48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot

48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot
Active 1741 to 1881.
Country United Kingdom
Branch Army
Type Line Infantry
Size One battalion
Nickname(s) "The Heroes of Talavera", "Murray's Bucks", "The Surprisers", "Lacedemonians".
Colours Buff Facings, Gold Braided Lace
March Quick: Rule Britannia/Speed The Plough
Slow: The Northamptonshire
Engagements Douro (1809), Talavera (1809), Albuhera (1811), Badajoz (1812), Salamanca (1812), Vittoria (1813), Pyrenees (1813), Nivelle (1813), Orthes (1814), Toulouse (1814), Peninsular War (1808–1814), Sevastopol (1854-55)

The 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot was a regiment of the British Army.

History

The regiment was first raised in 1741 as James Cholmondeley's Regiment of Foot in Norwich, England during the War of Austrian Succession.[1] The regiment first saw action at the Battles of Falkirk and Culloden in 1745-1746, campaigning against the Young Pretender. In 1748, it was renumbered as the 48th Regiment of Foot. The 48th took part in the French and Indian War, being part of General Edward Braddock's ill-fated expedition of 1755, and they received their first battle honour in the Americas at the Battle of Louisburg, although the Regiment did not receive their due honour for this until 1882. The 48th was part of General James Wolfe's capture of Quebec in 1759.

The 48th was present at the capture Martinique and Havana in the West Indies before returning to serve in Ireland in 1763.

In 1773, the 48th was stationed in the West Indies prior to the start of the American Revolution. They were later captured by the French during the war.[2]

Suffering from loss of men in battle, captivity and disease, the 48th was repatriated back to England in 1780. The Regiment was relocated to Northampton District and then became known as the Northamptonshire Regiment.

The Battle Honour 'Gibraltar' was gained following the Childers Reforms 1881 which saw the 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment united with the 48th to form the Northamptonshire Regiment.

Napoleonic Wars

The regiment then fought as part of the Duke of Wellington's army for the duration of the Peninsular War against Napoleonic France. The regiments most famous battle honour was gained in at the Battle of Talavera in 1809. The regiment also participated in the battles of Douro (1809), Albuhera (1811), Badajoz (1812), Salamanca (1812), Vittoria (1813), Pyrenees (1813), Nivelle (1813), Orthes (1814), Toulouse (1814).[3] At the Battle of Albuera it lost its Colonel, George Henry Duckworth, son of Admiral Duckworth.[4]

Post 1815

From 1817 until 1824, the 48th Regiment of Foot was stationed variously in Australia. They were stationed at Sydney, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Van Diemens Land, & Parramatta. At the time their commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel J. Erskine.

In 1856 the Regiment went to the Crimean War, and saw action at the Siege of Sevastopol.

Merger

In 1881, the 48th was united with 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot, to form The Northamptonshire Regiment.[1] The 48th became the 1st Battalion. The Northamptonshire Regiment fought in World War I seeing action at the Battles of the Marne, Ypres and Somme.

The regiment also fought in World War II seeing action in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.

In 1960, it was amalgamated with 1st Battalion, The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, to form the 1st Battalion, 2nd East Anglian Regiment (Duchess of Gloucester's Own Royal Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire).[1]

Colonels

See also

Citations and notes

  1. 1 2 3
  2. ↑ 48th Foot .The Northamptonshire Regiment 1817 - 1824
  3. ↑ Royal Anglian Regiment Museum
  4. ↑ p.173, Debrett

References

External links

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