72nd Regiment of Foot

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72nd Highland Regiment
Active 1778-1881
Country Great Britain
Branch British Army
Type Infantry Regiment
Role Infantry
Garrison/HQ Fort George

72nd Highlanders (Formerly 78th Highlanders)

Highland Infantry Regiment of the Line raised in late 18th Century Scotland for service against the French.

[edit] History

8th January 1778 Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth received his letter of service which authorised him to raise a highland regiment for the King's Service.

15th May 1778 - 78th Highland Regiment of Foot passed fit for Service at Elgin,Morayshire

Sep. 1778 ‘Mutiny of MacRaes’ at Edinburgh en route to Channel Islands Garrison

1778-1781 Channel Islands Garrison

Apr. 1779 Repulse French attack on Jersey

Jan. 1781 Help repulse French attack on Jersey

Mar. 1781 To Portsmouth, for Sailing to India as part of East India Company Army

1782-1798 India

Mar.1782 Arrive Carnatic, India. Lose highland dress for tropical service. 250 lost at sea during voyage, including the Earl of Seaforth

1782-1783 Fight at Arnee, Port of Cuddaldore, Fort of Palaghauchterry. Naval Battle

1786 – 78th Highlanders renumbered as 72nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot when the total number of Infantry Regiments was reduced to 77. As a unit on overseas service the 78th Highlanders were spared disbandment and moved up the order of precedence.

1786 To Mysore, India

1789 1792 Campaign against Tippoo Sultan. Bangalore, Savendroog, Outra Durgam, Seringapatam

1793 Siege and capture of French Pondicherry

1795 Capture of Ceylon from Dutch

1798 Drafts of men sent to other regiments. Cadre return to Scotland for recruiting.


1798 To Perth. Re-issued highland dress.

1800 To Ireland, as ‘police’ troops.

1805 Capture of Cape of Good Hope from Dutch. Fight alongside 71st and 93rd Highlanders.

1806 Cape Town Garrison

1809 Re-designated 72nd Regiment of Foot to help with recruiting. Lose Kilt.

1810 At capture of Mauritius from French. Remain as garrison troops.

1814 Return to Cape Town

1815 To Calcutta, India

1816 Return to Cape Town. Remain in South Africa as part of Cape Province Garrison

1822 Return to England

1823 To Channel Islands. Companies split between Guernsey and Jersey.

19.12.1823 - Renamed the 72nd Regiment of Foot, or The Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders. Uniform of Royal Stewart trews and highland bonnet introduced.

Sep. 1824 Return to Scotland for first time in 24 years

1825 To Ireland. Stationed in Belfast, Londonderry and Dublin

1827 To London

1828 Return to Cape Colony

1834 Kaffir War

1835 To Graham’s Town, South Africa

1838 To Cape Town

1840 To Portsmouth

1841 Royal duties in Windsor

1842 Riot duty in Manchester, Preston, Blackburn and Bolton

Aug. 1842 Five cotton workers killed by 72nd in Preston during protests at wage cuts

1843 To Ireland. Stationed in Dublin, Templemore and Fermoy

1844 To Gibraltar Garrison

1848 To West Indies. Stationed in Barbados, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Demerara, Grenada and Tobago.

1851 To Halifax, Nova Scotia

1854 To Limerick

1855 To Malta

1855 Crimean War

1856 To Aldershot then the Channel Islands

1857 To India via Shorncliffe, Kent.

1858 Arrive Bombay. Indian Mutiny

1859 To Mhow

1865 To Poona

1866 To Edinburgh

1867 To England

1868 To Ireland. Stationed in Dublin, Limerick, Buttevant, Cork

1871 To India, Stationed in Umbella, Peshawar, Nowshera, Cherat, Sialkot

Apr. 1873 – Linked Regiments Depot System links the 72nd with the 91st Highlanders at 58th Brigade Depot, Stirling.

1878-1880 2nd Afghan War

1880 To Mean Meer, Lucknow, India

1881 – Amalgamated with 78th Highlanders as 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

[edit] Sources

  • Lieutenant Colonel Fairrie, Angus. "Cuidich'n Righ": A History of the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons). Inverness: Regimental H.Q., Queen's Own Highlanders, 1998
  • Queen's Own Highlanders Association