The Scottish Wars of Independence
During the 13th and 14th Centuries the succession crisis
to the Scottish throne brought Scotland to War with England
in the struggle for independence. The now fabled heroes
and events such as William Wallace and his victory at
Stirling Bridge (1297), the rise of Robert Bruce and
victory at Bannockburn (1314) are well known.
Ayrshire has numerous tales involving King Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.
Bruce had ties to Ayrshire and held his 2nd Parliament at the Church of St John.
The famed ‘Burning of the Barns of Ayr’ (i.e. the slaying
of numerous English soldiers by Wallace) is said to have taken place around where
Mill Street is today.
Early Militia
The early burgesses had responsibilities for defence of
the Burgh in the event of trouble. Bands of armed men were
formed to defend the Burgh when required, such as for the
first threat of Jacobite rising in 1715. Additional volunteers
were paid by the Council and often named burgesses on their return.
Due to the threat of War with France the Ayrshire Fencible Cavalry (later the
Ayrshire Yeomanry) was formed in 1793, followed by the Ayrshire Militia in 1797.
Units of Rifle and Artillery Volunteers were also raised, these formations continuing
in existence for many years.
The Ayrshire Yeomanry
The Ayrshire Yeomanry regiment was formed in 1793 by Archibald,
Lord Kennedy, and known as the Ayrshire Fencible Cavalry.
Volunteers from the Yeomanry served in the South African
War (1899 – 1902), the Great War (1914 – 1918)
and in the Second World War (1939 – 1945).
The Yeomanry was an independent regiment until 1968 when it was reduced
to a small nucleus of training personnel. A number of further re-formations have
occurred since then. It is now a squadron equipped with light tracked vehicles
with the role of reconnaissance and providing individual reinforcements to the
Regular Army as required.
Cromwell and the Civil War
The 17th Century brought Civil War
to Britain. After the execution of
Charles I the Scots turned against
the English republican regime dominated by Oliver Cromwell.
By early 1652 Cromwell’s forces had conquered Scotland
and Ayr was chosen as a site for a garrison fortress (army base).
The Citadel of Ayr controlled the harbour and secured sea communications
with Ireland, North West England, and garrisons in the Isles.
The surviving walls at the Citadel are the most substantial remains of any of
the Cromwellian fortresses in Scotland.
The Barracks at Ayr
In 1873 Ayr was nominated as headquarters of the Royal
North British Fusiliers. In 1881 the county regiment was
renamed the Royal Scots Fusiliers. The barracks were renamed
the Churchill Barracks in 1942.
Ayr and the Wars of the 20th Century
Like many other towns and cities in Scotland, Ayr witnessed
the impact of war at home through major changes to social
and industrial life.
While Ayr was never bombed, its citizens did experience hardship through rationing,
post war unemployment, poor housing and inflation. There were also limitations
on social activities, issuing of gas masks, evacuees, air raid blackouts and
the rise of busy war related industry. However, visitors still continued to patronise
the popular seaside resort and tourist attractions regardless.
Remembrance
817 Ayr citizens’ lost their lives in the Great
War (1914–1918) and
263 during the Second World War (1914–1918).
