Mormoan Militia (Part 1 continued)

The Clairmont Militia
Like many nations everywhere, The Holy Mormoan Kingdom of New Wales authorized the raising of Militia units, (Regiments, Battalions, Legions etc) very early in their history. The unit we will look at today is the Clairmont Militia:
NAME: The Clairmont Militia
Date Raised: 8 January 1726

MOTTO: "PER ARDUA" (Through Adversity)
Unofficial Motto: "We Hail From Struggletown".
Nicknames:"The Black Swans", “ Rawling's Swans” or "Kane's Geese"
Battle Honours: "Cadbury Hill 1733", "Launceston 1734", "Relief of Fort Clairmont 1735", "Van Demon's Land Campaign" and "Vinegar Hill1738".
Brief History: In 1730 King Michael sent his Brother, Grand Duke Colin with 3000 subjects and 500 troops to establish a colony on a large Island south of the mainland called Van Demon's Land. This became known as The Grand Duchy of Van Demon's Land. The 500 troops Grand Duke took with him were predominantly men that had recently arrived from the “Old World” (the British Nth American colonies). These men, (and their families), were keen to prove their worth .

These colonists had endured great deprivations to arrive in New Wales. They left the North American colonies due to religious persecution, and had lost over a third of their number on rout due to attacks from French and Spanish "supported" pirates, and severe storms at sea.

Prior to their movement to Van Demon's Land the new colonists, (including some 178 retired Royal Army soldiers) formed a Militia Regiment under the command of one Joseph Rawlings, who had been a well to do farmer back in the American Colonies. Consequently he had the funds and inclination to raise a Militia Regiment of 500 muskets. Rawlings was smart enough to draw all his NCOs and many of his Officers from the 178 ex-regulars. Consequently his Regiment was one of the finest and best drilled Militia units in the service of the King.

Initially they called themselves "Rawling's Regiment of Foot", but after they arrived in Van Demon's Land on 6 February 1730, re-named themselves The Clairmont Militia after the settlement they established.

The Regiment fought particularly well at the relief of Fort Clairmont in 1735, where it was heavily engaged against musket and spear armed natives who were supporting two battalions of the "French Pacific Island Company" (FPIC).

Regimental anecdotes and traditions:

When the Regiment formed in 1726, one of the drummers was a negro boy named Kane, (he was a runaway slave who had been with the Regiment's RSM since fleeing from a Virginian plantation). Whilst on a training march the Regiment stopped near a small lake and observed some Black Swans. Never having seen swans other that the white variety, one of the Soldiers commented that "...them thar geese are as black as Kane".

Drummer Kane rallied the Regiment at Cadbury Hill in 1733, when despite serious wounds stepped forward of the firing line in full view of his faltering regiment and beat the tune "STAND TOO". Suitably inspired, the regiment repulsed the enemy's charged with a devastatling volley and the bayonet, when many thought the regiment was on the verge of breaking into rout. They drove their opposite numbers from the field of battle. The Senior Drummer of the Regiment is always a Black Drummer. Kane later transfered to the Van Demon's Land Legion as Senior Drummer and helped train the drummers in the new Battalion!

3rd Regiment Of Foot "The Queen Mother's Regiment"

One of the "Elite" Regiments of the Royal army, the 3rd Regiment of Foot;“The Queen Mother's Regiment" is the topic of today's installment. Picture left is a Grenadier's (L) and a Musketeer's (R) uniform
NAME: 3rd Regiment Of Foot "The Queen Mother's Regiment"
Date Raised: 1 September 1701
MOTTO: "In Arduis Fidelis" (Faithful in adversity /hardships)
Unofficial Motto: None.
Nicknames:"Old Faithful"
Battle Honours: "Beaver Ridge", "The Hostile Wars" , "Port Philip 1728", "Cadbury Hill 1733", "Fort Clairmont", "Van Demon's Land Campaign" and "Vinegar Hill1738" .
Brief History: One of the first regiments to be raised by the Mormoan's, the bulk of the Regiment's recruits came from English and Welsh colonists, (many of who were miners). The Regiment was held in reserve at Beaver Ridge, and saw action for the first time during the "Hostile Wars". Fame came during the Van Demon's Land campaign in 1735, when as the Garrison at Fort Clairmont they held out for 35 days against an enemy consisting of 2000 hostile natives and a two battalions of the "French Pacific Island Company" (FPIC). The Regiment being relieved by a flying column under the command of Grand Duke Colin. The Regiment had sustained almost 50% casualties before the relief column arrived.
Regimental anecdotes and traditions:
Only 6 months prior to the Regiment taking up their duty as garrison at Fort Claimont the Regiment was presented with a new King's Colour (see note below), by Queen Janet.
When called upon to surrender by Colonel Paul De Grasser, (the commander of the FPIC Brigade), ensign O'Driscoll, the bearer of the King's Colour replied, "If you want my Queen's Colour, came and get it ye B#@*ARDS"!
Now, to this day the Regiment's "King's Colour" is called "The Queen's Colour", regardless if the Monarch is a King or Queen.
Queen Janet took the title "Queen Mother" on 13 November 1745, upon the assent to the throne, of her son Phillip. Consequently the Regiment took the name "Queen Mother's Regiment" on that date. Prior to that they had been known as "The Queen's Regiment" (in fact, since 1736).
NOTE: All Royal Mormoan Regiments have a "King's" and "Regimental" Colour. Young Ensign O'Driscoll in his excitement had mistakenly referred to the King's colour as "My Queen's Colour", (probably because the Queen had presented it on behalf of the King). Ensign O'Driscoll, (though wounded quite badly), survived the siege and later went on to become Colonel of The Regiment.