The linked battalions of the 47th
(Lancashire) and the 81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers, a title it
resumed in 1832) became in 1881 the “Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.”
The 47th was preceded by one of
the same number ; the 4th Marine regiment holding it from 1740
to 1748. The existing
battalion first appears as the “1st Loyal North
Lancashire,” raised in Scotland in 1740, ranking then as the 58th,
and taking its number as “the 47th Foot” in 1743, to which
the county title of “Lancashire” was added in 1782. Thus both the battalions of the regiment have in their time
borne the title “Loyal,” a distinction accorded to no other regiment.
The Lancashires was engaged in the
suppression of the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745, and were engaged at Falkirk
and Edinburgh. Their next
active service was in Canada, where they shared in the capture of
Louisburg, fought bravely on the heights of Abraham when Wolfe fell, aided
in the defence of Quebec, and were present at Sillery and Montreal.
After assisting at the capture of Martinique, the 47th
went home, to return to North America for the War of Independence, and
share in the battles of Bunker’s Hill, Lexington, and Stillwater, and
serve finally with Burgoyne, surrendering at Saratoga in 1777.
After general duty in various parts of the world, it was despatched
from the Cape to Maldonado “during the operations against Monte Video
and Buenos Ayres”; and, while the rest of the battalion was doing duty
in India (where, in 1816, it was engaged against the Pindaris, and, in
1819, in the operations against the Joasmis in the Persian Gult), the
flank companies, in 1809 assisted at the destruction of the pirate
stronghold of Ras-ul-Khymah, in the Persian Gulf.
The
first Burmah War of 1825 saw the regiment again in the field, and for its
valuable services “Ava” was added to the colours; and it next took
part in the Russian War, where it fought at the Alma and Inkerman (when
Private J. McDermond won the Victoria Cross for saving the life of Colnel
Haly), and throughout the siege of Sevastopol.
Since then it has been employed in general routine duty.
The first regiment numbered “81” was the
“Invalids” in 1759, which in 1763 became the 71st, and was
disbanded; the next was built up from a number of independent companies,
which had been serving from 1769 until 1778, when they were incorporated
as the 81st Aberdeen Highlanders.
This disappeared in 1783. The
present battalion was formed in 1793 as the “Loyal Lincoln Volunteers”
(when the county Militia volunteered to serve in its ranks), which title
was dropped for the regimental number in 1794, restored in 1832, and
replaced by the present territorial designation in 1881.
In 1795 it went on foreign service to the West Indies, encountering
a severe hurricane on the voyage, and suffering much from yellow fever at
St. Domingo; but, notwithstanding, it carried by assault the position of
Bomparde held by the enemy.
The year 1799 found the 81st at
the Cape, engaged with the Kaffirs; and after much adventure by land and
sea, it was sent with Sir James Craig’s expedition to Naples, and landed
in Sicily, forming later part of Sir John Stuart’s force which defeated
the French at Maida. A
“curious silver snuff-box” was taken there, and is still treasured in
the regiment. Continuing to
serve in the Mediterranean until 1812, it was in that year despatched to
the Peninsula, and did arduous work at Denia, Biaz, Castella, Tarragona,
Col del Ordal, Arbos, etc. It
took no active part in the Waterloo campaign, but formed part of the Army
of Occupation until 1817. From
that year until 1847 it did general foreign duty, twice losing some of its
number by the shipwreck of transports; but after 1853 it was in India,
where its valuable services at Lahore tended much to prevent the spread of
the mutiny. Since then the 81st
has seen active service in the Euzosffzie expedition in1858 and the Afghan
campaign of 1879-80, where it assisted in the capture of Ali Musjid.
A 2nd battalion of the 81st
was raised in 1803. It was sent to the Peninsula in 1808, shared in the
disastrous retreat to Corruna, and in the battle there, losing altogether
326 men and 13 officers; was in the Walcheren expedition, and at Flushing;
went to Holland in 1814, and joined in the blockade of Antwerp; occupied
Brussels during the battle of Waterloo, and was disbanded in 1816.
The former white and buff facings
respectively of the two battalions are now both white.
The official badge is the red rose of Lancaster.
The arms of the City of Lincoln-arg. A fleur-de-lys, or, on a St.
George’s Cross, gu.-appear also on the appointments.
The lion and crown is derived from the 47th.
The rose-pattern gold lace has a black stripe, a distinction shared
with seven other regiments. The
button bears the royal crest over the arms of the City of Lincoln, with
the name of the regiment. The
“arms” also appear on the collar; the helmet-plate and waist-plate
have the royal crest, rose, and title; the royal crest and rose are on the
forage-cap.
The 3rd and 4th battalions are furnished by
the 3rd Royal Lancashire Militia, which has “Mediterranean”
on its colours, in remembrance of its services there in the Crimean War.
It was raised in 1797. The
Volunteer battalions are the 11th Lancashire, Preston, and the
14th Lancashire, Bolton; both wear scarlet with white facings.
The 47th were known as the “Cauliflowers,” the
“Lancashire Lads,” and “Wolfe’s Own,” from their share in the
fighting at Quebec. The 81st
had only then the old regimental title, “The Loyal Lincoln
Volunteers.”
The depot was at Preston
