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81st Regiment of Foot (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers)

For other units with the same regimental number, see81st Regiment of Foot (disambiguation).

The81st Regiment of Foot (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers)was aninfantryregiment of theBritish Army,raised in 1793. Under theChilders Reformsit amalgamated with the47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Footto form theLoyal North Lancashire Regimentin 1881.

81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
Colours of the 81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
Active1793–1881
CountryKingdom of Great Britain(1793–1800)
United Kingdom(1801–1881)
BranchBritish Army
TypeInfantryRegiment
RoleInfantry
Garrison/HQFulwood Barracks,Lancashire
Motto(s)Loyaute m'oblige
March"The Red, Red Rose" and "The Lincolnshire Poacher"
EngagementsFrench Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars
Second Anglo-Afghan War

History

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Major GeneralAlbemarle BertiebyGeorge Romney

Raising of the Regiment

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The regiment was raised by Major GeneralAlbemarle Bertieas theLoyal Lincoln Volunteers,in response to the threat posed by theFrench Revolution,on 23 September 1793.[1]However, no levy money would be provided.[2]The original complement was composed of the Militia of Lincoln volunteering to serve in the new regiment: the regiment was embodied in January 1794.[2]On 25 January 1794, the Loyal Lincoln Volunteers were redesignated as the81st Regiment of Foot.[2]The regiment was quartered inLincolnandGainsborough.[3]The first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Lewis.[3]

Napoleonic Wars

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1795 – 1797: West Indies

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After a year's service in Ireland, the regiment was detailed to serve under Major-GeneralRalph Abercrombyin the West Indies.[3]The regiment sailed fromSouthamptonand arrived in the West Indies in March 1794.[4]The regiment was sent to reinforce British operations on Saint-Domingue in what is nowHaiti.[5]As was common during the era, the European troops of the regiment suffered heavily from tropical diseases, in particular yellow fever. By November 1795, less than a year after, the regiment's losses to illness were so heavy that it was temporarily amalgamated with another battalion, of the 32nd Regiment, to produce a unit that would be combat effective. Despite the capture of the French defences at Bompard, the British Expedition to St. Dominque was a failure. In April 1797, the regiment was ordered to return to the England.[6]

1797 – 1802: Guernsey and South Africa

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After returning home from the West Indies, the regiment spent much of the year recruiting and refitting. The regiment was made part of the garrison for Guernsey beginning in October 1797. During this time, the rank and file took up a subscription to help support the war effort, each non-commissioned officer and enlisted man contributing between two and seven days pay to the war effort.[7]

In 1798, the regiment was dispatched to help put down an uprising in theCape Colony.Arriving in the new year, the regiment was quartered atCape Town.Although sent to put down an insurrection, most of the regiment's fighting was against Rarabe tribesmen under their chief Gaika. On 5 May 1799 a party of the regiment's grenadier company was ambushed by Rarabe tribesman. All but the detachment's drummer were killed in the fighting. Emboldened by their success, Gaika's force attacked the regiment at its encampment on the Sunday River. The Rarebe were repulsed with heavy casualties by the regiment.[8]

This was the regiment's last major action during its stay in the Cape Colony. For the next four years, the regiment continued to garrison the colony until theTreaty of Amiensin 1802. With the signing of the treaty, the men of the regiment were offered the chance to volunteer to serve in India in different regiments, for a sizable bounty, or to return to England with their regiment. More than six hundred of the regiment volunteered for Indian service, many being sent as replacements with the22nd Regiment of Foot.[9]

1803 – 1807: Ireland, Sicily, and Maida

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TheBattle of MaidaJuly 1806

After South Africa, the regiment returned to England as the Amiens peace was ending. Once back in England, the regiment began recruiting and eventually had enough men to bring the battalion up to full strength as well as for a reserve battalion. The 2nd battalion of the regiment was formally embodied on 15 October 1803 atMills Bay BarracksinPlymouthunder the command of Lieutenant Colonel Knight.[10]Under the initial plan, the 1st battalion would be for universal service while the 2nd battalion would be kept for home service in the British Isles. As such, in 1804, the 2nd battalion was stationed in Ireland, initially atKinsale,but later moved toCork.[11]In 1805, the 1st battalion was assigned to Lieutenant GeneralSir James Craig's expeditionary group. The 1st battalion participated in the invasion ofNaples,[12]but then retreated to Sicily once word of the Napoleon's victory atUlmwas received.[13]

Still in Sicily in 1806, the 1st battalion was part of Major GeneralJohn Stuart's force that attacked the French inCalabria.On 4 July 1806, Stuart's force engaged the French at theBattle of Maida.[14]After stopping the initial French advance with musket fire, Stuart ordered forward Colonel Acland's brigade (including the 1st battalion). At bayonet point, the 1st battalion, together with78th Regiment of Foot,drove off the French Forty-second regiment, as well as two battalions of Polish infantry before pausing to fire into the now exposed flanks of the French forces. Among the spoils of the battle was a silver tortoise snuff box, taken as a trophy by the 1st battalion and kept as a regimental trophy of the battle. For its actions, the regiment was granted the battle honour Maida and voted the thanks of Parliament.[15]Despite its victory at Maida, the 1st battalion soon withdrew toSicilyafter Stuart's campaign failed to produce a general uprising against the French. The 1st battalion remained on Sicily, participating in the unsuccessful relief of ColonelHudson Lowe's forces atCapri,[16]as well operations to prevent the French from taking Sicily until withdrawn in 1812.[17]

1808 – 1809: Spain and Walchren

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In September 1808, the 2nd battalion was transferred to join Lieutenant GeneralSir John Moore's command. Along with the rest of the 15,000 men, the 2nd battalion was destined forCorunnawhere it took part in Moore's campaign in northern Spain during the winter of 1808 to assist the Spanish Armies against Imperial France.[18]It retreated with the rest of Moore's forces toCorunna.On 16 January 1809, as part of Lieutenant-GeneralDavid Baird's division guarding the right flank of the British forces, the 2nd battalion fought in some of the heaviest fighting of the battle. The 2nd battalion advanced in support of the42nd Regiment of Footand the50th Regiment of Foot.Despite being driven back from their initial gains, the 2nd battalion counter-attacked with the 42nd and 50th regiments and then held their position until relieved.[19]With the surviving units of Moore's army, the 2nd battalion was withdrawn by sea to England the next day. For their part in the battle, the regiment was granted the battle honour "Corunna".[20]

After refitting in England, the 2nd battalion was assigned toLord Chatham's command for theWalcheren Campaign.[21]During the siege of Flushing, the principal action which the 2nd battalion participated, the battalion casualties were 3 killed and 5 wounded. Over the next five months, malaria and other diseases cost the battalion 298, nearly a third of its authorized strength.[22]Along with the rest of Chatham's command, the 2nd battalion was withdrawn in December 1809.[22]

1812 – 1813: Spain and The Netherlands

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TheBattle of CastallaApril 1813

After spending almost six years defending Sicily, the 1st battalion was withdrawn and assigned to Lieutenant-GeneralFrederick Maitland's expedition to Catalonia.[23]Maitaland's expedition was a feint to help with the main Allied thrust in 1812. After an aborted initial landing, the 1st battalion landed in Spain in August 1812.[23]Throughout the rest of the year, the campaigned continued on inconclusively in the region ofAlicante.[24]

Eventually, after Maitland relinquished command due to illness, GeneralSir John Murrayassumed command of the expedition in 1813.[25]With him came an addition 12,000 men, the Anglo-Sicilian force contained approximately 16,000 men.[25]They were opposed by MarshalLouis-Gabriel Suchet.[26]Advancing, Murray's command, and the 1st battalion, encountered and defeated Suchet's forces at theBattle of Castallaon 13 April 1813.[27]A month later, after besieging the city ofTarragona,[28]the 1st battalion retreated offshore with the rest of Anglo-Spanish-Sicilian force when General Murray was fooled into believing that advancing French columns were significantly larger than they actually were.[29]After Murray's relief and replacement by Lieutenant GeneralLord William Bentinck,the 1st battalion returned with the rest of the force to the region around Alicante.[30]With theDuke of Wellington's victory atVittoria,Succhet began a withdrawal from Valencia and Catalan. Bentick's force began its slow, ineffective pursuit.[31]

1814: Holland and North America

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After spending the previous four years in England and Jersey supplying the 1st battalion with drafts of men and officers, the 2nd battalion were dispatched as reinforcements to GeneralSir Thomas Graham's expedition to the Low Countries.[32]Arriving in February 1814, they were assigned to the 2nd Division's 2nd Brigade. The 2nd battalion did not participate in the ill-fatedassault on Bergen op Zoomon 8 March 1814.[33]With Napoleon's abdication after signing theTreaty of Fontainebleau,the 2nd battalion remained in the Netherlands, stationed at Brussels, rather than being despatched to North America tofight against the United States.[34]

Meanwhile, the 1st battalion, along with the rest of its brigade was transferred, uponNapoleon's abdication, from Spain to North America. Arriving in August 1814, the 1st battalion landed in Quebec and was ordered to move south.[34]However, the 1st battalion missed the major engagements of the 1814 campaign. With the news of peace in March 1815, the 1st battalion remained in garrison until later in 1815 when word of Napoleon's escape from Elba spread.[35]

1815: The Hundred Days

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The 1st battalion embarked for Europe on 15 June 1815:[36]it missed the final campaign against Napoleon[37]but served in the occupation army in France until April 1817 at which time it was posted to Ireland.[37]

The 2nd battalion had been held in reserve in Brussels since Napoleon's abdication. However, upon learning that Napoleon had left Elba, the battalion was put back on war footing. The 2nd battalion was assigned to the10th Brigadeunder Major-GeneralJohn Lambert,part of Lieutenant GeneralLowry Cole's 6th Division.[37]With the rest of the division, the 2nd battalion missed theBattle of Quatre Brason 16 June 1815. The 2nd battalion was still in the process of concentrating at the time of the battle. Even after the rest of the brigade was ready and on the road, the 2nd battalion was still left behind to guard the hospitals and treasury in Brussels.[38]Just as its sister battalion missed the campaign, the 2nd battalion were held out of the fighting during theHundred Days.The next year, the 2nd battalion were disbanded.[37][39]

The Victorian era

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1817 – 1853: Garrison Duty in Canada, Gibraltar, The West Indies, England and Ireland

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The regiment garrisoned Ireland until being transferred to Canada in 1822. After seven years in Canada, the regiment were sent to the West Indies, spending two years inBermudabefore being returned to England in 1831.[40]After rotating through stations in England and Ireland, the regiment was on the move again, being stationed atGibraltarin 1836, reinforcing the garrison there when tensions started to escalate during theFirst Carlist War.After nine years on the Rock, the regiment was once again sent back to the West Indies. Three years in the West Indies' outposts of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Kitts were followed by years in Canada. The regiment would be returned home to England in 1847.[41]After serving in various stations in England and Ireland, the regiment was sent on foreign service again, this time to India in 1853.[42]

1853 – 1863: India, Sepoy Mutiny, and the North-West Frontier

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The Martyr's memorial atMeerutcommemorating the Indian rebels who died in the fighting in 1857

The regiment arrived in India in 1854. Initially sent toMeerut,the regiment were eventually sent toLahorein 1857 on the eve of theIndian Rebellion.There they were stationed at the Meean Meer cantonment with three infantry battalions, one cavalry regiment, and some artillery units of theEast India Company.On the eve of the mutiny, many of the officers were on leave, despite evidence that something was happening.[43]When word reached the Punjab of the mutiny, the regiment disarmed the Company battalions at Meean Meer during a surprise parade inspection.[44]The initial operation took the mutineers by surprise, and they were disarmed without no casualties. As the sepoy units at Meean Meer were being disarmed, three companies of the regiment tricked their way into the fort guarding Lahore, surprising and disarming the native infantry units there as well.[45]

With therecapture of Delhiin September 1857, British control of the Punjab became easier as the rebellion in lost its momentum. By February 1858, the situation had improved to the point where the regiment could be transferred to the North-West Frontier.[46]The regiment was assigned to Major-GeneralSir Sydney Cotton's Sittana Field Force. The objective of Cotton's command was to carry out a punitive expedition against Hindustani fanatics who had been instrumental in the mutiny of a native regiment stationed near Peshawar.[47][48]Crossing through the Daran pass, the regiment participated in the destruction of the stronghold at Mangal Thana.[49]After destroying the fortifications at Mangal Thana, the expedition turned its attention to the main fanatic base at Sittana. Despite resistance from the Fanactics, the upper and lower Sittana villages were captured by the British forces, including the regiment. After burning them to the ground, Cotton's expedition returned to British India. The success of the expedition resulted in a treaty between the various tribes and the British leading to the expulsion of the Hindustani Fanatics as well as an agreement by the various tribes to resist attempts by the Fanatics to return.[50]

1864 – 1874 England and Gibraltar

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The regiment would not see any further active service in India during its tour of duty there. In 1864, after nearly ten years in India, the regiment returned to England after surviving sailing through a hurricane.[51]The regiment would recruit and rotate through the various posts in England and Ireland from 1865 until 1870 when the regiment was once again posted to Gibraltar.[52]

1878 – 1881 Second Afghan War and Amalgamation

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The interior of Ali Masjid, following the battle in November 1878

Returning to in India in 1878, the regiment was tasked with taking part in theSecond Anglo-Afghan War.Assigned to ThePeshawar Valley Field Force,under the command of Lieutenant GeneralSir Sam Browne,the regiment took part in theBattle of Ali Masjidin November 1878. As part of Brigadier-GeneralFrederick Appleyard's brigade, the regiment participated in the front assault into the Khyber Pass.[53]

As part of theCardwell Reformsof the 1870s, where single-battalion regiments were linked together to share a single depot and recruiting district in the United Kingdom, the 81st was linked with the47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot,and assigned to district no. 12 atFulwood BarracksinLancashire.[54]On 1 July 1881 theChilders Reformscame into effect and the regiment amalgamated with the 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot to form theLoyal North Lancashire Regiment.[55]

Battle honours

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The regiment's battle honours were:[55]

Colonels of the Regiment

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Colonels of the Regiment were:[55]

81st Regiment of Foot

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81st Regiment of Foot (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) – (1832)

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References

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  1. ^McGuigan, Ron (May 2003)."The British Army: 1 February 1793".The Napoleon Series.Retrieved1 August2014.
  2. ^abcRogers 1872,p. 4.
  3. ^abcRogers 1872,p. 5.
  4. ^Rogers 1872,p. 6.
  5. ^Rogers 1872,p. 7.
  6. ^Rogers 1872,p. 9.
  7. ^Rogers 1872,p. 10.
  8. ^Rogers 1872,p. 13.
  9. ^Rogers 1872,p. 15.
  10. ^Rogers 1872,p. 21.
  11. ^Rogers 1872,p. 24.
  12. ^Rogers 1872,p. 28.
  13. ^Rogers 1872,p. 32.
  14. ^"Maida 4th July 1806".Archived fromthe originalon 17 March 2004.Retrieved24 February2017.
  15. ^Rogers 1872,p. 42.
  16. ^Rogers 1872,p. 94.
  17. ^Rogers 1872,p. 102.
  18. ^Rogers 1872,p. 45.
  19. ^Rogers 1872,p. 83.
  20. ^Rogers 1872,p. 92.
  21. ^Burnham, Robert (1995–2004)."The British Expeditionary Force to Walcheren: 1809".Napoleon-series.org.Retrieved1 August2014.
  22. ^abRogers 1872,p. 99.
  23. ^abRogers 1872,p. 103.
  24. ^Rogers 1872,p. 108.
  25. ^abRogers 1872,p. 111.
  26. ^Rogers 1872,p. 112.
  27. ^Rogers 1872,p. 113.
  28. ^Rogers 1872,p. 116.
  29. ^Rogers 1872,p. 118.
  30. ^Rogers 1872,p. 119.
  31. ^Rogers 1872,p. 120.
  32. ^Rogers 1872,p. 129.
  33. ^Bamford, Andrew (1995–2007)."The British Army in the Low Countries, 1813–1814".The Napoleon Series. Archived fromthe originalon 19 March 2008.Retrieved1 August2014.
  34. ^abRogers 1872,p. 134.
  35. ^Rogers 1872,p. 135.
  36. ^Rogers 1872,p. 136.
  37. ^abcdPercival, Allan (2014)."The 81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiment of Foot".Lancashire Infantry Museum.Retrieved1 August2014.
  38. ^Rogers 1872,p. 137.
  39. ^Rogers 1872,p. 139.
  40. ^Rogers 1872,p. 150.
  41. ^Rogers 1872,p. 173.
  42. ^Rogers 1872,p. 182.
  43. ^Rogers 1872,pp. 190–191.
  44. ^Rogers 1872,pp. 192–194.
  45. ^Rogers 1872,pp. 195–196.
  46. ^Rogers 1872,pp. 211–212.
  47. ^Rogers 1872,pp. 215–215.
  48. ^Paget 1874,pp. 71–72.
  49. ^Paget 1907,pp. 223–224.
  50. ^Paget 1874,p. 78.
  51. ^Rogers 1872,pp. 224–239.
  52. ^Rogers 1872,p. 250.
  53. ^"Battle of Ali Masjid".Britishbattles.com.Retrieved1 August2014.
  54. ^"Training Depots".Regiments.org. Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2006.Retrieved16 October2016.
  55. ^abc"81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiment of Foot".regiments.org. Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2006.Retrieved2 August2016.

Sources

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