188-452: The 1st or East Devon Militia , later the 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment , was a part-time military unit in the maritime county of Devonshire in the West of England . The Militia had always been important in the county, which was vulnerable to invasion, and from its formal creation in 1758 the regiment served in home defence in all of Britain's major wars until 1908, after which it became
376-772: A French cavalry charge. During the American Revolutionary War , the regiment was sent to Quebec in April 1776 and assisted in the relief of Quebec in May 1776. Serving under General John Burgoyne for the remainder of the Canadian campaign, they later surrendered along with General Burgoyne at Saratoga . The 20th Regiment of Foot was designated the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot in 1782. The regiment embarked for Holland in August 1799 to take part in
564-893: A 'Garrison Army'. The 1st and South Devon Militia were both assigned to the Garrison Army in the Plymouth defences. The Childers Reforms of 1881 took Cardwell's reforms further, and the Militia regiments became integral parts of their Regular county regiment, with the 11th Foot becoming the Devonshire Regiment of two battalions and the two Devon Militia regiments becoming the 3rd and 4th battalions. This caused some confusion: because there had been no established order of precedence, when Militia regiments were brigaded together they had traditionally drawn lots for precedence in that year's camp; this became an annual ballot between
752-512: A 2nd Line duplicate of the 1/6th Battalion. Like the 2/5th Battalion, the 2/6th Battalion was also part of 197th Infantry Brigade in the 66th Infantry Division and was also transferred to 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division after 66th Division disbanded. However, in October 1942, the battalion was transferred elsewhere when it was replaced in the 197th Brigade by the 1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment . The 2/6th Battalion remained in
940-679: A commission dated 20 November 1688, the regiment was formed in Torbay , Devon under Sir Richard Peyton as Peyton's Regiment of Foot . (Until 1751 the regiment's name changed according to the name of the colonel commanding.) The regiment served in the Glorious Revolution under King William III , and at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690 and the Battle of Aughrim in 1691. During
1128-563: A county basis, and filled by voluntary enlistment (although conscription by means of the Militia Ballot might be used if the counties failed to meet their quotas). Training was for 56 days on enlistment, then for 21–28 days per year, during which the men received full army pay. The permanent staff was increased. Under the Act, Militia units could be embodied by Royal Proclamation for full-time home defence service in three circumstances: Under
1316-484: A duplicate of the 1/8th Battalion and began the war in the 199th Infantry Brigade , alongside the 6th and 7th Manchester Regiment , part of the 66th Infantry Division and later was transferred to the 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division when the 66th Division was disbanded in July 1940. It did not leave the United Kingdom and was disbanded in October 1944. The 9th (Service) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
1504-472: A further grant of crest and supporters was obtained. The crest is the head of a Dartmoor Pony rising from a "Naval Crown". This distinctive form of crown is formed from the sails and sterns of ships, and is associated with the Royal Navy . The supporters are a Devon bull and a sea lion. Devon County Council adopted a "ship silhouette" logo after the 1974 reorganisation, adapted from the ship emblem on
1692-626: A large part in the religious life of Devon today, although the county has shared in the post-World War II decline in British religious feeling. The Diocese of Exeter remains the Anglican diocese including the whole of Devon. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth was established in the mid 19th century. There was no established coat of arms for the county until 1926: the arms of the City of Exeter were often used to represent Devon, for instance in
1880-459: A number of detachments to outlying posts. The regiment remained at Fermoy until 16 April 1816, when it returned to Cork, re-embarked on the Seringapatam and reached Plymouth on 20 April. It was disembodied on 1 May. In 1817 an Act was passed that allowed the annual training of the Militia to be dispensed with. So although officers continued to be commissioned into the regiment and the ballot
2068-692: A property qualification for officers, who were commissioned by the Lord Lieutenant. The first issue of arms to the Devon Militia was made on 5 December 1758, and they were embodied for permanent service on 23 June 1759. Two, later four (Exeter, North, East and South), battalions were formed in Devon under the command of the Duke of Bedford as Lord Lieutenant. They served in the West Country for
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#17327942945142256-581: A redoubt at the mouth of the River Yealm . On 16 November the camp was broken up and the regiment dispersed to winter quarters: two companies to Dartmouth, four to Kingsbridge and Modbury , two to the Yealm redoubt (now used as a penal establishment) and the two flank companies on detached duty; the companies were regularly rotated between these stations. Combined drill with the Volunteers and Yeomanry
2444-647: A reserve unit for the Devonshire Regiment . The universal obligation to military service in the Shire levy was long established in England and its legal basis was updated by two acts of 1557 ( 4 & 5 Ph. & M. cc. 2 and 3), which placed selected men, the ' trained bands ', under the command of Lords Lieutenant appointed by the monarch. This is seen as the starting date for the organised county militia in England. The Devon Trained Bands were divided into three 'Divisions' (East, North and South), which were called out in
2632-522: A result of some reintroductions. Another recent reintroduction is the Eurasian beaver , primarily on the river Otter. Other rare species recorded in Devon include seahorses and the sea daffodil. The botany of the county is very diverse and includes some rare species not found elsewhere in the British Isles other than Cornwall. Devon is divided into two Watsonian vice-counties : north and south,
2820-520: A semi-professional force whose role was to provide reinforcement drafts for Regular units serving overseas in wartime (similar to the Militia Reserve of 1867). Under these changes, the 3rd (2nd Devon Militia) Battalion was disbanded, and the 4th (1st Devon Militia) became the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on 1 April 1908. The reformed battalion also had a cadet company at Dartmouth. When World War I broke out on 4 August 1914
3008-615: A soft, sooty coal, which is known in Devon as culm , or from the contortions commonly found in the beds. This formation stretches from Bideford to Bude in Cornwall, and contributes to a gentler, greener, more rounded landscape. It is also found on the western, north and eastern borders of Dartmoor. The sedimentary rocks in more eastern parts of the county include Permian and Triassic sandstones (giving rise to east Devon's well known fertile red soils); Bunter pebble beds around Budleigh Salterton and Woodbury Common and Jurassic rocks in
3196-479: Is a county bird society dedicated to the study and conservation of wild birds. The RSPB has reserves in the county, and Natural England is responsible for over 200 Devon Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves , such as Slapton Ley . The Devon Bat Group was founded in 1984 to help conserve bats. Wildlife found in this area extend to a plethora of different kinds of insects, butterflies and moths; an interesting butterfly to take look at
3384-471: Is a wide range of wildlife (see Dartmoor wildlife , for example). A popular challenge among birders is to find over 100 species in the county in a day. The county's wildlife is protected by several wildlife charities such as the Devon Wildlife Trust , which looks after 40 nature reserves. The Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society (founded in 1928 and known since 2005 as "Devon Birds")
3572-582: Is at this day named by the Britans Duffneit, that is to say, Low valleys. [...] But the Country of this nation is at this day divided into two parts, knowen by later names of Cornwall and Denshire, [...] The term Devon is normally used for everyday purposes (e.g., "Devon County Council"), but Devonshire has continued to be used in the names of the " Devonshire and Dorset Regiment " (until 2007) and " The Devonshire Association ". One erroneous theory
3760-546: Is lined with tourist resorts, many of which grew rapidly with the arrival of the railways in the 19th century. Examples include Dawlish, Exmouth and Sidmouth on the south coast, and Ilfracombe and Lynmouth on the north. The Torbay conurbation of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham on the south coast is now administratively independent of the county. Rural market towns in the county include Barnstaple, Bideford, Honiton , Newton Abbot , Okehampton , Tavistock , Totnes and Tiverton . The boundary with Cornwall has not always been on
3948-569: Is relatively uncommon away from high land, although there are few exceptions. The county has mild summers with occasional warm spells and cool rainy periods. Winters are generally cool and the county often experiences some of the mildest winters in the world for its high latitude, with average daily maximum temperatures in January at 8 °C (46 °F). Rainfall varies significantly across the county, ranging from over 2,000 mm (79 in) on parts of Dartmoor, to around 750 mm (30 in) in
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#17327942945144136-627: Is that the shire suffix is due to a mistake in the making of the original letters patent for the Duke of Devonshire , resident in Derbyshire . There are references to both Defnas and Defenasċīre in Anglo-Saxon texts from before 1000 CE (the former is a name for the "people of Devon" and the latter would mean 'Shire of the Devonians'), which translates to modern English as Devonshire . The term Devonshire may have originated around
4324-455: Is the chequered skipper . Devon is a national hotspot for several species that are uncommon in Britain, including the cirl bunting ; greater horseshoe bat ; Bechstein's bat and Jersey tiger moth . It is also the only place in mainland Britain where the sand crocus ( Romulea columnae ) can be found – at Dawlish Warren, and is home to all six British native land reptile species, partly as
4512-621: Is the 218 m (715 ft) Little Hangman, which marks the western edge of coastal Exmoor. One of the features of the North Devon coast is that Bideford Bay and the Hartland Point peninsula are both west-facing, Atlantic facing coastlines; so that a combination of an off-shore (east) wind and an Atlantic swell produce excellent surfing conditions. The beaches of Bideford Bay ( Woolacombe , Saunton , Westward Ho! and Croyde ), along with parts of North Cornwall and South Wales, are
4700-405: Is the city of Exeter. The largest city in Devon, Plymouth, and the conurbation of Torbay (which includes the largest town in Devon and capital of Torbay, Torquay, as well as Paignton and Brixham) have been unitary authorities since 1998, separate from the remainder of Devon which is administered by Devon County Council for the purposes of local government. Devon County Council is controlled by
4888-556: The 104th Brigade in the 35th Division in January 1916 also for service on the Western Front. The 19th (Service) Battalion (3rd Salford) (Pioneers) landed at Le Havre as part of the 96th Brigade in the 32nd Division in November 1915 also for service on the Western Front. The 20th (Service) Battalion (4th Salford) landed at Le Havre as part of the 104th Brigade in the 35th Division in January 1916 also for service on
5076-709: The 11th Foot , the South Devon Militia and the Exeter and South Devon Volunteers . The Militia were now controlled by the War Office rather than their county Lord Lieutenant, and officers' commissions were signed by the Queen. A mobilisation scheme began to appear in the Army List from December 1875. This assigned to Militia units places in an order of battle serving with Regular units in an 'Active Army' and
5264-716: The 125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade , in early May 1915. They took part in the Second Battle of Krithia (6–8 May) under command of the 29th Division . The brigade later rejoined the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division for the Third Battle of Krithia and Battle of Krithia Vineyard . Evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915, these four battalions landed on Moudros and proceeded to Egypt. From there they were transferred to Marseille in February 1917 for service on
5452-488: The 125th Infantry brigade . They were sent to France in April 1940 to join the rest of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and fought in the Battle of Dunkirk and were evacuated to Britain. In 1941, the battalion was converted to armour as the 108th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (Lancashire Fusiliers) . Units converted in this way continued to wear their infantry cap badge on the black beret of
5640-476: The 12th Brigade in the 4th Division in August 1914 and also saw action on the Western Front. Between November 1915 and February 1916, the brigade was part of 36th (Ulster) Division before returning to the 4th Division. The 3rd (Reserve) and 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalions spent the whole war in England, the 3rd Bn in the Humber Garrison and the 4th initially at Barrow-in-Furness and later in
5828-550: The 52nd Brigade in the 17th (Northern) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front. The 11th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne in September 1915 as part of the 74th Brigade of the 25th Division ; the famous fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien served with this battalion until contracting trench fever during the Battle of the Somme in October 1916. The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne as part of
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6016-619: The 65th Brigade in the 22nd Division in September 1915 but moved with the Division to Salonika , arriving in November 1915 before moving to France for service on the Western Front in July 1918. The 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Salford) and 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Salford) landed at Boulogne as part of the 96th Brigade in the 32nd Division in November 1915 also for service on the Western Front. The 17th (Service) Battalion (1st South East Lancashire) and 18th (Service) Battalion (2nd South East Lancashire) landed at Le Havre as part of
6204-773: The Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland . It fought at the Battle of Krabbendam in September 1799 and the Battle of Alkmaar in October 1799. It departed for Egypt in spring 1801 and saw action at the Battle of Alexandria in March 1801, during the French Revolutionary Wars . After moving to Calabria , it took part in the Battle of Maida in July 1806 during the War of the Third Coalition . The regiment embarked for Portugal in 1808 for service in
6392-621: The Armada year of 1588. Although control of the militia was one of the areas of dispute between King Charles I and Parliament that led to the First English Civil War , most of the county Trained Bands played little part in the fighting. After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 the militia of Devon were called out on a number of occasions when the appearance of hostile fleets caused alarm, and in 1685 they prevented
6580-525: The Battle of the Pyrenees in July 1813, the Battle of Nivelle in November 1813, and the Battle of Orthez in February 1814, as well the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814. During the Crimean War , the regiment took part in the Battle of Alma in September 1854 and the Battle of Inkerman in November 1854. The 2nd Battalion was raised in 1858. The regiment was not superficially affected by
6768-584: The Brighton brigade, and then in July to Eastbourne where the men assisted in the construction of Martello towers . In November the regiment returned to Exeter for its winter quarters. In the summer of 1807 it was back at Plymouth Dock. Another recruitment drive for men to transfer to the Line regiments was accompanied by balloting to bring the Militia up to strength: the 1st Devon required 335 men in December to replace volunteers and time-expired men. Again in 1810,
6956-486: The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) it exchanged with the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment into the 4th Infantry Brigade part of the 2nd Infantry Division , as part of official BEF policy to mix the Regular and Territorial armies. During the Battle of France , the 1/8th Lancashire Fusiliers, along with the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots and the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment , were overrun on 26–27 May 1940 around
7144-605: The Brittonic languages , Devon is known as Welsh : Dyfnaint , Breton : Devnent and Cornish : Dewnens , each meaning 'deep valleys'. (For an account of Celtic Dumnonia , see the separate article.) Among the most common Devon placenames is -combe which derives from Brittonic cwm meaning 'valley' usually prefixed by the name of the possessor. William Camden , in his 1607 edition of Britannia , described Devon as being one part of an older, wider country that once included Cornwall : THAT region which, according to
7332-573: The Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s – as it already possessed two battalions, there was no need for it to amalgamate with another regiment. However, in setting its depot at Wellington Barracks in Bury from 1873, it lost its West Country affiliations. This was exacerbated by the Childers reforms of 1881. Under the reforms the regiment became The Lancashire Fusiliers on 1 July 1881. Under
7520-457: The College of Arms . The main part of the shield displays a red crowned lion on a silver field, the arms of Richard Plantagenet, Earl of Cornwall . The chief or upper portion of the shield depicts an ancient ship on wavers, for Devon's seafaring traditions. The Latin motto adopted was Auxilio Divino (by Divine aid), that of Sir Francis Drake . The 1926 grant was of arms alone. On 6 March 1962
7708-688: The Devonian strata of north Devon and south west Devon (and extending into Cornwall); ii) the Culm Measures (north western Devon also extending into north Cornwall); and iii) the granite intrusion of Dartmoor in central Devon, part of the Cornubian batholith forming the 'spine' of the southwestern peninsula. There are blocks of Silurian and Ordovician rocks within Devonian strata on the south Devon coast but otherwise no pre-Devonian rocks on
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7896-586: The Devonian geologic period, which includes the slates and sandstones of the north coast. Dartmoor and Exmoor have been designated national parks , and the county also contains, in whole or in part, five national landscapes . In the Iron Age , Roman and the Sub-Roman periods, the county was the home of the Dumnonii Celtic Britons . The Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain resulted in
8084-758: The East Lancashire Division of the TF, on the eve of the First World War. The 1st Battalion, which was based in Karachi in the early months of the war, returned to the United Kingdom in January 1915. It was prominent at the landing at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915 during the Gallipoli Campaign as part of the 86th Brigade in the 29th Division . The shore had been silent but as the first boat landed, Ottoman small-arms fire swept
8272-418: The Glorious Revolution of 1688 took place at Brixham . Devon has produced tin , copper and other metals from ancient times. Devon's tin miners enjoyed a substantial degree of independence through Devon's Stannary Convocation , which dates back to the 12th century. The last recorded sitting was in 1748. Devon straddles a peninsula and so, uniquely among English counties, has two separate coastlines: on
8460-653: The Italian Campaign (as part of the Gothic Line ). During the fighting in Italy, Fusilier Frank Jefferson was awarded the Victoria Cross . A former member of the battalion, Wallace Jackson, died on Thursday, 12 November 2009 aged 89 years. The 1/5th Battalion was a 1st-Line Territorial Army (TA) unit serving in the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division with the 1/6th and 1/8th battalions in
8648-693: The Jacobite rising of 1745 . (In December 1748, Cornwallis also established a Freemason 's Lodge for the regiment, on the registry of the Grand Lodge of Ireland .) In 1751, the regiment became the 20th Regiment of Foot , often written in Roman numerals 'XX Foot', (hence the nickname The Two Tens ). During the Seven Years' War the regiment earned honour at the Battle of Minden on 1 August 1759, when, as an infantry formation, they stood fast and broke
8836-414: The Manchester Ship Canal and Barton Power Station during the Phoney War , it served in the Orkney Islands , guarding the Scapa Flow naval base. It returned to Lancashire in early 1941 to defend Liverpool during the May Blitz . In the summer of 1940, while serving in 53 Anti-Aircraft Brigade, covering the North Midlands, it was transferred as a Searchlight Regiment to the Royal Artillery (the day of
9024-455: The Order of Brothelyngham —a fake monastic order of 1348 — regularly rode through Exeter, kidnapping both religious men and laymen, and extorting money from them as ransom. Devon has also featured in most of the civil conflicts in England since the Norman conquest , including the Wars of the Roses , Perkin Warbeck 's rising in 1497, the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549, and the English Civil War . The arrival of William of Orange to launch
9212-436: The Panjdeh incident while much of the Regular Army was simultaneously engaged on the Nile Expedition ; the acting CO offered the 4th Battalion for garrison duty, but this was politely declined. The Devonshire Militia battalions were further reduced in 1890, to an establishment of six companies. With the bulk of the Regular Army serving in South Africa during the Second Boer War , the Militia were called out. The 4th Battalion
9400-400: The Peninsular War . It saw action at the Battle of Vimeiro in August 1808 and the Battle of Corunna in January 1809 before being evacuated home later that month. The regiment returned to the Peninsula and fought at the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813, where it formed part of the "backbone" of the Duke of Wellington 's forces. It then pursued the French Army into France and took part in
9588-469: The Prayer Book Rebellion caused the deaths of thousands of people from Devon and Cornwall. During the English Reformation , churches in Devon officially became affiliated with the Church of England . From the late sixteenth century onwards, zealous Protestantism – or 'puritanism' – became increasingly well-entrenched in some parts of Devon, while other districts of the county remained much more conservative. These divisions would become starkly apparent during
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#17327942945149776-491: The Royal Armoured Corps . The 1/6th Battalion served alongside the 1/5th Battalion in France in April–June 1940 and were driven back to Dunkirk. In 1941, this 1st-Line TA Battalion was converted, like the 1/5th Battalion, to armour as 109th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps . In 1936, the 7th Battalion was converted into 39th (The Lancashire Fusiliers) Anti-Aircraft Battalion , Royal Engineers , based in Salford. After mobilising in August 1939 to defend potential targets such as
9964-413: The Royal Military Canal . In November it moved to winter quarters in Chelmsford , Essex , where duties were light, though they included marching parties of prisoners of war to the great camp at Norman Cross . The summer of 1811 was spent at Winchester , the march beginning at the end of June. In 1812 there was an outbreak of Luddite machine-breaking and the regiment spent much of the year constantly on
10152-403: The Second Boer War , and the First and Second World Wars . It had many different titles throughout its 280 years of existence. In 1968 the regiment was amalgamated with the other regiments of the Fusilier Brigade – the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers , Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) – to form the current Royal Regiment of Fusiliers . By
10340-421: The Second Boer War , the 2nd Battalion saw action at the Battle of Spion Kop in January 1900 and took part in the Relief of Ladysmith in February 1900. The battalion served in South Africa throughout the war, which ended with the Peace of Vereeniging in June 1902. About 570 officers and men left Cape Town on the SS Britannic in October that year. They were stationed at Aldershot after their return to
10528-460: The Severn Garrison. They fulfilled their dual role of coast defence and preparing reinforcement drafts of regular reservists, special reservists, recruits and returning wounded for the regular battalions serving overseas. Thousands of men would have passed through their ranks during the war. While at Hull , the 3rd Battalion assisted in the formation of 13th (Reserve) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers , from Kitchener's Army volunteers. Soon after
10716-428: The Territorial Force (TF), with battalions numbered in sequence after the militia. Thus the 1st Volunteer Battalion at Castle Armoury in Bury became 5th Battalion, 2nd Volunteer Battalion at Baron Street in Rochdale became the 6th Battalion, and the 3rd Volunteer Battalion formed the 7th and 8th battalions both based at Cross Lane in Salford. These four battalions formed the Lancashire Fusiliers Brigade , in
10904-402: The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 the militia was allowed to dwindle. Under threat of French invasion during the Seven Years' War a series of Militia Acts from 1757 re-established county militia regiments, the men being conscripted by means of parish ballots (paid substitutes were permitted) to serve for three years. Front-line Devonshire was initially given a quota of 1600 men to raise. There was
11092-404: The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), it aided in the capture of Spanish galleons at Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702. Under the command of Thomas Bligh , the regiment distinguished itself at the Battle of Dettingen in June 1743 and at the Battle of Fontenoy in May 1745. Under the command of Edward Cornwallis , the regiment also served at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746 during
11280-477: The rain shadow along the coast in southeastern Devon and around Exeter. Sunshine amounts also vary widely: the moors are generally cloudy, but the SE coast from Salcombe to Exmouth is one of the sunniest parts of the UK (a generally cloudy region). With westerly or south-westerly winds and high pressure the area around Torbay and Teignmouth will often be warm, with long sunny spells due to shelter by high ground ( Foehn wind ). The variety of habitats means that there
11468-436: The "Deep Valley Dwellers". The region to the west of Exeter was less Romanised than the rest of Roman Britain since it was considered a remote part of the province. After the formal Roman withdrawal from Britain in AD 410, one of the leading Dumnonii families attempted to create a dynasty and rule over Devon as the new Kings of Dumnonii. Celtic paganism and Roman practices were the first known religions in Devon, although in
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#173279429451411656-439: The 1st Battalion on 1 August 1919 and the 3rd Battalion was disembodied on 9 August. After Lord Kitchener issued his call for volunteers in August 1914, the battalions of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd New Armies ('K1', 'K2' and 'K3' of ' Kitchener's Army ') were quickly formed at the regimental depots. The SR battalions also swelled with new recruits and were soon well above their establishment strength. On 8 October 1914 each SR battalion
11844-515: The 1st Devon formed a company of 69 volunteers. But in 1814 only one man and three officers volunteered for garrison duty in Europe. In December 1813 the regiment was marched from Plymouth to Bristol, where it took up duties at Stapleton Prison once more. It returned to Plymouth in May 1814, but by now the war was over, the Treaty of Fontainebleau having been signed in April. Plymouth was busy with militia regiments returning from Ireland to be disembodied, and returning British prisoners of war. On 16 June
12032-422: The 1st Devon to be embodied at Exeter on 24 July. By then the decisive Battle of Waterloo had already been fought, but the process of embodiment went on while the Regulars were away in the Army of Occupation in France. However, in the absence of a fresh ballot only a small number of men whose time was not yet expired were available: the regiment mustered 25 sergeants, 17 drummers and 130 rank and file. Together with
12220-537: The 1st Devons became the 4th Battalion (1st Devon Militia), Devonshire Regiment . However, the Devonshire Regiment did adopt the old East Devon Militia's cap badge and motto in 1883. The battalion continued to do its annual training and target practice, being issued with the Martini–Henry rifle in 1882. Like many Militia battalions, the 4th Devons volunteered for garrison service during the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882, but none were embodied. The Regular Reserves were called up when an international crisis arose in 1885 over
12408-432: The 1st Volunteer Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, and the 12th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers (originally the 24th, raised at Rochdale in February 1860) became the 2nd Volunteer Battalion. In 1886 the 56th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers (raised at Salford on 5 March 1860) was transferred from the Manchester Regiment to become the 3rd Volunteer Battalion . In common with other regiments recruited from populous urban areas,
12596-405: The 8th century, when it changed from Dumnonia ( Latin ) to Defenasċīr . Kents Cavern in Torquay had produced human remains from 30 to 40,000 years ago. Dartmoor is thought to have been occupied by Mesolithic hunter-gatherer peoples from about 6000 BC. The Romans held the area under military occupation for around 350 years. Later, the area began to experience Saxon incursions from
12784-474: The Act, the militia establishment for Devon was fixed at two regiments of infantry and one of artillery. The North Devon Militia were converted to artillery in 1853 and the surplus men and equipment taken over by the 1st Devon. The 1st Devon now dropped the 'East Devon' title. The reorganised regiment assembled at the Artillery Barracks in Exeter for 21 days' training on 26 October 1852, with the assistance of drill sergeants borrowed from Regular regiments. Training
12972-410: The Boer War, the future of the Militia was called into question. There were moves to reform the Auxiliary Forces (Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteers) to take their place in the six Army Corps proposed by St John Brodrick as Secretary of State for War . However, little of Brodrick's scheme was carried out. Under the sweeping Haldane Reforms of 1908, the Militia was replaced by the Special Reserve (SR),
13160-491: The Bristol Channel and Celtic Sea in the north, and on the English Channel in the south. The South West Coast Path runs along the entire length of both, around 65% of which is named as Heritage Coast . Before the changes to English counties in 1974, Devon was the third largest county by area and the largest of the counties not divided into county-like divisions (only Yorkshire and Lincolnshire were larger and both were sub-divided into ridings or parts, respectively). Since 1974
13348-402: The British and caused many casualties. Six Victoria Crosses were awarded to the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers – 'the six VCs before breakfast' . The landing spot ( W Beach ) was later known as 'Lancashire Landing'. The battalion were evacuated in January 1916 and landed at Marseille in March 1916. It saw action on the Western Front . The 2nd Battalion landed at Boulogne as part of
13536-459: The Confessor by Lyfing's successor Bishop Leofric , hitherto Bishop of Crediton, who became first Bishop of Exeter under Edward the Confessor, which was established as his cathedral city in 1050. At first, the abbey church of St Mary and St Peter, founded by Athelstan in 932 and rebuilt in 1019, served as the cathedral. Devon came under the political influence of several different nobles during
13724-965: The Conservatives, and the political representation of its 60 councillors are: 38 Conservatives , 10 Liberal Democrats , six Labour , three Independents , two Green and one South Devon Alliance. At the 2024 general election , Devon returned six Liberal Democrats, four Conservatives and three Labour MPs to the House of Commons . Historically Devon was divided into 32 hundreds : Axminster , Bampton , Black Torrington , Braunton , Cliston , Coleridge , Colyton , Crediton , East Budleigh , Ermington , Exminster , Fremington , Halberton , Hartland , Hayridge , Haytor , Hemyock , Lifton , North Tawton and Winkleigh , Ottery , Plympton , Roborough , Shebbear , Shirwell , South Molton , Stanborough , Tavistock , Teignbridge , Tiverton , West Budleigh , Witheridge , and Wonford . A devolution deal
13912-496: The Devon Flora by Ivimey-Cook appeared in 1984, and A New Flora of Devon , based on field work undertaken between 2005 and 2014, was published in 2016. Rising temperatures have led to Devon becoming the first place in modern Britain to cultivate olives commercially. In January 2024, plans were announced to plant over 100,000 trees in northern Devon to support Celtic rainforests , which are cherished yet at risk ecosystems in
14100-470: The Devon mainland. The metamorphic rocks of Eddystone are of presumed Precambrian age. The oldest rocks which can be dated are those of the Devonian period which are approximately 395–359 million years old. Sandstones and shales were deposited in North and South Devon beneath tropical seas. In shallower waters, limestone beds were laid down in the area now near Torquay and Plymouth. This geological period
14288-689: The Devonshire Militia battalions in 1758 consisted of the Union flag for the King's Colour, and one bearing the Duke of Bedford's coat of arms for the Regimental Colour. The regimental badge of the 1st or East Devon Militia from the date of its formation was a heraldic castle (representing Exeter Castle ) with the motto Semper fidelis (Ever faithful), allegedly to commemorate the defence of
14476-678: The Duke of Bedford as its Colonel . Sir John Prideaux, 6th Baronet , Colonel of the disbanded East Devon battalion, took legal action against the Duke of Bedford and the Deputy lieutenants for the loss of his command, and refused to give up the battalion's arms and accoutrements in his care until 1764. The militiamen's peacetime training was widely neglected, but the Devonshire regiments do appear to have completed their training each year. The Duke of Bedford died in 1771, and Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard Bampfylde, 4th Baronet , MP , resigned, so
14664-482: The English Civil War of 1642–46, when the county split apart along religious and cultural lines. The Methodism of John Wesley proved to be very popular with the working classes in Devon in the 19th century. Methodist chapels became important social centres, with male voice choirs and other church-affiliated groups playing a central role in the social lives of working class Devonians. Methodism still plays
14852-608: The Geographers, is the first of all Britaine, and, growing straiter still and narrower, shooteth out farthest into the West, [...] was in antient time inhabited by those Britans whom Solinus called Dumnonii, Ptolomee Damnonii [...] For their habitation all over this Countrey is somewhat low and in valleys, which manner of dwelling is called in the British tongue Dan-munith, in which sense also the Province next adjoyning in like respect
15040-669: The K1–K3 battalions in the same way that the SR was doing for the Regular battalions. The Devon battalion became 11th (Reserve) Battalion , at Wareham, Dorset , in 10th Reserve Brigade , where it trained drafts for the 8th, 9th and 10th (Service) Bns Devons. On 1 September 1916 the 2nd Reserve battalions were transferred to the Training Reserve (TR) and the battalion was redesignated 44th Training Reserve Bn, still in 10th Reserve Bde. The training staff retained their Devons badges. The battalion
15228-637: The King on behalf of the East Devon Militia in support of the Bill, which was vehemently condemned by the Bill's opponents including Edmund Burke and Charles James Fox ; the Bill was passed in December 1775. In 1776–7 Col Acland served in his Regular Army rank of major in the Saratoga campaign under his friend and fellow MP Maj-Gen John Burgoyne . Acland commanded the Grenadier battalion and
15416-536: The Lancashire Fusiliers raised two further regular battalions, the 3rd in 1898, and the 4th in March 1900. This necessitated adjustments to the numbers of the Militia battalions, which became the 5th and 6th battalions. However, the 3rd and 4th Regular battalions were disbanded in 1906. The 1st Battalion was stationed in Ireland from 1881 to September 1885, and again from April 1891 to 1897. In 1899 it
15604-595: The Lancashire Fusiliers. After the amalgamation into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the memorial was re-dedicated to all fusiliers killed in service. After recovering its numbers from the First World War, the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers spent the interwar period based in various garrisons around the British Empire . In 1939, upon the outbreak of the Second World War , the battalion
15792-700: The Middle Ages, especially the Courtenays Earl of Devon . During the Wars of the Roses, important magnates included the Earl of Devon, William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville , and Humphrey Stafford, earl of Devon whose wider influence stretched from Cornwall to Wiltshire. After 1485, one of the county's influential figures included Henry VII's courtier Robert Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby de Broke . In 1549,
15980-741: The Militia were increased by half their establishment, and recruits were obtained 'by beat of drum' (as in regiments of the Line) as well as by the ballot and by volunteers from the Local Militia, which had replaced the Volunteer Corps. The 1st Devon spent much of 1809 in the unpopular duty of guarding the Prison ships in Plymouth Harbour. In May 1810 it marched to Kingston upon Thames and from there to Hythe, Kent , where it guarded
16168-554: The Militia were soon called out again. The warrant to embody the Devon and Exeter Militia was sent to the Lord Lieutenant ( Earl Fortescue ) on 11 March 1803, and the 1st Devon of eight companies was practically complete by 5 April, with its HQ at Exeter Castle . On 21 May the regiment was ordered to march to Plymouth Dock, where it arrived on 26 May, the garrison including all three Devon Militia regiments. The duties once again included guarding French prisoners in Mill Prison. In June
16356-621: The North West outskirts of Caen as part of Operation Charnwood , where they suffered 121 casualties. They also took part in Operation Pomegranate and the battles on the Orne River. Of all the companies in this battalion, B Company stood out for the highest number of officers killed (in just two months, B Company lost three commanding officers, and all officers on a company attack just outside Vendes). On 21 August 1944,
16544-671: The Patron Saint of Devon. Devon's toponyms include many with the endings "coombe/combe" and "tor". Both 'coombe' (valley or hollow, cf. Welsh cwm , Cornish komm ) and 'tor' (Old Welsh twrr and Scots Gaelic tòrr from Latin turris ; 'tower' used for granite formations) are rare Celtic loanwords in English and their frequency is greatest in Devon which shares a boundary with historically Brittonic speaking Cornwall. Ruined medieval settlements of Dartmoor longhouses indicate that dispersed rural settlement (OE tun , now often -ton)
16732-475: The Regiment from its re-establishment in 1758: Under the 1852 Militia Act the rank of colonel was abolished in the militia and the lieutenant-colonel became the commanding officer; at the same time, the position of Honorary Colonel was introduced. Lieutenant-Colonels Commandant of the unit included the following: The following served as Honorary Colonel of the unit: The first pairs of Colours issued to
16920-456: The Regulars in time of war; however, there was little take-up among the 1st Devons. In 1871 the Militia were permitted to camp for their annual training, but the 1st Devons' camp at Woodbury was cancelled after there was a case of Smallpox in the village. In 1872 it carried out its first camp since 1813, and the following year took part in division-scale manoeuvres at Roborough Down. However,
17108-551: The Regulars, and gained the battle honour South Africa 1900–1902 for their battalions. Under the Haldane Reforms of 1908, the Militia were redesignated Special Reserve, with the dual wartime role of Home Defence and providing drafts for the Regular Battalions. The Lancashire Fusiliers' militia became 3rd (Reserve) Battalion and 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion , both based at Bury. The volunteers now became
17296-646: The River Tamar as at present: until the late 19th century a few parishes in the Torpoint area were in Devon and five parishes now in north-east Cornwall were in Devon until 1974 (however, for ecclesiastical purposes these were nevertheless in the Archdeaconry of Cornwall and in 1876 became part of the Diocese of Truro ). The region of Devon was the dominion of the pre-Roman Dumnonii Celtic tribe , known as
17484-524: The River Tamar—-with a division almost exactly following the modern county boundary —but also between Devon and the rest of Southern England. Devon's population also exhibited similarities with modern northern France, including Brittany . This suggests the Anglo-Saxon migration into Devon was limited, rather than a mass movement of people. The border with Cornwall was set by King Æthelstan on
17672-554: The Supplementary Militia was also embodied, and the 1st Devon Militia was increased to 10 companies (860 all ranks). The Plymouth garrison trained on Buckland Down, with particular emphasis on the Light Companies, and six chosen men from each of the other companies trained as marksmen alongside the Light Companies. In August the 1st Devons camped at Wembury a few miles from Plymouth, where they helped to build
17860-541: The Supplementary Militia; 70 of the men turned out of the 1st Devon enlisted in the Regular Army (which was part of the motivation for the change). In February 1800 the regiment returned to Plymouth Dock barracks and was concentrated for the first time in 18 months. The duties as usual were to guard the dockyard and the French prisoners, and also riot duty. Bread riots and looting broke out in Plymouth on 31 March 1801 and
18048-549: The Teign Valley Museum), as well as one of the county's football teams, Plymouth Argyle . On 17 October 2006, the flag was hoisted for the first time outside County Hall in Exeter to mark Local Democracy Week, receiving official recognition from the county council. In 2019 Devon County Council with the support of both the Anglican and Catholic churches in Exeter and Plymouth, officially recognised Saint Boniface as
18236-693: The UK. The project aims to create 50 hectares of new rainforest across three sites, planting trees near existing rainforest areas along the coast and inland. Among the tree species to be planted is the rare Devon whitebeam , known for its unique reproduction method and once-popular fruit. Led by the National Trust and with the assistance of volunteers and community groups, the initiative will focus on locations in Exmoor , Woolacombe , Hartland , and Arlington Court . The administrative centre and capital of Devon
18424-401: The United Kingdom throughout the war, serving with many different brigades, including the 211th infantry Brigade (part of the 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division ) from October 1942 to October 1943. From July 1944, the battalion served with the 203rd Infantry Brigade , part of the 77th Holding Division , and acted in a training role for the rest of the war. This 2/8th Battalion was formed as
18612-566: The United Kingdom, where they stayed until late 1942, anticipating a German invasion . In June 1942, the 11th Brigade, of whom the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers were a part, was transferred to the newly created 78th Infantry Division . They then served in the final stages of the North African Campaign , the Tunisian Campaign , where the 78th Battleaxe Division gained an excellent reputation, Medjez El Bab, Sicily , and
18800-535: The United Kingdom. The 5th and 6th (Militia) Battalions also served in South Africa, the 6th leaving with 650 men on 10 February 1900, and later being involved in a sharp action at Luckhoff . The 5th battalion served in the last year of the war. The battalions were awarded the battle honours South Africa 1900–01 (for the 6th) and South Africa 1901–02 (for the 5th). All three Volunteer Battalions also found 'service companies' of volunteers who served alongside
18988-569: The West Country were put down: the regiment remained on standby to march at short notice, all leave was cancelled, and the men who had been disembodied were recalled to the colours. However, a peace treaty having been agreed (the Treaty of Amiens ), the Militia were disembodied in early 1802. The 1st Devon marched from Plymouth Dock on 7 April, arriving at Exeter on 12 April, to be disembodied on 20 April. The Peace of Amiens did not last long, and
19176-563: The Western Front. The 2/5th Battalion landed at Boulogne as part of the 3rd Highland Brigade in the Highland Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front. The 2/6th Battalion, 2/7th Battalion and 2/8th Battalion all landed at Le Havre as part of the 197th Brigade in the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division in February 1917 also for service on the Western Front. The 3/5th Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of same brigade in March 1917 also for service on
19364-512: The Western Front. After the losses incurred during the German spring offensive in March 1918, the remains of the 2/7th Bn were reduced to a cadre and used to train newly arrived US Army units for trench warfare. The cadre returned to England and was reconstituted as 24th Battalion . This was a training unit based at Cromer until the end of the war. The 9th (Service) Battalion waded ashore in deep water and darkness at Suvla Bay on
19552-632: The Western Front. A war memorial to the regiment , commissioned in honour of its First World War casualties, was erected outside Wellington Barracks in Bury, opposite the regimental headquarters. With the demolition of the barracks, the memorial was relocated to Gallipoli Garden in the town. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens , famous for the Cenotaph in London, whose father and great uncle served in
19740-526: The actual transfer, 1 August ( Minden Day ), was considered auspicious by the battalion). In May 1943, the regiment was reduced to a cadre under its old title of 7th Bn LF and took no further part in the war, but several of its batteries continued an independent existence, continuing to wear the Lancashire Fusiliers badge and to celebrate Minden Day. 354th and 357th Searchlight Batteries (the latter converted into 414th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery) defended Southern England against V-1 flying bomb attacks in
19928-523: The badge of the Devonshire Regiment . During the forming of a county council by the Local Government Act 1888 adoption of a common seal was required. The seal contained three shields depicting the arms of Exeter along with those of the first chairman and vice-chairman of the council ( Lord Clinton and the Earl of Morley ). On 11 October 1926, the county council received a grant of arms from
20116-418: The battalion was embodied at Exeter and moved to its war station at Plymouth on 8 August. It returned to Exeter on 28 August to fulfil its role of organising drafts of Special Reservists and returning Regular reservists for the 1st Battalion serving with the British Expeditionary Force . The battalion was soon overwhelmed by returning reservists and recruits flocking to enlist, and by the end of September 1914 it
20304-499: The battalion was redesignated the 11th Battalion. The 11th Battalion served in the garrison of Malta during the Siege with the 233rd Infantry Brigade . In July 1944, it was to be disbanded but instead it was transferred to the 66th Infantry Brigade , serving alongside the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots , a Regular unit, and 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment , a Territorial . The brigade became part of 1st Infantry Division , which
20492-530: The boundary being an irregular line approximately across the higher part of Dartmoor and then along the canal eastwards. Botanical reports begin in the 17th century and there is a Flora Devoniensis by Jones and Kingston in 1829. A general account appeared in The Victoria History of the County of Devon (1906), and a Flora of Devon was published in 1939 by Keble Martin and Fraser. An Atlas of
20680-578: The city by the Trained Bands during the English Civil War. This badge was officially authorised by the Lord Lieutenant in 1860, and was adopted by the whole Devonshire Regiment in 1883. The uniform of the 1st or East Devon Militia in 1778 was red with yellow facings ; some time between 1800 and 1803 the facings were changed to white, but in 1816 they charged back to yellow. When the Devonshires reverted to their pre-1881 Lincoln green facings in
20868-437: The coat of arms, but following the loss in 1998 of Plymouth and Torbay re-adopted the coat of arms. In April 2006 the council unveiled a new logo which was to be used in most everyday applications, though the coat of arms will continue to be used for "various civic purposes". Devon also has its own flag which has been dedicated to Saint Petroc, a local saint with dedications throughout Devon and neighbouring counties. The flag
21056-404: The companies were dispatched to different British battalions and divisions in the 21st Army Group . A Company was sent to 7th Royal Welch Fusiliers ( 53rd (Welsh) Division ), B Company to 2nd Gordon Highlanders ( 15th (Scottish) Division ), C Company to 2nd Glasgow Highlanders (15th (Scottish) Division) and D Company to 1st East Lancashire Regiment (53rd (Welsh) Division). The 59th Division
21244-533: The counties. Then in 1833 individual regiments were balloted for a permanent order of precedence and this list was continued in 1855: the 1st Devons were drawn as No 41, the South Devons as No 25. Normally this only affected matters such as positions on the parade ground, but when the militia became numbered battalions it meant that the South Devons (originally the 3rd, later 2nd) became the 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment by virtue of their higher precedence, and
21432-421: The county has attractive rolling rural scenery and villages with thatched cob cottages. All these features make Devon a popular holiday destination. In South Devon the landscape consists of rolling hills dotted with small towns, such as Dartmouth , Ivybridge , Kingsbridge , Salcombe , and Totnes . The towns of Torquay and Paignton are the principal seaside resorts on the south coast. East Devon has
21620-592: The county is ranked fourth by area (due to the creation of Cumbria) amongst ceremonial counties and is the third largest non-metropolitan county . The island of Lundy and the reef of Eddystone are also in Devon. The county has more mileage of road than any other county in England. Inland, the Dartmoor National park lies wholly in Devon, and the Exmoor National Park lies in both Devon and Somerset. Apart from these areas of high moorland
21808-598: The diocese of Wessex, while nothing is known of the church organisation of the Celtic areas. About 703 Devon and Cornwall were included in the separate diocese of Sherborne and in 900 this was again divided into two, the Devon bishop having from 905 his seat at Tawton (now Bishop's Tawton ) and from 912 at Crediton , birthplace of St Boniface. Lyfing became Bishop of Crediton in 1027 and shortly afterwards became Bishop of Cornwall . The two dioceses of Crediton and Cornwall, covering Devon and Cornwall, were united under Edward
21996-404: The divisional commander, Major-General Lewis Lyne , late of the regiment, visited the battalion and informed them that the 59th Division was to be disbanded, due to a severe shortage of infantryman at the time, in order to provide replacements for other infantry units, and most had been battered during the recent heavy fighting. As a result, on 26 August, the battalion was officially disbanded and
22184-595: The early 1900s the militia battalions conformed. Devonshire Devon ( / ˈ d ɛ v ə n / DEV -ən ; historically also known as Devonshire /- ʃ ɪər , - ʃ ər / -sheer , -shər ) is a ceremonial county in South West England . It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to
22372-568: The east around 600 AD, firstly as small bands of settlers along the coasts of Lyme Bay and southern estuaries and later as more organised bands pushing in from the east. Devon became a frontier between Brittonic and Anglo-Saxon Wessex, and it was largely absorbed into Wessex by the mid ninth century. A genetic study carried out by the University of Oxford & University College London discovered separate genetic groups in Cornwall and Devon. Not only were there differences on either side of
22560-641: The east bank of the River Tamar in 936 AD. Danish raids also occurred sporadically along many coastal parts of Devon between around 800AD and just before the time of the Norman conquest, including the silver mint at Hlidaforda Lydford in 997 and Taintona (a settlement on the Teign estuary) in 1001. Devon was the home of a number of anticlerical movements in the Later Middle Ages . For example,
22748-544: The easternmost parts of Devon. Smaller outcrops of younger rocks also exist, such as Cretaceous chalk cliffs at Beer Head and gravels on Haldon, plus Eocene and Oligocene ball clay and lignite deposits in the Bovey Basin, formed around 50 million years ago under tropical forest conditions. Devon generally has a cool oceanic climate, heavily influenced by the North Atlantic Drift . In winter, snow
22936-599: The few recruits who had been obtained, they marched to Plymouth on 7 August, leaving a recruiting party at Exeter. On 27 October the regiment embarked aboard the Seringapatam transport for service in Ireland. One sergeant, three drummers and 11 privates refused to serve in Ireland and were attached to the Derby Militia at Plymouth. The regiment disembarked at Cobh on 5 November and marched to Cork Barracks. It then moved to Fermoy Barracks on 8 November, sending
23124-632: The first seaside resort to be developed in the county, Exmouth and the more upmarket Georgian town of Sidmouth , headquarters of the East Devon District Council. Exmouth marks the western end of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site . Another notable feature is the coastal railway line between Newton Abbot and the Exe Estuary: the red sandstone cliffs and sea views are very dramatic and in
23312-434: The later regulations, so the regiment lost many of its best men (the family men were also discharged). However, recruitment had been good, so most of the losses were made up. Two recruiting drives during the year for militiamen to transfer to the Regulars saw the loss of another 141 men from the regiment. On 21 December the regiment marched to Pontypool , where it boarded trains for Liverpool and embarked for Ireland, where it
23500-409: The magistrates were unable to restore order with the detachments of militia available. Colonel Bastard of the 1st Devon returned on 4 April and took matters in hand, seizing firearms in the docks to prevent them falling into the hands of the rioters (who had been joined by striking dockyard hands) and calling out the Volunteers to back up his own detachments. It was several months before disturbances in
23688-494: The main centres of surfing in Britain. A geological dividing line cuts across Devon roughly along the line of the Bristol to Exeter line and the M5 motorway east of Tiverton and Exeter. It is a part of the Tees–Exe line broadly dividing Britain into a southeastern lowland zone typified by gently dipping sedimentary rocks and a northwestern upland zone typified by igneous rocks and folded sedimentary and metamorphic rocks . The principal geological components of Devon are i)
23876-515: The men who had completed their tree-year term of service were allowed home furlough, in the hope that they would make bargains to serve as substitutes for the next batch of men chosen by ballot, and then return to the regiment as trained men. However, the ranks were full of recruits that summer. The summers of 1781 and 1782 were spent in Devon at Roborough Camp and the Maker Redoubts near Plymouth, where both Regulars and Militia (including all three Devon regiments) were gathered. The Light Companies of
24064-486: The mid-fourth century AD, Christianity was introduced to Devon. In the Sub-Roman period the church in the British Isles was characterised by some differences in practice from the Latin Christianity of the continent of Europe and is known as Celtic Christianity ; however it was always in communion with the wider Roman Catholic Church . Many Cornish saints are commemorated also in Devon in legends, churches and place-names. Western Christianity came to Devon when it
24252-449: The move round the industrial Midlands . Having concentrated at Winchester it moved in April to Warwick , then to Derby , Burton upon Trent , Loughborough and Lichfield , with detached companies going to other towns. The winter was spent at Lichfield and Tamworth, Staffordshire , before returning to Plymouth Dock in 1813. Efforts were made to extend the service of the Militia. In 1811 bounties were offered for service in Ireland , and
24440-490: The new Lord Lieutenant, Earl Poulett , recommended the son of a local landowner, Major John Dyke Acland , 20th Foot , for the colonelcy. After the outbreak of the War of American Independence in 1775 Lord North 's government introduced a Bill in Parliament to 'Enable His Majesty to call out and assemble the Militia in all cases of Rebellion in any part of the Dominion belonging to the Crown of Great Britain'. Colonel Acland (himself MP for Callington ) presented an Address to
24628-453: The new arrangements, each county regiment had two Militia battalions attached to it: these were found by the 7th Royal Lancashire Militia (Rifles) , raised in 1855 and recruited from Bury , Manchester and Salford . This formed the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers. In addition, Rifle Volunteer Corps were attached to their local regiments. In 1883 the 8th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers (raised at Bury on 22 August 1859) became
24816-408: The newly-raised Supplementary Militia, the remainder forming new regiments (such as the 4th Devon Militia formed at Exeter). In October the 1st Devons left Plymouth for winter quarters at Berry Head , Totnes , Dartmouth and surrounding villages, and remained in these quarters throughout 1799. In November that year the Militia was partially disembodied, some of the men being stood down with the whole of
25004-424: The night of 6/7 August 1915, as part of 34th Brigade of 11th (Northern) Division , and were pinned down on the beach losing their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Welstead, and a number of officers. Evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915, it moved to Egypt and was then transferred to France in July 1916 for service on the Western Front. The 10th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne as part of
25192-402: The old Roman walls of Exeter, are nearly always near the coast, as in those days travelling was done mainly by sea. The Devonian villages of Petrockstowe and Newton St Petroc are also named after Saint Petroc and the flag of Devon is dedicated to him. The history of Christianity in the South West of England remains to some degree obscure. Parts of the historic county of Devon formed part of
25380-411: The outbreak of war, the formation of Reserve or 2nd Line units for each existing TF unit was authorised. These units took the 'prefix '2/' while the parent battalions took '1/'. Eventually, both 1st and 2nd Line battalions went overseas and 3rd Line battalions were raised to supply recruits. The 1/5th Battalion, 1/6th Battalion, 1/7th Battalion and 1/8th Battalion all landed at Cape Helles, as part of
25568-459: The partial assimilation of Dumnonia into the kingdom of Wessex in the eighth and ninth centuries, and the western boundary with Cornwall was set at the Tamar by king Æthelstan in 936. The name Devon derives from the name of the Brythons who inhabited the southwestern peninsula of Britain at the time of the Roman conquest of Britain known as the Dumnonii , thought to mean 'deep valley dwellers' from Proto-Celtic * dubnos 'deep'. In
25756-463: The permanent staff had been under arms during trade union disturbances in Exeter, but an inspecting officer found nine of them unfit due to age or infirmity. Again in 1847 the permanent staff and pensioners were called out to assist special constables to put down food riots in Exeter. The Militia of the United Kingdom was reformed by the Militia Act 1852 , enacted during a period of international tension. As before, units were raised and administered on
25944-419: The preceding 14 or 21 days. In November 1867 the permanent staff were called out to help deal with bread riots in Exeter, several times charging at the rioters with bayonets to disperse them. During the Fenian scare in 1867 the regiment posted guards over the military stores at Exeter. That year the Militia Reserve Act came into force, whereby in exchange for a bounty the militiamen could sign up for service with
26132-438: The presentation of new Regimental colours to the regiment it marched to Exeter on 18 July, arriving on 23 July. The order to disembody arrived the next day, and the process was concluded on 31 July. The 1st Devon Militia carried out its first peacetime training (21 days) in September 1858, and underwent 21 or 27 days in each of the following years, the Non-Commissioned Officers and recruits having undergone preliminary drill over
26320-405: The ranks were employed on government works. In 1805 there was a drive to induce militiamen to volunteer for the Regular Army (or the Royal Marines , in the case of men from Devon and Cornwall). The number of men 'allowed' to volunteer ( ie the target) was set at 222 for the 1st Devons, but not more than 100 accepted, and the regiment was reduced to 8 companies once more. That summer when Napoleon
26508-407: The rebel Duke of Monmouth from accessing recruits and supplies from Devon and Cornwall. After the Battle of Sedgemoor the Devon Militia were active in rounding up rebels. The Devonshire Militia continued to be mustered for training during the reign of William III , the six 'county' regiments together with the Exeter and Plymouth regiments and several Troops of Horse, mustering 6163 men. But after
26696-409: The regiment in 1819 consisted of the adjutant, paymaster and surgeon, sergeant-major and drum-major, and one sergeant and corporal for every 40 men (12 of each) and one drummer for every two companies plus the flank companies (6), but these were progressively reduced so that by 1835 there were only the adjutant, sergeant-major and six sergeants, while the other long-serving men were pensioned off. In 1834
26884-472: The regiment instructed by a Royal Artillery sergeant and two gunners. In November the regiment was widely dispersed to winter quarters in Surrey , with HQ at Kingston upon Thames . Two extra companies of volunteers were now attached to the regiment and served with it for the rest of the period of embodiment. For the summer of 1780 the regiment was camped with the 6th Foot at Playden Heights in Sussex . It returned to Somerset for its winter quarters, where
27072-457: The regiment marched to Salisbury and then on to Bristol, where the principal duty once more was guarding French prisoners in Stapleton Prison. The following year the regiment spent the summer in camp at Roborough. The winter of 1795–6 was spent in barracks at Plymouth Dock , guarding the Mill Prison, which posting continued during 1796 apart from autumn manoeuvres at Roborough. In March 1798 the standing militia regiments were reinforced by men from
27260-460: The regiment was embodied at Exeter on 20 April 1778. Earl Poulett appointed his eldest son, Viscount Hinton , to succeed Acland as colonel of the East Devons, and soothed the lieutenant-colonel, Paul Orchard, by promoting him to take over the North Devons , which were in disorder. The East Devons remained at Exeter until November, when the companies were distributed to winter quarters in Somerset , at Wells , Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet . During
27448-448: The regiments at Roborough were formed into a composite Light Battalion, which trained separately. The Militia also had to find guards for the American prisoners of war lodged in Mill Prison. The camp at Roborough was broken up on 10 November 1782 and the regiments went into winter quarters. The East Devons were quartered at Bristol , where they had to find the guards for American prisoners confined in Stapleton Prison . American independence
27636-411: The resorts railway line and beaches are very near. North Devon is very rural with few major towns except Barnstaple , Great Torrington , Bideford and Ilfracombe . Devon's Exmoor coast has the highest cliffs in southern Britain, culminating in the Great Hangman , a 318 m (1,043 ft) "hog's-back" hill with a 250 m (820 ft) cliff-face, located near Combe Martin Bay. Its sister cliff
27824-430: The source of most of the county's rivers, including the Taw , Dart , and Exe . The longest river in the county is the Tamar , which forms most of the border with Cornwall and rises in Devon's northwest hills. The southeast coast is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site , and characterised by tall cliffs which reveal the Triassic , Jurassic and Cretaceous geology of the region. The county gives its name to
28012-430: The south coast, which is the most populous part of the county; Barnstaple (31,275) and Tiverton (22,291) are the largest towns in the north and centre respectively. For local government purposes Devon comprises a non-metropolitan county , with eight districts, and two unitary authority areas: Plymouth and Torbay . Devon has a varied geography. It contains Dartmoor and part of Exmoor , two upland moors which are
28200-445: The south, and Cornwall to the west. The city of Plymouth is the largest settlement, and the city of Exeter is the county town . The county has an area of 2,590 sq mi (6,700 km ) and a population of 1,194,166. The largest settlements after Plymouth (264,695) are the city of Exeter (130,709) and the seaside resorts of Torquay and Paignton , which have a combined population of 115,410. They all are located along
28388-473: The summer of 1779 the East Devon Militia was at Coxheath Camp near Maidstone in Kent , which was the army's largest training camp, where the Militia were exercised as part of a division alongside Regular troops while providing a reserve in case of French invasion of South East England. The East Devons were brigaded with the East Suffolk Militia and Monmouth Militia . Each battalion had two small field-pieces or 'battalion guns' attached to it, manned by men of
28576-399: The summer of 1944 (' Operation Diver '). 356th Searchlight Battery took part in D-Day and was later converted into a 'Moonlight Battery' to provide 'movement light' or 'Monty's moonlight' to assist 21st Army Group 's night operations during the campaign in North West Europe . The 1/8th Battalion began the war in 125th Brigade with the 1/5th and 1/6th Battalions, but while in France with
28764-436: The traditional orchard-visiting Wassail in Whimple every 17 January, and the carrying of flaming tar barrels in Ottery St. Mary , where people who have lived in Ottery for long enough are called upon to celebrate Bonfire Night by running through the village (and the gathered crowds) with flaming barrels on their backs. Berry Pomeroy still celebrates Queene's Day for Elizabeth I . Devon's total economic output in 2019
28952-442: The unpopularity of camps led to a falling-off in recruitment and the Devon Militia regiments were each reduced by two companies in 1876. Under the 'Localisation of the Forces' scheme introduced by the Cardwell Reforms of 1872, Militia regiments were grouped into county brigades with their local Regular and Volunteer Force battalions. For the 1st Devon Regiment this was Brigade No 34 (County of Devon) in Western District alongside
29140-465: The village of Locon, 2 kilometres north of Bethune , by advancing German troops. Several massacres of Allied prisoners took place shortly thereafter, such as the Le Paradis massacre , primarily by the German SS Totenkopf Division . Later, the battalion fought in the Burma Campaign and participated in many famous battles, such as the Battle of Kohima , serving in the British Fourteenth Army under Bill Slim . The 2/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
29328-421: The warrant for disembodying the Devonshire Militia was signed and the regiment returned to Exeter to complete the process by 9 August. Napoleon 's escape from Elba and return to power in France in 1815 meant that the Militia had to be called out once more. The regiments began recruiting for volunteers 'by beat of drum' from 25 April and the warrant for embodying the Devonshire Militia was issued on 16 June, with
29516-435: The whole Devonshire Militia was embodied for service on 22 December 1792, even though Revolutionary France did not declare war on Britain until 1 February 1793. In February the regiment sent a detachment to Plymouth to be trained to operate battalion guns, and the rest marched to Surrey, moving in July to Dover , where seven companies were stationed in Dover Castle , two in the town, and one at Archcliffe Fort . In April 1794
29704-435: The whole of their service; the duties included guarding French prisoners of war . In December 1762 the battalions were stood down ('disembodied') and the following year were reorganised into three peacetime regiments. The Exeter and East battalions combined to form a single regiment, the 1st or East Devon Militia , of 600 men, 30 Sergeants and 20 Drummers , organised into 10 companies, with its headquarters (HQ) at Exeter and
29892-422: The year in Belgium , France and Dunkirk . In late 1941, the 9th Battalion was converted to armour as 143rd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps . However, the regiment was disbanded in 1943. The 10th (Service) Battalion was also raised in 1940 and served for a year in 208th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) , alongside the 9th Battalion, 13th King's Regiment (Liverpool) and 22nd Royal Fusiliers . In 1942, it
30080-412: Was drilled into shape, and on 27 February 1855 went by rail to Bristol, where it boarded steamers for Newport, Wales . Here a problem arose: by one interpretation of the regulations none of the men enlisted before 12 May 1854 could be forced to do more than 56 days' service. Most of these had already been sent home in December, but there were still 117 serving in the regiment who refused to re-enlist under
30268-444: Was a hostilities-only battalion raised in June 1940 The battalion, commanded initially by Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Lyne , was very briefly assigned to the 208th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) until December, when it was reassigned to the 125th Infantry Brigade , part of 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division , alongside the 1/5th and 1/6th Lancashire Fusiliers. Both the brigade and division had seen active service earlier in
30456-426: Was adopted in 2003 after a competition run by BBC Radio Devon . The winning design was created by website contributor Ryan Sealey, and won 49% of the votes cast. The colours of the flag are those popularly identified with Devon, for example, the colours of the University of Exeter , the rugby union team, and the Green and White flag flown by the first Viscount Exmouth at the Bombardment of Algiers (now on view at
30644-411: Was also held in 1853 and 1854. War having broken out with Russia in 1854 and an expeditionary force sent to the Crimea , the Militia were called out for home defence. The 1st Devon Militia was embodied on 18 December, consisting of 10 companies, 942 all ranks. The medically unfit men, together with married men with two or more children, were sent home and volunteers enlisted to replace them. The regiment
30832-409: Was approved by both Devon County Council and Torbay Council to create a Combined County Authority with various powers such as transport, housing, skills, and support for business devolved from the UK Government. The main settlements in Devon are the cities of Plymouth, a historic port now administratively independent, Exeter, the county town , and Torbay , the county's tourist centre. Devon's coast
31020-437: Was based in British India . During the Burma Campaign , the 1st Battalion fought with various units until 1943 when it became a Chindits formation with the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade , which was commanded by Brigadier Orde Wingate . The battalion was involved in both major Chindit operations, suffering many casualties before the war ended. From the outbreak of war in 1939 to 1940, the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
31208-496: Was considered by General Sir Bernard Montgomery to be one of the best and most reliable divisions in his 21st Army Group ; it was only chosen for disbandment because it was the youngest British division in France. The Battalion War Diary claimed it to be " A sad day. 5 years of training for 8 weeks fighting, and unfortunately the break up of the battalion leaves the Regiment without representative in this Theatre of War ". The 2/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers came into being as
31396-411: Was continued by retaining a company in the 4th Battalion Queen's Lancashire Regiment and subsequently the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers on its formation in 1999. The other TA battalions were all reconstituted as anti-aircraft (AA) units in Anti-Aircraft Command : AA Command was disbanded in 1955, and a number of disbandments and mergers took place among TA air defence units: 633 LAA Regiment
31584-466: Was deployed with the 11th Infantry Brigade , alongside the 1st East Surreys and 1st Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (later replaced by the 5th Northants ). The brigade was part of the 4th Infantry Division and was sent overseas in October 1939 to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The 2nd Battalion fought against the German Army in the battles of Belgium and France , until being forced to retreat to Dunkirk and were evacuated back to
31772-427: Was disbanded and merged with the 1st Battalion. In 1968, the Regiment was amalgamated with the other regiments of the Fusilier Brigade – the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers , Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) – to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers . The 5th Battalion was reformed but disbanded when the TA was reduced into the TAVR in 1967. The battalion's lineage
31960-400: Was disbanded, while four HAA regiments in the Manchester area, including 574 and 310, formed a new 314 HAA Regiment. By this merger, the 7th and 8th Bns Lancashire Fusiliers, both descended from the 56th Lancashire RVC, were brought back together. They formed Q (Salford) Battery in the new regiment. On 1 May 1961, Q Battery transferred to 253 Field Regiment (The Bolton Artillery) . Since
32148-409: Was embodied from 11 May 1900 to 16 July 1901, serving in the garrison of the Channel Isles . A number of officers who served in the battalion in subsequent years had seen active service in the Boer War, including the CO, Lt-Col the Hon E.A. Palk, and Capt William Edwards, who had won a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in the Ashanti War before serving with the South African Constabulary . After
32336-439: Was finally disbanded on 16 February 1918 at Perham Down Camp on Salisbury Plain . Although the Supplementary Reserve (renamed Militia again in 1921) remained in existence after 1919 and a small number of officers were commissioned, the infantry militia dwindled away: by the outbreak of World War II 3rd Bn Devonshires had no officers listed. The Militia was formally disbanded in April 1953. The following served as Colonel of
32524-454: Was formed in 1939 as a duplicate of the 1/5th. It was part of the 197th Infantry Brigade , the 2nd-Line duplicate of the 1st-Line 125th Infantry Brigade . It served with the 66th Infantry Division until 23 June 1940, when the division disbanded. The brigade was then transferred to the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division . They landed in Normandy as part of Operation Overlord on 29 June 1944 and first saw action in early July at Malon on
32712-448: Was instituted. On 10 June 1803 part of the detachment at Yealm battery rowed out in boats to help recover a collier that had been attacked by a French Privateer . The regiment was concentrated for training in the summer of 1803, then went to Mill Bay Barracks for the following winter, with the exception of detachments at Yealm battery, Berry Head, and manning warning beacons. As usual the duty included guarding prisoners, while craftsmen in
32900-497: Was massing his 'Army of England' at Boulogne for a projected invasion, the regiment was still part of the Plymouth garrison. Its 664 men under Lt-Col Edmund Bastard were deployed with 8 companies in Plymouth Dock Barracks and a detachment at Yealm Redoubt. In October the regiment marched from Plymouth to Portsmouth , where it was quartered in Portsea Barracks, brigaded with the North Devon and North Hampshire Militia. In April 1806 it moved to Lewes in Sussex, where it formed part of
33088-406: Was named after Devon by Roderick Murchison and Adam Sedgwick in the 1840s and is the only British county whose name is used worldwide as the basis for a geological time period. Devon's second major rock system is the Culm Measures, a geological formation of the Carboniferous period that occurs principally in Devon and Cornwall. The measures are so called either from the occasional presence of
33276-410: Was ordered to use the surplus to form a service battalion of the 4th New Army ('K4'). Accordingly, the 3rd (Reserve) Bn at Exeter formed the 11th (Service) Bn Devonshire Regiment in November. It was to be part of 100th Brigade in 33rd Division. In December 1914 it went into billets at Torquay . In April 1915 the War Office decided to convert the K4 battalions into 2nd Reserve units, providing drafts for
33464-407: Was over a long period incorporated into the kingdom of Wessex and the jurisdiction of the bishop of Wessex. Saint Petroc is said to have passed through Devon, where ancient dedications to him are even more numerous than in Cornwall: a probable seventeen (plus Timberscombe just over the border in Somerset), compared to Cornwall's five. The position of churches bearing his name, including one within
33652-474: Was over £26 billion, larger than either Manchester, or Edinburgh. A 2021 report states that "health, retail and tourism account for 43.1% of employment. Agriculture, education, manufacturing, construction and real estate employment are also over-represented in Devon compared with nationally". 20th Foot The Lancashire Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that saw distinguished service through many years and wars, including
33840-403: Was posted to Crete, and from 1901 at Malta. The 2nd Battalion was stationed in British India from 1881 to 1898. It was sent to Africa to take part in Kitchener's campaign to reconquer the Sudan and fought at the Battle of Omdurman . After a year at Malta, the battalion was posted to South Africa in December 1899, following the outbreak of the Second Boer War two months earlier. During
34028-411: Was recognised in November 1782, and peace was settled with France and Spain early in 1783, so the militia could be stood down. The East Devons marched to Exeter and were disembodied there on 24 March. From 1787 to 1793 the East Devon Militia was assembled for its annual 28 days' training, but to save money only two-thirds of the men were mustered each year. In view of the worsening international situation
34216-401: Was regularly held, the selected men were rarely mustered for drill. The regiment assembled 450 strong for 28 days' drill in 1820, and for 21 days the following year. Training was held again in 1825 at Exeter, when rewards were offered for 31 men who had failed to appear and were listed as deserters. Training was held in 1831, but not again before 1852, and the ballot lapsed. The permanent staff of
34404-401: Was serving in the Italian Campaign , where it took part in the fighting on the Gothic Line , suffering severe casualties. Early in 1945, the 11th Battalion was transferred to Palestine with the rest of the 1st Infantry Division and remained there for the rest of the war. In 1948, all infantry regiments of the British Army were reduced to only a single regular battalion and the 2nd Battalion
34592-425: Was severely wounded and captured. He was well-treated by his captors, and after his return to England was challenged to a duel by an officer who resented his favourable comments on the Americans. Although Acland survived the duel, he is believed to have died from the effects of a chill caught on the day. The militia was called out when Britain was threatened with invasion by the Americans' allies, France and Spain, and
34780-461: Was shipped to India and fought in the Arakan Campaign 1942–1943 as part of 7th Indian Infantry Division , with 23rd Indian Infantry Brigade . The battalion was disbanded on 31 October 1945. The 11th (Service) Battalion was a hostilities-only battalion raised in 1940, originally as the 50th (Holding) Battalion, whose role was to temporarily 'hold' men who were medically unfit, awaiting orders, on courses or returning from abroad. In October 1940,
34968-510: Was stationed at Castle Barracks in Limerick . During the winter another 401 men volunteered for the Regulars, which severely reduced the strength of the regiment. The war having ended, the regiment left Limerick for Cork on 5 June 1856, and on 11 June embarked on the Germania steamer bound for Weymouth, Dorset . The ship was caught in fog while passing Land's End and was nearly lost on the rocks. Once it had landed at Weymouth it relieved an Irish militia regiment guarding Portland Harbour . After
35156-449: Was three times its establishment strength. In May 1915 it moved to Devonport where it formed part of the Plymouth Garrison for the rest of the war, but its primary role was to train reinforcement drafts for the battalions serving overseas. In the course of the war the 3rd Devons trained and despatched 750 officers and over 13,000 other ranks. After the war, the battalion moved to Rugeley Camp in 1919. The remaining personnel were drafted to
35344-431: Was very similar to that found in Cornish 'tre-' settlements, however these are generally described with the local placename -(a)cott , from the Old English for homestead, cf. cottage . Saxon endings in -worthy (from Anglo-Saxon worthig ) indicate larger settlements. Several 'Bere's indicate Anglo-Saxon wood groves, as 'leighs' indicate clearings. Devon has a variety of festivals and traditional practices, including
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