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The Green Howards Regimental History
| The picture, by Mr Terence Cuneo, is of the regiment being raised by
Colonel Francis Luttrell at Dunster Castle, Somerset, in November 1688,
for service under William, Prince of Orange, following his landing at Torbay
on 5th of November 1688. Newsletter
No 7 of the Friends of the Green Howards Regimental Museum is devoted
to the history of the regiment between 1688-1696, and covers the raising
of the regiment. |
A brief description is provided, below, of the regiment's history. This is
presented in chronological order. You may either read through it all, or select
topics from the list below.
The
regiment was first raised in November 1688 by Colonel Francis
Luttrell at Dunster Castle in Somerset, for service under William, Prince
of Orange, following his landing at Torbay on 5 November 1688.
In 1744, during the Wars of the Austrian Succession, the Regiment
first became known as 'The Green Howards'.
At that time, the Regimental Colonel was the Honourable Charles Howard,
the second son of the 3rd Earl of Carlisle. Following the convention
of the time, the Regiment was known as "Howard's Regiment", - after the
name of the regiment's Colonel.
However,in the campaign the regiment was brigaded with another regiment
whose Colonel was also called Howard. Thus, some distinction between the
two regiments had to be made.
As the regiment wore green facings to its uniform, it was natural to be
known as "The Green Howards". The other regiment wore buff facings, and
became known as the "The Buff Howards"
The nickname "The Green Howards" stuck, and survived until 1920 when it
became the official title of the regiment.
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The regiment first became associated
with, and affiliated to, the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1782 when
it was granted the title of "The 19th (First Yorkshire North Riding Regiment)
of Foot". The title was given when the regiment returned from taking part
in the American War of Independence.
The illustration on the left is of Major John Marjoribanks, of the 19th
Foot, who was fatally wounded at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in 1781.
It is worth noting that the regiment, although affiliated by name with Yorkshire
at this time, was not actually based in the county until much later (see
below). |
It was only in 1873 that Richmond in
Yorkshire became the regiment's home town.
In 1875 the late Queen Alexandra, then Princess of Wales and formerly
a Princess of the Royal House of Denmark, presented the regiment with new
Colours to replace those which had been carried throughout the Crimean War.
The regiment was then graciously granted the title of "The Princess of Wales's
Own".
In 1881, on the introduction of the territorial system, the name
of the regiment was again altered to become "The Princess of Wales's Own
Yorkshire Regiment". Following the South African War, the word "Alexandra"
was added.
Finally, in 1920 the title of the Regiment became "The Green Howards
(Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)". |
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| The regiment's cap badge was personally designed by Queen
Alexandra, when she was Princess of Wales,to incorporate the Dannebrog (the
Cross of Denmark) and her personal cypher (the A with a Princess's coronet
above it). The date 1875 commemorates the regiment becoming the Princess
of Wales's Own and the roman numerals "XIX" denote the 19th Regiment of
Foot. |
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The regiment first saw active service in Ireland in 1690,
- fighting at the Battle of the Boyne in July of that year.
In 1695 the regiment was present at the siege of Namur.
In Flanders, during the campaigns of the Duke of Marlborough in 1707 -
1714, it earned at great cost its first battle honour, - Malplaquet.
In 1744 the regiment moved for the third time to Flanders to support
the House of Austria in the war against France and Bavaria.
Between 1761 and 1854 the regiment took part in many campaigns. Amongst
these were the expeditions against Belle Isle (1761), the American
War of Independence (1775), the Siege of Ostend (1794), the campaigns
in Ceylon, and the operations against Tippoo Sahib (1796 - 1820).
The regiment next played a distinguished part during the Crimean War
(1854 - 56) in the Battles of Alma and Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol.
The Battle of Alma is the regiment's first presented Battle Honour.
Although the regiment won Battle Honours at Malplaquet and Belle isle, these
were not presented until after that for the Alma. Because of this, the Battle
of the Alma has great significance in the regiment's history, and every
20 September, - the anniversary of the Battle, is celebrated by the regiment
as "Alma Day". |
The Battle of Alma, 20 September 1854.
The 19th Foot, as part of the Light Division, storming the Great Redoubt. |
During the action at the Battle of Alma that the Regiment stormed and captured
the Russian position consisting of strongly fortified earthworks and fourteen
guns known as "The Great Redoubt". It was here that six drums were taken
from the Russian Borodino, Minsk, and Vladimir regiments.
During the Crimean War, the regiment was awarded its first two Victoria
Crosses.
(For more information on the role of the Regiment in the Crimean War, refer
to the Newsletters
of the Friends of the Regimental Museum, or the references provided in the
Bibliography).
The
casualty roll for the 19th Foot in the Crimean War is included on this
Web site. All officers and men killed or wounded during the Crimean
War are listed.
Following the Crimean War the regiment returned to England, but were very
shortly afterwards sent out to British India following the Mutiny of
1857. The regiment remained in India until 1871.
In 1868 the Regiment took part in the Hazara Campaign against
the tribes in the Black Mountains of the North West Frontier.
(For more information on the role of the Regiment in India between 1857
and 1877, refer to the Newsletters
of the Friends of the Regimental Museum, or the references provided in the
Bibliography).
The
history of the regiment between 1847 and 1870, including service in the
Crimean war and in British India, is outlined in a separate page.
This history is set in the context of the life of one of its serving soldiers
at the time.
The Regiment was in action again in the Sudan in 1885 against the
forces of the Mahdi. At the Battle of Ginnis they last wore the
scarlet coat of the English Infantry in battle.
In 1897 they were present during the Tirah Campaign on the
North-West Frontier of India.
Two years later the Regiment played a prominent part in the South African
War between 1899 - 1902, where the third Victoria
Cross was awarded after the Battle of Paardeberg.
During the First World War (1914 - 1918) twenty four battalions
of the Regiment were raised, and the Regiment took part in most of the
principal battles and campaigns of the war, - including that in North
Russia in 1919. Over 65000 men served in the ranks of the Regiment,
and of these over 7500 were killed and nearly 24000 were wounded.
Twelve Victoria Crosses were awarded during World
War I.
(For more information on the role of the Regiment in the First World
War, refer to the
Newsletters of the Friends of the Regimental Museum, or the references
provided in the Bibliography).
Between 1918 and 1939, the Regiment took part in the third Afghan
War of 1919, the operations in Palestine during 1938, the Waziristan
operations of 1937-1939, and many other internal security duties overseas
including those in Shanghai between 1927 and 1930.
In the Second World War (1939 - 1945), twelve battalions of
the Regiment were raised. The Regiment fought in Norway, the Western
Desert, Sicily, Italy, Burma, France, Holland, and Germany. Two battalions
were amongst the first to land in the assault on D-Day 1944, where
a member of the 6th Battalion was the only Victoria
Cross to be awarded on D-Day.
An account of the 6th Battalion's action immediately after D-Day is
provided on this website.
Two other Victoria Crosses were won in the Western
Desert and Burma.
(For more information on the role of the Regiment fighting under General
Montgomery ("Monty's Men"), refer to the Newsletters
of the Friends of the Regimental Museum, or the references provided in the
Bibliography).
Between 1949 and 1952 the Regiment served with great distinction
in the campaign against the Chinese and Malayan Communist Terrorists in
Malaya.
(For more information on the role of the Regiment in Malaya between 1949
and 1952, refer to the Newsletters
of the Friends of the Regimental Museum, or the references provided in the
Bibliography).
In the years since 1952, the Regiment has served in Afghanistan, Austria,
West Germany, Suez, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Libya, Belize, Berlin, and England.
It has distinguished itself in operations in Northern Ireland. One
Regimental Officer was killed in action whilst serving with very great gallantry
in the Falkland Islands in 1982. Elements of the First Battalion
took part in the Gulf War in 1991, and in operations in Bosnia
between 1996-97.
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As a mark of appreciation of the regiment's service to the county and
the country over the past 310 years, the following Yorkshire boroughs
and towns have accorded the Regiment the honour of Honorary Freeman. They
are;- |
| Beverley |
| Bridlington |
| Middlesbrough |
| Northallerton |
| Pickering |
| Redcar |
| Richmond |
| Scarborough |
This honour signifies true friendship between the local people and the
Regiment and confirms the title, privilege, honour and distinction to
the Green Howards of marching through their streets with "bayonets
fixed, colours flying, and drums beating". |
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