86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot

For other units with the same regimental number, see 86th Regiment of Foot (disambiguation).
Regimental uniform, 1840s
Regimental colours

The 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1793 and amalgamated into The Royal Irish Rifles following the Childers Reforms in 1881.

The regiment was raised in 1793 as a volunteer corps in Shropshire, and taken into the British Army the following year as the 86th (Shropshire Volunteers). In 1795, after the Battle of Groix it absorbed the remnants of the disbanded 118th Regiment of Foot (Fingall's Regiment), which had been raised in 1794 for service as marines.[1]

In 1809 it became the 86th (Leinster) Regiment of Foot,[2] and then in 1812 it was renamed as the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot.[3]

In 1881 it became the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. Its lineage is continued today by the Royal Irish Regiment.

Victoria Cross recipients

Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 118th Regiment of Foot, National Archives Catalogue index.
  2. ↑ "His Majesty has been pleased to order that the 86th Regiment of Foot shall in future be styled the 86th (or Leinster) Regiment."The London Gazette: no. 16309. p. 1690. 24 October 1809.
  3. ↑ "His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, has been pleased to approve of the 86th Regiment being in future styled the 86th (or Royal County Down) Regiment..."The London Gazette: no. 16604. p. 929. 26 May 1812.


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