The first suggestion for establishing a distinct force of Naval Volunteers was made by Captain John Cochrane R.N. on 15 November 1794. He offered to raise a brigade of Naval volunteers in the Port Of London. However, the credit for raising the Naval volunteer force that would become known as the Sea Fencibles belonged to Captain Home Riggs Popham RN.

Popham had already commanded a force of fishermen, Longshoremen and Naval Volunteers, under the Duke of York, in the Flanders campaign of 1793 In early 1798 he suggested to the authorities that a permanent Naval Volunteer force be raised and trained. Popham's suggestion Was taken up by the government. On 14 March the King in Council, approved of the formation of a "Corps of Sea Fencibles" to be raised from the inhabitants and fishermen of coastal towns and villages. The original plan was to enrol seafaring men Who Were resident in the coastal villages and towns of Kent and Sussex the two Shires most threatened by invasion. The plan though was extended to cover other coastal regions, and eventually Ireland.

Sir Home was nominated to command the section of south-east coast between Beachy Head to Deal, a position he held until 1800. His H.Q. was established at Dover, where he procured a row-galley, so constructed as to be able to carry one heavy cannon. At his insistence too, the Admiralty applied to the Treasury for the release of three smuggling vessels lately taken by the customs. These were to be lengthened and fitted as galleys, with a view of preventing French boats either reconnoitring the English coast or disrupting trade. Popham's services were recognised by the government, when on 26 December 1799:a pension of five hundred pounds was conferred on him.

Complementary to the Sea Fencibles were various associations of River Fencibles. These were formed towards the end of 1798 by the Watermen and others in the principal ports. The River Fencibles became officially established in 1803, with Officers having on authorised uniform and holding the Kings Commission.

The men raised for the Sea Fencibles were given a positive assurance and written protection that they were not to be called out unless for service or exeircise. They were also to be exempt from impressment into the Royal Navy and from the ballot for the Miliatia. These were attractive inducements for fishermen and others to join the Fencibles., though at the same time denying the Royal Navy a valuable source of trained seamen. Each man was also to receive a shilling a day from the day he was summoned to exercise: or duty A Captain, with a number of Lieutenants, was appointed and allocated to sections of Sea-Coast to command the Sea Fencibles in those districts. For example the Kent district included Folkestone, Hythe, Dover, Deal, Sandwich, Margate, Whitstable and Faversham.

The Fencibles were to limit their operations to their own districts,unless the enemy made a landing, In which case they were to follow their Officers and form an army of resistance. The men were to assist in running the coastal signal stations, aid the revenue services, and help man the Martello Towers (which in 11798 were being planned). The men were to learn to exercise the great guns", in garrisons and land bat teries. -... Where these did not exist (they were) to handle the pike! in such an efficacious manner as to be able to oppose an invading enemy either afloat or on shore. Also the Admiralty was to place galleys or gunboats on the beaches, each of which would row 40 oars and be armed with an 18 pounder cannon or carronade. These were intended to be used in harassIng any invasion barges should the French come.

From the beginning of their existence the Fencibles attracted criticism. Captain Schomberg in command of the Dungeness Fencibles had this to say Of them, "Notwithstanding the number of men who volunteered to go afloat, it is inconceivable the difficulty I rind when the Time arrives to persuade them to embark.. The people who are mostly smugglers and Wreckers object to go on board the revenue cutters". Schomberg was perhaps being a little bit naive in the last part of his statement. Nelson, when he was in command at the Downs, made a: more favourable comment on them. "The men, I believe, will come forth when the country prepares for fighting and all business stands still, but they are no more willing to give up work than their superiors".

The Sea Fencibles were stood down when peace Was declared in 1802, only to be enrolled again by St. Vincent in 1803 when hostilities with France were renewed.' However the Fencibles were not revived until the impress service was given time to recruit men for the navy. Otherwise the enrolment appears to have gone smoothly, despite-some hitches. By the end of 1803 the Fencibles were quite a substantial force. For example between Emsworth and Beachy Head were 941 men, "all perfect in boat and great gun exercises", with 59 boats. There was 250 men from Sandown to North Foreland, with 17 boats and every boat in the district is in perfect readiness

At Dartmouth, "the Sea Fencibles amount to 250, and consist chiefly Of shipwrights". By contrast, at $tart Point, "the Sea Fencibles in this bay .. amount to 46, the greatest part of these are clearly liable to the "press, as they are all fishermen in boats which do hot allow more than one man being protected". At bigbury, "the Sea Fencibles in this place are 146, they are mostly bargemen who are employed in open boats to dredge for a particular sort of sea sand for the purpose of agriculture". Finally at Plymouth, there were 239, but 100 of these were employed by the Customs, and exercised with the Fencibles. The rest were fishermen.

As the threat of invasion receded after the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, the government started to look for economies in the country's defence budget. Cobbett's Political Register of 19 April 1806 indicated a series of economies for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, particularly with regard to the Sea Fencibles. CobbeL argued that, "I shall first then notice the immense cost of the Sea Fencibles. I will confidently appeal ... to every Admiral commanding at our several sea-ports and to every Commissioner In every dockyard in the United Kingdom, if any benefit has accrued to the naval service of Great Britain by the institution of the Sea Fencibles? I would ask if the abolition of them would not greatly contribute to man our ships of war? I would then ask the revenue Officers, both of the customs and excise, if the protection given to Sea Fencibles do not greatly promote smuggling?

Should their answers be such as I expect will them. And sorry as I am to add, these are not invalid Officers, who from wounds or length of service, might be entitled to attention and repose. But they are young and active, such as should be employed in really fighting the cause of their country and should not be on full pay for doing nothing".

Cobbett went on that if the Fencibles were abolished, "An immense saving would be made to the public, many good seamen would be obtained for the real service of the Navy, and smuggling would receive a very considerable check..."

Though Cobbetts rhetoric may have contained some truth in its arguments, the overall reason for his speech was to cut costs and to look for excuses to do so. However, the next year (1807) saw the Treaty of Tilsit bringing peace between Napoleonic France and Czarist Russia. With this peace came a fear that Napoleon could again focus on renewing his plans for the invasion of Great Britain. Any proposed cuts in defence expenditure were thus put on hold. When the supposed threat of invasion did not materialise, the Ministers hesitate to abolish this, not only useless but obnoxious corps? Let him consider the situation of the Honourable Admiral George Berkeley with a salary of X 1500 for doing nothing here in England. Or, if he has anything to do, if he visits the sea-ports, musters the Fencibles, and inspects the impressed men ... will cost the nation twice that sum In posthorses and travelling expenses ... Let them then turn their eyes to Admiral Hawkins Whitshed, who fills the same post in Ireland ... He enjoys too, the same appointment of £ 1500 per annum... Let them compute the ... pay of the Captains, Lieutenants and a long list of others employed under future of the Sea Fencibles was again called into question.

The end came in 1810, by which time the Sea Fencibles had grown to a maximum strength of 23,455 men. In January of that year the government announced that the Sea Fencibles were to be disbanded, "...in consequence of an application from the Admiralty ... as not being of any advantage to the country". The decision also applied to the Fencibles in Ireland. The River Fencibles though were to outlive the Sea Fencibles for another three years before they too were stood down, their services no longer required.

More Sea Fencibles

1. The Corps of Sea Fencibles
2. The Sea Fencibles in Action
3. Instructions for the Sea Fencibles (Manuscript)
4. Notes and References