The Royal Cornwall and Devon Miners Garrison Artillery

The 118 th Regiment of Militia

Also known as: The Royal Miners; The Royal Cornwall Miners Artillery.

By ancient custom enshrined in the Stannaries Charters dating from 1201 the tin miners of Cornwall and Devon were exempt military service save when called to arms by the Lord Warden of the Stannaries. This exemption was unique within the history of the United Kingdom and led to the formation of a unique military unit, The Royal Cornwall and Devon Miners Militia.

Background

1574 ( Elizabeth year16) an Act was passed by the Stannery Parliament to ensure that tinners should not evade their liability for service when called upon by the Lord Warden (p12)

1588 The whole of the ‘Trained Bands’ called out – Spanish Armada

1595 23 rd July four gallies of the enemy ( Spain) attacked Mousehole and Penzance. Sir Francis Godolphin ‘sent forthwith to all the Captains of those parts for their speedy repair with their companies’ Carew p382 Indicating that the miners were at the time organised into trained militias.

1642 Cornwall supported the King

1778 Sir Francis Basset of Tehidy (later Lord de Dunstanville) marched the Cornish Miners in militia coats to Plymouth where they cast up earthworks and batteries about the port when France threatened to invade. As no commission had been issued to the Lord Warden of the Stannaries to muster the miners it appears that Sir Francis’s miners had volunteered for service. This is further supported by contemporary leaflets.

The French revolution of 1789 threw Europe into a further period of unrest. In 1793 France declared war on England. With an army of only 64,000 within Britain and its dependencies there was a need to raise an army to deter French invasion.

Various Acts of parliament were passed to increase the armed forces and in 1798 an Act was passed ‘for raising a Body of Miners in the Counties of Cornwall and Devon, for the Defense of the Kingdom, during the present War’. Act 38 George III c. 74. 21 st June.

The Act required recruits to swear the following oath:

“I ++ do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King George, and I do swear that I will faithfully serve in the regiment of Miners of the Counties of Cornwall and Devon within the Kingdom of Great Briton for the defence of the same during the present war and for the space of six calendar months after the end thereof” The Royal Miners Militia 1798.

1802 witnessed the disembodiment of the Regiment by the King on 12 th April following the Peace of Amiens. However within two months the Regiment was re-established. On 22 nd June an Act was passed (42 George III, c. 72. ) repealing the Act of 1798 and forming the Regiment of Miners on a permanent basis. Requiring one in fourteen of tin miners to serve for a period of five years. The Regiment was to consist of four companies.

The Royal Cornwall and Devon Miners Artillery served as an active militia unit until its disbandment in 1909.

Captain Cavenagh-Mainwaring of the Cornwall and Devon Miners Royal Garrison Artillery wrote a history of the regiment upon its disbandment for those who had served in it. ‘The Royal Miners, A History of the Stannaries Regiment of Miners’, of limited edition, copies are now rare. Had it not been for his efforts and those of Professor Charles Tomas little would be known today of this unique aspect of Cornish mining history.

Having recently acquired a number of items from the Regiment Poldark will explain the history of the Cornwall and Devon Royal Garrison Artillery within its Museum. For the first time that the history of the Regiment will be told in a museum.

The Royal Miners Militia has a parallel in Europe where from medieval times miners formed military units. The tradition has survived through to the present time in the form of miner’s ceremonial uniforms and other traditional military regalia. A number of these items from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic are included within the new Poldark displays.

Images

Cornwall Miners Artillery Officers Sword and scabbard circa 1840

Royal Cornwall and Devon Miners Officers Helmet Plate circa 1850

Cornwall and Devon Royal Garrison Artillery Lieutenant’s Mess Uniform 1900