the royal ulster rifles

The Royal Irish Rifles: 83rd and 86th Foot

The Regiment of the Infantry of the Line that became to be known as The Royal Ulster Rifles dates back to the reign of King George III. In 1793 there was some expansion of the Armed Forces to meet the commitments of the war with France. As part of that expansion there were raised two new Regiments of Foot, the 83rd and the 86th. At about the same time the Antrim, Down and Louth Regiments of Militia were rasied. All were eventually to become part of The Royal Irish Rifles, which in 1921 became the Royal Ulster Rifles. The 83rd Regiment was raised in Dublin by Colonel William Fitch and soon saw active service in the West Indies. Thereafter they remained in garrison in Jamaica for seven years, losing many casualties from yellow fever. The 86th Regiment was originally raised in Shropshire by General Cornelius Cuyler and was known as ' Cuyler's Shropshire Volunteers ' However there was some difficulty in recruiting sufficient numbers and on the regiment's move to Ireland they changed their main recruiting area to Leinster and became known as the ' Irish Giants '. The 86th first saw active service as Marines and were involved in several actions against the French. A detachment of six companies accompanied an expedition to Egypt and carried out an epic march in June 1801. This was from Suez to Cairo, an indirect distance of 90 miles in three days under a blazing sun. There were no provisions and no water sources until 12 miles before Cairo while the carried water became putrid, with maggots in it. The men wore the heavy scarlet uniform coat, as there was no sensible tropical kit issued but the detachment completed the march with only 17 stragglers, 8 of whom died. The campaign resulted in the defeat of the French in Egypt. By Royal Authority the emblem of the Sphinx superscripted ' Egypt ' was added to the crest of the 86th. Meanwhile the 83rd had returned to Ireland and raised a 2nd Battalion to meet the expansion of the Army required by the Napoleonic Wars. In 1805 the 1st/83rd landed at Cape Town and swiftly overcame the resistance of the small Dutch force, then remained as garrison of the Cape of Good Hope until 1818. The 2nd/83rd joined the Peninsular Expeditionary Army in Portugal in 1809. They had before them five years of stiff campaigning with long marches up and down the length of Spain and Portugal and eventually across the French frontier, gaining 12 battle honours. One of their earliest battles but certainly the bloodiest was ' Talavera '

force sent from India to capture the French Island of Bourbon, since named Reunion. In the face of heavy fire from musket and cannon the redoubt covering the breach was taken with the bayonet. The halyards of the flag staff had been shot away but Corporal Hall climbed the flag staff and fixed to it the King's colour of the 86th. Even the French were impressed by his gallantry and cheered lustily. The island was soon taken. ' Bourbon ' being awarded as a battle honour, in addition to ' India ' in recognition of the 86th's services in the Maharatta War. Further honours were awarded by Royal Authority as are indicated in the words of the song ' Their colours shall be royal blue, and they'll wear wear the harp and crown, and be called the ' Bourbon heroes ' or the ' Royal County Down '

Bringing in the dead from the Battle of Talavera

Both regiments spent the years from 1819 to 1857 in garrison duty mainly in England but also in Ceylon, Canada and again in India also known as the ' Shiny '. An order of the time describes the 83rd as ' a Regiment of 950 efficient soldiers strong and stalwart in forms perfect in discipline, and influenced in no ordinary degree by an ardent esprit de corps ' It is also recorded that in 1832 the motto ' Quis Separabit ' was adopted by the 86th and that they marched to the tune ' The Kinnegar Slashers ' and later to ' St Patrick's Day ' whereas the 83rd's march since their early days has been ' Garry Owen '. The outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857 found both regiments in India. At first they had to fight desperately to hold their own, but by the end of the year reinforcements had arrived and various mobile forces were to attack and round up the mutineers. These forces fought many actions all over Rajputana and Central India, the most notable of which was the storming of the fortress of Jhansi. The artillery made a breach in the wall but before an attack could be launched a relieving force under the redoubtable rebel leader Tantia Topee arrived on the scene.

The Battalion suffered in casualties over half its strength including the Colonel killed and many taken prisoner, not to be released for five years. Sergeant Major Swinburne was commissoned in the field for gallant conduct. He eventaully retired as a Lieutenant Colonel some 44 years later, much honoured by the Regiment. There followed the Battle of Busaco in 1810, the storming of the fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz in 1812 and the engagement in Fuentes d' Onoro ( referred to by the soldiers as ' Fountains of Horror ' ) At Badajoz Sregeant Hazlehurst saved the life of Captain Powys, the first man through the breach, by laying about him with his halberd. Hazlehurst served right through the Peninsular campaign being awarded 12 clasps to his Peninsular Medal. Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelles, Orthez and finally ' Toulouse ' were the further honours won by the 2nd/83rd. In 1810 the 86th had formed part of a task

the 2nd battalion royal ulster rifles

World War 2 Living History Group

Preserving the Memory of All Irishmen who served During World War Two And the traditions of The Fine Irish Regiments They served In