55th (Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot
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| 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot | |
|---|---|
 Detail from 1786 Regimental colour of the 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment. |
|
| Active | 1755-1881 |
| Country | UK |
| Branch | Army |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | 1-2 battalions |
| Nickname | The Two Fives |
| Colors | 18th century colours of the 55th are laid up at Kendal Parish Church. |
| Anniversaries | Originally raised 25 December 1755. |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
George Augustus, Lord Howe |
- For other units with the same regimental number, see 55th Regiment of Foot
The 55th Regiment of Foot was a British Army infantry regiment which existed from 1755 to 1881. After 1782 it had a county designation added, becoming known as the 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot. The 55th ceased to exist as a separate regiment when it was amalgamated into The Border Regiment in 1881.
Contents |
[edit] Origins
The regiment was raised in Stirling, Scotland in 1755. George Perry, Esqr. was appointed Colonel, his commission being dated 25 December 1755. Originally ranked as the 57th Regiment of Foot, the regiment was re-ranked as the 55th in 1757 following the disbandment of the 50th and 51st Regiments.
[edit] French and Indian War service (1757-61)
The regiment saw active service overseas in North American and participated in the French and Indian War, arriving in North America in 1757. [1]
[edit] Pontiac's Indian Uprising (1763-64)
Garrisoning posts on the New York frontier, volunteers of the 55th regiment went with James Dalyell to reinforce the British post at Detroit. Fort Detroit was under siege from the neighboring Native Americans led by Pontiac. When Dalyell's force arrived there, Dalyell led them to make a surprise attack the Native Americans. The force was ambushed enroute, and the 55th suffered heavy causualties. This became know as the Battle of Bloody Run or Bloody Bridge. The next year 98 men of the grenadier and light infantry companies travelled again to Detroit under the command of Colonel John Bradstreet.
[edit] American Revolution (1776-78)
The 55th was sent to America for the second time to serve in the American Revolution. Notably, the regiment fought at the Battle of Brooklyn (1776), the Battle of Brandywine (1777). In 1778, the 55th was transferred to the West Indies. [2] In 1782, County designations were given to many foot regiments and the 55th was designated the 55th, or Westmoreland Regiment of Foot.
[edit] China (1840-1842)
The 55th served in the 1st Anglo-Chinese War (1840-42), and was awarded with the addition of a dragon badge superscribed "China" on its Regimental Colour.[3] A Chinese flag captured by the 55th can be seen in the Border Regiment Chapel in Kendal Parish Church, along with a pair of regimental colours used from 1786-1801.
[edit] Crimean War (1853-1855)
The 55th Foot saw active service in Turkey and Russia during the Crimean War. The regiment was awarded 3 battle honours to its Regimental Colour for service in the Crimea: The Alma, Inkerman, and Sevastopol. [4]
[edit] The Border Regiment (1881)
On 1 July 1881, as part of the Childers Reforms which removed the numbering of Regiments, the 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot united with the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot to form The Border Regiment of which the former 55th formed the 2nd battalion.
[edit] Modern Successor
Through the process of amalgamation and restructuring of the Army, the lineage of the 55th Foot now rests with the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border).
[edit] External links
- 55th Regiment of Foot, Company of Light Infantry (1759-1764) Living History group re-enacting the light infantry company of the 55th Regiment during the French and Indian War and Pontiac's Rebellion.
- The 55th Regiment of Foot, Capt. James Taylor Trevor's Co'y Living History and reenactment unit portraying the 55th in 1776.
- 55th (the Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot at regiments.org
