Regimental Nicknames and Traditions of the British Army
Part 9
Raised in 1756 and was present at the capture of Guadaloupe. Active service in the West Indies reduced the ranks to such an extent that on its return it had to take large drafts of "parish boys." In 1801 the "boy" regiment was sent to the Cape to get acclimatised for service in India, where it arrived two years later, and where it stayed for over twenty years earning a high reputation for bravery and discipline. Later, another long spell of foreign service was put in, serving for no fewer than twenty years in Australia and New Zealand, a unique experience. The 2nd Battalion was raised as the 84th Foot in 1793 at York, and saw a great deal of foreign and active service, part being among the small garrison of Lucknow during the Mutiny, the rest of the 84th being massacred at Cawnpore. The brilliant record of service of the regiment has been added to since those days.
Nickname: "The Royal Tigers" and "The Twin Roses."
(_Depot_, Newcastle.)
(_Record Office_, York.)
"Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Orthes," "Peninsula," "Alma," "Inkerman," "Sevastopol," "Reshire," "Bushire," "Koosh-ab," "Persia," "New Zealand," "Relief of Ladysmith," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Dark green.
_Head-dress_, Helmet.
_Cap_, Green with green band.
_Regimental March_, "The Light Barque."
Allied Regiments, 106th Regiment (Winnipeg Light Infantry) of Canada; 2nd (South Canterbury) Regiment of New Zealand.
THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY
No regiment has earned a prouder title than the Durhams, that of "The Faithful Durhams" having been bestowed for devoted service on many a hard won battlefield and for years of arduous service faithfully performed. The 1st Battalion (68th Foot) was raised in 1756 by General John Lambton of the Coldstream Guards, and was soon on active service on the Continent, followed by active service in the West Indies. For nine years, the 68th garrisoned Gibraltar, and afterwards took part in the capture of St. Lucia, 1795, and St. Vincent. In the Peninsula, it added to its already high reputation, which it has since so well enhanced on the Continent. The 2nd Battalion (106th Foot) was raised in India in 1826 by the East India Company as the 2nd Bombay European Regiment, serving with credit in many actions in India and Persia, coming to England for the first time in 1871.
Nickname: "The Faithful Durhams."
(_Depot_, Hamilton.)
(_Record Office_, Hamilton.)
The Castle and Key, superscribed "Gibraltar, 1780-83." The Elephant, superscribed "Assaye."
"Carnatic," "Hindoostan," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Cape of Good Hope, 1806," "Roliça," "Vimiera," "Corunna," "Busaco," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Ciudad Rodrigo," "Badajoz," "Almaraz," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Waterloo," "South Africa, 1851-2-3," "Sevastopol," "Central India," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Egypt, 1882," "Modder River," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
_Uniform_, Scarlet doublet with Mackenzie tartan trews.
_Facings_, Buff.
_Head-dress_, Blue chaco with green tuft and crimson, white and green diced border. Band, Feather bonnet with green, crimson and white diced border, and scarlet hackle.
_Cap_, Green Glengarry.
_Regimental March_, "Whistle o'er the lave o't."
HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
The regiment has one of the most brilliant records in the whole army, a reputation it splendidly maintained against the Germans in France and Belgium. The 1st Battalion (71st Foot) dates from 1777 as Fraser's Highlanders, which afterwards became Macleod's Highlanders, fighting with distinguished bravery in India, South Africa, the Peninsula, Waterloo and elsewhere. The 2nd Battalion (74th Foot) has an equally brilliant record of Indian and foreign service, winning great glory at the battle of Assaye, where every officer was killed or wounded and the remainder of the regiment was brought out of action by the Sergeant-Major.
The 1st Battalion was so full of Glasgow men during the Peninsular War, that it was generally known as "The Glesca Keelies."
(_Depot_, Fort George.)
(_Record Office_, Perth.)
The Elephant, superscribed "Assaye."
"Carnatic," "Hindoostan," "Mysore," "Cape of Good Hope, 1806," "Maida," "Java," "South Africa, 1835," "Sevastopol," "Koosh-ab," "Persia," "Lucknow," "Central India," "Peiwar Kotal," "Charasiah," "Kabul, 1879," "Kandahar, 1880," "Afghanistan, 1878-80," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Egypt, 1882," "Chitral," "Atbara," "Khartoum," "Paardeberg," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Mottoes: _Cuidich'n Righ_ (Help, to the King); _Caber Feidh_ (Antlers of the Deer), the war cry of Seaforth; _Tulloch Ard_ (The high Hill), the slogan of Kintail.
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Buff.
Mackenzie tartan.
White sporran with two black tails.
_Head-dress_, Feather bonnet, scarlet, white and green diced border; white hackle, except bandsmen who wear scarlet.
_Cap_, Glengarry, with scarlet, white and green diced border.
_Regimental March_, "Highland Laddie."
Allied Regiments, 72nd Regiment (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada); 78th Pictou Regiment (Highlanders) of Canada.
SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS (Rossshire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's)
The 1st Battalion (72nd Highlanders) was raised by the chief of the Clan Mackenzie in 1778. The regiment gave early evidence of that great bravery which has ever marked it, especially in India and Afghanistan, and took part in the whole of the Egyptian and Soudan expeditions from the attack at Tel-el-Kebir to the final battle at Omdurman. The 2nd Battalion (78th Highlanders) claim descent from the famous Fraser Highlanders of 1756, being reorganized at Aberdeen in 1793 as the Rossshire Buffs and has an equally glorious record.
Nickname: 1st Battalion, "The Macraes"; 2nd Battalion, "King's Men," from the motto.
(_Depot_, Aberdeen.)
(_Record Office_, Perth.)
The Royal Tiger, superscribed "India." The Sphinx, superscribed "Egypt."
"Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Egmont-op-Zee," "Mandora," "Corunna," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Almaraz," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nive," "Orthes," "Peninsula," "Waterloo," "South Africa, 1835," "Delhi, 1857," "Lucknow," "Charasiah," "Kabul, 1879," "Kandahar, 1880," "Afghanistan, 1878-80," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Egypt, 1882, 1884," "Nile, 1884-85," "Chitral," "Tirah," "Defence of Ladysmith," "Paardeberg," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Motto: _Bydand_ (Watchful).
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Yellow.
Gordon tartan with yellow stripe.
White sporran with two black tails.
_Head-dress_, Feather bonnet, scarlet, white and green diced border with white hackle.
_Cap_, Glengarry, with scarlet, white and green diced border.
_Regimental March_, "Highland Laddie."
Allied Regiment, 48th Regiment (Highlanders) of Canada.
THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS
"The Gay Gordons," as the regiment has always been known, are the lineal descendants of that famous regiment raised in 1787, mainly by the beautiful Duchess of Gordon, who bestowed on each recruit a kiss. The regiment saw a great deal of service in India, notably the storming of Seringapatam. Service in the Mediterranean and South Africa followed, and the regiment was back in India in time to take part in some of the severest fighting in the Mutiny. Brilliant service in other parts of the Empire followed. The 2nd Battalion (92nd Highlanders) trace their history back to 1794, and fought in India, the Peninsula and at Waterloo with great credit. Many famous officers have commenced their military careers in the Gordon Highlanders.
(_Depot_, Inverness.)
(_Record Office_, Perth.)
The Sphinx, superscribed "Egypt."
"Egmont-op-Zee," "Corunna," "Busaco," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Salamanca," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Waterloo," "Alma," "Sevastopol," "Lucknow," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Egypt, 1882," "Nile, 1884-85," "Atbara," "Khartoum," "South Africa, 1900-02."
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Blue. _Tartan_, Cameron-Erracht.
Black sporran, with two white tails.
_Head-dress_, Feather bonnet, scarlet, white and green diced border and white hackle.
_Cap_, Blue glengarry.
_Regimental March_, "Highland Laddie."
Allied Regiment: 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada.
THE QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
The regiment (79th Foot) was raised by Cameron of Erracht in 1793 in Inverness-shire almost entirely from among his own kinsmen, and down to the present day the Clan Cameron is still very strong in the regiment. For many years the 79th Highlanders was the only single battalion regiment in the army, the 2nd Battalion being raised during the South African War. A remarkable fact in connection with the regiment was that although they had over 700 officers and men down with typhus on returning from Corunna in 1809, they did not lose a single man, and six months later embarked for the ill-fated Walcheren expedition 1,002 strong. They served in the trenches throughout the whole of that campaign without losing a man.
(_Depot_, Belfast.)
(_Record Office_, Dublin.)
The Sphinx, superscribed "Egypt."
"India," "Cape of Good Hope, 1806," "Talavera," "Bourbon," "Busaco," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Ciudad Rodrigo," "Badajoz," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Nivelle," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Central India," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Motto: _Quis separabit?_ (Who shall separate?)
_Uniform_, Green.
_Facings_, Dark Green.
_Head-dress_, Black fur busby, with black and green plume.
_Cap_, Green with green band.
_Regimental March_, "Off, Off, said the Stranger."
THE ROYAL IRISH RIFLES
The regiment was raised in 1793 in Dublin by Col. Fitch, and became known as "Fitch's Grenadiers," the title being bestowed in humorous allusion to the small stature of the men. They, however, soon showed they could fight as well as the finest grenadiers in the Army, reaping glory in many a hot engagement during the succeeding years. The regiment was converted into Rifles in 1881 when the 86th Foot was linked with the 83rd as sister battalion. The 86th regiment was raised in 1792, as the Royal County Downs, and served for some years as marines, and later in Egypt. During the ten succeeding years the regiment travelled twice round Africa, served in India and the Red Sea, twice crossed the Egyptian Desert, served in South Africa, Ceylon, and elsewhere, the service being so strenuous that during five years in India over a thousand men laid down their lives. The fine physique of the ranks earned for them the name of the "Irish Giants."
(_Depot_, Armagh.)
(_Record Office_, Dublin.)
The Sphinx, superscribed "Egypt."
"Monte Video," "Talavera," "Barrosa," "Java," "Tarifa," "Vittoria," "Nivelle," "Niagara," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Ava," "Sevastopol," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Egypt, 1882, 1884," "Relief of Ladysmith," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Motto: _Faugh-a-Ballagh_ (Clear the way).
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Blue.
_Head-dress_, Racoon-skin cap with green plume on left side.
_Cap_, Blue with scarlet band.
_Regimental March_, "British Grenadiers."
PRINCESS VICTORIA'S (Royal Irish Fusiliers)
The 1st Battalion (87th Foot) was raised by General Doyle in Ireland in 1793 and was fighting in 1794 in Belgium and afterwards saw a great deal of rough service in South America. It was, however, in the Peninsular War that it earned undying fame, charging the enemy who were in greatly superior numbers, at Barrosa, with such fury as to overthrow them, and led to the capture of an eagle by Sergt. Patrick Masterman, whose grandson won a V.C. in South Africa. In recognition of its splendid bravery the regiment was given a Royal title and directed to display an eagle as badge. The regiment has exhibited the same high standard of bravery in all its subsequent campaigns. The 2nd Battalion (89th Foot), raised in 1793, also made a splendid name for courage.
Nicknames: 1st Battalion, "The Old Fogs," or the "Faugh-a-Ballagh Boys"; 2nd Battalion, "The Rollickers."
(_Depot_, Galway.)
(_Record Office_, Cork.)
The Elephant.
The Sphinx, superscribed "Egypt."
"Seringapatam," "Talavera," "Busaco," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Ciudad Rodrigo," "Badajoz," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Alma," "Inkerman," "Sevastopol," "Central India," "South Africa, 1877-8-9," "Relief of Ladysmith," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Motto: _Quis separabit?_ (Who shall separate?)
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Green.
_Head-dress_, Helmet.
_Cap_, Blue with dark green band.
_Regimental March_, "St. Patrick's Day."
THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS
The 1st Battalion (88th Foot) dates from 1793, being raised in Connaught, and was known then by the same title it still bears. It has had a most adventurous career, being shipwrecked and seeing hard service in India, Egypt, Ceylon, and South America, and subsequently joining Wellington in the Peninsula, winning high distinction in many battles, especially at the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos. In 1819 the regiment was given permission to create a regimental order of merit, the 1st class being for those who had been in twelve or more general actions, and no fewer than 70 rank and file then serving qualified, there being nearly 130 who had been in from six to eleven actions, and over four hundred who had served in one to five actions. The 2nd Battalion (94th Foot) dates from 1823.
Nickname: "The Devil's Own," called so by General Picton for their undaunted bravery in face of the enemy; also "The Garvies."
(_Depot_, Stirling.)
(_Record Office_, Perth.)
"Cape of Good Hope, 1806," "Roliça," "Vimiera," "Corunna," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "South Africa, 1846-7, 1851-2-3," "Alma," "Balaklava," "Sevastopol," "Lucknow," "South Africa, 1879," "Modder River," "Paardeberg," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Mottoes: _Ne obliviscaris_ (Forget not); _Sans Peur_ (Without fear).
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Yellow.
_Tartan_, Sutherland.
Black sporran, with six white tassels.
_Head-dress_, Feather bonnet, white hackle.
_Cap_, Glengarry with scarlet and white diced border.
_Regimental March_, "Highland Laddie."
Allied Regiment: 91st Regt. (Canadian Highlanders) of Canada.
PRINCESS LOUISE'S (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)
The 98th Highlanders (Argyllshire) was raised in 1796 and renumbered the 91st Highlanders in 1802, its constant war service being in South Africa where it helped to capture the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch and took part in the first Kaffir War. It afterwards went to the Peninsula and fought in many of the battles there, winning great fame. Afterwards it served many years in the Mediterranean and in India, taking a full share in the fierce battles of the Mutiny. The 2nd Battalion, raised in 1800 as the Sutherland Highlanders, won its greatest glory in the Crimea where in line, under the brave Colin Campbell, it received unsupported the full charge of the Russian Cavalry and drove them off in confusion.
Known after the Battle of Balaklava as "The Thin Red Line," also called "The Rory's."
(_Depot_, Birr.)
(_Record Office_, Cork.)
"Niagara,"
"Central India,"
"South Africa, 1900-02."
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Blue.
_Head-dress_, Helmet.
_Cap_, Blue with scarlet band.
_Regimental March_, "The Royal Canadian."
Allied Regiments: 10th Regiment (Royal Grenadiers) of Canada; 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers of Canada.
THE PRINCE OF WALES'S LEINSTER REGIMENT (Royal Canadians)
The Leinster Regiment is the only British corps having a Colonial title. The 1st Battalion (100th Foot) was raised in Canada in 1858, and has, by marked gallantry in India, South Africa and Belgium, added much to the glory of the British Army. The 2nd Battalion (109th Foot) was raised in India in 1853. The regiment has many curious nicknames, those applying to the 1st Battalion being "The Crusaders," "The Centipedes," on account of its regimental number, the 100th, "The Beavers," the "Old Hundredth," and "The Colonials." At one time the colours used to be decorated with maple leaves on July 1st (Dominion Day), the maple leaf being borne as part of the badge. The 2nd Battalion is known as "The Poonah Pets" from its birthplace; "The Steel Heads" on account of withstanding the excessive heat of the sun in Central India, and "The Lilywhites" from its white facings. The regiment was the last British infantry unit to be quartered in Canada, and the whole country parted with them with regret.
(_Depot_, Tralee.)
(_Record Office_, Cork.)
A Royal Tiger.
"Plassey," "Condore," "Masulipatam," "Badara," "Buxar," "Rohilcund, 1774," "Sholinghur," "Carnatic," "Rohilcund, 1794," "Guzerat," "Deig," "Bhurtpore," "Ghuznee, 1839," "Affghanistan, 1839," "Ferozeshah," "Sobraon," "Chillianwallah," "Goojerat," "Punjaub," "Pegu," "Delhi, 1857," "Lucknow," "Burma, 1885-87," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Blue.
_Head-dress_, Racoon-skin cap with white and green plume on left side.
_Cap_, Blue, with scarlet band.
_Regimental March_, "British Grenadiers."
Allied Regiments, 101st Regiment (Edmonton Fusiliers) of Canada; 104th Regiment (Westminster Fusiliers) of Canada.
THE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS
The 101st and 104th Regiments, combined to make up the Royal Munster Fusiliers, are both of Indian origin and have left their names deeply inscribed on the battles which gave that country to the Empire. The 101st was raised by Clive in India in 1756 as the Bengal European Regiment and shared in all the hard fighting from Chandernagore to Burmah, till the Mutiny brought them their crowning glory. After over one hundred years' campaigning the regiment came to England for the first time in 1868. The 2nd Battalion (the 104th Regiment) was formed in 1839 in Bengal and also did splendid service in the Mutiny and in the Burmah campaign.
Nickname: "The Dirty Shirts," a cherished name given them as a result of fighting in their shirt sleeves at Delhi, in 1857.
(_Depot_, Naas.)
(_Record Office_, Dublin.)
The Royal Tiger, superscribed "Plassey," "Buxar." The Elephant, superscribed "Carnatic," "Mysore."
"Arcot," "Condore," "Wandiwash," "Pondicherry," "Guzerat," "Sholinghur," "Nundy Droog," "Amboyna," "Ternate," "Banda," "Seringapatam," "Kirkee," "Maheidpoor," "Beni Boo Alli," "Ava," "Aden," "Mooltan," "Goojerat," "Punjaub," "Pegu," "Lucknow," "Relief of Ladysmith," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Motto: _Spectamur Agendo_ (We are judged by our deeds).
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Blue.
_Head-dress_, Racoon-skin cap, with blue and green plume on left side.
_Cap_, Bright blue, with scarlet band.
_Regimental March_, "British Grenadiers."
THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS
The regiment is the oldest of the old Indian regiments. It was raised in India in the reign of Charles I., but in 1748 it became the Madras European Regiment, and under Clive rendered splendid service at many famous Indian battles which gradually won that Empire for the British Crown. The 2nd Battalion (103rd Foot) has an equally glorious Indian record. After 223 years of Indian service the 1st Battalion came to England for the first time in 1868, and in 1870 the 2nd Battalion came home for the first time after 209 years service.
Nicknames: "The Blue Caps." During the Indian Mutiny, Nana Sahib warned his men against those "blue-capped soldiers who fought like devils." "The Old Toughs," from the long period of hard service in India.
(_Depot_, Winchester.)
(_Record Office_, Winchester.)
"Copenhagen," "Monte Video," "Roliça," "Vimiera," "Corunna," "Busaco," "Barrosa," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Ciudad Rodrigo," "Badajoz," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Waterloo," "South Africa, 1846-7, 1851-2-3," "Alma," "Inkerman," "Sevastopol," "Lucknow," "Ashantee, 1873-4," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan, 1878-9," "Burma, 1885-87," "Khartoum," "Defence of Ladysmith," "Relief of Ladysmith," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
_Uniform_, Dark Green.
_Facings_, Black.
_Head-dress_, Black fur busby with black plume.
_Cap_, Dark Green with green band.
_Regimental March_, "I'm Ninety-five."
Allied Regiment: 6th Regiment (The Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles) of Canada.
THE RIFLE BRIGADE (The Prince Consort's Own)
Raised in 1800 the regiment saw active service before a year was out in the attack on Ferrol. A detachment was on Nelson's flagship as marines at the battle of the Baltic. Their courage was favourably commented upon at Waterloo where they rendered particularly valuable service at a critical period. In all parts of the world the Rifle Brigade have rendered devoted service to King and Country, and have fully earned and maintained the reputation that won for them the eulogy of King William IV, who said "Wherever there has been fighting, there you have been, and wherever you have been you have distinguished yourselves."
Nicknames: "The Greenjackets" and "The Sweeps."
(_Record Office_, Woolwich.)
Motto: _Nil sine labore_ (Nothing without Labour).
_Uniform_, Blue.
_Facings_, White.
_Head-dress_, Helmet.
_Cap_, Blue with blue band.
_Regimental March_, "Wait for the Wagons."
ARMY SERVICE CORPS
The Army Service Corps has no counterpart in any European Army, and has been evolved from years of warfare in all parts of the world. The result, as proved in the great war on the Continent, is to place the Corps in the forefront of any similar service among the Allies, and the Corps has been the wonder of the armies of the world. The Corps is the outcome of experience gained in the organisation of several corps which had been formed for special purposes and afterwards disbanded. The present high standard of efficiency of the Corps is due to the fact that it has been slowly but surely recognised by Generals in command of military expeditions that the ultimate success of their operations depended primarily on the efficiency of the supply and transport service, and so with the flight of years the Corps has been grudgingly given that degree of importance in the Army it has so well merited. It has gone through many transformations from the Commissaries of Muster, Royal Waggon Train, Land Transport Corps, Military Train, and Commissariat and Transport Corps to its present designation and duties.
When it was the Military Train it was called "Moke Train." Popularly known as "The Commos."
Motto: _In Arduis Fidelis_ (Faithful in Danger).
_Uniform_, Blue.
_Facings_, Dull Cherry.
_Head-dress_, Helmet.
_Cap_, Blue, with cherry-red band.
_Regimental March_, "Her Bright Smile."
ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS