27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot

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The 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1689 and amalgamated into The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1881.

[edit] History

The regiment was raised as local militia at Enniskillen by General Zachariah Tiffin in June 1689, to fight against James II in the Williamite war in Ireland. They served successfully, most notably at the Battle of Newtownbutler, and were placed on the English establishment in 1690, becoming a regular infantry regiment.

After Ireland returned to peace, the regiment was stationed around the world in roughly half a century; from the West Indies, Minorca and to Spain. In 1745 it participated in the Battle of Falkirk and in 1746 the Battle of Culloden. In 1751, they were formally titled the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot.

During the Seven Years' War (1756-63) the Regiment fought against the French in North America and the West Indies. In 1778 it returned to North America to take part in the War of Independence, but as the result of the alliance formed by the French with the American colonists, it again found itself involved in numerous expeditions against the French West Indian possessions.

Its travels during the next few years included the Low Countries and Egypt where it formed part of Sir Ralph Abercromby's force that fought the Battle of Alexandria against the French in 1801, while the Second Battalion, which had been raised in 1800 formed part of the garrison of that city after its capture.

The regiment participated in the Battle of Waterloo as the only Irish regiment at the time. It was at this battle the regiment earned its most famed honours when the Duke of Wellington commented that the regiment had been a vital part of the centre.

Between 1837 and 1847 it was engaged in several of the native wars in South Africa. From 1854 and 1868 it served in India as part of the suppression of the Indian Mutiny and helped to maintain law and order in North-West India.