1703-1907

1703, 1705, 1740 and 1779
Naval ‘Impressment' Acts

1703-11, 1743-44, 1756-57, 1778-79 and 1783
Army Recruiting Acts

1711
Militia of Scotland Bill refused assent by Queen Anne

1757
Militia Act establishes a system of county defence forces

1793-1815
Britain involved in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

1798
Defence of the Realm Act creates a nationwide force of local ‘volunteer' corps

1803
Defence of the Realm Act expands the recruitment of volunteers

1804
Volunteer Consolidation Act further organises the volunteers into a coherent system 

1853-56
Britain involved in the Crimean War

1859
The Royal Naval Reserve (Volunteer) Act establishes a body of volunteer seamen from merchant and fishing fleets, to be called out in time of war

1863
Volunteer Act establishes a new ‘Volunteer Force'

1870
Army Enlistment Act introduces shorter periods of enlistment to the Army

1899-1902
Britain involved in the Boer War in South Africa

1907
The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act establishes the Territorial Army