Warring Islands Volunteer Defence Force

Warring Islands Volunteer Defence Force
Active:	1007AJ - Present (1672 AN–present)
Country:	Nova England (1672–1699)  Hurmu (1699–1710)  Benacian Union (1710- )
Branch:	Nova English Army (1672–1699)  Hurmu Peace Corps (1699–1710)
Type:	Light Infantry with additional roles.
Personnel:	TBC
Garrison	Port Esther, Warring Islands Special Autonomous Region

The Warring Islands Volunteer Defence Force (WIVDF), until 1710 AN as the 115th Regiment of the Hurmu Peace Corps, is a local militia regiment in the Warring Islands Special Autonomous Region. Originally founded as a branch of Nova England's Army under the name Warring Islands Security Force (WISF), the entire branch was incorporated into Hurmu's Peace Corps in 1699 upon Hurmu's annexation of the Warring Islands following the collapse of the Nova English state. At the same time, its headquarters was moved from Hempton Bay to Port Esther.

Under Nova England

The Warring Islands Security Force met once a week for training at local detachment depots, with various extended training weekends throughout the year. It was manned by those obligated to through the Warring Islands Resettlement Scheme and other volunteers.

FIDF soldiers also provided search and rescue and mountain rescue services across the islands. In addition to supporting the National Police Force in general policing activities.

During the Warring Islands Conflict (1693 AN–1699 AN) the WISF was limited in its engagement with the hostile forces intruding into the islands, primarily undertaking the defence of static positions within the main settlements and community reassurance patrols.

Under Hurmu

With the collapse of Nova English resistance in 1699 AN, and the establishment of the Reaver Freehold Settlements on Great Warring Island, the veterans of the Warring Islands Resettlement Scheme and their families faced a precarious fate. It was however fortunate that the Hurmu Peace Corps, notionally charged with taking possession of the islands, was eager to avoid any occurrences that would bring its reputation as the new administrative power in the isles into ill-repute. The Minister with responsibility for the new District of the Warring Islands, Jamshid-e Osman, therefore negotiated generous terms for the transfer of the allegiance of the WISF. The conditions agreed included the evacuation of all the settlers of the Warring Islands Resettlement Scheme to Port Esther, along with their families and dependents from the mainland if they could be found, and the payment of a significant donative to those members of the WISF willing to continue to bear arms in the service of the new government.

During 1701 AN the WIVDF received new officers, primarily of Norse backgrounds, as part of the larger contingent of HPC personnel dispatched to the islands now that formal control was assured and it was deemed imprudent to leave security wholly in the hands of the contractors engaged by Jamshid.

Under the Benacian Union

The transfer of sovereignty over the Warring Islands from Hurmu to the Benacian Union saw the departure of the HPC officers and the emigration of a number of personnel unreconciled to rule by a Raspur Pact member-state. Those who remained were obliged to swear themselves to the Union Covenant with the arrival of the BUDF garrison on Transition Day (1.I.1710 AN) and the prompt transfer of allegiance by the Sea-Reavers to their new, and some might say original, paymasters.

During 1719 AN, the force constituted from within itself the Warring Islands Volunteer Regiment – a body of picked men motivated to strike against the Ostlandic occupation forces in Nova England alongside the Sea-Reavers. During the thirteenth month of 1719 these joint raiding parties first began to make their appearance in the form of sudden descents upon Ostlandic coastal garrisons west of Port Moorland.