Militia of Forfarshire

[s58roads]

A report in the Dundee Advertiser Sep 1866 of my GGGrandfather's death in Forfar contains the following:

Mr Mann was one of the oldest members of the band of the local Militia of Forfarshire, he having acted as bass drummer, and continued so up to nearly the time of his death. He was bass drummer in the Rifle Volunteer Band so long as he was able to act.
Does anyone have information on these organisations or can point me in the right direction please?
Geoff

[Regorian]

1st and 2nd Forfarshire Rifle Volunteers 1859 and 3rd 1860. 1st became 4th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) 1908, and 2nd and 3rd amalgamated as 5th Battalion, Black Watch (RHR). Both battalions served in WWI and WWII.

Added: He may well have been in the Perthshire Militia which became 3rd Battalion Black Watch in 1881. They would have had a band whereas rifle volunteers might have had bugles only.

[km1971]

Hi Geoff

Militia and Volunteers were different types of part time units. The only Militia in Forfarshire/Angus was the Forfar and Kincardine Artillery based in Montrose. They changed from infantry in 1854. The National Archives have some of their muster books.

Between 1860 and 1863 most Volunteer Rifles were grouped into Administrative Battalions (ABs). Forfarshire had 1st and 2nd ABs, But in 1878 they also had the 1st and 10th Forfarshire. You should contact the local Record Offices as the Volunteers came under the Lord Lt of the County in his day. Hopefully someone has written a booklet on how they reorganised.

Ken

[s58roads]

Many thanks to Regorian and Ken for this information. I can now go hunting!
Geoff