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50th Regiment foot - Dirty half hundred
Jun. 2nd, 2012 08:05 pm
(p xvi) The fact that fifteen volunteers from the French 70zh Regiment enlisted in the 50th after Vimiero, and that the band of the 50th wore their long red plumes, as a trophy for some time afterwards, is highly interesting. A French colour pole and box was taken also in that action, and afterwards borne between the colours (Captain Patterson) . but I have been unable to discover what became of it. It is curious to note, that the old colours were burnt at the head of the regiment, with military honours in 1804 and in 1815.
(p2) The first authentic record I can find is that of the 50th Foot, or the 7th Marines, which was raised on April 11th, 1741, under the command of Major-General Cornwall. Several regiments were officially the ''50th'' prior to 1741 though the numbers were not used.
(p3) There seems, however, to have been some hesitation about dispanding this regiment, for the original order did not include it, and the order was eventually given in a separate letter, which implies that it was under consideration to retain the 50th Regiment alone as a regiment of marines. Short as its existance was, its services cannot have been unimportant, for it was employed as a regiment of marines, during a period of great naval activity, which included a war with France.
(p12) The first record of the 50th Regiment being stationed at Maidstone is on the 7th January 1758.
From 1763 up until 1767 the Army List shows the facings to have changed between the 52nd and the 50th, where as the 50th wore red facings with white linings and white lace, and the 52nd, the old 50th uniform of black facings and white lace. After 1767 the two Regiments resumed their facings, and in the corse of this year an order was also issued, directing the regimental number to be placed on all buttons.
(p13) The button which was authorised for the 50th, contained the number in the centre surmounted by a crown, with single laurel leaves around the outer edge. In 1769, the lapels or loops on the coat became square at equal distances, with a red stripe down the centre. About the end of the century, double Hanover loops were worn in pairs. A sword breast-plate was introduced between 1770 and 1775, with an oval breast-plate - brass for private soldiers, and silver for officers.
The officers in 1768 are described as wearing a plain scarlet coat lapelled to the waist with black velvet, collar the same, small round black cuffs, silver buttons, silver epaulettes, white lining waistcoat and breeches and silver laced hats.
(p14) Trousers were used for field service in the Peninsula from about 1809, and at this period the officers of the first battalion, wore a silver breast-plate on the sword or cross-belt, having the motto ''Quo fata vocant,''. (This was worn by the officers of the first battalion, during the Peninsular War). The second battalion wore the same breast-plate without the motto.
Dress - Officers:
(p15) About this time (Peninsular) also the crown on the silver button was surmounted by the lion, and both officers and men wore the short tunic or ajacket - in the case of officers, double-brested with two rows of silver buttons by pairs, and one button which a strip of black silk cord from it, on each side of the collar. Officer of the grenadier and light companies wore wings (instead of epaulettes) composed of silver currb chain edged with silver bullion fringe on black velvet, with gold grenades or bugles on the straps.
And after the accession of William IV. : The officers' dress had recently been changed for a coatee, or scarlet tail-coat, on which captains and subalterns were for the first time, permitted to wear epaulettes on both shoulders. On becoming the ''Queen's Own,' blue velvet facings were adopted by the officers, of the colour known as Adelaide blue, and the soldiers changed their black facings to blue. A very handsome gold ornament was introduced, on the tail of each skirt of the officers' coatee, which consisted of ''50'' in gold on a blue background, surrounded by a blue garter with ''Honi soit,'' & c., and the edge of gold: a similar blue scroll underneath, with the words ''Queen's own'' edged in lettered gold, surrounded by gold laurels and surmounted by a gold crown, all embroided on red cloth.
Dress - Men:
(p15) The light felt caps worn at this period, had a gilt plate in front, festooned across the front with crimson and gold cord, and a small red and white feather. Private soldiers wore the same, but with plain white cords and tassels. Their red jackets were single-breasted, with ten loops of the white lace with a red stripe in the centre in pairs down the front, and on collar and shoulder-strap, slashes on cuffs and pocket, and a belt with brass breast-plate.
Dress - Sergeants:
(p15) Sergeants had a similar coat of finer cloth, with white tape lace; and after 1802 silver chevrons on the right arm, with a belt and crimson sash, their arms being a sword and a long pike. About the time of the accession of William IV gold was substituted for silver.
After some service abroad. :
(p49) The 50th Regiment remained in Ireland till the latter part of 1772, when it embarked for Jamaica, where it arrived at the beginning of 1773. A light company was added to its establishment on the 21st Sept. 1771. It remained at Jamaica till the beginning of 1776, and was then ordered to North America, where it was broken up, and the whole of the men fit for duty were drafted to reinforce other regiments.
The staff was then sent to England to recruit., and arrived at Salisbury in November 1776.
(p49) On 3rd July 1778, the regiment, now completed, embarked in H.M.SS. ''Centaur,'' ''VEngeance,'', ''Defiance'', ''Thunderer.'', and ''Vigilance,'' and were employed as marines in an indecisive attack made by Admiral Keppel on the French fleet under Count D'O. Viliers off Ushant.
Of marines and 50th, this time not as one and the same:
(p68) In the general orders of the 19th February, a battalion of marines was ordered to land with this brigade, and to take post between the 50th and the 79th, but it did not continue to do duty with them.
The burning and the changing of the colours after Egypt:
(p93) New colours were received by the regiment at the end of 1804, bearing for the first time ''the Sphynx'' and the word '' Egypt'' on them. The old colours were then brought out and burnt in front of the first battalion, with military honours.
Vimiero and the times there:
(p100) The 43rd and the 50th Regiments, and the 95th Rifle Corps, were formed into a light brigade, under the command of General Fane.
And this for the moment are the few tidbits about the 50th Regiment of Foot. More to come!
(p2) The first authentic record I can find is that of the 50th Foot, or the 7th Marines, which was raised on April 11th, 1741, under the command of Major-General Cornwall. Several regiments were officially the ''50th'' prior to 1741 though the numbers were not used.
(p3) There seems, however, to have been some hesitation about dispanding this regiment, for the original order did not include it, and the order was eventually given in a separate letter, which implies that it was under consideration to retain the 50th Regiment alone as a regiment of marines. Short as its existance was, its services cannot have been unimportant, for it was employed as a regiment of marines, during a period of great naval activity, which included a war with France.
(p12) The first record of the 50th Regiment being stationed at Maidstone is on the 7th January 1758.
From 1763 up until 1767 the Army List shows the facings to have changed between the 52nd and the 50th, where as the 50th wore red facings with white linings and white lace, and the 52nd, the old 50th uniform of black facings and white lace. After 1767 the two Regiments resumed their facings, and in the corse of this year an order was also issued, directing the regimental number to be placed on all buttons.
(p13) The button which was authorised for the 50th, contained the number in the centre surmounted by a crown, with single laurel leaves around the outer edge. In 1769, the lapels or loops on the coat became square at equal distances, with a red stripe down the centre. About the end of the century, double Hanover loops were worn in pairs. A sword breast-plate was introduced between 1770 and 1775, with an oval breast-plate - brass for private soldiers, and silver for officers.
The officers in 1768 are described as wearing a plain scarlet coat lapelled to the waist with black velvet, collar the same, small round black cuffs, silver buttons, silver epaulettes, white lining waistcoat and breeches and silver laced hats.
(p14) Trousers were used for field service in the Peninsula from about 1809, and at this period the officers of the first battalion, wore a silver breast-plate on the sword or cross-belt, having the motto ''Quo fata vocant,''. (This was worn by the officers of the first battalion, during the Peninsular War). The second battalion wore the same breast-plate without the motto.
Dress - Officers:
(p15) About this time (Peninsular) also the crown on the silver button was surmounted by the lion, and both officers and men wore the short tunic or ajacket - in the case of officers, double-brested with two rows of silver buttons by pairs, and one button which a strip of black silk cord from it, on each side of the collar. Officer of the grenadier and light companies wore wings (instead of epaulettes) composed of silver currb chain edged with silver bullion fringe on black velvet, with gold grenades or bugles on the straps.
And after the accession of William IV. : The officers' dress had recently been changed for a coatee, or scarlet tail-coat, on which captains and subalterns were for the first time, permitted to wear epaulettes on both shoulders. On becoming the ''Queen's Own,' blue velvet facings were adopted by the officers, of the colour known as Adelaide blue, and the soldiers changed their black facings to blue. A very handsome gold ornament was introduced, on the tail of each skirt of the officers' coatee, which consisted of ''50'' in gold on a blue background, surrounded by a blue garter with ''Honi soit,'' & c., and the edge of gold: a similar blue scroll underneath, with the words ''Queen's own'' edged in lettered gold, surrounded by gold laurels and surmounted by a gold crown, all embroided on red cloth.
Dress - Men:
(p15) The light felt caps worn at this period, had a gilt plate in front, festooned across the front with crimson and gold cord, and a small red and white feather. Private soldiers wore the same, but with plain white cords and tassels. Their red jackets were single-breasted, with ten loops of the white lace with a red stripe in the centre in pairs down the front, and on collar and shoulder-strap, slashes on cuffs and pocket, and a belt with brass breast-plate.
Dress - Sergeants:
(p15) Sergeants had a similar coat of finer cloth, with white tape lace; and after 1802 silver chevrons on the right arm, with a belt and crimson sash, their arms being a sword and a long pike. About the time of the accession of William IV gold was substituted for silver.
After some service abroad. :
(p49) The 50th Regiment remained in Ireland till the latter part of 1772, when it embarked for Jamaica, where it arrived at the beginning of 1773. A light company was added to its establishment on the 21st Sept. 1771. It remained at Jamaica till the beginning of 1776, and was then ordered to North America, where it was broken up, and the whole of the men fit for duty were drafted to reinforce other regiments.
The staff was then sent to England to recruit., and arrived at Salisbury in November 1776.
(p49) On 3rd July 1778, the regiment, now completed, embarked in H.M.SS. ''Centaur,'' ''VEngeance,'', ''Defiance'', ''Thunderer.'', and ''Vigilance,'' and were employed as marines in an indecisive attack made by Admiral Keppel on the French fleet under Count D'O. Viliers off Ushant.
Of marines and 50th, this time not as one and the same:
(p68) In the general orders of the 19th February, a battalion of marines was ordered to land with this brigade, and to take post between the 50th and the 79th, but it did not continue to do duty with them.
The burning and the changing of the colours after Egypt:
(p93) New colours were received by the regiment at the end of 1804, bearing for the first time ''the Sphynx'' and the word '' Egypt'' on them. The old colours were then brought out and burnt in front of the first battalion, with military honours.
Vimiero and the times there:
(p100) The 43rd and the 50th Regiments, and the 95th Rifle Corps, were formed into a light brigade, under the command of General Fane.
And this for the moment are the few tidbits about the 50th Regiment of Foot. More to come!
