▁before ▁moving ▁to ▁the ▁East ▁Coast ▁late ▁in ▁the ▁war . ▁It ▁continued ▁in ▁the ▁post war ▁Territ orial ▁Army ▁( TA ) ▁as ▁a ▁heavy ▁anti - air craft ▁art illery ▁regiment ▁until ▁am alg am ated ▁with ▁other ▁Gl ouc esters hire ▁units ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 5 . ▁ ▁P rec ursor ▁units ▁The ▁City ▁of ▁Br istol ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁several ▁English ▁local ities ▁that ▁organ ised ▁an ▁' ar med ▁association ' ▁of ▁volunte ers ▁for ▁home ▁defence ▁during ▁the ▁Jacob ite ▁R ising ▁of ▁ 1 7 4 5 , ▁supp lement ing ▁the ▁profession als ▁of ▁the ▁Reg ular ▁Army ▁and ▁the ▁emb od ied ▁Milit ia . ▁The ▁French ▁Revolution ary ▁War ▁saw ▁the ▁passing ▁of ▁the ▁Vol unte er ▁Act , ▁ 1 7 9 4 , ▁which ▁encourag ed ▁the ▁en list ment ▁of ▁part - time ▁local ▁Vol unte er ▁corps ▁under ▁the ▁authority ▁of ▁the ▁county ▁L ords - lie utenant . ▁A ▁large ▁number ▁of ▁these ▁were ▁formed ▁in ▁Gl ouc esters hire , ▁including ▁the ▁Br istol ▁Vol unte er ▁Infantry , ▁officially ▁formed ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁March ▁ 1 7 9 7 ▁and ▁commanded ▁by ▁Lieutenant - Col onel ▁E van ▁Ba ill ie , ▁a ▁Br istol ▁merchant ▁who ▁had ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁junior ▁officer ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁Ind ies ▁during ▁the ▁Seven ▁Years ' ▁War . ▁The ▁unit ▁had ▁begun ▁to ▁form ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁February ▁ 1 7 9 7 , ▁but