Military reserve forces of Saint Helena

The first force, a feudal militia, was established in 1673 by the East India Company, who had first settled the island, in response to a Dutch invasion and short-lived occupation.

This militia must have fallen into disuse by the later part of the 19th century as a new force, the St Helena Volunteer Sharpshooters, was established in 1897.

In addition to local forces three regiments, of men recruited elsewhere, were formed specifically for garrison duty on the island.

[2] To improve the defences of the island it was decided that a militia would be raised from the settlers and a Royal Charter was approved later that year to provide a legal basis.

The Local Militia were reduced to a core of 360 men by an ordinance of 19 March 1838: 21 officers, 19 sergeants, 18 corporals, 4 drummers and 300 privates.

Members of the militia were required to attend six drills a year at Francis Plain and to respond to call-outs in times of emergency.

[5][6] The militia paraded for the 15 October 1840 procession carrying the disinterred remains of Napoleon to the French frigate Belle Poule for reburial in France.

[12] The members of the unit wore a khaki uniform with a felt hat and were required to fire 70 rifle rounds in practice each year.

[13] Although they were classed as a rifle unit unlike their equivalents in the British Army the St Helena Volunteer Sharpshooters carried colours.

[14] According to a Colonial Defence Committee defence plan of 1895-1905 the St Helena Volunteer Sharpshooters would work in conjunction with a unit of the Royal Garrison Artillery (equipped with maxim guns) and a unit of regular infantry from the garrison to dislodge any beachhead established by an enemy force on the island.