in the ist Local Militia. The volunteer cavalry became a Harrold 

 and Bedford troop of yeomanry, ' which after a few years ceased to exist.' "^ 



Just a century after the re-establishment of the Militia came the crisis 

 of the Indian Mutiny in 1 857, which, with the apprehension of European com- 

 plications, gave rise to a new Volunteer movement, in which Bedfordshire 

 took its part. 



As at present constituted, 1908, the Bedfordshire Regiment under 

 Col. J. T. Dalyell, C.G., comprises the ist and 2nd Battalions of the 

 1 6th Foot; 3rd Battalion (Militia) Bedford, Lieut.-Col. Duke of Bed- 

 ford, K.G.; 4th Battalion (Militia) Hertford; ist (Herts.) Volunteer Battahon ; 

 2nd (Herts.) Volunteer Battalion ; 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Bedford, Lieut.- 

 Col. S.Jackson ; 4th (Hunts.) Volunteer Battalion. There is also a regiment 

 of Bedfordshire Yeomanry under Lieut.-Col. Lord Alwyne F. Compton. 



'"This was the title of officers commanding militia regiments since 1853. ''^^ The Beds. Reg. 11. 



"° For an account of the 'Local Militia' (1808-16) see Chambers's Encyclopaedia, sub Militia, ad fin. 

 "' This account of the volunteers is taken almost verbatim from Sir John Burgoyne's Reg. Rec. of the 

 Beds. MUitta, 57-8. 



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