Their role was to man coastal defences and fortifications, relieving the Royal Artillery (RA) for active service.

When training resumed in 1871 the acting CO following Handcock's death was Major Francis de Burgh, who was promoted to Lt-Col on 17 December that year.

[1][5][6][7][8] The unit was embodied for home defence three times:[6] After 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.

[23][24] Under the sweeping Haldane Reforms of 1908, the Militia was replaced by the Special Reserve, a semi-professional force whose role was to provide reinforcement drafts for Regular units serving overseas in wartime.