Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
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| Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 October 1661 - 14 October 1959 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | 2 Battalions |
| Part of | Home Counties Brigade |
| Nickname | Kirke's Lambs; Mutton Lancers |
| Motto | Pristinae virtutis memor; "Vel exuviae triumphans" |
| March | Quick - Slow - |
| Anniversaries | Glorious First of June (1 June) Salerno (9 September) |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HM Queen Mary |
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The 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot was the title given to the Tangier Regiment, when regimental numbering was introduced in Britain in 1751.
The Regiment was raised on 14 October 1661 to garrison the new British acquisition, the Port of Tangier, which was part of Queen Catherine's dowery, when she married King Charles II. The Regiment served in North Africa until 1685, when they returned to England. The regimental numbering system was adopted in 1751.
In 1685, it was the Queen Dowager's Regiment of Foot (named for Queen Catherine, widow of Charles II); in 1703 it was renamed the Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot, becoming the Princess of Wales's Own Regiment of Foot in 1715 and then the Queen's Own Regiment of Foot when, in 1727, Princess Caroline became Queen. Its final change before 1751 came in 1747 when it was called the Queen's Own Royal Regiment of Foot, ranked as 2nd Foot. In 1780 along with the HAC the 2nd suppressed the Gordon Riots.
Other than Guards regiments, the 2nd Foot was the oldest line infantry regiment in England.
It retained the designation of 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot until the Childers Reforms of 1881, when it became the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), then in 1921 the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). It ceased to exist as a separate regiment in 1959 when it amalgamated with the East Surrey Regiment, to form The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment.
[edit] History
The Regiment saw service in a naval action that was to become known as the Glorious First of June 1794. The regiment, numbering 15 officers and 400 other ranks, was split into detachments, variously serving on Howe’s flagship, Queen Charlotte and also on board Russell, Defence, Royal George and Majestic. The regiment lost six private soldiers and one officer, Lt. Neville. In recognition of the regiment's service, it was granted the distinction of wearing a Naval Crown superscribed 1 June 1794 on its colours. This tradition continues with the regiment’s successors, as does the strong links with the Royal Navy.
During the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment fought in the Peninsular War. It took part in the Battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813, in what was, perhaps, the Duke of Wellington’s greatest victory. The regiment was part of the Portuguese Division, being on the right column in the battle.
The regiment also saw service in the First Afghan War (1838-42). The Queen’s formed part of the invading British force, the "Army of the Indus". The first major engagement was the assault on Ghuznee, a fortress that had to be overcome before Kabul could be occupied. The army did not have the equipment or provisions to lay siege to the fortress and so it was stormed. Under the cover of darkness on 23 July 1839 a party of sappers (military engineers) advanced on the fortress and, at first light, they blew the gates. The Queen's lost four killed and 33 wounded in the assault, and were awarded the battle honour of "Ghunzee" - the very first to be awarded during the reign of Queen Victoria. The army eventually reached Kabul on 8 August 1839. The regiment subsequently withdrew to India and thus avoided being caught in the 1841 disaster.
