in 1799. The Churchwarden accounts show that they returned to Fordington and were discharged from the Militia on 1 November 1799. In 1814 the Dorset Militia were listed as serving in Ireland (along with other county militias) with the following as command group: Colonel Richard Bingham (appointed as colonel in 1799) Lieutenant Colonel Richard T Steward Major Nathaniel T Still The Dorset Militia was wound down and disembodied at the end of the Napoleonic Wars – surviving with barely any staff, as was the case with most of the county militias; although recalled briefly in 1830 to contain the spread of the Swing Riots; which never really affected Dorset. In 1842 & 1843 Hart's Army Lists record the Dorset Militia as disembodied (not active) with its honorary colonel as Edward the 2nd Earl of Rigby; the Adjutant was listed as Captain G Wyatt. It was based at Dorchester. However, with the elevation of Napoleon III as Emperor in 1851 Britain again feared French continental adventurism (particularly in Belgium) and county militias were remobilised. In 1852 Dorset was expected to raise a militia of 506; augmented in 1853 with a further 308 men. This mobilisation prompted a change in unit command and Richard Hippisley Bingham became Colonel, relieving the Dorset Militia's former colonel Sir John James Smith, Bart on 26 July 1852. In 1881 (in common with all militias in Britain) the Dorset Militia ceased to exist as a unique unit. It became the 3rd Battalion the Dorset Regiment. Battle honours The Dorset Militia was called out on active service during the Armada of 1779, serving along the coastline of Britain building earthworks and defenses. Unlike many militia units as well as funnelling reinforcements to its associated regiment on overseas operations in the late Georgian and Victorian Eras, the unit did deploy to Ireland in the late 18th Century. The Times of 1 September 1798 reported that the Dorset and Devon Militias deployed aboard the frigate to join a force that was opposing a French landing in support of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Regimental museum The Dorset Regiment Museum and that of its militia units was located at The Keep Museum in Dorchester. See also Militia (Great Britain) Dorset Regiment The Keep, Dorchester References External links The Keep Museum, Dorchester Military units and formations in Dorset Militia of the United Kingdom Military units and formations established in 1757 Military units