From their formal organisation as Trained Bands in 1558 until their final service as the Special Reserve, the Militia regiments of the county carried out internal security and home defence duties in all of Britain's major wars.

[1][2][3][4] Norfolk was too far distant for its levies to play a role in the Plantagenet kings' Welsh and Scottish campaigns, but they were at times called upon to defend their coastline (for example during Edward III's 1335 offensive in Scotland when the coast was threatened by the French).

[4][8][9][10][11][12] During the Armada Crisis of 1588 Norfolk furnished 2200 trained and 2100 untrained armed foot (out of 6340 able-bodied men), together with 80 lancers, 321 light horse and 377 'petronels' (the petronel was an early cavalry firearm).

Sir Horatio Townshend, 3rd Baronet, who took command of the regiment of horse, had been a Militia Commissioner under the previous regime, but had secretly been one of the county's leading pro-Restoration conspirators.

An adjutant and drill sergeants were to be provided to each regiment from the Regular Army, and arms and accoutrements would be supplied when the county had secured 60 per cent of its quota of recruits.

En route the two battalions passed through London and under Orford's command were reviewed by King George II in front of Kensington Palace.

[49] Hilsea Barracks proved to be infected with Smallpox, Dysentery and Typhus, and the men from isolated Norfolk villages with little immunity succumbed in large numbers.

That summer the East Battalion took over duties at Ipswich and Landguard Fort, then in October moved to winter quarters in King's Lynn and Fakenham.

At Aldeburgh in 1779 the West Norfolks tried to intercept boats landing contraband – on one occasion the men riding baggage horses in pursuit of the smugglers.

[8][38][61] The French Revolutionary Wars saw a new phase for the English militia: they were embodied for a whole generation, and became regiments of full-time professional soldiers (though restricted to service in the British Isles), which the regular army increasingly saw as a prime source of recruits.

Other duties included guarding the Royal Gun Powder Magazine at Purfleet, and the huge purpose-built Prisoner-of-war camp at Norman Cross Barracks.

At the general meeting at Norwich on 15 November 1796 a mob clustered round the carriages of Lord Townshend and his deputies, and would not let them enter the courthouse until a public session was promised.

A second general meeting was held at Norwich without incident after the magistrates pledged their assistance, special constables were sworn in to keep the peace, and a body of troops was drawn up in front of the castle.

Together with the Nottinghamshire Militia the East and West Norfolks formed the infantry brigade of Maj-Gen Alexander Mackenzie Fraser, headquartered in Winchelsea and defending Dungeness.

On 16 August 1809 the West Norfolk Militia, under the command of the Earl of Orford, marched into Norwich from Colchester, the first time the regiment had been stationed in the city for nearly 30 years.

On 22 January 1814 the officers and staff of the 1st and 2nd Eastern and 1st Western regiments made offers of extended service, which were acknowledged but not accepted All the Local Militia were disbanded in 1816.

After Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo the bulk of the British Army was engaged in occupation duties in France, and the West Norfolks volunteered for service in Ireland.

It was noted that, “Their appearance was much more respectable than might have been expected, and many of those who were prepared to ridicule them acknowledged that they were a much better class than they expected.”[115] The two infantry regiments were called out for 28 days' training on 25 April 1854.

The East Norfolk Militia was presented with new colours on 16 May at a public ceremony held on South Denes, Great Yarmouth, attended by 10,000 persons, including civic dignitaries.

The day concluded with a ball held at Great Yarmouth Town Hall, which had been decorated with the new colours, mirrors and stars formed of bayonets.

Although the majority of the officers and men accepted transfer to the PoW Own Norfolk Royal Field Reserve Artillery on 28 April 1908, all these units were disbanded in March 1909.

It was reported in the Norfolk Chronicle that this riot included the use of belts and stones, and that 200 Artillerymen, armed with swords and knives issued from the arsenal, had to be prevented from joining the fight by "persuasion and threats".

[123] After the disasters of Black Week at the start of the Second Boer War in December 1899, most of the regular army was sent to South Africa, and the militia were embodied to replace them for garrison duty.

[121][122] Under the sweeping Haldane Reforms of 1908, the Militia was replaced by the Special Reserve (SR), a semi-professional force whose role was to provide reinforcement drafts for Regular units serving overseas in wartime.

Although the majority of the officers and men accepted transfer to the PoW Own Norfolk Royal Field Reserve Artillery on 28 April 1908, all these units were disbanded in March 1909.

[39] An early sketch by Lord Townshend, published in "A Plan of Discipline Composed for the Use of the Militia of the County of Norfolk" in 1759, shows a Private wearing a simple uniform of cocked hat, jacket, breeches and shoes worn without gaiters.

On 22 June 1820 epaulettes, buttons and ornaments of dress were changed from gold to silver, although serving officers were permitted to retain their old style of uniform unless called on for actual service.

[104] The officers' shoulder belt plate carried the Roman numeral 'III' above the entwined letters 'WNLM' surrounded by a crowned garter bearing the motto 'HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE'.

[122] The names of the officers and men of militia and volunteer battalions of the Norfolk Regiment who died during the Second Boer War are engraved on a brass plate in Norwich Cathedral.

In that year the King drew the lots for individual regiments and the resulting list remained in force with minor amendments until the end of the militia.