WATERLOO MEDAL IN CANTERBURY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 8

WATERLOO MEDAL IN CANTERBURY

Proud History Of The 91st Of Foot

(SpeciaUv written for "The Pro**” bp

"MEREBIMUR"]

JWEWS published in “The Press” last Saturday that a Waterloo Medal is in the possession of a. resident of Christchurch and that the descendants of the original recipient. Quartermaster J. Stewart of the 91st of Foot, are being sought, raises many interesting facts. The 91st of Foot were “raised” as the 98th of Foot, or the Argyll Regiment, in 1794, by John, the fifth Duke of Argyll, under “A Letter of Service” dated February 10, from King George 111.

Ms first commanding officer was Duncan Campbell of Lochnell, Argyllshire, Who had already served as a captain in the First Foot Guards. Though recruiting was successful in the Highlands. recruits were also obtained in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in other parts of the Lowlands. A few Irishmen were added, together with men from Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, bringing its strength up to 700. As had been the case over many years. Britain was troubled by Republican Prance, and on April 15, 1794, ■ Lieutenant -Colonel Campbell assumed command of the regiment at Stirling. In May of the same year, the regiment was inspected and passed as efficient and fit for service. In June the regiment arrived in England, and in July the King approved of 35 officers, of whom 17 were Campbells. Their original uniform was of Highland military garb with short coat, or jacket, faced with yellow, and belted plaid. The tartan was the same as that of the 42nd of Foot (the Black Watch). In 1795 came their first active service, when they were sent to South Africa, which resulted in the surrender of the Dutch at the Cape of Good Hope, and its temporary annexation. In 1798. the regiment was re-numbered, and became the 91st of Foot. Treaty Of Amiens It is recorded that while they were in South Africa they were approached by other troops who had mutinied to join them in their cause. The Highlanders refused, and reported the matter to the authorities. They returned to England in two contingents—one late in 1802, and the other early in 1803—after taking part in the ceremony of handing back the Cape of Good Hope to

’ the Dutch, in accordance with : the terms of the Treaty of ) Amiens. On their arrival in England • the only part of the Highi land dress that was resumed was the feather bonnet, and • when supplies of tartan 1 cloth arrived it was made 1 into trousers, so the Highlanders went for a while into ■ trews. In 1809. the War Office ordered that the 91st ’ of Foot and certain other ' Highland Regiments must cease to wear the kilt and 1 adopt the uniform worn by ; other Regiments of the Line. l The 91st had also to discard , its county title of “Argyll- . shire," and the appellation

"Highlanders ’’ . From 1810 until 18M toe fWWMtoon was merely designated the 91M Regimen* at Foot, but the officers were no* long in securing that trie pipers, at least, should inarch in the “Garb of Ok! Gaul." Their record of service is a very full one. It would fill many pages. They were at the Peninsula, as their Battle Honours show: they were with Sir John Moore at Salamance, and at the final stages ait Corunna, where they fought the French to a standstill. even though greatly outnumbered when attacked again and again, and they are proud of this Battle Honour. In 1814 they were dispatched to Holland, and fought at Bergen-op-Zoob. "Hie 91st were not committed at Waterloo, but came up in time to take part in the pursuit of the shattered French Army. A drummer■boy of the 91st. William Ballantine, bearing a flag of truce, led the allied armies into Paris to begin the occupation of the French capital. There is much that I have left untold—names such as The Birkenhead, Balaclava, Alma, spring to the mind. The regiment felt unlucky at not coming into the main battle at Waterloo, and at taking part only in the pursuit. They received the Medal for the Campaign. but were not granted the Battle Hon-

our tor their Colour Tho badges of the British Army In their latest form have lost much that was cherished by the old members ot the various regiments. One finds it difficult to recognise them. For instance, there are now only two badges to cover ail the Highland and Lowland regiments —both with very liule on them. The brooch and badge of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Ist and 2nd Battalions—who were the outcome of an earlier umalgamation of two Highland ■Begtmente—the gist of Foot (the Argyllshire Highlanders) raised by the Duke of Argy ll in 1794; and 93rd of Foot the Sutherlands, within a raised by the Earl of Sutherland in 1800—were designed by H.R.H. Princess Louise, who married the Marques, of Lome (later Duke of Argyll* and who was Colonel-in-Chicf of the Regiment, The plaid brooch is the only one in the British Army of Celtic origin; the bodge included the Boor's Head of the Campbells, and the Wild Cat of the Sutheralnds, within a wreath of broom and thistles, and was surmounted by the Princess's coronet The history of the Waterloo Medal makes the finding of it in Christchurch a matter of great interest, for only 1 survive* received the med 4,