The Dorset Militia (also titled Dorsetshire Militia) was a county Militia regiment of the British Army that was in existence from 1757 to 1881. Purpose The militias that were listed in the army of Queen Victoria were those units created by the Militia Act of 1757. In 1881, the British army was reorganised and militia regiments were then directly associated with county regiments of the regular army (losing their unique status), adopting their county regiment's name and battalion numbering system. In 1908 they would designated Special Reserve battalions. The purpose of these units was to act as a territorially based force of able-bodied men to serve in Dorset and in time of war would report for duty such as defending against invasion by the French. They were not supposed to serve overseas, although the county militias acted as feeder units for officers and recruits to the regular army in times of need. In the case although militias had been complete throughout England, it was in 1794 that greater emphasis was put on the defensive value, particularly in the coastal regions of the kingdom. This was the period in our history that the French would be so much our implacable foe, Napoleon Bonaparte's power grew in Europe. However, in 1798 the Dorset did deploy to assist in a force suppressing a French-supported rebellion in southern Ireland; along with its neighbouring militia from Devon. Insignia Examples of the Dorset Militia cap badge are not common and where they do exist they appear to be of a standard Victorian Shako Plate with a crown an facetted eight-pointed star, with a central motif of an ornate numeral one surrounded by a belted title bearing the title "Dorset Militia", or in the case of the Glengarry badge a centre with the Gibraltar castle with motto Primus In Indis (First in India) and a circlet with "Dorsetshire" inscribed. Unit history There are records from the 16th Century that the counties of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall were of special interest in terms defending against invasion; and the Duke of Bedford was charged as Lord Lieutenant to compile lists of what indigenous supplies of men, horses and fighting equipment could be mustered as local militia. The Dorset Militia was formally raised in 1757 and 1758 due to the threat of French invasion during the Seven Years' War. The militia served duty on the coast although no attack ever