Royal Pembroke Militia
The Pembrokeshire Militia, later the Royal Pembroke Rifles, was an auxiliary regiment reorganised from earlier precursor units in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire during the 18th Century. Primarily intended for home defence, it served in Britain and Ireland through all Britain's major wars. It was converted into garrison artillery in 1853 and continued until it was disbanded in 1909. Pembroke Trained Bands The universal obligation to military service in the Shire levy was long established in England and was extended to Wales. King Henry VIII called a 'Great Muster' in 1539, which showed the following available in the newly reorganised county of Pembrokeshire: County of Pembrokeshire: 1166 men available for service, of whom 139 had 'harness' (armour) Lordship of Haverfordwest: 454 (43 with harness) Tenants of Thomas Jones in both those places and in the Hundred of Dewisland: 380 with 4 'nags' (horses) Cilgerran Hundred: 254 The legal basis of the militia was updated by two Acts of 1557 covering musters and the maintenance of horses and armour. The county militia was now under the Lord Lieutenant, assisted by the Deputy Lieutenants and Justices of the Peace (JPs). The entry into force of these Acts in 1558 is seen as