THE REGIMENTS
OF
THE BRITISH ARMY

CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED.

COMPILED BY

RICHARD TRIMEN,

LATE CAPTAIN, 35TH ROYAL SUSSEX;
AUTHOR OF “AN HISTORICAL MEMOIR OF THE 35TH
ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT OF FOOT.”

LONDON:
WILLIAM H. ALLEN AND CO.,
18 WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL, S.W.

1878.

PREFACE.

The object of the following pages is to bring under one head the information that is scattered through Despatches, Army Lists, Gazettes, Books, Magazines, &c. concerning the History of the different Regiments of the British Army; and to enable anyone at a glance to ascertain whether a certain Regiment served during a certain campaign, or was at a certain action, or what its Title or Uniform was at a certain date.

The histories of many Regiments have been published separately, some by authority, and a few through, and by, the esprit de corps of some officer, but this is intended to show every existing Regiment’s services, &c. in a small space, in a condensed form, and in one volume.

Since the year 1870, much has been seen, and more heard, about organization and localization, but we have also seen the Regiments (which were the admiration of soldiers of every country in Europe), “meddled and muddled” with till they are only a wretched likeness of what they were.

We have seen esprit de corps sapped to its foundations, and attempted to be destroyed by the abolition of every Regimental tradition, badge, and even button, that our civilian Army reformers could do away with.

Where are the old Regimental officers who were proud to serve the Crown for nothing?

Where are the magnificent old non-commissioned officers and men that would follow their officers wherever they led?

What is the answer?

The officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, have all but disappeared, and the ranks are filled by over-educated boys, who consequently think they are as competent to lead their comrades as their officers.

Moreover, we now see all ranks looking forward to the time when they shall be turned out of the Regiment, instead of, as formerly, looking on it as their home for the best part of their lives.

Then, as another blow to the old constitution of Regiments, and a reduction of their fighting power, we have the new “Brigade Depôts,” and “Linked Battalions.”

Do not the pages of the Army List, with this last heading, betray the fact that the Regiments must have been “linked” together by some one who was incompetent to do so?

Take the 27th Inniskilling, a Regiment essentially Irish in its character and composition, “linked” to the 108th Madras Infantry. What connection the person entrusted with a matter of such vital importance could see in these two Regiments is quite beyond the imagination of a soldier, and gives rise to the id=ea that he must have drawn them out of a hat. The 27th has a glorious history of two centuries; the 108th was only raised by the East India Company in 1854, and has no more to do with Ireland than the Russian Guards.

Look at the 31st Huntingdonshire and the 70th Surrey “linked” together at Kingston. Is every Huntingdonshire man who wishes to join his county Regiment to walk all the way to Kingston to enlist? and when he does so, be uncertain whether he is to wear the Huntingdon buff or the Surrey black?

Had only the depôt of the 35th Royal Sussex been localized at Chichester to obtain recruits for that regiment, it would have been perfect; as it is, the “Brigade Depôt” at that city is partly formed of two nominal companies of the 107th Bengal Infantry, which Regiment of course never had the slightest connection with the county of Sussex.

The two depôts, or four nominal companies, form the “43rd Brigade Depôt.” It surely might have been numbered the “35th Brigade Depôt,” and so have kept up a semblance of the old county number.

It follows, therefore, that a man of Sussex wishing to enlist in his county Regiment, first has to go into the “43rd Brigade Depôt,” and then may find himself in the 107th Bengal Infantry, which Regiment he never intended to serve in at all!

But the above examples of ill-matched couples will suffice.

Is it wonderful that soldiers with the least gleam of esprit de corps desert?

The fact is, that the glorious old Regiments of the British Army are in process of being improved off the face of the martial world, and if the system of “Brigade Depôts” is persevered in, the Regiment must eventually disappear.

Let anyone read the “General Order” of the 17th March 1873. It says—

“The single Battalion Regiments, which are linked together to form the Line portion of a sub-district Brigade, will, so far as regards the Sub-Lieutenants thereto appointed, and the soldiers therein enlisted, after the date of this order, constitute one corps for all military purposes.

“All first appointments to the Line, and all enlistments for Line service, will be for the particular Brigade, instead of as heretofore, for particular Regiments.”

“The officers and soldiers who may be so appointed to any Brigade, will, for relief, for all duties at home and abroad, and for every military purpose whatsoever, and in whatever ranks they may thereafter respectively hold, be interchangeable between the Line Battalions of their Brigade, and will be liable to serve in either of those Battalions indifferently, without regard to the particular Battalion to which they may have been first appointed to serve.”

There rang the death-knell of the old Regiments of the British Army!

Can anything be more conclusive, or more depressing to a soldier?

Is it calculated to foster that prid=e in, and love for, his own particular Regiment that every true soldier who has worn its uniform has for it?

Look again at the “Army Circular” of the 8th April 1876, as to the clothing of the men of the “Brigade Depôts;” it is evid=ent that a man belongs neither to one “linked” Battalion or to the other; he belongs to the “Brigade Depôt” only, and has nothing to do with the traditions or honour of the Regiment in which he may be serving.

Would-be Army reformers, of whom we have now far too many, say, “Oh, very few Regiments now have the Title of the county in which they were raised, so all this is of no importance;” but they are not soldiers, so their opinion is valueless. Moreover, the assertion is only partly true, for it is nearly a century since most of the Regiments received the County Titles which they now bear.

Would-be Army reformers are also responsible for the Appendix to “Army Circular” of the 1st of December 1877, giving the War Establishment of a Battalion of Infantry, in which it is actually proposed to send a Regiment of boys eleven hundred strong into the field with twenty-three Company officers, whilst four officers of the Regiment are part of, and nearly useless at, the “Brigade Depôt.”

We hear and we read everywhere that the Army is over-officered, but what is the opinion of an old soldier, as given in his lecture at the Royal United Service Institution on the 30th November 1877? He says:

“How can you expect fire-discipline, from year-old peasant-soldiers, whose non-commissioned officers have little, if any, greater training than themselves, and with a field average of three and a half officers per company of two hundred men? For better or for worse, we have now an army of boys. Take the word of a man who has seen much fighting, both by trained and untrained soldiers. It behoves us, if we would escape disaster in the hour of trial, to take such means as will induce our non-commissioned officers to remain under the colours, and not go forth into civil, or quasi-civil life. And yet more incumbent is it on us to listen to no arguments of theory that would reduce the number of our commissioned officers. Our Army is so small that, more than any other, for the sake of judicious daring, and of judicious economy of life, it must be well, brilliantly, and carefully led. And this cannot be when sparse officers are whelmed in a confused mass of men.”

What do the advocates of short service and “Brigade Depôts” say to this?

From the foregoing remarks it will readily be perceived that the desire of the Compiler of this book is not to destroy, but to revive, everything connected with every Regiment in the service, and, although omissions may be noted, it is hoped it contains no errors.

There are many conflicting statements as to when Regiments were first numbered. Their rank was first regulated by a board of General Officers assembled by King William the Third in the Netherlands, on the 10th June 1694.

Queen Anne assembled another board in 1713, to decid=e on the rank of Regiments raised subsequently to 1694, and King George the First assembled a third in 1715 for the same purpose.

Cannon, in his “History of the Marine Corps,” tells us, “These boards recommended that English Regiments raised in England should take rank from the date of their formation, and that English, Scots, and Irish Regiments raised for the service of a foreign power, should take rank from the date of their being placed on the English Establishment.”

“The numerical Titles of Regiments, as fixed on the principles laid= down in the Reports of the boards of General Officers above alluded to, were confirmed by the Warrant issued by authority of King George the Second, dated the 17th July 1761; and also by the Warrant of King George the Third, dated 19th December 1768; previously to which, Regiments were generally designated by the names of their Colonels.”

The year 1751 has, therefore, been taken as the date on which the Regiments of the Army were first recognized officially by a number.

The date of the raising of the different Regiments is given as that of the commission of its first Colonel, taken from the official “Succession of Colonels.”

The greatest difficulty has been the compiling of the lists of Campaigns, &c. in which the various Regiments have borne a part.

All those that appear on the Colours have been given, although many are of inferior importance to many that do not; moreover many Regiments have received distinctions for actions in which others shared who do not possess any record of the fact upon their Colours.

The dates given are those in Haydn’s “Dictionary of Dates,” which is assumed to be correct, and, in the case of a capture of a place, the last day of the siege or capture is given.

The thanks of the Compiler are due to those Adjutants and other officers of Regiments who have given him information, and also to T. D. Sullivan, Esq., late 56th Foot, Librarian of the Royal United Service Institution, for his assistance and help on many occasions.

July 1878.

ACTIONS IN WHICH
THE PRESENT
REGIMENTS OF THE BRITISH ARMY
HAVE BORNE A PART.

Actions marked thus * are emblazoned on the Standards, Guid=ons, and Colours.

• Aboukir, battle of.—8th March 1801.
• *Aden, capture of.—19th January 1839.
• Agra, siege and capture of.—17th October 1803.
• Ahmedabad, capture of.—15th January 1780.
• Ahmednuggur, siege and capture of.—12th August 1803.
• *Albuera, battle of.—16th May 1811.
• Alexandria, battle of.—21st March 1801.
• Alexandria, siege and capture of.—20th March 1807.
• *Aliwal, battle of.—28th January 1846.
• Alkmaer, battle of.—6th October 1799.
• Allyghur, capture of.—4th September 1803.
• *Alma, battle of.—20th September 1854.
• Almanara, battle of.—28th July 1710.
• Almanza, battle of.—14th April 1707.
• *Almaraj, capture of forts of.—19th May 1812.
• Almeid=a, battle of.—26th August 1810.
• *Amboyna, capture of.—17th February 1810.
• Antwerp, siege and occupation of.—5th May 1814.
• *Arcot, capture of.—31st August 1751.
• Arcot, defence of.—31st October 1780.
• Argaum, battle of.—29th November 1803.
• Arnee, battle of.—2nd June 1782.
• *Arroyos-dos-Molinos, battle of.—28th October 1811.
• *Assaye, battle of.—23rd September 1803.
• Asseerghur, capture of.—8th April 1819.
• Aughrim, battle of.—12th July 1691.

• *Badajos, siege and capture of.—6th April 1812.
• *Balaklava, battle of.—25th October 1854.
• Baltimore, battle of.—11th September 1814.
• *Banda, capture of.—8th March 1810.
• Bangalore, battle of.—21st March 1791.
• Barcelona, capture and defence of.—1705 to 8th May 1706.
• *Barrossa, battle of.—5th March 1811.
• Bayonne, investment of.—22nd February to 14th April 1814.
• Belleisle, siege of.—7th June 1761.
• Benevente, battle of.—January 1809.
• *Beni-Boo-Ally, battle of.—2nd March 1821.
• Bergen, battle of.—19th September 1799.
• Bergen-op-Zoom, siege of.—8th March 1814.
• Bhurtpore, capture of.—2nd April 1805.
• *Bhurtpore, siege and capture of.—18th January 1826.
• Bid=assoa, passage of the.—7th October 1813.
• *Bladensburg, battle of.—24th August 1814.
• Blenheim, battle of.—13th August 1704.
• Bouchain, capture of.—13th September 1711.
• *Bourbon, capture of.—21st September 1809.
• Boyne, battle of the.—1st July 1690.
• Brandywine, battle of.—11th September 1777.
• Brooklyn, battle of.—27th August 1776.
• Brunx, battle of the.—28th October 1776.
• Buenos Ayres, capture of.—28th June 1806.
• Bunker’s Hill, battle of.—17th June 1775.
• Burgos, siege of, and retreat from.—October 1812.
• Busaco, battle of.—27th September 1810.
• *Bushire, battle of.—10th December 1856.
• *Buxar, battle of.—23rd October 1764.

• Camden, battle of.—16th August 1780.
• Campen, battle of.—15th October 1760.
• Campo-Mayor, battle of.—25th March 1811.
• *Candahar, battle of.—10th March 1842.
• Cape of Good Hope, capture of.—September 1795.
• *Cape of Good Hope, capture of.—9th January 1806.
• Cape of Good Hope.—1846, 1847, and 1850, 1853.
• Carthagena, siege of.—April 1741.
• Cateau, battle of.—26th April 1794.
• Cawnpore, capture of.—17th July 1857.
• Caya, passage of.—7th May 1709.
• *Central India, actions in.—1857–58.
• Chateaughay, battle of.—26th October 1813.
• Cherbourg, siege of.—5th August 1758.
• *Chillianwallah, battle of.—13th January 1849.
• Chrystler’s Farm, battle of.—11th November 1813.
• *Condore, battle of.—8th December 1758.
• Copenhagen, battle of.—2nd April 1801.
• *Copenhagen, siege of.—8th September 1807.
• Corbach, battle of.—10th July 1760.
• Corsica, capture of.—17th June 1794.
• *Corunna, battle of.—16th January 1809.
• Crabbendam, battle of.—10th September 1799.
• Cuddalore, battle of.—13th July 1783.
• *Cuid=ad-Rodrigo, siege and capture of.—19th January 1812.

• *Deeg, capture of.—13th October 1804.
• Delhi, battle of.—11th September 1803.
• *Delhi, siege and capture of.—20th September 1857.
• Denkern, battle of.—15th July 1761.
• *Detroit, capture of fort.—16th August 1812.
• Dettingen, battle of.—16th June 1743.
• Dominica, capture of.—6th June 1761.
• *Dominica, defence of.—22nd February 1805.
• Douay, siege and capture of.—25th June 1710.
• Douro, passage of the.—12th May 1809.
• Dunkirk, siege of.—7th September 1793.

• *Egmont-op-Zee, battle of.—2nd October 1799.
• El-Bodon, battle of.—25th September 1811.
• *Emsdorf, battle of.—16th July 1760.

• Famars, battle of.—23rd May 1793.
• *Ferozeshah, battle of.—22nd December 1845.
• Flushing, siege and capture of.—15th August 1809.
• Fontenoy, battle of.—30th April 1745.
• Freehold, battle of.—28th June 1778.
• *Fuentes d’Onor, battle of.—5th May 1811.

• Germantown, battle of.—3rd October 1777.
• Ghent, capture of.—30th December 1708.
• Ghuznee, siege and capture of.—23rd July 1839.
• *Ghuznee, capture of.—6th September 1842.
• Gibraltar, defence of.—10th March 1705.
• Gibraltar, defence of.—22nd February 1727.
• *Gibraltar, defence of.—5th February 1783.
• *Goojerat, battle of.—21st February 1849.
• Grenada, capture of.—24th March 1796.
• Guadaloupe, capture of.—24th January 1759.
• Guadaloupe, capture of.—20th April 1794.
• *Guadaloupe, capture of.—February 1810.
• Gueldermalsen, battle of.—8th January 1795.
• Guildford, battle of.—15th March 1781.

• Havannah, siege and capture of.—14th August 1762.
• Helder, battle of.—27th August 1799.
• Hulst, defence of.—5th May 1747.
• *Hyderabad, battle of.—24th March 1843.

• *Inkerman, battle of.—5th November 1854.
• Ionian Islands, capture of.—12th October 1809.

• *Java, capture of.—18th September 1811.
• *Jellalabad, defence of.—7th April 1842.

• Khelat, capture of.—13th November 1839.
• *Kirkee, battle of.—5th November 1817.
• *Kooshab, battle of.—8th February 1857.

• *Leswarree, battle of.—1st November 1803.
• Lexington, battle of.—19th April 1775.
• Liege, capture of.—23rd October 1702.
• *Lincelles, battle of.—18th August 1793.
• Lisle, siege and capture of.—23rd October 1708.
• Llereena, battle of.—11th April 1812.
• Louisbourg, siege and capture of.—26th July 1758.
• *Lucknow, defence of.—July to November 1857.
• *Lucknow, capture of.—21st March 1858.

• Maestricht, capture of.—2nd July 1673.
• *Maharajpore, battle of.—29th December 1843.
• *Maheid=pore, battle of.—21st December 1817.
• *Maid=a, battle of.—4th July 1806.
• Mallavelly, battle of.—27th March 1799.
• Malplaquet, battle of.—11th September 1709.
• Malta, siege and capture of.—5th September 1800.
• *Mandora, battle of.—13th March 1801.
• *Mangalore, defence of.—September 1783.
• Manilla, capture of.—5th October 1762.
• *Marabout, battle of.—21st August 1801.
• Martinique, capture of.—5th February 1762.
• Martinique, capture of.—16th March 1794.
• *Martinique, capture of.—7th March 1809.
• Matagorda, defence of.—22nd April 1810.
• Mauritius, capture of.—2nd December 1810.
• *Meeanee, battle of.—17th February 1843.
• *Miami, attack on fort.—5th May 1813.
• *Minden, battle of.—1st August 1759.
• Minorca, capture of.—1708.
• Minorca, defence of.—29th June 1756.
• Minorca, defence of.—5th February 1782.
• Minorca, capture of.—15th November 1798.
• *Monte Vid=eo, capture of.—3rd February 1807.
• *Moodkee, battle of.—18th December 1845.
• Mooltan, siege and capture of.—2nd January 1849.
• Morales, battle of.—2nd June 1813.
• *Moro (Havannah), capture of.—14th August 1762.

• *Nagpore, capture of.—24th December 1817.
• Namur, siege and capture of.—20th August 1695.
• Neer-Hespen, battle of.—18th July 1705.
• Neer-Landen, battle of.—19th July 1693.
• New Orleans, siege of.—13th January 1815.
• *Niagara, capture of.—19th December 1813.
• *Nieuport, defence of.—24th October 1793.
• Nimeguen, battle of.—8th November 1794.
• *Nive, passage of the.—9th to 13th December 1813.
• *Nivelle, passage of the.—10th November 1813.
• *Nundy-Droog, battle of.—18th October 1791.

• *Orthes, battle of.—27th February 1814.
• Oudenarde, battle of.—11th July 1708.

• *Pekin, capture of.—12th October 1860.
• *Plassey, battle of.—23rd June 1757.
• Plattsburgh, battle of.—11th September 1814.
• *Pondicherry.—23rd August 1793.
• Porto Novo.—1st July 1781.
• *Punniar, battle of.—29th December 1843.
• *Pyrenees, battles of the.—2nd August 1813.

• Quatre-Bras, battle of.—16th June 1815.
• Quebec, battle of.—13th September 1759.
• *Queenstown, capture of.—13th October 1812.

• Rangoon, capture of.—5th May 1824.
• Rangoon, capture of.—14th April 1852.
• *Reshire, battle of.—9th December 1856.
• *Roleia, battle of.—17th August 1808.
• Rosetta, siege of.—21st April 1807.
• Roucoux, battle of.—1st October 1746.

• Sabugal, battle of.—3rd April 1811.
• Sahagun, battle of.—21st December 1808.
• *Salamanca, battle of.—22nd July 1812.
• Saragossa, battle of.—20th August 1710.
• Savendroog, capture of.—21st December 1791.
• Schellenberg, battle of.—2nd July 1704.
• Scylla, defence of.—17th January 1809.
• Seringapatam, battle of.—15th May 1791.
• Seringapatam, capture of.—6th February 1792.
• *Seringapatam, siege and capture of.—4th May 1799.
• *Sevastopol, capture of.—-8th September 1855.
• *Sholingur, battle of.—27th September 1781.
• Sillery, battle of.—28th April 1760.
• *Sobraon, battle of.—10th February 1846.
• Steenkirk, battle of.—24th July 1692.
• Stillwater, battle of.—19th September 1777.
• St. Johns, defence of.—13th November 1775.
• St. Lucia, capture and defence of.—28th December 1778.
• St. Lucia, capture of.—4th April 1794.
• *St. Lucia, capture of.—May 1796.
• *St. Lucia, capture of.—22nd June 1803.
• *St. Sebastian, siege and capture of.—31st August 1813.
• St. Vincent, battle of.—14th February 1797.
• *Surinam, capture of.—30th April 1804.

• *Taku Forts, capture of.—21st August 1860.
• *Talavera, battle of.—27th and 28th July 1809.
• Tanjier, defence of.—-1680 to 1683.
• Tarbes, battle of.—20th March 1814.
• *Tarifa, defence of.—31st December 1811.
• *Ternate, capture of.—August 1810.
• Ticonderoga, siege of.—8th July 1758.
• Tongres, battle of.—10th May 1703.
• Toulon, defence of.—19th December 1793.
• *Toulouse, battle of.—10th April 1814.
• Tournay, capture of.—10th September 1709.
• *Tournay, battle of.—18th May 1794.

• Val, battle of.—20th June 1747.
• Valenciennes, siege and capture of.—28th July 1793.
• Venloo, siege and capture of.—23rd September 1702.
• *Villers-en-Couché, battle of.—24th April 1794.
• *Vimiera, battle of.—21st August 1808.
• *Vittoria, battle of.—21st June 1813.

• Walcourt, battle of.—25th August 1689.
• Warbourg, battle of.—31st July 1760.
• *Waterloo, battle of.—18th June 1815.
• *Wilhelmstahl, battle of.—14th June 1762.
• *Wyndewash, battle of.—-22nd January 1760.
• Wynendale, battle of.—28th September 1708.

• York Town, defence of.—19th October 1781.

THE REGIMENTS
OF THE
BRITISH ARMY.

FIRST LIFE GUARDS.

The Regiment was raised in Holland by King Charles II., and was at first composed of eighty gentlemen who had held commissions in the army of King Charles I.

It wore cuirasses from its formation to 1698, and resumed them in 1821.

It bears the Royal Arms as its crest.

It is said= the Regiments of Life Guards were at one time known as “the Cheeses,” from the old gentlemen of the Life Guards declining to serve in them as remodelled in 1788, saying they were no longer composed of gentlemen, but of cheesemongers.

The 3rd and 4th (Scots) Troops of Life Guards, disbanded in 1746, saw much service in the campaign of 1742–47, in Flanders.

SECOND LIFE GUARDS.

The first Second Troop of Life Guards consisted originally of a number of loyal gentlemen who had fought for King Charles I. After his murder they fled to the continent, and entered the Spanish service with the title of “His Royal Highness The Duke of York’s Troop of Guards.” After the peace of 1659 they retired to the Netherlands till 1660, when King Charles II. made them the Second Troop of Life Guards. It became the Third Troop in 1670, and was disbanded in 1746.

The Regiment has the same origin as the First Life Guards.

It wore cuirasses from its formation to 1698, and resumed them in 1821.

It bears the Royal Arms as its crest.

It obtained its sea-green facings in honour of Queen Catherine, whose favourite colour it was. It is not known when the facings were changed, but it was between 1690 and 1742; its standard was changed from crimson to blue in 1758.

ROYAL HORSE GUARDS.

This Regiment is the only Regiment of Cavalry now in existence that formed part of the Parliamentary Army during the reign of King Charles I., and was then known as Colonel Unton Crook’s. At the Restoration it was called “The Royal Regiment.”

It wore cuirasses from its formation to 1698, and resumed them in 1821.

It bears the Royal Arms as its crest.

It obtained the name of “Oxford Blues” about 1690 to distinguish it from a Dutch Regiment of Horse Guards dressed in Blue commanded by the Earl of Portland, this Regiment being commanded by the Earl of Oxford. It was also known as the “Blue Guards” during the campaign in Flanders 1742–45, and is now commonly called “The Blues.”

It was presented by King William IV. with a Standard emblazoned with “Dettingen, Minden, Warbourg, Cateau.”

FIRST DRAGOON GUARDS.

The Regiment was raised chiefly in the neighbourhood of London.

It wore cuirasses from its formation to 1688, and again from 1704 to 1714.

It bears the King’s Cypher within the Garter.

It received its title in 1714 for its brilliant campaigns in Flanders and Germany.

It is commonly known as “The K. D. G.’s,” and at one time was nicknamed “The Trades Union.”

SECOND DRAGOON GUARDS.

The Regiment was chiefly raised near London.

It wore cuirasses for three years.

It bears the “Royal Cypher within the Garter.”

It received its title in 1715 for its conduct at the battle of Preston.

It is not known when its facings were changed to Buff, but it was between 1690 and 1742.

Being mounted on bay horses about 1767 caused it to be called the “Queen’s Bays,” as the other heavy Regiments (except the Scots Greys) had black horses. It is now commonly called “the Bays.”

THIRD DRAGOON GUARDS.

The Regiment was formed from Independent Troops of Horse raised in various English counties.

It wore cuirasses for three years, and again from 1704 to 1714.

It bears the Plume of the Prince of Wales, the Rising Sun, and the Red Dragon.

It is not known when its facings were changed to Blue.

It captured the Standard and Kettle Drums of the Bavarian Guards at the battle of Ramilies.

FOURTH DRAGOON GUARDS.

The Regiment was formed from Independent Troops of Horse raised in various English counties.

It wore cuirasses on its formation.

It bears the Harp and Crown, and the Star of the Order of St. Patrick, with the motto “Quis separabit.”

It received its title in 1788 for its long service in Ireland from 1698 to 1788, and was then commonly known as “The Blue Horse” from its facings.

FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS.

The Regiment was formed from Independent Troops of Horse raised in various English counties.

It wore cuirasses till 1688, and again from 1707 to 1714.

It bears the motto “Vestigia nulla retrorsum,” which was borne by Colonel John Hampden’s Regiment in the Civil War.

It captured four standards at the battle of Blenheim.

It was known in the eighteenth century as “The Green Horse” from its facings, and afterwards as “The Green Dragoon Guards.”

SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS.

The Regiment was formed from Independent Troops of Horse raised in various English counties.

It wore cuirasses till 1699, and from 1707 to 1714.

It received its title and facings on its formation in honour of Queen Catherine, (wife of King Charles II.), whose favourite colour was sea-green.

It received its title in 1692 from being armed with long pistols called “Carabines,” and for its gallantry in Ireland in 1690–91.

It was known at one time as “the first Regiment of Carabiniers,” and has been nicknamed “Tichborne’s Own” since the famous trial of Arthur Orton, Sir Roger Tichborne having served in the Regiment.

It captured the colour of “the Royal Regiment of Bombardiers” at the battle of Ramilica, and its gallantry at the battle of Neer Landen pleased the King so greatly that he presented it with his charger.

SEVENTH DRAGOON GUARDS.

The Regiment was partly formed from five Regiments of Horse raised by King James II., which were disbanded in 1688.

It wore cuirasses till 1699, and from 1707 to 1714.

It was known as “The Black Horse” from its facings, also “The Blacks;” but it prid=ed itself on being “Ligonier’s” from its Colonel’s name from 1720 to 1749.

It had the nickname of “The Virgin Mary’s Guard” in the reign of King George II.; and is known as “Strawboots.”

FIRST DRAGOONS.

The Regiment was formed from some Troops of Cavalry at Tanjiers called the “Tanjier Cuirassiers,” who assisted at the defence of that place for seventeen years against the Moors, from whom they captured a standard in 1680.

It wore the cuirass till 1684, at which time each Troop bore a crimson standard, with badges of the King, the Black Prince, King Henry V., King Henry VI., King Henry VII., and Queen Elizabeth respectively.

It bears the Crest of England within the Garter, and the motto “Spectemur agendo.”

It also bears an Eagle in commemoration of its capture of the Eagle of the 105th French Regiment at the battle of Waterloo.

It captured a Standard of the “Mousquetaires Noirs” at the battle of Dettingen.

At the close of the eighteenth century it was known as the “Royal English Dragoons.”

SECOND DRAGOONS.

The Regiment was raised in Scotland from three Troops of “Scots Dragoons” and Independent Troops of Dragoons, and is the oldest Regiment of Dragoons in the British Army.

It is said= by some authors that its uniform when raised was stone-grey.

It bears the Thistle within the Circle and motto of St. Andrew “Nemo me impune lacessit,”—also “Second to None.”

It also bears an Eagle in commemoration of its capture of the Eagle of the 45th French Regiment at the battle of Waterloo.

It captured the Colours of the French “Regiment-du-Roi,” at the battle of Ramilies, for which it is permitted to wear Grenadier caps; and a Standard of the French Guards at the battle of Dettingen.

About 1700 it was commonly known as “The Grey Dragoons,” and “The Scots Regiment of White Horses.”

THIRD HUSSARS.

The Regiment was chiefly raised in Berkshire, Mid=dlesex, Hertfordshire and Essex.

It received its Title on its formation in honour of the Queen Consort.

It bears the White Horse within the Garter and the motto “Nec aspera terrent.”

It was nicknamed “Lord Adam Gordon’s Life Guards” from that officer detaining it so long in Scotland when he commanded there.

FOURTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was formed from Independent Troops raised in various English counties.

It received its Title when raised in honour of the King’s youngest daughter, afterwards Queen Anne.

It was nicknamed “Paget’s Irregular Horse” in consequence of its loose drill after its return from India.

FIFTH LANCERS.

The first 5th Regiment of Dragoons was raised in 1689 as the “Royal Irish,” it served at the battles of Blenheim, Ramilies (where it captured two Battalions of the French Regiment of Picardie, for which it was permitted to wear Grenadier caps), and many other actions. It was raised with the present 6th Dragoons and 27th Foot from the Inniskilling forces. It was disbanded in 1798. Its uniform was scarlet with blue facings.

It bears the “Harp and Crown,” and the motto “Quis Separabit.”

SIXTH DRAGOONS.

The Regiment was originally part of the Inniskilling forces, from which it was formed.

It bears the “Castle of Inniskilling.”

It was known about 1715 as “The Black Dragoons,” probably from being mounted on black horses.

SEVENTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was formed in Scotland from Independent Troops of Dragoons; it was disbanded in 1713, but restored in 1715, and mainly reformed from two troops of the present 1st Dragoons, and three troops of the present 2nd Dragoons; it then received its title in honour of the Prince of Wales’s wife.

It bears “the Royal Cypher within the Garter.”

It was nicknamed “the old saucy Seventh” in the Peninsula, also “the lily-white Seventh” from its light-blue uniform and white facings, and also “Young Eyes.”

EIGHTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was raised in Ireland from among the loyal Protestants who had fought at the battle of the Boyne, &c.

It received its title, crest, and motto in 1777 as a mark of Royal approbation of its conduct.

It bears the “Harp and Crown” with the motto “Pristinæ virtutis memores.”

It and the 76th Foot captured forty-four stand of Colours and seventy-two guns at the battle of Leswarree.

It was permitted to wear the sword belt over the right shoulder for its gallantry at the battle of Saragossa, where it took the belts of the Spanish Cavalry. This was confirmed by the King’s Regulations of 1768, which caused it to be commonly known as “the Cross Belts.”

It was known as “St. George’s” from its Colonel’s name 1740–1755.

NINTH LANCERS.

The Regiment was raised in the southern counties of England.

It received its title in 1830 in honour of Queen Adelaid=e.

It bears the “Royal Cypher within the Garter.”

TENTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was raised in Hertfordshire and adjoining counties.

It received its title and badges of the Prince’s Plume, the Rising Sun, and the Red Dragon, in 1783, in honour of the Prince of Wales.

ELEVENTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was raised in Essex and adjoining counties.

It received its title in 1840 in honour of having formed Prince Albert’s escort from Dover to Canterbury, on his arrival in England to be married to Her Majesty.

It is said= to have borne the motto “Motus componere” when raised.

It bears “the Sphinx” for Egypt 1801.

It was nicknamed “the Cherry Pickers” from some of the men being taken prisoners in a fruit garden during the Peninsula war; also “the Cherubims” from its crimson overalls.

TWELFTH LANCERS.

The Regiment was raised in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hampshire.

It received its title and badges of the Prince’s Plume, the Rising Sun, and the Red Dragon, in 1768, in honour of the Prince of Wales.

It bears “the Sphinx” for Egypt 1801, where it captured a French convoy with Colours.

It has been nicknamed “the Supple Twelfth.”

THIRTEENTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was raised in the mid=land counties of England.

It has borne the motto “Viret in Æternum” from its formation.

It was commonly known in the eighteenth century as “the Green Dragoons” from its facings; and was nicknamed in the Peninsula war “the Ragged Brigade” from its caring more for work than show, for during the war it served in thirty-two affairs besid=es general actions, and lost 274 men and 1009 horses.

FOURTEENTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was raised in the south of England.

It received its title and badge of “the Prussian Eagle” in 1798 in honour of the Princess Royal of Prussia, also its facings, orange being the Brandenburg colour.

It also bears the “Royal Cypher within the Garter.”

FIFTEENTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was raised in the vicinity of London.

It was the first Regiment of Light Dragoons raised in England, and was commonly known as “Elliott’s Light Horse” from its Colonel’s name.

It received its title and motto “Merebimur” in 1766 for its conduct in the campaign in Germany, and was authorized to bear the following inscription on its helmets “Five Battalions of French defeated and taken by this Regiment with their Colours and nine pieces of cannon at Emsdorf, 16th July 1760.” It was permitted to wear scarlet feathers in its helmets in 1799 as a distinction, after a review by the King.

It bears “the Crest of England within the Garter.”

It captured three guns at Villers-en-Couché, and the eight officers present received a medal from the Emperor of Germany.

SIXTEENTH LANCERS.

The Regiment was chiefly raised near London.

It received its motto “Aut cursu, aut cominus armis” in 1766 on being made “the Queen’s,” for its services in Portugal in 1762.

It bears the “Royal Cypher within the Garter.”

SEVENTEENTH LANCERS.

The Regiment was raised as the 18th Light Dragoons in Hertfordshire and the vicinity of London in 1759; its Colonel chose its crest of a “Death’s Head” with its motto “or Glory,” as he wished every member of it to remember General Wolfe, with whom he was at his death at the battle of Quebec 1759. It was renumbered 17th in 1763.

It received its title in 1876 in honour of H. R. H. the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, who served in the Regiment.

It was nicknamed “Bingham’s Dandies,” from its Colonel (Lord Bingham) causing the men’s uniforms to fit so well.

The first 17th Dragoons was called the “Edinburgh Light Horse,” raised in Scotland in 1759 and disbanded in 1763.

EIGHTEENTH HUSSARS.

The Regiment was raised at Leeds.

The first 18th Dragoons, is now the 17th Lancers.

The second 18th Dragoons was raised in Ireland by Lord Drogheda in 1759 as the 19th Light Dragoons, it became the 18th in 1763, and served in Holland in 1799; during the Peninsula war at Corunna, Vittoria, Nive and Orthes, also at Quatre-Bras and Waterloo; its uniform was scarlet with white facings; it was disbanded in 1822 when it was the 18th King’s Irish Hussars; its uniform then was blue with white facings.

NINETEENTH HUSSARS.

It was nicknamed “the Dumpies” when raised, from the diminutive size of the men.

The first 19th Dragoons was raised in 1759, renumbered 18th in 1763, and disbanded in 1822.

The second was raised from the Light Troops of the 1st and 2nd Dragoon Guards, 4th and 10th Dragoons in 1779. Its uniform was scarlet with green facings; it was disbanded in 1783.

The third was raised as the 23rd Dragoons in 1781, and renumbered 19th in 1783; it served at the battles of Assaye (for its conduct at which it was presented with honorary standards by the East India Company), Seringapatam, Niagara, &c. It bore the Elephant as its crest; its uniform when raised was scarlet, but in 1815 was blue with yellow facings. It was disbanded as the 19th Lancers in 1821.

TWENTIETH HUSSARS.

The first 20th Dragoons was raised in Ireland in 1759 as the “20th Inniskilling Light Dragoons.” Its uniform was scarlet with black facings; it was disbanded in 1763.

The second was raised from the Light Troops of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, 1st, 6th, and 11th Dragoons, in 1779. Its uniform was scarlet with yellow facings; it was disbanded in 1783.

The third was raised as “the Jamaica Light Horse” in 1791, made 20th Light Dragoons in 1794; it served in Egypt in 1807, and during the Peninsula war at Vimiero, &c. Its uniform when raised was blue with yellow facings, which were afterwards changed to orange; it was disbanded in 1818.

TWENTY-FIRST HUSSARS.

The first 21st Dragoons was raised at Windsor in 1759 as the “21st Royal Windsor Foresters.” Its uniform was scarlet with blue facings; it was disbanded in 1763.

The second was raised from the Light Troops of the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 15th, and 16th Dragoons in 1779. Its uniform was scarlet with white facings; it was disbanded in 1783.

The third was raised in 1794. Its uniform when raised was scarlet with yellow facings, but in 1815 was blue with black velvet facings; it was disbanded in 1818.

ROYAL ARTILLERY.

The old Trains of Artillery were disbanded at the end of the campaigns in which they served.

The present Regiment dates from 1716, but the above date of (the 14th April) 1705 is given in the official list of Colonels as the date of commission of Colonel Albert Borgard.

It bears the Royal Arms and Supporters with a Gun, with the mottoes “Ubique” above, and “Quo fas et gloria ducunt” below the gun.

Its uniform appears to have been always Blue, and probably its facings were always Scarlet; the “Trains” in 1688 wore Blue, with Orange facings.

The Royal Irish Artillery was absorbed into the Regiment in 1801, and the East India Company’s Artillery in 1858.

ROYAL ENGINEERS.

It bears the Royal Arms and Supporters with a Cannon, and the mottoes “Ubique” over the gun, and “Quo fas et gloria ducunt” below it.

The East India Company’s Engineers were absorbed into the Corps in 1858.

It is nicknamed “the Mudlarks.”

FIRST OR GRENADIER GUARDS.

The Regiment was raised in London by Colonel John Russell.

It then bore the Red Cross of St. George on a white ground.

The King’s Regiment of Foot Guards raised in Flanders in 1656 by Lord Wentworth was incorporated with the Regiment in 1665.

It bears a Grenade, and also one of the ancient Badges conferred by Royal Authority on each of the Companies, the Badges being borne in turn as the Colours are renewed.

And also in—

• 1st Battalion—An Imperial Crown.
• 2nd Battalion—The Royal Cypher with the Union Flag in the dexter canton.
• 3rd Battalion—The Royal Cypher with a pile wavy issuant from the dexter canton.

It has a Crimson Standard presented in 1832 by King William IV., bearing the Royal Cypher crowned, with the badges of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in the corners, each surmounted by the Imperial Crown.

It received its title in 1815 in commemoration of its having defeated the French Imperial Guards at Waterloo.

It is nicknamed “The Sand Bags,” also “Old Eyes.”

COLDSTREAM GUARDS.

The Regiment is the only Infantry Regiment of the Parliamentary Army that was not disbanded at the Restoration in 1660. It was formed from Sir A. Heselrig’s and Colonel Fenwick’s Regiments of Foot.

It bore in 1669 six white balls and a red cross on a green ground; and in 1684, St. George’s Cross bordered white on a blue ground.

“The Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment,” raised in 1664, was incorporated with the Regiment in 1689.

It bears one of the ancient badges conferred by Royal Authority on each of the Companies, the Badges being borne in turn as the Colours are renewed; and “the Sphinx” for Egypt, 1801.

And also in—

• 1st Battalion—The Star of the Order of the Garter.
• 2nd Battalion—A Star of eight points within the Garter, with the Union Flag in the dexter canton.

It captured the Standard of the French Life Guards at Neer-Landen.