Wiltshire Regiment

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The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's Own)

THE REGIMENTS' STORY

In January 1758 four companies of the 2/4th Regiment embarked at Plymouth as Marines under Major T Hardy in five ships of Admiral Boscawin's fleet. The fleet sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, the mounting base for a seaborne attack on French Canada. However, on April 21st, when these four companies were with the Fleet on passage across the Atlantic and Battalion Headquarters and the remaining companies served on at Plymouth, the Royal Horse Guards (the name of the headquarters of the British Army, and not to be confused with the Cavalry Regiment of that name) decreed that the new second battalions throughout the Army would be numbered as separate Regiments. Under this re-organisation the 2nd/4th Regiment became the 62nd Regiment of Foot.

Throughout the campaign the 62nd continued to serve as Marines, provided landing parties, manned ships boats, put Artillery pieces ashore and provided local protection for them.

The 62nd had won their first battle Honours ‘Louisburg’, but it was not awarded until 150 years later. To commemorate their service as Marines the 62nd were permitted to play ‘Rule Britannia’ after the Regimental March.

Early in 1782, the Commander in Chief laid down that County titles be given to Regiments of the Line, to encourage recruiting; the 62nd taking the name of Wiltshire and henceforth became known as the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment.hi 17:10, 21 November 2006 (UTC)hi

During the Cardwell reforms of the 1880's the 62nd Regiment of Foot and the 99th Regiment of Foot were placed together to form the 1st Battalion and 2nd Battlion The Wilthire Regiment. The following is a list of Campaigns that the Wiltshire Regt has taken part in:-

Boer War 1899-1902
2nd Battalion
3rd Wilts Militia (guarding of Boer prisoners on St Helena)

1st World War 1914-18
1st, 2nd (Regular) Battalions - fought in France/Flanders
1st/4th (Territorial)Battalion - India then to Palestine
2nd/4th (2nd Line Territorial)Battalion - India
5th (Service) Battalion - Gallipoli then onto Mesopatamia
6th (Service) Battalion - France
7th (Service) Battalion - Salonika then onto France towards the end of the war

Palestine 1936-37
2nd Battalion

2nd World War 1939-45
1st (Regular) Battalion - Burma
2nd (Regular) Battalion N W Europe 1940, Italy 1944, NW Europe 1945
4th and 5th (Territorial) Battalions, NW Europe 1944-45

Cyprus 1956-58
1st Battalion