The 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) was an
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
regiment of the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
, raised in 1758. Under the
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms of 1881 reorganised the infantry regiments of the British Army. The reforms were done by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers during 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell Reforms.
The reorganisation was ...
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...
in 1881, the 68th Regiment becoming the 1st Battalion, and the 106th Regiment becoming the 2nd Battalion in the regular Army. It saw action during the Seven Years' War before being converted to Light Infantry in 1808, fighting with distinction in the Peninsular Army under Arthur Wellesley. It would go on to fight with some distinction during the Crimean War, served during the Indian Mutiny and the
New Zealand wars
The New Zealand Wars took place from 1845 to 1872 between the New Zealand colonial government and allied Māori on one side and Māori and Māori-allied settlers on the other. They were previously commonly referred to as the Land Wars or the M ...
before returning to India between 1872 and 1888.
Formation
In August 1756, after the loss of
Minorca
Menorca or Minorca (from la, Insula Minor, , smaller island, later ''Minorica'') is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca. Its capita ...
in the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754 ...
, the
23rd Regiment of Foot
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* Second#Sexagesimal divisions of calendar time and day, 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute''
Places
* 3rd Street (d ...
, together with 14 other regiments was ordered to raise a 2nd Battalion, which it did while in
Leicester
Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands.
The city l ...
. On 22 April 1758 the 2nd battalion was separated from the 23rd regiment as a new regiment and ranked as the 68th in order of precedence with the appointment of a new
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
as Lambton's Regiment of Foot or the 68th Regiment of foot. (The practice of referring to regiments by their colonel's name was gradually going out of fashion, being replaced by the regiments' order of precedence.)
The Seven Years War
In May 1758 it marched to the
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...
as part of the forces (14,000 soldiers in five brigades and 6,000 marines) stationed on the island at the request of Britain's ally
Frederick the Great
Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the Sil ...
of Prussia. The intention was to conduct raids (''descents'' as they were then called) on the French coast to disturb
privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...
s in the area, distract the French army and relieve pressure on Britain's allies, the
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...
ns. The first expedition (3 Guards, 9 line regimentsVane p.9) anchored at
Cancale
Cancale (; ; Gallo: ''Cauncall'') is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is known as the birthplace of Saint Jeanne Jugan.
Population
Inhabitants of Cancale are called ''Cancalais'' in French.
T ...
Bay, near
St Malo
Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, on the English Channel coast.
The walled city had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth from local extortion and overseas adventures. In 1944, the Alli ...
, on 5 May, the
grenadier
A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word '' grenade'') was originally a specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in battle. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when grenadiers were recruited fr ...
company being part of the forces that destroyed four King's ships, 60 merchantmen and several privateers in
Paramé
Paramé ( br, Parame) is a former town and commune of France on the north coast of Brittany. Paramé merged with Saint-Servan to form the commune of Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, ...
. The remainder of the regiment constructed fortifications around Cancale until taken off on 12 June. After threatening other ports in the region, the fleet returned to Britain on 6 July.
A second expedition involving the 68th on the French coast was landed on 7 August in the Bay of Ureville and marched for
Cherbourg
Cherbourg (; , , ), nrf, Chèrbourg, ) is a former commune and subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French department of Manche. It was merged into the commune of Cherbourg-Octeville on 28 Feb ...
. The town was taken with little resistance from the local militia or the
Régiment de Clare
The Clare's Regiment, later known as Clare's Dragoons, was initially named O'Brien's Regiment after its originator Daniel O'Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare raised a mounted dragoon regiment during the Jacobite war. When Clare's Dragoons left Limeric ...
, and the fort and harbour were demolished. The troops left on 16 August but did not return to Britain. A third and final expedition was launched on 3 September; the 68th landed at Lunaire Bay, again near St Malo, but suffered severe defeat after the French concentrated their army and engaged the British army at St. Cast. The governor of Brittany, the
Duc d'Aiguillon
Duke of Aiguillon ( French: ''duc d'Aiguillon'') was a title of French nobility in the peerage of France, first created in 1599 by Henry IV of France for Henry of Lorraine, son of Charles, Duke of Mayenne. The title takes its name from the town o ...
, led a force of 6,000 regulars, several squadrons of cavalry and the "Garde de Cote" militia against the British, who fought a rearguard action while evacuating the beach. The French claimed British casualties were 900 officers and men, with 600 taken prisoner. The 68th lost 70 men from Captain Revell's grenadiers company, who formed part of the rear guard with grenadiers from the other regiments left on the beach.
The 68th disembarked at
Cowes
Cowes () is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The two towns are linked by the Cowes Floa ...
on 19 September, and in October the regiment marched into winter quarters at
Rochester
Rochester may refer to:
Places Australia
* Rochester, Victoria
Canada
* Rochester, Alberta
United Kingdom
*Rochester, Kent
** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area
** History of Rochester, Kent
** HM Prison ...
. With losses in expeditions (mostly from the poor conditions aboard ship) and providing a draft of 173 men to the 61st regiment, it was very weak, and recruiting parties scoured the country to refill its ranks. On 2 June 1759, the regiment embarked for
Jersey
Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label=Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependencies, Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west F ...
. It arrived on 21 June and remained there until February 1760, returning to England. In March, 600 men of the regiment, in three groups of 200, were drafted into the British regiments in the
West Indies
The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...
; this reduced the regiment to a mere 58 rank and file. The regiment was marched to
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
, then
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to:
*Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England
*Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England
*Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...
, and billeted at
Tynemouth
Tynemouth () is a coastal town in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, North East England. It is located on the north side of the mouth of the River Tyne, hence its name. It is 8 mi (13 km) east-northeast of Newcastle upon T ...
Barracks. At this point, recruiting had enabled it to muster nine (weak) companies consisting of 41 officers and 239 men.
There the 68th would remain through 1761, with a detachment sent to
Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
*Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in No ...
to aid civil power and providing a draft of 95 men for the 70th Regiment. By May, the regiment was based at
Hexham
Hexham ( ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Northumberland, England, on the south bank of the River Tyne, formed by the confluence of the North Tyne and the South Tyne at Warden, Northumberland, Warden nearby, and ...
with its headquarters at
Morpeth
Morpeth may refer to:
*Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia
** Electoral district of Morpeth, a former electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in New South Wales
* Morpeth, Ontario, Canada
* Morpeth, Northumberland, England, UK
** Morpeth (UK ...
, with a strength of 42 officers and 289 men. In January 1762, the 68th had grown to 415 men and was ordered to march to Berwick, where it transferred to the command of
Lord George Beauclerk
Lieutenant-General Lord George Beauclerk (26 December 1704 – 11 May 1768) was a British Army officer, the sixth son of Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans by his wife Diana, daughter of Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford.
Military caree ...
, commanding in Scotland (
North Britain
North Britain is a term which has been occasionally used, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries, for either the northern part of Great Britain or Scotland, which occupies the northernmost third of the island. "North Britains" could also re ...
as it was referred to since the 1745 rebellion). It was quartered at the newly built Fort George and remained throughout 1762, until July 1763 when to was shipped to
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
.
The West Indies
In 1764 the regiment left Ireland on 2 June with a strength of just over half the establishment (250 privates, establishment: 423) and sailed for the Caribbean, arriving in
Antigua
Antigua ( ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Bar ...
after a swift passage on 21 June. Eight uneventful years passed until mid 1772, when six companies were sent to
St. Vincent
Saint Vincent may refer to:
People Saints
* Vincent of Saragossa (died 304), a.k.a. Vincent the Deacon, deacon and martyr
* Saint Vincenca, 3rd century Roman martyress, whose relics are in Blato, Croatia
* Vincent, Orontius, and Victor (died 305) ...
to fight rebellious
Caribs
“Carib” may refer to:
People and languages
*Kalina people, or Caribs, an indigenous people of South America
**Carib language, also known as Kalina, the language of the South American Caribs
*Kalinago people, or Island Caribs, an indigenous pe ...
, where more men were sick with diseases (63) than were killed or wounded in fighting (36). It was during this fighting that the motto, 'Faithful' is supposed to have been gained and placed on the
colours
Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associa ...
.
In March 1773 the regiment left the Caribbean for Britain, where it over-wintered in Tynemouth. In May 1774 it returned to Scotland and Fort George, staying until December 1775, when it moved once more to Ireland. It was while serving in Dublin that disputes with other regiments arose over the motto displayed on the colours (as it could imply that other regiments were less faithful), and the motto was not repeated on later colours. The regiment was to spend seven and a half years deployed around Ireland. Near the end of that time, August 1782, it was decided to attach counties to regiments to aid recruitment, and the 68th was allotted to
County Durham
County Durham ( ), officially simply Durham,UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. is a ceremonial county in North East England.North East Assembly About North East E ...
, becoming the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot.Vane p. 20
In 1779, the regiment was in the news when one of its former officers,
James Hackman
James Hackman (baptized 13 December 1752, hanged 19 April 1779), briefly Rector of Wiveton in Norfolk, was the man who murdered Martha Ray, singer and mistress of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. Rawlings, Philip, ''Hackman, James (bap. 1752, ...
, was hanged for the notorious murder of
Martha Ray
Martha Ray (1746 – 7 April 1779) was a British singer of the Georgian era. Her father was a corsetmaker and her mother was a servant in a noble household. Good-looking, intelligent, and a talented singer, she came to the attention of many of ...
, mistress of the
Earl of Sandwich
Earl of Sandwich is a noble title in the Peerage of England, held since its creation by the House of Montagu. It is nominally associated with Sandwich, Kent. It was created in 1660 for the prominent naval commander Admiral Sir Edward Montagu. ...
.
It left Ireland in September, at nearly full strength (793 all ranks), for Portsmouth. In December the regiment was brought up to full strength (a war establishment of 847 all ranks) and was destined for service in
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
. News of the Peace of Paris caused a mutiny, especially among those men who had signed up only for 'three years service or the
duration
Duration may refer to:
* The amount of time elapsed between two events
* Duration (music) – an amount of time or a particular time interval, often cited as one of the fundamental aspects of music
* Duration (philosophy) – a theory of time and ...
', and the regiment was put ashore from the transport ships it was in.
After guarding prisoners of war at
Winchester
Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...
, in October the regiment was sent to Jersey and Guernsey. It left, after a brief return to England (June–September 1784), in early October 1785 for
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
, and being briefly threatened with disbandment during the reduction of the Army's size in 1784.
The regiment's stay in Gibraltar was uneventful, except for the reduction to the peacetime establishment, and in December 1794 it was shipped to the West Indies (with the 46th and 61st regiments) as reinforcements for the British forces there. The regiment was dispersed to the islands of
Martinique
Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in th ...
,
St. Lucia
Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerin ...
and
Grenada
Grenada ( ; Grenadian Creole French: ) is an island country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain. Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Pe ...
, where they fought against
Fédon's rebellion
Fédon's rebellion (also known as the Brigands' War, or Fédon's Revolution, 2 March 1795 – 19 June 1796) was an uprising against British rule in Grenada. Although a significant number of slaves were involved, they fought on both sides (the majo ...
which was being supported by the French. The Brigands were defeated on 18 June 1796, but the 68th played no part, having been reduced by fighting and especially
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...
to 61 fit men, and after a draft to the 63rd regiment, 10 officers and 27 other ranks returned to Britain in September. After officers' leave and discharges, only seven men marched away from Portsmouth.
Recruiting began around the
Midlands
The Midlands (also referred to as Central England) are a part of England that broadly correspond to the Kingdom of Mercia of the Early Middle Ages, bordered by Wales, Northern England and Southern England. The Midlands were important in the Ind ...
, and by the time the regiment landed in Ireland in March 1797 it was 202 men strong. Its strength fell, and by April 1798 when the 68th were called out to guard the guns at Dublin against the
rebels
Rebels may refer to:
* Participants in a rebellion
* Rebel groups, people who refuse obedience or order
* Rebels (American Revolution), patriots who rejected British rule in 1776
Film and television
* ''Rebels'' (film) or ''Rebelles'', a 2019 ...
, it fielded 36 men; by the end of 1799 it had grown to only 120. In February 1800 while in
Trim
Trim or TRIM may refer to:
Cutting
* Cutting or trimming small pieces off something to remove them
** Book trimming, a stage of the publishing process
** Pruning, trimming as a form of pruning often used on trees
Decoration
* Trim (sewing), or ...
, the regiment received nearly 1,800 Irish volunteers from the Militia, and after it had returned to England in March, it was divided into two battalions in May.
In late November the two battalions separately embarked for the West Indies, arriving between late January 1801 and March, to be stationed on Martinique,
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate). ...
Dominica
Dominica ( or ; Kalinago: ; french: Dominique; Dominican Creole French: ), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically ...
.Vane p. 33 Yellow fever soon hit; by the end of the year, over one quarter of the officers had died. In April 1802, 360 men of 2/68th helped suppress a mutiny by the
8th West India Regiment
The West India Regiments (WIR) were infantry units of the British Army recruited from and normally stationed in the British colonies of the Caribbean between 1795 and 1927. In 1888 the two West India Regiments then in existence were reduced t ...
on Dominica, caused by the unscrupulousness of their
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
. By September the losses from disease were such that the two battalions were merged on Barbados. The
Treaty of Amiens
The Treaty of Amiens (french: la paix d'Amiens, ) temporarily ended hostilities between France and the United Kingdom at the end of the War of the Second Coalition
The War of the Second Coalition (1798/9 – 1801/2, depending on perio ...
was signed in 1802, returning St Lucia and Martinique to the French. However, war broke out again in May 1803, and in June the 68th was sent (with the Royal Scots and the 64th regiment) to retake St. Lucia. The 68th was in reserve for the fighting and remained as the island garrison. In February 1805, having lost 500 dead and 170 invalided to England, the regiment was moved to St. Vincent, and in April to Antigua. Here they stayed until June 1806, when it embarked for England with 140 men.
Walcheren
The regiment spent the winter in
Ripon
Ripon () is a cathedral city in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. The city is located at the confluence of two tributaries of the River Ure, the Laver and Skell. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the city ...
, where by December 1807, after receiving recruits and drafts from militias from Ireland, Durham and West Yorkshire, it had a strength of 436 rank and file. It remained in and around Yorkshire, and while in Hull was ordered to convert to
light infantry
Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...
, as the 43rd and 52nd regiments had been, to form a light brigade. Marched to
Brabourne Lees
Brabourne Lees is a village in the civil parish of Brabourne, within the Ashford borough of Kent, England.
The village (centre) is just under east of Ashford town centre itself geographically. By road this is a journey of about .
The village w ...
, Kent, it was to train with the 85th regiment under the master of light infantry training, Lt. Col. Franz von Rothenburg. After more recruiting, almost one quarter of the regiment's men were from County Durham by the time the regiment left for
Walcheren
Walcheren () is a region and former island in the Dutch province of Zeeland at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Eastern Scheldt in the north and the Western Scheldt in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus. The two ...
in July 1809.
The invasion of Walcheren by an army of nearly 40,000 men in 15 brigades was an attempt to simultaneously destroy a French fleet together with the
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,
shipyards and distract
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
from
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
. Landing on the island on 30 July, on 1 August together with the 85th they pursued defending forces to the walls of
Flushing
Flushing may refer to:
Places
* Flushing, Cornwall, a village in the United Kingdom
* Flushing, Queens, New York City
** Flushing Bay, a bay off the north shore of Queens
** Flushing Chinatown (法拉盛華埠), a community in Queens
** Flushing ...
, which fell after a siege on 15 August.
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
now began to infect the troops, and by 25 September it was reduced to 99 fit men, with 384 men eventually dying from the 'Walcheren fever' as opposed to only 15 in combat. The regiment left the island in December, landing at
Deal
A deal, or deals may refer to:
Places United States
* Deal, New Jersey, a borough
* Deal, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* Deal Lake, New Jersey
Elsewhere
* Deal Island (Tasmania), Australia
* Deal, Kent, a town in England
* Deal, ...
.
The regiment continued to suffer from the effects of malaria, and only by October 1810 was seen to be beginning to recover.Ward p. 107 In February 1811, while three companies were billeted in
Arundel
Arundel ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Arun District of the South Downs, West Sussex, England.
The much-conserved town has a medieval castle and Roman Catholic cathedral. Arundel has a museum and comes second behind much large ...
, a party of officers and men assaulted some of the townsmen in return for repeated insults aimed at the officers, resulting in the
courts-martial
A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...
of the officers, and two lieutenants becoming "prisoners of the civil power". In June 1811 the regiment sailed for Portugal.
The Peninsular War
Landing in
Lisbon
Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...
on 27 June 1811, by 17 July it had reached
Arronches
Arronches () is a municipality in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 3,165, in an area of 314.65 km2.
The municipality is located by the Serra de São Mamede in Portalegre District.
The present Mayor is Fermelinda Carvalho (PSD) and the Pr ...
, where it joined the newly formed 7th Division (nicknamed the 'Mongrels'). For the rest of the year the regiment marched around Northern Portugal, entering Spain in September to aid in the masking of
Ciudad Rodrigo
Ciudad Rodrigo () is a small cathedral city in the province of Salamanca, in western Spain, with a population in 2016 of 12,896. It is also the seat of a judicial district.
The site of Ciudad Rodrigo, perched atop a rocky rise on the right bank ...
, returning to Portugal by October. The effects of the Walcheren expedition were still with the regiment, with the marches increasing the sick-list and, until February 1812, 25 men dying every month. Throughout 1812, in spite of replacements the number fit for duty rarely rose above 270.
In January 1812 the regiment deployed with the 7th division as the reserve at
Fuenteguinaldo
Fuenteguinaldo is a village and large municipality in the province of Salamanca, western Spain, part of the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. It is located from the provincial capital city of Salamanca and has a population of 860 people.
Geo ...
during the capture of Ciudad Ridrigo. Returning to Portugal on 19 January the regiment set off South on 20 February, crossing into Spain on 16 March, and again formed a covering force during the siege and capture of Badajoz. The regiment returned to Portugal, where in May it was inspected by Major-General John de Bernewitz, resulting in uncomplimentary observations.
Salamanca
The regiment marched back into Spain with the 7th Division on 2 June 1812, and on 20 June reached its position near
Salamanca
Salamanca () is a city in western Spain and is the capital of the Province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile and León. The city lies on several rolling hills by the Tormes River. Its Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritag ...
on the heights of Villares. Late in the day the regiment, reinforced with a company of Brunswick Oels (owing to its still weakened state), was ordered off the heights and down into the village of Moresco. With detachments blocking each street and lane, the regiment fought off French attempts to take the village until ordered to retire back up the hill at nightfall. One Captain W Mackay received 22 bayonet wounds but survived and later recovered. On 22 June an attempt by
Marmont
Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont (20 July 1774 – 22 March 1852) was a French general and nobleman who rose to the rank of Marshal of the Empire and was awarded the title (french: duc de Raguse). In the Peninsular War Marmont succeede ...
to take the heights above Moresco was halted by the 68th, the
Chasseurs Britanniques
The Chasseurs Britanniques was a battalion-sized corps of foreign volunteers, who fought for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the Napoleonic Wars. The regiment was formed from the remnants of the Louis Joseph, Prince of Condé ...
and the 51st Regiment.
On 27 June the last of the Samalanca forts surrendered to the 6th Division, and by mid July Marmont's reinforced Army began to manoeuvre against Wellington's: Early on 22 July the 68th and 2nd
Caçadores
The Caçadores (hunters) were the elite light infantry troops of the Portuguese Army, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Units of ''Caçadores'' – with features somewhat different from the original ones – continued to exist in the P ...
skirmished with French
Voltigeur
The Voltigeurs were French military skirmish units created in 1804 by Emperor Napoleon I. They replaced the second company of fusiliers in each existing infantry battalion.
Etymology
''Voltigeurs'' ( ɔltiʒœʀ English: "acrobats") were named ...
es probing for the flank of the Army. Retaining control of a hill, they were subject to artillery fire until relieved by the 95th Regiment in the afternoon. By 4 o'clock it was back with the 7th Division and advanced against the French in the general action ending in their defeat.
Following the retreating French, on 12 August the 51st and the 68th were the first regiments to march into Madrid, to great excitement from the population. Late the next day the 51st, 68th and the Chasseurs Britanniques assaulted fortified buildings in the
Buen Retiro Park
The Buen Retiro Park (Spanish: ''Parque del Buen Retiro'', literally "Good retirement park"), Retiro Park or simply El Retiro is one of the largest parks of the city of Madrid, Spain. The park belonged to the Spanish Monarchy until the late 19th ...
garrisoned by some 2,000 French troops who surrendered on the morning of 14 August.
Wellington's army continued its advance besieging Burgos in September, with the 68th at Olmos covering the siege and constructing breastworks in the valley at Monasterio de Rodilla in mid October. The French now showed signs of attacking, and attempting to out-flank the British forces around Madrid, and Wellington began another retreat back to Portugal in the rain and mud of autumn. The regiment went into winter quarters at Paços de Baixo and Paços de Cima in December. Due to its weakened state, 235 men fit for duty and 247 sick, it was briefly threatened with being combined with another weak regiment into a 'Provisional Battalion'. However the regiment shared in the recovery of Wellington's army as a whole and by April 1813 had 439 men fit with only 97 sick.
The advance into Spain began in early May, marching rapidly through the North of the country, with the troops suffering as they out-ran their supply train.
Vitoria
Wellington arrived in the area of
Vitoria
Vitoria or Vitória may refer to :
People
* Francisco de Vitoria (c. 1483–1546), a Spanish Renaissance theologian
* Alberto Vitoria (1956–2010), Spanish footballer
* Rui Vitória (born 1970), Portuguese retired footballer
* Steven Vitória (b ...
on 20 June 1813. The 7th division, together with the 3rd, formed the left centre column of the attack the next day, advancing south across the River
Zadorra
The Zadorra is a river tributary of the Ebro in the Basque Country at the north of the Iberian Peninsula. The river flows across province Álava all along (with the exception of Burgos' exclave La Puebla de Arganzon) till it pours into the Ebro n ...
. Now advancing east, the regiment, with the 2nd Brigade, came under heavy cannon and musket fire: The brigade took shelter in a ditch some 200 yards from the French guns. While the commander of the column,
Lord Dalhousie
James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie (22 April 1812 – 19 December 1860), also known as Lord Dalhousie, styled Lord Ramsay until 1838 and known as The Earl of Dalhousie between 1838 and 1849, was a Scottish statesman and co ...
hesitated, Vandeleur's brigade arrived and both brigades began the line advance into Vitoria, competing for the honour of their division. That night it camped among the remains of
Joseph Bonaparte
it, Giuseppe-Napoleone Buonaparte es, José Napoleón Bonaparte
, house = Bonaparte
, father = Carlo Buonaparte
, mother = Letizia Ramolino
, birth_date = 7 January 1768
, birth_place = Corte, Corsica, Republic of ...
's baggage train, whom Napoleon had made King of Spain.
Pyrenees
In July 1813 the British advance continued into the
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...
, with the French leaving garrisons at
San Sebastián
San Sebastian, officially known as Donostia–San Sebastián (names in both local languages: ''Donostia'' () and ''San Sebastián'' ()) is a city and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the Basque Country (autonomous community), B ...
and
Pamplona
Pamplona (; eu, Iruña or ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. It is also the third-largest city in the greater Basque cultural region.
Lying at near above ...
, and the bulk of the army retreating into France to be reorganized by
Soult
Marshal General Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia, (; 29 March 1769 – 26 November 1851) was a French general and statesman, named Marshal of the Empire in 1804 and often called Marshal Soult. Soult was one of only six officers in Frenc ...
. Soult launched a double pronged attack into Spain on 25 July. After marching and counter-marching between Pamplona and Mt Achiola, the regiment, with the rest of the Inglis's brigade, attacked two battalions of Clausel's flank guard at Ostiz on 30 July, driving the French by bayonet down into the valley, as Soult attempted to join d'Erlon after being beaten off from Pamplona. The next day as Clausel continued north, the brigade attacked the French on a steep hill near Urroz. After sequential volleys from the 82nd and 51st, the 68th fired, and accompanied by the Chasseurs Britanniques, drove the French from the hill. On 2 August the 7th Division, with the 4th and part of the
Light Division
The Light Division was a light infantry division of the British Army. Its origins lay in "Light Companies" formed during the late 18th century, to move at speed over inhospitable terrain and protect a main force with skirmishing tactics. These ...
, had the luck to attack the weak centre of the remains of Soult's Corps on the heights above
Etxalar
Etxalar is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.
References
External links
ETXALAR in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia Euskomedia Fundazioa
The Euskomedia Fund ...
. At the end of the month, Soult again attempted to relieve San Sebastián, using two divisions in a diversionary attack across the river
Bidasoa
__NOTOC__
The Bidasoa (, ; french: Bidassoa, ) is a river in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southern France that runs largely south to north. Named as such downstream of the village of Oronoz-Mugairi (municipality of Baztan) in the pro ...
around
Vera
Vera may refer to:
Names
*Vera (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
*Vera (given name), a given name (including a list of people and fictional characters with the name)
**Vera (), archbishop of the archdiocese of Tarrag ...
. Inglis's brigade arrived on 31 August to be slowly pushed back up the side of the valley by the greater numbers of French, until learning of the failure of the main attack the French retired.
Nivelle
In October 1813 Wellington crossed into France, and on 10 November attacked the formidable, but undermanned, position which Marshal Soult had been three months fortifying on the
Nivelle
Nivelle () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
Heraldry
See also
*Communes of the Nord department
* Nivelle Offensive
The Nivelle offensive (16 April – 9 May 1917) was a Franco-British operation on the Western Front i ...
. The 68th and the brigade took a number of redoubts at the rush, at
Sare Sare may refer to:
People
* Bakary Saré (born 1990), Burkinabé football player
* Clyde W. Sare (1936–2015), American politician and businessman
* Haig Sare (born 1982), Australian rugby union player
* Hamit Şare (born 1982), Turkish alpine sk ...
, and encountered some resistance taking those on the heights beyond
Nive
The Nive (; eu, Errobi; oc, Niva) is a French river that flows through the French Basque Country. It is a left tributary of the river Adour. It is long. The river's source in the Pyrenees in Lower Navarre. The river Nive was made famous by th ...
and took up positions south of the
Adour
The Adour (; eu, Aturri; oc, Ador) is a river in southwestern France. It rises in High-Bigorre (Pyrenees), in the commune of Aspin-Aure, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay) near Bayonne. It is long, of which the uppermost ca. i ...
, in order to distract Soult from Wellington's main effort to the west. From 23 February 1814 the division moved west across the river's tributaries, and by the 27th had reached
Orthez
Orthez (; eu, Ortheze; oc, Ortès, ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, and region of New Aquitaine, southwestern France.
It lies 40 km NW of Pau on the Southern railway to Bayonne. The town also encompasses the sma ...
. Attacking Soult's right, behind the 4th Division, which was checked after taking the village of
Saint-Boès
Saint-Boès (; oc, Semboès) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
See also
*Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department
The following is a list of the 546 communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiq ...
, the 68th, 82nd and Chasseurs Britanniques charged the heights that had held the 4th Division, and forced out the French Division there.
On 8 March the 4th and 7th Divisions were marched north and entered
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
on 12 March without fighting, and where for the rest of the month Inglis's brigade shadowed French troops further up river.Ward p. 142 Napoleon abdicated on 12 April, and on 8 July the regiment embarked for Ireland, arriving on the 26th.
1814–1854
The regiment would not see active service for forty years, spending the first four years in Ireland, where on 6 April 1815 it was awarded its first
battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags ("colours"), uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible.
In European military t ...
, ''Peninsular''. In May 1818 the regiment embarked for
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, where it remained until October 1829. While there the infantry was reorganised (in 1825) so that four of the ten companies in a regiment would remain in Britain with the depot when deployed overseas. When the regiment returned to Britain, its first inspection at
Fermoy
Fermoy () is a town on the River Blackwater in east County Cork, Ireland. As of the 2016 census, the town and environs had a population of approximately 6,500 people. It is located in the barony of Condons and Clangibbon, and is in the Dái ...
showed it had suffered from the peace, with many of the officers and sergeants too old and unfit for active service. By 1835, under new commanders, the regiment was revitalised, with increased application of the light infantry drill, and the issue of what were to become the regimental ''Standing Orders''. In December 1833 the 68th left for
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
, with a detachment suppressing riots in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
in February 1834, and in September sailing for Portsmouth then Gibraltar.
The regiment's three years in Gibraltar were enlivened only by changes to the uniform. Sailing to Jamaica in January 1838, it was to receive favourable inspection reports, but was to lose 104 men to disease by the time it left in June 1841. Arriving in Canada in August, the regiment was deployed along territory forming part of the Maine border dispute, returning to normal stations in August 1842. Further positive inspection reports were received before the regiment left for England in May 1844.Vane p. 75 In November the regiment was reviewed by the Duke of Wellington.
During August 1846 the regiment was sent to Ireland where it helped in keeping the peace during the elections of 1847. It then spent the next three years dispersed in small detachments around central Ireland, until concentrating in Limerick in April 1850. In February 1851 the regiment embarked for
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
.
Crimean War
While in Malta, in February 1854, the regiment was brought up to war establishment (~1240 other ranks), after losing men in drafts to other regiments preceding it to the
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
:
On 7 August the regiment, still short of establishment at 867 all ranks, embarked for Beikos bay on the
Bosphorus
The Bosporus Strait (; grc, Βόσπορος ; tr, İstanbul Boğazı 'Istanbul strait', colloquially ''Boğaz'') or Bosphorus Strait is a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in Istanbul in northwestern Tu ...
, arriving on 12 August, then
Varna
Varna may refer to:
Places Europe
*Varna, Bulgaria, a city in Bulgaria
**Varna Province
**Varna Municipality
** Gulf of Varna
**Lake Varna
**Varna Necropolis
*Vahrn, or Varna, a municipality in Italy
*Varniai, a city in Lithuania
* Varna (Šaba ...
on 1 September, where it was posted to the 7th Brigade of the 4th Division, and finally near Eupatoria in the Crimea on 14 September. Two companies were detached to provide the escort to
Lord Raglan
Baron Raglan, of Raglan in the County of Monmouth, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 20 October 1852 for the military commander Lord FitzRoy Somerset, chiefly remembered as commander of the British troops d ...
; they were not to rejoin the regiment until April of the next year.
At the
Battle of the Alma
The Battle of the Alma (short for Battle of the Alma River) was a battle in the Crimean War between an allied expeditionary force (made up of French, British, and Ottoman forces) and Russian forces defending the Crimean Peninsula on 20Septemb ...
the division was in reserve, although the regiment briefly came under artillery fire. In late September the regiment arrived at the heights south of
Sevastopol
Sevastopol (; uk, Севасто́поль, Sevastópolʹ, ; gkm, Σεβαστούπολις, Sevastoúpolis, ; crh, Акъя́р, Aqyár, ), sometimes written Sebastopol, is the largest city in Crimea, and a major port on the Black Sea ...
, after losing 44 men from
cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and ...
on the Alma battlefield and on the march south.
On 25 October the Russians attempted to take the port of Balaclava, used by the Allies as the port of supply. The 4th Division arrived late to the
battle
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
, its men having spent the night in the trenches before Sevastopol. Arriving as the Russians were retiring, only two companies of the 68th Regiment were present, losing one killed and one injured.
Inkerman
On 5 November 1854 the Russians launched an attack on the allies' right with ~42,000 men in three corps. With the arrival of the 4th Division, which had again spent the night in the trenches around Sevastopol, the British were able to go on the offensive. The 68th numbered only four companies (243 all ranks), two still being in the trenches, and as they wore their greatcoats over their ammunition pouches while on guard had taken these off and were (initially) the only British regiment in red coats.
On seeing the Russians attempting to outflank the Guards on Sandbag Battery,
Cathcart
Cathcart ( sco, Kithcart, gd, Coille Chart) is an are ...
sent Torrens' brigade of ten companies (four of the 20th Regiment, two of the 46th Regiment and the four of the 68th) against them, sending the three Russian battalions into the valley below. The 68th followed the Russians too far, and now were out of ammunition. On retiring along the valley they found more Russians on a ridge above their right: It was during this action that Pte. John Byrne and Sgt. Daniel Dwyer returned to this ravine to rescue wounded comrades, which would lead both to be recommended for the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
, and Byrne to receive it. With this cover, the regiment was reorganised with the rest of the brigade and other stragglers, including Guardsmen, and were then deployed to 'The Barrier' in front of Home Hill for the rest of the battle. The losses for the day were 69 men killed, wounded or missing.
The regiment remained on trench duty in the siege of Sevastopol subject to the poor conditions caused by the poor supply situation, only made worse by the storm of the night of 13/14 November that blew down tents, scattered supplies and sank transport ships in Balaclava harbour. The regiment faced a sortie by the Russians from Sevastopol, on 12 January 1855 (the
Orthodox
Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to:
Religion
* Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pag ...
New Year) which overran an outpost, resulting in 15 missing and 6 wounded.
By the end of February the regiment had been rearmed with the new
Enfield rifle
Enfield may refer to:
Places Australia
* Enfield, New South Wales
* Enfield, South Australia
** Electoral district of Enfield, a state electoral district in South Australia, corresponding to the suburb
** Enfield High School (South Australia)
...
, replacing the smoothbore musket they had started the campaign with. A second, much larger sortie of some 2,000 men which took place on the night of 11 May was faced by detachments from the
Rifle Brigade
The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts, and skirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle ...
, 46th Foot and 250 men from the 68th. A party of Russians succeeded in spiking a gun but were driven off with the loss of six dead and 22 wounded. Pte John Byrne was again prominent, and Captain Hamilton was to win the Victoria Cross.
The regiment remained in the trenches, with the supply situation slowly improving, and was in reserve for the assault on the Redan both on 18 June and the final attack on 8 September. They remained in the Crimea while negotiations were conducted until May 1856 when the regiment embarked for
Corfu
Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...
. The casualties in the Crimea were 32 killed, 68 wounded in combat and 205 died from other causes, and the regiment was at a strength of 28 officers and 783 other ranks.
Awards
Besides the two V.C.s granted, a further nine were applied for but not approved, 15 D.C.M.s were awarded, seven awards of the French
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...
, 13 of the
Order of the Medjidie
Order of the Medjidie ( ota, نشانِ مجیدی, August 29, 1852 – 1922) is a military and civilian order of the Ottoman Empire. The Order was instituted in 1851 by Sultan Abdulmejid I.
History
Instituted in 1851, the Order was awarded in fi ...
, six of the Sardinian Medal of Honour and seven of the
Médaille militaire
The ''Médaille militaire'' ( en, Military Medal) is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...
. Nine officers and men of the regiment, then in England, mostly returned as sick, received their
Crimea Medal
The Crimea Medal was a campaign medal approved on 15 December 1854, for issue to officers and men of British units (land and naval) which fought in the Crimean War of 1854–56 against Russia. The medal was awarded with the British version of th ...
directly from
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...
on 18 May 1855.
India
While in Corfu detachments were sent to
Kythira
Kythira (, ; el, Κύθηρα, , also transliterated as Cythera, Kythera and Kithira) is an Greek islands, island in Greece lying opposite the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is traditionally listed as one of the seven main Io ...
,
Zakynthos
Zakynthos (also spelled Zakinthos; el, Ζάκυνθος, Zákynthos ; it, Zacinto ) or Zante (, , ; el, Τζάντε, Tzánte ; from the Venetian form) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Za ...
,
Ithaca
Ithaca most commonly refers to:
*Homer's Ithaca, an island featured in Homer's ''Odyssey''
*Ithaca (island), an island in Greece, possibly Homer's Ithaca
*Ithaca, New York, a city, and home of Cornell University and Ithaca College
Ithaca, Ithaka ...
and
Cephalonia
Kefalonia or Cephalonia ( el, Κεφαλονιά), formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallenia (), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece and the 6th largest island in Greece after Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. It i ...
, where they remained until returned to Britain in September 1857. The regiment was given new colours on 5 November by the
Duke of Cambridge
Duke of Cambridge, one of several current royal dukedoms in the United Kingdom , is a hereditary title of specific rank of nobility in the British royal family. The title (named after the city of Cambridge in England) is heritable by male des ...
, and in December, with the suppression of the
Indian Mutiny
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the fo ...
incomplete, it left for
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, arriving at
Rangoon
Yangon ( my, ရန်ကုန်; ; ), formerly spelled as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar (also known as Burma). Yangon served as the capital of Myanmar until 2006, when the military government ...
on 30 March 1858. While in Burma it was to rotate three of four companies at
Myede
Aunglan (formerly known as Allanmyo & Myede) is the biggest city in Thayet District of the Magway Region of Myanmar. It is a port on the left (eastern) bank of the Irrawaddy, across and just north of Thayetmyo, between the cities of Pyay (Prome ...
and
Thayetmyo
Thayet (; pronounced ) is a capital city in Thayet District of Magway Region in central Myanmar. It is a port on the right (western) bank of the Irrawaddy River, across and just south of Allanmyo, between Pyay (Prome) and Magway. Thayet is the ...
, with the rest in Rangoon.
Control of India passed from the
East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...
to
The Crown
The Crown is the state in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth realms and their subdivisions (such as the Crown Dependencies, overseas territories, provinces, or states). Legally ill-defined, the term has different ...
on 1 November; however, nothing was to change immediately for the regiment, its uneventful time in Burma passed with sports and the first of a series of regimental journals ''The D.L.I. Gazette, or the Wanderer's Magazine'', begun under the name ''Argo'' on 28 December 1857 while en route.
In Ireland, men from the Depot companies, then at
Fermoy
Fermoy () is a town on the River Blackwater in east County Cork, Ireland. As of the 2016 census, the town and environs had a population of approximately 6,500 people. It is located in the barony of Condons and Clangibbon, and is in the Dái ...
, assisted the civil power in keeping the peace in the elections of May 1859 in Limerick.
New Zealand
In August 1863 the regiment was in line to return to Britain when the governor of
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, Sir George Grey KCB, requested reinforcements to deal with a new outbreak of hostilities with the
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...
. During October and November the regiment embarked on three ships from Rangoon with a strength of 974 officers and men.Vane p. 96 The three ships arrived in
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
in mid January 1864. Almost immediately detachments were sent to
Tauranga
Tauranga () is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region and the fifth most populous city of New Zealand, with an urban population of , or roughly 3% of the national population. It was settled by Māori late in the 13th century, colonised by ...
,
Rangiriri
Rangiriri is a rural community in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the Waikato River near Lake Waikare in the Waikato District. State Highway 1 now bypasses Rangiriri.
Rangiriri was the s ...
and
Maketu
Maketu is a small town on the Bay of Plenty Coast in New Zealand.
Maketu is located in the Western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Maketu has an estuary from which the Kaituna River used to flow. It is also adjacent to Newdicks Beach located on t ...
after exchanging their red tunics for blue.
The
Tauranga campaign
The Tauranga campaign was a six-month-long armed conflict in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty in early 1864, and part of the New Zealand Wars that were fought over issues of land ownership and sovereignty. The campaign was a sequel to the invasion of ...
began in April 1864, when the Māori of Te Ranga returned from the interior after assisting the Waikato and began to reoccupy
pā
The word pā (; often spelled pa in English) can refer to any Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and defensive terraces – and also to fortified villages. Pā sites o ...
sites in the area, including two on the neck of a peninsula housing the Te Papa mission in
Tauranga Harbour
Tauranga Harbour is the natural tidal harbour that surrounds Tauranga CBD and the Mount Maunganui area of Tauranga, New Zealand, and which flows into the Pacific Ocean at Mount Maunganui. The harbour is effectively two flooded river systems separ ...
. The 68th were concentrated in Auckland and sent to reinforce Tauranga accompanied by detachments from other regiments, arriving on 21 April. Two redoubts were built at Tauranga, Monmouth redoubt by the 43rd Regiment and Durham redoubt by the 68th, the latter's location commemorated by 'Durham Street' in the city today.
The commanding officer Maj. General
Cameron
Cameron may refer to:
People
* Clan Cameron, a Scottish clan
* Cameron (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Cameron (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
;Mononym
* Cam'ron (born 197 ...
wanted the Māori pā quickly reduced, so initiated the
Battle of Gate Pā
The Tauranga campaign was a six-month-long armed conflict in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty in early 1864, and part of the New Zealand Wars that were fought over issues of land ownership and sovereignty. The campaign was a sequel to the invasion of ...
. On the evening of 28 April some 720 men of the 68th crossed to the rear of the Māori line via the mud flats of the harbour and deployed around the neck of the peninsula while another 700 men and artillery pieces prepared to assault from the front. At 7 the next morning a bombardment began with five guns and eight mortars, a few of which were 'overs' into the area occupied by the 68th. At about 4 in the evening a storming force of ~300 men, part 43rd Regiment, part naval brigade attacked. The companies of the 68th forced a body of Māori back into the pā at around 5 o'clock, and in a turn of events that is still unclear the attacking force was then routed from the pā. The 68th spent the night in their position at the rear of the pā, but were unable to form a close enough cordon to prevent the Māori escaping.
For six weeks the 68th and the other forces remained in the area around Te Papa, patrolling, with orders to prevent pā sites being established. On 21 June, after days of reports of movements of bodies of armed Māori, a patrol of ~600 men from the 68th, 43rd and a local regiment, the 1st Waikato Militia, led by Lt. Colonel Greer of the 68th, found a similarly sized body preparing rifle pits across a ridge some three miles from Te Papa.Bilcliffe p. 152 Greer sent for reinforcements, and for two hours until they arrived kept the Māori pinned down, then assaulted the position.Ward p. 195 The rifle pits were taken at a cost to the 68th of 5 killed and 24 wounded; Sgt. Murray was to be awarded the Victoria Cross. The next day a burial detail from the 68th interred 109 of the dead at the rifle pits.
The 68th remained in Te Papa until February 1865 when a detachment, 240 men strong, was sent to
Wanganui
Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whangan ...
when fighting flared up there. By now resentment was growing between the Regular Army soldiers and the local militias, and between their leaders, Cameron and Grey, over the use of the Army to expand the colonists' lands. The regiment remained split until both parts moved to Auckland in February 1866, and left New Zealand in March, reaching
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
between mid-June and early July. During March 179 men (59 of whom were Crimea veterans) took their discharge and remained in New Zealand, either time served, or who purchased their remaining time or were given it free.
1866–1881
The regiment spent three years in England with a gradual reduction in establishment to 640 men. In September 1869 the regiment was shipped to Ireland, where it was split into detachments and posted around the country. In September 1871 the establishment was raised to 1,032 all ranks prior to the regiment being sent to India in February of the next year. Arriving in March it was barracked in
Pune
Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...
.
In April 1873, as part of the
Cardwell Reforms
The Cardwell Reforms were a series of reforms of the British Army undertaken by Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell between 1868 and 1874 with the support of Liberal prime minister William Ewart Gladstone. Gladstone paid little attention ...
the regiment was linked with the 106th Regiment and assigned to district no. 3 at
Sunderland Barracks
Sunderland Barracks was a military installation in the old east end of Sunderland, built as part of the British response to the threat of the French Revolution.
History
In early 1794 the Corporation of Sunderland petitioned for a barracks to be ...
in
Sunderland
Sunderland () is a port city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is the City of Sunderland's administrative centre and in the Historic counties of England, historic county of County of Durham, Durham. The city is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is on t ...
, where it was brigaded together with the depot of the 106th Regiment, the district brigade depot and the
Militia and Volunteers of County Durham
The Militia and Volunteers of County Durham are those military units raised in the County independent of the regular Army. The "modern" militia dates from legislation enacted during the Seven Years' War. The volunteers had several forms and separat ...
.
The 68th Regiment were deployed in various parts of central, North and North West India, losing 37 men in
cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and ...
outbreaks in September 1878 and May 1879. During 1879 it received drafts of men from the 106th Regiment. It did not take part in the
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War (Dari: جنگ دوم افغان و انگلیس, ps, د افغان-انګرېز دويمه جګړه) was a military conflict fought between the British Raj and the Emirate of Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the l ...
.
On 1 July 1881 as part of the
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms of 1881 reorganised the infantry regiments of the British Army. The reforms were done by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers during 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell Reforms.
The reorganisation was ...
the 68th Regiment became the 1st Battalion of the
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...
while stationed at
Meerut
Meerut (, IAST: ''Meraṭh'') is a city in Meerut district of the western part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city lies northeast of the national capital New Delhi, within the National Capital Region and west of the state capital ...
.
Victoria Cross
The following men of the 68th Regiment won the Victoria Cross.
Private John Byrne
"At the
battle of Inkerman
The Battle of Inkerman was fought during the Crimean War on 5 November 1854 between the allied armies of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Britain and Second French Empire, France against the Imperial Russian Empire, Russian Army. Th ...
, when the regiment was ordered to retire, Private John Byrne went back towards the enemy, and, at the risk of his own life brought in a wounded soldier under fire. On 11 May 1855, he bravely engaged in hand to hand contest with one of the enemy on the parapet of the work he was defending, prevented the entrance of the enemy, killed his antagonist, and captured his arms."Vane p. 91
Captain Thomas de Courcy Hamilton
Captain Thomas de Courcy Hamilton was 27 years old when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
"For having on the night of 11th May, 1855, during a most determined sortie, boldly charged the enemy with a small force from a battery, of which they had obtained possession in great numbers, thereby saving the works from falling into the hands of the enemy. He was conspicuous on this occasion for his gallantry and daring conduct."
County Offaly
County Offaly (; ga, Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe. It was formerly known as King's County, in hono ...
, Sgt John Murray was approximately 27 years old during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand.
"For his distinguished conduct at Te Ranga on the 21st June 1863 when the enemy's position was being stormed, in running up to a rifle-pit containing from eight to ten of the enemy, and, without any assistance, killing or wounding every one of them. He is stated to have afterwards proceeded up the works, fighting desperately and still continuing to bayonet the enemy."
Battle honours
Salamanca
Salamanca () is a city in western Spain and is the capital of the Province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile and León. The city lies on several rolling hills by the Tormes River. Its Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritag ...
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...
,
Nivelle
Nivelle () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
Heraldry
See also
*Communes of the Nord department
* Nivelle Offensive
The Nivelle offensive (16 April – 9 May 1917) was a Franco-British operation on the Western Front i ...
Peninsula
A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on all ...
Alma
Alma or ALMA may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Alma'' (film), a 2009 Spanish short animated film
* ''Alma'' (Oswald de Andrade novel), 1922
* ''Alma'' (Le Clézio novel), 2017
* ''Alma'' (play), a 1996 drama by Joshua Sobol about Alma ...
,
Inkerman
Inkerman ( uk, Інкерман, russian: Инкерман, crh, İnkerman) is a city in the Crimean peninsula. It is ''de facto'' within the federal city of Sevastopol within the Russian Federation, but ''de jure'' within Ukraine. It lies 5 ...
,
Sevastopol
Sevastopol (; uk, Севасто́поль, Sevastópolʹ, ; gkm, Σεβαστούπολις, Sevastoúpolis, ; crh, Акъя́р, Aqyár, ), sometimes written Sebastopol, is the largest city in Crimea, and a major port on the Black Sea ...
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
Colonels
FromVane pp. 242–250
68th Regiment of Foot
*April 1758 – March 1794: General
John Lambton
General John Lambton (26 July 1710 – 22 March 1794) of Harraton Hall, later of Lambton Castle, County Durham, was a senior officer in the British Army and a Member of Parliament.
Life
Lambton was the fourth son of Ralph Lambton (c. 1651–1 ...
68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot – (1782)
*March 1794 – April 1794: Major General
John Mansel
John Mansel (1729–1794) was a British Army cavalry general killed at the Battle of Beaumont (1794), Battle of Beaumont.
John Mansel was born in Cosgrove, Northamptonshire in 1729, son of the Reverend Christopher Mansel, and Sarah Hoare. He ma ...
*April 1794 – June 1794: Major General Thomas Dundas
*August 1794 – October 1794: Colonel Sir
Alured Clarke
Sir Alured Clarke (24 November 1744 – 16 September 1832) was a British Army officer. He took charge of all British troops in Georgia in May 1780 and was then deployed to Philadelphia to supervise the evacuation of British prisoners of ...
, K.B.
*October 1794 – March 1795: Major General Hon. Charles Stuart K.B.
*March 1795 – May 1809: General Sir
Thomas Trigge
General Sir Thomas Trigge (c. 1742 – 11 January 1814) was a British army officer who began his career in 1759 during the Seven Years' War, as an ensign in the 12th Regiment of Foot. He remained with the regiment for the next 36 years, and co ...
, K.B.
68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) – (1808)
*May 1809 – January 1813: Colonel Sir
John Coape Sherbrooke
General Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, (29 April 1764 – 14 February 1830) was a British soldier and colonial administrator. After serving in the British army in Nova Scotia, the Netherlands, India, the Mediterranean (including Sicily), and Spa ...
G.C.B.
*January 1813 – April 1831: Major General Sir Henry Warde G.C.B.
*April 1831 – April 1838: Colonel Sir John Keane G.C.B., G.C.H.
*April 1838 – February 1844: Lieutenant General Sir William Johnston K.C.B.
*February 1844 – December 1844: Major General Sir
Edward Gibbs
Lieutenant General Sir Edward Gibbs (c. 1777 – 9 January 1847) was a British Army officer who became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.
Military career
Gibbs took part in the Ferrol Expedition (1800), Ferrol Expedition in 1800 during the War ...
C.B., K.C.H.
*December 1844 – January 1850: Lieutenant General Charles Nicol C.B.
*January 1850 – May 1854: Lieutenant General Douglas Mercer, C.B.
*May 1854 – June 1857: Lieutenant General Sir William Lewis Herries C.B., K.C.H.
*June 1857 – April 1864: Lieutenant General
Robert Christopher Mansel
Lieutenant-General Robert Christopher Mansel KH (12 February 1789 – 8 April 1864) was a British Army officer.
Military career
Born the son of Sir William Mansel, 9th Baronet, Mansel was commissioned as an ensign in the 10th (North Lincoln) ...
, K.H.
*April 1864 – July 1881: General
Lord William Paulet
Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal Lord William Paulet, (7 July 1804 – 9 May 1893) was a senior British Army officer. During the Crimean War he served as Assistant Adjutant-General of the Cavalry Division, under George Bingham, 3 ...