The LONDON TRAINED BANDS were the Militia of the City of London and it's suburbs. They boasted descent from the Militia of Henry VIII but the origins of the Regiments which fought during the Civil War lie in the organisation of the London Militia in 1616 into 4 Regiments.

The Trained Bands were reorganised by the Common Council of the City into 4O companies, each of 200 men in 1642. Banded into 6 Regiments they were the Blew, Red, White, Orange, Yellow, and Green Regiments after the colour of their flags (colours). A further 3 Suburban (Southwark, Westminster, and Tower Hamlets) and 6 Auxiliary Regiments were raised during the course of the War.

The distinction between the Trained Band and Auxilary Regiments lay in their membership. The former were recruited from the Citisens of London, the latter from their apprentices and covenanted servants. The distinction becomes blurred on campaign due to the practice of citisens of providing substitutes! The Officers in some instances held commission in several Regiments.

The Trained Bands provided some of Parliament's staunchest troops during the early part of the War. Both Wallar and Essex in 1643 and 1644 found it imposslble to take to the field unlees supported by a Brigade of London troops.

However, they would only fight for a particular objective, such as relieving Gloucester, besieging Basing House, etc. Once achieved, or if the campaign was particularly hard, they were apt to march home, orders or not.

UNIFORM & EQUIPMENTS

With the Tower of London as an armoury, it is easily assured the Bands were very well equipped. However, in September 1643 only one Regiment could muster a musket-Pike ratio of the desired 2:1 (Tower Hamlets). As six of the Regiments were away on the Newbury campaign, perhaps they had taken the pick of the equipment.

Over the years, not one of the coat colours has swayed from being the same as the Colours, to all the first 6 Regiments in Red, to there being no uniform at all. There is no strict evidence to support any of these ideas. A contemporary account of Newbury (II) claims some dead troops were Londoners because they were wearing Buff-coats, but what does it prove? The lead of the HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY is generally taken and the assumption is they wore Red.

SOURCES

Research Notes by Keith Roberts.
Vicar. GOD IN SHB MOUNT. 1644
L. Nagel Correspondence
Haythornthwaite : THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR. 1983
NB: there is also a chapter in J Adair. BY THE SWORD DIVIDED. (Ed).

Related

London Trained Bands

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