1702 – 1763 Huntingdon’s Regiment

33^rd Regiment

In 1702 the British army had to be rapidly expanded in the face of a dispute between France and Spain on the one hand and Britain and Holland on the other, as to who should succeed to the throne of Spain.

The 26 year old Colonel George Hastings, the 8^th Earl of Huntingdon, was one of those commissioned to raise a new regiment to meet these troubled times and, on the 14^th day of March, 1702, he did just that.  His Regiment was numbered 33 in the Order of Precedence but, as was the custom of the time, took his name as its Colonel.  Soon after it was established, Huntingdon’s Regiment set sail for Holland to join the Duke of Marlborough’s campaign forces.  During 1702 and 1703 it took part in the successful sieges of the fortresses along the River Mass, at Venloo, Ruremonde, Leige and Huy.

In 1703 it was decided it would be necessary to open a second front in Portugal.  Accordingly a combined contingent of British and Dutch troops arrived in March, 1704.  One of the six British Infantry units included in this deputation was Duncanson’s, as Huntingdon’s was now known.  For the next few years Colonel Duncanson’s men performed with notable distinction during several separate battles, including the siege of the fortress at Valencia de Alcantara, in May 1705, and the disaster at Almanza where the British were forced to surrender when their allies from Portugal reneged on their agreement and fled the battlefield.

The wars ended in 1713.  Although Battle Honours were awarded for Malborough’s victories in the Netherlands, nothing was given to the troops who had fought in Spain and Portugal.  Instead, rubbing salt into their wounds, in 1714 many regiments, including the 33^rd, were disbanded.

It was not long before the reduction of the army was reversed.  The Jacobite uprising of 1715 illustrated the requirement for more troops.  Thus, in March of that year, less than year after its disbandment, the Regiment was re-formed.  In 1719 the Regiment was sent to Vigo in Spain as a part of the quest to overthrow a second attempt to regain the throne of England, this threat was short lived and the Regiment soon returned home.  Ahead lay 20 years of peace until a row over the Austrian succession sparked a war against the French in 1742.

In September, 1742, the Regiment was among those sent to Flanders and, in June the following year, took part in the successful Battle of Dettingen, giving the Regiment its first Battle Honour.  It was reported that ‘The Thirty-Third faced the attack as boldly, never giving way for an inch, and brought men and horses crashing down by their eternal rolling fire’ (Fortescue).  Later, in 1745, the 33^rd also played a part in the distinguished Battle of Fontenoy.

Soon after this battle the Regiment was one of ten sent home to deal with another rebellion by the Jacobites.  On their subsequent return to Flanders the regiment fought in the battles of Rocoux (1746) and Lauffeld (1747), and the following year peace was signed.

In 1756, war with France once again broke out, in what was to become the Seven Years War.  Augmentation of the army was clearly needed and the 33^rd were authorised to raise a second battalion.  In 1758 the 2^nd/33^rd was renamed the 74^th, but was disbanded in 1763.  Throughout the Seven Years War the Regiment performed with particular merit, including a key role in “The Glorious Reinforcement” sent to join the allied army of Prince Ferdinand in Germany.  Successive campaigns led, within three years, to the shattering of the French military power all over Europe.  With France once again beaten, the British Army could look forward more peaceful times ahead.    

76^th Regiment

In 1745 to counter the threat from the Scottish leader Bonnie Prince Charlie, 13 new regiments of foot were raised, including one that Lord Harcourt was authorised to raise. It was ranked 76^th in the order of precedence but was disbanded in 1746.

Ten years later, Lord George Forbes raised a new regiment that soon took the number of the 76^th. During the Seven Years War the Regiment served in the siege of Belle Isle (1761) and the capture of Martinique (1762). Once the war was over the 76^th was once again disbanded.