The 1st Battalion (51st Foot) was raised in 1756 and was "Yorkshire"
from its birth, being intimately connected with the West Riding. It
performed gallant service in all parts of the world, reaping with
the 2nd Battalion (105th Foot), raised in 1839, a rich harvest of
"honours," all of which, however, do not figure on the colours. Sir
John Moore served as an ensign and a field officer in the regiment,
and it came under his command in the famous retreat to Corunna, during
which the Light Division rendered signal service in the rear guard. The
2nd Battalion was originally a regiment in the pay of the East India
Company, and came to England for the first time in 1874.
Nickname: The "Kolis," that word being formed of the initial letters
of the words which composed their regimental title--King's Own Light
Infantry.
[Illustration]
(_Depot_, Shrewsbury.)
(_Record Office_, Shrewsbury.)
"Nieuport," "Tournay," "St. Lucia, 1796," "Talavera," "Fuentes
d'Onor," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive,"
"Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Bladensburg," "Aliwal," "Sobraon,"
"Goojerat," "Punjaub," "Lucknow," "Afghanistan, 1879-80," "Egypt,
1882," "Suakin, 1885," "Paardeberg," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Motto: _Aucto splendore resurgo_ (I rise with increased splendour).
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Blue.
_Head-dress_, Helmet.
_Cap_, Dark green, with green band.
_Regimental March_, "Old Towler."