Sea Fencibles - Sea Fencibles

Sea Fencibles

The Sea Fencibles were formed in early 1798 by order of the Admiralty to act as an anti-invasion force in coastal waters. The Sea Fencibles were Naval officers and volunteer seafaring men. Smugglers were particularly given to volunteering for service as service as a Sea Fencible exempted seamen from impressment.

The Sea Fencibles organisation was divided into districts, with each district covering a stretch of coast and under the command of a Post-Captain, assisted by three to six Lieutenants, depending on the size of his command. A senior Post-Captain of a district received £1 15s a day (equivalent to £94 today), junior Post-Captains received £1 10s (equivalent to £81 today), and Lieutenants 8s 6d (equivalent to £23 today). Petty Officers received 2s 6d (equivalent to £7 today) for each day they assembled, while Ordinary Seamen received 1 shilling and provisions (food and drink), or 2 shillings if no provisions were available (equivalent to £3 and £5 today). Sea Fencibles were also eligible to receive prize and salvage money. For example, on 13 June 1805 the Sixth Rate frigate Vestal and the Sea Fencibles recaptured the Industry, off Hastings, and shared the subsequent salvage money.

The volunteers were trained in the use of arms and manned watch and signal towers, and fixed and floating batteries along the coasts and ports. They also operated a fleet of gunboats. A member of the Sea Fencibles would spend one day a week training. They were also allowed to choose their own Petty Officers at the rate of one per 25 men. Most importantly, all Sea Fencibles received a certificate that exempted them from impressment into the Navy. The Treasury argued that the exemption from impressement was the principal reason smugglers joined as impressment was a common punishment for smuggling.

During the Peace of Amiens in 1802–1803 the organization was disbanded, but on the outbreak of war it was quickly reformed and expanded. By the end of 1803 Sea Fencible units were re-established from Portsmouth all the way to St Abb's Head in Scotland.

The Sea Fencibles' fleet consisted of small vessels such as colliers and coasting vessels such as hoys adapted to serve as gunboats. The owners were expected to pay for the fitting of slides, ring and eye bolts for the installation of guns, usually two forward and two aft, and in smaller craft to fit sweeps for use in calms. The Admiralty provided guns, ammunition and powder, and it required the ship owners to keep close and regular accounts of their use. The owners were under orders to co-operate with the Royal Navy, and they were entitled to payment of compensation, according to the size of their ships and the amount of time they were required.

For instance, on 28 September 1804 the Navy held a meeting with the owners of 16 hoys at Margate. The Navy then hired the vessels for the defense of the coast. The Navy manned each vessel with a regular Navy man as master and nine men from the Sea Fencibles.

In February 1810, when it became clear that the threat of invasion by Bonaparte had passed, the Sea Fencibles, which by then had hit a peak strength of 23,455 men, were disbanded.