Breadalbane Fencibles; 5th Reserves ?

[apowell]

Hi,

I've researched the Breadalbane Fencibles with great interest due to the possibility my x6 Great Grandfather Joseph Dellicot served with this Regiment from 1792 before joining the 32nd Regiment of Foot. I know he was serving with the Regiment when he married in Dumfires 1793 and according to the covering information on his service details held at Kew it states Breadalbane Fencibles; 5th Reserves & 32nd Regiment 1792-1814. I maybe mistaken but I can find no mention of the 5th Reserves or its whereabouts and only mention of the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Battalions.

I know the Breadalbane Fencibles were disbanded late 1700's - early 1800's so would this give us a clue on the date and place Joseph joined the 32nd Regiment.

Any ideas on the 5th Reserves ?

I've requested his military service documents today but was hoping someone could help in the meantime.

Many thanks
Adrian

[Currie]

Hello Adrian,

I’m not sure the Reserves bit is connected to the Breadalbane Fencibles. There seem to be quite a lot of references in the NA index to various *th reserves, but they’re separated from the other regiments by a semi-colon. I’m not sure how to interpret that. I couldn’t find anything useful about the reserves by searching.

There were only the three battalions according to this book. The raising of the first and second battalions was completed in 1793. They only saw home service, and were discharged in 1799. The third battalion was raised a few months after the others and was the one that saw service in Ireland from 1795 until reduced in 1802.
A History of Highlands etc., 1851. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=I4U ... 22&f=false

Hope that’s useful,
Alan

[Currie]

Here’s a Breadalbane Fencible not to be trifled with. http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgu ... 7AOBz7z_BA

Alan

[apowell]

Hi Alan,

Many thanks for your replies which I found very interesting.

I think you're spot on about the Reserves not being connected to the Breadalbane Fencibles and maybe it related to one of the Veteran Battalions.

Joseph seemed to have been born in Tyrone and was a soldier of the Breadalbane Fencibles by 1793 but I have no idea if the Breadalbane Fencibles recruited from Ireland or did Joseph move to Scotland and joined up there. I have a hunch he served with the 3rd Battalion of the Breadalbane Fencibles because he joined the 32nd Regiment who interestingly was stationed in Ireland around the time the 3rd was reduced in 1802.

I've ordered a copy of his military service records hels at Kew so I'm looking forward to finding more out about him because we know he was discharged 1814 which may mean he saw service in the Peninsular war.

Regards
Adrian

[apowell]

Hi Alan,

I wanted to let you know what I've found out about the 5th Reserves thanks to you putting me on the right track. The 5th Reserves were not connected to the Breadalbane Fencibles.

ARMY of RESERVE
With the renewal of the war with France in 1803, came the resumption of the threat on the invasion of Britain, by Napoleon Bonaparte. In order to enable the British Government to defend the realm from invasion, several Acts of Parliament were passed many dealing with augmenting the County Militia Regiments and raising Volunteer forces. However the Government realized that it needed more men. In July 1803 two Acts were passed one for England & Wales and one for Scotland.
In 1803 men from Scotland were raised and sent to regiments or reserve battalions; the counties of Ayr, Berwick, Bute, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Haddington, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Linlithgow, Peebles, Renfrew, Roxborough, Selkirk, Stirling, Wigton went to 26th (Cameronians) Regiment of Foot or 14th & 5th Reserve battalions.

I may have been wrong to assume he joined the 32nd Regiment from the Breadalbane Fencibles but first went to the 5th Reserve battalion before joining the 32nd. Maybe he served only in Scotland with the 1st or 2nd Fencibles before being drafted to the Reserves and sometime from 1803 he joined the 32nd Regiment. Oh dear doesn't this get complicated

Many thanks for your help.
Adrian

[Currie]

That’s ok Adrian, I’m glad I could help.

Thanks for clarifying the situation regarding the Reserves. Interesting stuff. I hope the service documents complete the picture.

All the best,
Alan