OLDEST IN ARMY LIST

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 14 September 1935, Page 11

OLDEST IN ARMY LIST

iJ'HE four British regiments which the King has honoured with the title of “Royal” are among the oldest in the Army List, says the “Daily Telegraph.” So great is their -seniority and so cherished the distinctive facings of their uniforms that only one, the sth Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, have changed their facings to the customary Royal blue. The other three regiments —the Buffs (Royal East Kents), the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, and the Royal Norfolk Regiment—have been permitted by his Majesty to retain their present facings, respectively buff, goslinggreen, and yellow. No so much sentiment attached to the Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, since that regiment, as at present constituted, is one- of the 1922 amalgamations. It. represents the sth Dragoon Guards and the Inniskilliugs ((3th Dragoons) . The sth Dragoon Guards were raised in 1(385 as a “Horse” regiment under the Earl of Shrewsbury, to defend the Throne against the Duke of Monmouth. They served with Marlborough and in the Peninsular, Crimean, and South African campaigns, and their battle honours in the Great War begin with “Mons.” The late Albert, King of the Belgians, was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment in 1915. The Inniskillings defended Enniskillen for William 111. and were brought on the 'establishment in H3S9. Their Roll of Honour begins with Dettingen. The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) began their existence in the service of the Dutch against Spain in the sixteenth century. When Charles 11. formed a regiment from the survivors of this expeditionary force they were-called the Holland Regiment, and became “The Buffs” in 1708. Before the Cardwell reforms of 1881 they were the 3rd Regiment of Foot.

New Royal Regiments of Britain

The sth, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, was the- regiment in which the famous amazon, Phoebe Kessell, served during the first half of the ISth century. She -died in IS2I at the age of 10S. The regiment raised 52 battalions for services in the Great War, the highest number raised by any I’egiment of the line. The Royal Norfolk Regiment (the 9th of Foot) has had as its Colonel-in-Chief King Edward VII and the present King. It was raised by, James II in 1(385 against the Duke- of Mon mouth. The King has also approved the additional title of “The Duke of York’s Own” being added to that of the East Yorkshire Regiment, which will henceforth be designated: “The East Yorkshire Regiment (the Duke of York's Own).” This regiment also traces its history back to 1(355. Its service honours include “Louisberg” and “Quebec, 1759.” The Duke of York became Colonel-in-Chief in 1922. The Royal Corps of Signals, which is to have the Princess Royal as Colonel-in-Chief, is stationed in Yorkshire at Catterick, not far from her home. The Gloucestershire Regiment, of which the Duke of Gloucester is made Colonel-in-Chief, gained a unique distinction at Alexandria in ISOI, where, because thej' fought back to back, they were permitted to wear a badge, The Sphinx, at the back of their head-dress as well as on the front. The London Scottish, of which the Duchess of York becomes Honorary Colonel, was raised in 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force. His Majesty has further approved that the title Royal be conferred on a number of regiments of the Indian Army and the Military Forces of Canada, Australia and South Africa.