The following are a few examples of the Sea and River Fencibles in action:

1804. The Hastings Sea Fencibles fired their battery guns at a French Privateer and lamented the lack of any armed vessel with which they could have pursued it. (Ref: Lavery)

1805. Captain Thomas Hamilton commanding the Sea Fencibles at Margate reported, "Yesterday morning about ten o'clock, a small cutter was observed boarding two brigs, eight miles from the North Foreland. The wind being eastward, with a flood tide, prevented the Camperdown cutter lying In Westgate Bay from chasing. I sent an orderly to the Admiral at Deal, not knowing the force of the Privateer. The moment the capture was perceived fifty Sea Fencibles pushed off in three boats and at three o'clock recaptured the brigs, Me privateer having made off. (Ref: Lapthorne)

1806. The London Corps of River Fencibles with gunboats and rowboats escorted Lord Nelson's funeral procession along the river from Greenwich to Westminster. For his part -in this service the Commandant, Captain Matthias Prime Lucas RN, "...highly distinguished himself by his judicious attention (Ref: Mariners Mirror vol. 28 & Lapthorne)

1807. In September, the Admiralty called for volunteers from the Thames to 'help bring back to Britain the Danish ships 'captured I by the Royal Navy at Copenhagen. On 27 September 3 Officers and 376 men of the River Fencibles went on board H.M.S. Namur at the Nore, sailing thence to Copenhagen and assisted in bringing the prizes back. They were thanked for their services in the London Gazette of 7 November. (Ref: Mariners Mirror vol. 28) 1

1809. In July, 128 Officers and men from the Thames River Fencibles joined the Royal Navy for the Walcheren expedition, many of who subsequently lost their lives. (Ref: Mariners Mirror vol. 28)

1809. Due to contrary winds the Astrea, a large East Indiaman outward bound for India, was forced to anchor off the North Foreland, about a mile from Kingsgate Bay on the Isle of Thanet. It was a miserable day with a thick sea mist closing down around the ship eventually making her invisible from the shore. As the day wore on, the Master of the Watch heard the sound of muffled oars. Alarmed and suspicious the mate shouted a challenge to which no answer came, except the splashing noise of the oars, now being worked faster.

The Captain Was alerted and came on deck. After briefly listening he concluded that the sound was made by a large vessel, possibly lugger, beingpulled towards them. The'' alarm was sounded and crew came on deck arming. The vessel was a ketch rigged Ramsgate trawler manned by a crew of French privateersmen from Dunkirk.

The ketch hooked onto the Indiaman's quarter and the French clambered up the ship's side, leaping onto the deck. For some time a fierce fight ensued between the two crews. Just When it seemed the ship would be overwhelmed by the French a volley of shots rang out and over the side came men of the Sea Fencibles. Yelling, clubbing, stabbing and shooting they fell on the French with a vengeance. Within ten minutes the fight was over, and the Privateer with those of its crew still alive were captured.

Fortunately for the Astrea before the sea-mist had closed down, the Watchman on duty at Watch-House point on the Foreland had spotted through his telescope the Privateer as 'it approached the Indiaman. He recognised the vessel as the Swan, a Ramsgate trawler that had been captured by the French a year previously. Assuming that the craft was now operating as a privateer he rode to Margate. There he informed the Commander of the Sea Fencibles who immediately mustered his men. Marching to Kingsgate, they put to sea in local fishing boats. Guided through the mist by the, sound of battle, they arrived just in time to save the ship from being taken. (Ref: Lapthorne)

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