394:
378:
386:
264:
28:
503:
Battery. The BMA and the BVRC were both reduced to skeleton staffs with their personnel moved onto the
Reserve, but were built back up in 1951 through new recruitment. In 1953, the coastal artillery in Bermuda was removed from use. The BMA converted to the infantry role, but was not retitled, and continued to wear the Royal Artillery uniform and cap badge until 1965, when it was amalgamated with the Bermuda Rifles (as the BVRC had been re-titled) to form the
173:. Various battalions were posted to Bermuda, normally for three years at a time. On occasions of heightened tensions, a second infantry battalion was sometimes posted to Bermuda. The BVRC was split into four companies, including three rifle companies and a headquarters company, with the archipelago divided between them into Western, Central, and Eastern areas of operation.
330:
overseas by the local units was lifted. This moratorium had been put in place following the drafting of a June, 1940 contingent from the BVRC to the
Lincolnshire Regiment (a handful of volunteers from the BMA and BVE travelled to England with it, detaching there to join their parent corps). At the time, German naval activity, including
433:. Under the command of Lt. Colonel H. Wilkin, OBE, MC, they prepared as a training cadre for the arrival of detachments from the West Indian islands, each under its own officers. As most of the West Indians were new recruits, they were tested in Virginia for fitness. Those who had previous training had been prepared for service in the
441:, mostly from members of local Volunteer Defence Forces. With more experience, and a generally higher degree of education, many of the Bermudian men were made non-commissioned officers and distributed around the regiment. A few officers and non-commissioned officers were also drafted in from British Army units.
316:
The BMI quickly grew, taking over the entire St. David's area of operation from the BVRC in 1940. Lieutenant JTO Redmond, BVRC, returned to his own unit on handing command of the BMI to
Lieutenant WW Fuller, BMI, on the 6 June, 1940, and Second-Lieutenant JA Duval was commissioned into the BMI on the
275:
under
Lieutenant JTO Redmond, BVRC, who was appointed Officer Commanding. Second-Lieutenants JER King and WW Fuller were commissioned at the same time. Grouped administratively with the BMA, it was originally tasked with the defence of the battery with a force of three officers and sixty enlistedmen.
145:
had authorised three part-time reserve units in 1892 to re-inforce the regular army detachments to the
Bermuda Garrison. These replaced the original militia, raised in 1612, which had been raised under Militia Acts that required periodic renewal. The local government saw the militia as an unnecessary
463:
The BMI was split into A Company, under
Officer Commanding Acting (paid) Captain (substantive Lieutenant) J.A Duval, and B Company, under Captain W.W. Fuller, in April, 1943, and based at St. David's Battery and Prospect Camp, respectively. The personnel who had did not go abroad with the Contingent
329:
approved the expansion of the unit to five officers and 120 other ranks in June, 1940 (taking advantage of the introduction of conscription), with two rifle companies. One company was based at St. David's, the other at
Prospect Camp. In 1943, the moratorium which had been placed on drafts being sent
312:
in April, 1940, for six weeks of training. The BMI training with the KSLI ended a week earlier than planned due to the unexpected and secretive deployment of the KSLI detachment to the West Indies. The BMI moved from
Prospect Camp to St. David's Island on the 24 May, 1940, occupying a tent camp with
468:
in
October, 1944. A Guard of Honour was provided by B Company, BMI, for the Opening of Parliamant in 1945, the first time this duty had fallen upon one of the local territorials. The same company also provided a guard of honour in 1946. Both guards were commanded by Captain R.W. Evans, the Officer
502:
The BMI and the BVE, as well as the Home Guard, were all permanently disbanded after the war. "B" Company, BMI, was disbanded on the 27 July, 1945, and its personnel absorbed into "A" Company, which was itself disbanded on the 1 March, 1946, with its personnel absorbed into the BMA's St. David's
196:
had taken over and improved the fortifications of the old militia, and built many new ones. By the middle of the 19th century, they had emplaced roughly five hundred artillery pieces around
Bermuda; vastly more than there existed trained gunners to man. Due to rapid advances in artillery in the
477:
The Bermuda Militia contingent returned to Bermuda from Egypt aboard the MT Highland Monarch on 5 January, 1946. Soldiers (Sergeants W.H. Outerbridge and H.R. Robinson) from the BMI, along with soldiers from the other Bermudian territorials, marched as a contingent to represent Bermuda in the
401:
By 1943, with the German navy no longer able to pose a threat to Bermuda, and the buildup of a US Army garrison to protect not just the US bases, but the entire archipelago, the moratorium was no longer needed. Volunteers from the BMI and BMA were formed into a company to serve overseas. This
215:
The BVRC restricted its recruitment to whites (initially by recruiting only members of private rifle clubs, as all the Bermudian rifle clubs at that time barred non-white members). The majority of the BMA's recruits were coloured (understood at that time, in Bermuda, as anyone not able to be
303:
for musketry training before returning to St. George's. In February, one platoon moved to St. David's Battery to replace its BVRC guards. The other remained at St. George's. The training the BMI had been given was judged not satisfactory, however, and the entire company was attached to the
227:; the latter in 1916 and 1917 to the Royal Garrison Artillery). After the war, the British Government increasingly curtailed its defence spending in Bermuda, withdrawing regular army units and transferring ever more of their duties to the part-time units, which were re-organised along
313:
two new hutment buildings, each 60 feet long: one divided into two rooms to provide a dining room and canteen; the other into four rooms containing an office, a Quarter Master Sergeant Stores, an officers' mess, and a Permanent Staff mess. Accommodation was in the tents.
338:, posed a significant threat to Bermuda. Although no enemy force could hold Bermuda for long in the face of British naval superiority, there were many inviting targets to attract naval or aerial bombardment, raiding parties, or saboteurs landed from submarines. By the
197:
latter 19th century, many of the forts, and most of the guns, were obsolete before the turn of the century, but the part-time reserve was still vital to the effectiveness of the garrison. The BMA provided detachments to batteries around Bermuda, but was centred on the
498:
in the Victory March on the 8 June, 1946, the contingent departed for Bermuda on the 23 June, sailing to Halifax, NS, aboard the Aquitania, and completing the journey via BOAC. The Contingent members were all placed on the Reserve on their return.
231:
lines in the 1920s. In 1928, the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers companies were withdrawn. The BMA took over complete responsibility for manning the coastal artillery batteries, of which only St. David's Battery was still active by 1939. The
212:, which had been assigned to Bermuda in 1888 to maintain and operate underwater mines, was never raised. In 1900 the Royal Engineers Submarine Mining Companies also assumed responsibility for operating electric searchlights defending harbours.
255:. Serving soldiers were embodied full-time for the duration of the war, and conscription was quickly introduced to add to their numbers. A succession of British Army and Canadian Army battalions were posted to Prospect Camp through the war.
188:), manning the various coastal artillery batteries in Bermuda, most of which were clustered in the fortified East End of Bermuda, where the only safe passage for sizeable vessels lay through the surrounding barrier reef. The
239:
By 1939, with war looming, the BMA, with a single battery of coastal artillery, did not allow full use to be made of the available coloured manpower of Bermuda, even with the construction that year of a new battery of two
464:
in 1944 were collected together in B Company, which remained based at Prospect Camp, and a new A Company was built up from recruits and based at St. David's Battery. A Company took over the guarding of
165:
Despite short-lived attempts to raise militias without the aid or funds of the local government, a permanent reserve would not exist 'til the first of the three units authorised in 1892, the
806:
292:, although within that they were ordered by parent corps as per the regular army, making the BMA the senior territorial unit in Bermuda). The BMI commenced preliminary training at
452:
before their arrival, and the Regiment was instead sent to Italy in July 1944, where it was employed in general duties behind the front line. In October it escorted 4000 German
236:(BVE) was raised in 1931 to take on the role of operating electric search lights at the batteries (in 1940, they also took on responsibility for signals within the garrison).
816:
801:
276:
Like the BMA, it recruited coloured other ranks, but all of its officers were white. The BMA and the BMI together were usually referred to locally as the
205:, overlooking the entrance through the reefs where arriving vessels were inspected by the Royal Navy before being allowed to proceed inwards.
542:, Lt. Commander Ian Strannack, The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press, The Bermuda Maritime Museum, P.O. Box MA 133, Mangrove Bay, Bermuda MA BX.
642:. Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14108, 15 April 1888. California Digital Newspaper Collection (CDNC). Digital Library Consulting.
482:, which was to be the final duty for the BMI and BVE. The Contingent left Bermuda on the 10 May, 1946, travelling to New York City on a
425:
The Bermuda Militia contingent arrived on two ships on the 13th and 23 April 1944, to form the training cadre of the new regiment at
811:
251:
The territorial units in Bermuda were mobilised on 3 September 1939, on the declaration of war against Germany by Prime Minister
796:
702:
465:
358:
566:
547:
750:
365:. To all of this, American and Canadian air and naval bases were soon to be added. Given the importance of Bermuda in the
791:
479:
361:, and navigational facilities for trans-Atlantic flight. As during the First World War, it became a forming-up point for
305:
241:
208:
The third reserve unit, a submarine mining militia meant to operate boats in support of 27th (Submarine Mining) Company,
169:(BVRC), was raised in 1894 as a reserve for the regular infantry force (which normally numbered one battalion posted to
322:
660:
598:
27557 Sapper ARCHIBALD LINDSAY, Royal Engineers: 5. ASSIGNMENTS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE; Halifax and Bermuda (1896-1902)
585:
293:
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272:
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company, numbering 104 officers and enlistedmen, joined with another of volunteers from the BVRC to form the
228:
166:
147:
786:
233:
707:, by Jennifer Hind (formerly Jennifer Ingham), author of "Defence, Not Defiance: A History of the BVRC""
393:
68:
437:. The new regiment numbered 1,200 officers and enlistedmen. The recruits were drawn from all over the
146:
expense following the buildup of the regular army garrison (that resulted from Bermuda's becoming the
377:
299:
In January, 1940, having completed preliminary training, the BMI moved from St. George's Garrison to
177:
185:
671:
369:, it was deemed vitally important that the defences not be weakened by drafts being sent abroad.
343:
318:
41:
37:
731:
561:, Lt.-Col. Roger Willock, USMC, The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press, The Bermuda Maritime Museum.
638:
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309:
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245:
170:
490:. It was greeted at Southampton by the city's Mayor. After marching between contingents from
411:
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224:
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33:
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8:
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27:
710:
655:, Jennifer M. Ingham (now Jennifer M. Hind), The Island Press Ltd., Pembroke, Bermuda.
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419:
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Little Bermuda's Precautions: Her Harbour Sown Thickly and Ingeniously with Torpedoes
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540:
The Andrew And The Onions: The Story Of The Royal Navy In Bermuda, 1795 – 1975
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397:
An Honour Guard from B Coy, BMI, parades at the opening of Parliament in 1945
347:
688:, DECEMBER, 1946. Corrected generally to 8 October 1946. Volume 1. Page 14.
624:
410:. In 1944, the two companies separated. The BVRC contingent was sent to the
335:
115:
219:
The BVRC and the BMA sent two drafts each to the Western Front during the
456:
from Italy to Egypt, where it was used in mine clearance work around the
434:
426:
381:
Bermuda Militia Infantry soldiers who served with the Caribbean Regiment.
362:
457:
326:
151:
653:
Defence, Not Defiance: A History Of The Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps
596:
415:
89:
280:. All of the Bermudian reserve units, together with those of the
61:
216:
described as wholly white), but all of its officers were white.
495:
271:
On 6 October 1939, the Bermuda Militia Infantry was created at
180:(BMA) was raised as a reserve for the two regular companies of
285:
32:
The Bermuda Militia Infantry wore the same cap badge as the
580:, Dr. Edward C. Harris, The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press,
559:
Bulwark Of Empire: Bermuda's Fortified Naval Base 1860-1920
491:
483:
445:
258:
79:
733:
Heritage Matters: Bermuda's losses in the Second World War
448:, in North Africa, in June, 1944. Oran was handed over to
673:
The Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Great War in France
158:), and simply stopped renewing the Militia Act after the
807:
Military units and formations of Bermuda in World War II
675:, by Dr. Edward Harris. The Royal Gazette. 2 August 2014
414:
in England. The Bermuda Militia contingent was sent to
346:
trans-Atlantic cable facilities, Bermuda had gained a
321:
on the Main Island, taking the position over from the
817:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
690:
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE OF REGIMENTS, ETC., IN THE ARMY.
627:
Fort Monckton and the Submarine Mining Establishment
44:
and other British Army units without a unique badge
406:at Prospect Camp, where they were trained for the
342:, in addition to the Royal Naval dockyard and the
802:Military units and formations established in 1939
114:was raised in 1939 as a part-time reserve of the
778:
600:. By Lieutenant-Colonel Edward De Santis. 2005
317:same day. In 1941, a platoon was posted near
418:to form the nucleus of a new regiment, the
389:B Company Bermuda Militia Infantry in 1944
26:
486:flight, and onward to England aboard the
288:, were collectively numbered 28th in the
267:Bermuda Militia Infantry soldiers in camp
705:History of the Bermuda Militia Artillery
692:His Majesty's Stationery Office, London.
444:The Caribbean Regiment left the USA for
392:
384:
376:
262:
259:Creation of the Bermuda Militia Infantry
154:in the western North Atlantic following
130:
779:
372:
753:Brief History of the Bermuda Regiment
223:(the former, in 1915 and 1916 to the
162:, allowing the militia to fade away.
480:London Victory Celebrations of 1946
13:
290:British Army's order of precedence
14:
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306:King's Shropshire Light Infantry
751:"The Bermuda Regiment website:
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323:Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
812:1939 establishments in Bermuda
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408:European Theatre of Operations
352:RNAS Boaz Island (HMS Malabar)
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797:Regiments of the British Army
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167:Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps
21:The Bermuda Militia Infantry
7:
614:. By Glyn Davies. Rootsweb.
612:Submarine Miners Volunteers
514:
469:Commanding B Company, BMI.
234:Bermuda Volunteer Engineers
40:, English regiments of the
10:
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792:British colonial regiments
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125:
178:Bermuda Militia Artillery
95:
85:
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57:
49:
25:
20:
625:Fort Gilkicker website:
359:base on Darrell's Island
186:Royal Garrison Artillery
184:(from 1899 to 1924, the
112:Bermuda Militia Infantry
738:Dr. Edward Cecil Harris
686:The Quarterly Army List
578:Bermuda Forts 1612–1957
42:Royal Reserve Regiments
38:Royal Garrison Regiment
509:Royal Bermuda Regiment
431:Williamsburg, Virginia
429:, a US Army base near
398:
390:
382:
367:Battle of the Atlantic
363:trans-Atlantic convoys
268:
412:Lincolnshire Regiment
396:
388:
380:
294:St. George's Garrison
266:
225:Lincolnshire Regiment
156:American independence
143:Parliament of Bermuda
34:General Service Corps
740:. The Royal Gazette.
466:RAF Darrell's Island
344:Cable & Wireless
160:American War of 1812
131:The Bermuda Garrison
787:Military of Bermuda
521:Military of Bermuda
439:British West Indies
373:Overseas Contingent
296:in November, 1939.
273:St. David's Battery
253:Neville Chamberlain
203:Examination Battery
199:St. David's Battery
713:on 22 October 2009
450:Free French Forces
420:Caribbean Regiment
404:Training Battalion
399:
391:
383:
269:
69:overseas territory
761:on 10 August 2014
567:978-0-921560-00-5
548:978-0-921560-03-6
507:(since 2015, the
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757:. Archived from
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505:Bermuda Regiment
454:prisoners of war
340:Second World War
332:commerce raiding
229:Territorial Army
201:, which was the
137:Bermuda Garrison
120:Bermuda Garrison
100:Bermuda Garrison
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194:Royal Artillery
190:Royal Engineers
182:Royal Artillery
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473:Disbandment
435:Pacific War
427:Fort Eustis
242:6-inch guns
96:Garrison/HQ
781:Categories
527:References
488:Queen Mary
458:Suez Canal
327:War Office
308:(KSLI) at
152:Royal Navy
53:1939-1946
515:See also
416:Virginia
192:and the
150:for the
90:Infantry
126:History
62:Bermuda
58:Country
659:
584:
565:
546:
496:Ceylon
460:area.
325:. The
76:Branch
50:Active
36:, the
736:. By
286:Malta
767:2014
719:2014
657:ISBN
582:ISBN
563:ISBN
544:ISBN
494:and
492:Aden
484:BOAC
446:Oran
354:, a
284:and
141:The
110:The
86:Type
80:Army
511:).
334:by
244:at
118:'s
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