at Buttevant of several of your detachments from Clare, I am
directed by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot to express to you
the very great pleasure he feels in having to assure you, that
both the officers and men of the FIFTH REGIMENT performed their
duty, under most trying circumstances, during the disturbances in
this county, to his perfect satisfaction in every respect.
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "W. VINCENT, Lt.-Col., A.Q.M.G.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland,
"Commanding FIFTH FOOT."
On the 16th of September, orders were received at Buttevant to hold
the six service companies in readiness to embark for Gibraltar,
and in consequence, the reserve, or depôt, was with great
promptitude formed on the same day. On the 23rd the regiment was
reviewed by Lieutenant-General Sir Hussey Vivian, K.C.B., Commander
of the Forces in Ireland; and on the 29th it was inspected by
Major-General Sir George Bingham, K.C.B., commanding the district,
when both these distinguished officers expressed their unqualified
approbation of its appearance, movements, and interior economy.
[Sidenote: 1832]
The reserve marched on the 7th of November to Fermoy, being
destined to remain for the present in Ireland, which continued
in a very disturbed state; and the service companies moved to
Cork towards the end of the month, and there embarked under the
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, on the 29th of November
and 5th and 6th of December, on board the "Marquis of Huntley,"
(head-quarters,) "William Harris," and "Sylvia," transports; sailed
from Cove on the 26th of December, arrived in the bay of Gibraltar,
after a very quick but boisterous passage, on the 2nd, 3rd, and
5th, and disembarked on the 9th, 10th, and 12th of January, 1832,
to do duty in that far-famed fortress.
Previous to the embarkation of the FIFTH from Ireland, the
circumstance of the regiment having an "Order of Merit," a
privilege established in this regiment in the year 1767 (as
explained in page 37), attracted the attention, and elicited the
representations, of the local military authorities. The commanding
officer, after the arrival at Gibraltar, was in consequence called
upon by the General Commanding-in-Chief, Lord Hill, to explain
under what regulations and arrangements the Order was conferred,
candidates selected, medals provided and distributed, and other
particulars connected with this most laudable institution. The
required information was promptly afforded, proved satisfactory,
and the following gratifying letter was the result, viz.:--
"_Horse-Guards, 20th June, 1832._
"Sir,
"I have had the honour to submit to the General
Commanding-in-Chief, your letter of the 4th instant, with its
enclosure, on the subject of the 'Order of Merit' existing in the
FIFTH FOOT, and am directed to acquaint you, that the explanation
afforded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, shows that the order
in question is dispensed under the most laudable regulations, and
has been productive of the best effects, during the long period
since its original establishment in the regiment.
"It is considered highly desirable, however, that both officer
and soldier should, under all circumstances, be taught to expect
professional honours from the sovereign alone; and under this
impression, Lord Hill has been induced to recommend to the king
to give the royal authority for the confirmation and continuance
of this regimental Badge of distinction, an arrangement, which,
while it bestows upon it legitimate existence, will, at the same
time, no doubt, enhance its value in the estimation of those on
whom it is conferred.
"You will, therefore, be pleased to communicate this decision to
Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, and acquaint him, that he is at
liberty to proceed in the distribution of the medals and badges
as heretofore.
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "JOHN MACDONALD,
"Adjutant-General.
"Lieutenant-General
"Sir William Houstoun, G.C.B., and G.C.H.,
&c. &c. &c.,
"Commanding at Gibraltar."
The "Order of Merit," which has been so long held by the regiment,
consecrated and enhanced by purity and justice of distribution, and
the real worth of the meritorious though humble individuals who
earn so honourable a mark of good conduct, and brightened by the
numerous distinguished services of the FIFTH REGIMENT since its
foundation, is thus confirmed by the sanction of the Sovereign, the
legitimate fount of honour, distinction, and reward.
[Sidenote: 1833]
On the 27th of July, in this year (1832), the reserve companies of
the regiment marched from Fermoy to Kilmallock, and in August to
Bruff, where they continued until the 24th of January, 1833, when
they proceeded to Nenagh: and from thence, in October to Templemore.
On the night of the 24th of April, 1833, whilst at Gibraltar, the
roof of the Line Wall House, in which were the mess-rooms and the
quarters of Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, suddenly burst out into
an immense blaze of fire, in consequence of one of the wooden
wall-plates, which had been carelessly built into the flue of a
chimney, imperceptibly igniting the joists, lathing, couples, and
lining of the roof over the ceiling: from the quantity of timber
used in its construction, the house burnt with such fierceness and
rapidity, that the ceilings of the rooms, almost instantly falling
in, it was found impossible, notwithstanding the utmost exertions
of the garrison, to save even the colours of the regiment, which
were thus unfortunately, although accidentally, consumed.
[Sidenote: 1834]
In June and July, 1834, that scourge, the cholera, attacked the
garrison with such violence that the FIFTH lost one officer, two
serjeants, one drummer, forty-one privates, three women, and four
children, in all fifty-two souls, some of the former being among
the finest and best-conducted young men in the regiment, whilst
it may be mentioned, as a somewhat singular fact, that during the
whole period of its ravages, not one case of cholera occurred in
the Provost prison, at that time crowded with the most dissipated
characters of the garrison, although it raged in the Artillery
barracks, and the civil habitations in its immediate vicinity--an
undeniable proof of the efficacy of abstemiousness and temperance,
even though forced, on such occasions.
In the autumn of this year, the regiment having received orders
to be prepared for removal to Malta, on the eve of embarkation
the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William Houstoun, G.C.B. and G.C.H.,
expressed his approbation of its conduct whilst under his command,
in the following flattering terms:--
"_Head-Quarters, Gibraltar_,
_14th October, 1834._
GARRISON ORDERS.
No. 1. "His Excellency, the Lieutenant-General Commanding,
cannot suffer the FIFTH REGIMENT to embark from hence, without
expressing his approval of the general conduct of this corps,
during the period it has been under his command in this
garrison, and he desires to offer his thanks to the officers,
non-commissioned officers, and privates of this regiment, and
more particularly, he begs to acknowledge his sense of the
zealous and constant exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland,
which have so essentially contributed to maintain the discipline
and good order of the corps under his command."
The regiment embarked in His Majesty's troop ship, "Romney," on the
15th October,--sailed on the next day,--and anchored on the 26th,
after a very stormy passage, in the harbour of Valetta, under those
stupendous fortifications which had been rendered famous by the
prowess of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and had for some
generations been designated by the proud title of "the Bulwarks of
Christendom:"--it disembarked without any accident or casualty on
the 27th of the same month,--and for a short time occupied Fort
Manoel.
The colour of the regimental facings was this year authorized by
the subjoined letter to be changed to a handsome and lively green,
viz.:--
"_Horse-Guards, 30th June, 1834._
"Sir,
"With reference to the correspondence that has taken place
respecting the Colour of the Facing of the FIFTH REGIMENT
OF FOOT, of which you are Colonel, I have now the honour to
acquaint you, that the Colour of the pattern exhibited by
Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, with your sanction, has been
approved by the King, and the General Commanding-in-Chief desires
that the clothing of the regiment for the ensuing year may
therefore be prepared accordingly.
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "JOHN MACDONALD,
"Adjutant-General.
"General Sir Henry Johnson, Bt., and G.C.B.
"Colonel of the FIFTH FOOT."
In September of this year (1834) the reserve companies marched from
Templemore to Cork, where they remained ten months.
[Sidenote: 1835]
General Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., G.C.B., having died on the
18th of March, 1835, at a very advanced age, was succeeded in
the Colonelcy of the regiment, on the 25th of the same month, by
Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville, G.C.B. and
G.C.H., who with much distinction, and especially in the affair at
El Bodon, commanded the brigade in which the FIFTH served during a
considerable period of the Peninsular war.
New colours having been received early this year to replace those
accidentally consumed with the Line Wall House at Gibraltar, as
before narrated, Major-General Sir Frederick Ponsonby, K.C.B., the
Lieutenant-Governor, was requested to present them, but, a question
having arisen relative to an additional banner[45] which the
regiment had long carried, the subject was, after some discussion
and correspondence, submitted to the decision of His Majesty, whose
commands and pleasure on this head will be found in the following
letter:--
"_Horse-Guards, 31st July, 1835._
"Sir,
"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter,
dated 4th April last, which I have laid before the General
Commanding-in-Chief, and by his Lordship's command the same has
been submitted to the King.
"In reply to which, I am directed to acquaint you, that
His Majesty considers it quite contrary to the established
regulations, for any regiment to bear a _third Colour_, and on
that ground he cannot consent to a flag or banner, which is
stated to have been borne by the FIFTH REGIMENT since the
year 1762, and which was accidentally destroyed by a fire at
Gibraltar on the 24th of April, 1833, being replaced.
"His Lordship has received the King's commands to direct it to be
made known to the officers and men of the FIFTH REGIMENT, that
His Majesty has the strongest reason to be satisfied with the
general conduct of the regiment, and, although His Majesty feels
that he cannot comply with the request made on this occasion, by
authorizing the additional flag, or banner, being retained by
the corps, which, it must be stated, has never been sanctioned
either by the Royal warrant of the 19th of December, 1768, or by
any subsequent grant, yet his Majesty is desirous of conferring
a mark of distinction on the regiment, which shall tend to
perpetuate the record of its services at _Wilhelmsthal_ in June,
1762: with this view his Majesty has commanded, that the regiment
shall be distinguished by wearing grenadier caps, with the King's
Cipher, _W. R._ IV., in the front, and the ancient badge of the
regiment, _viz._ _St. George killing the Dragon_, on the back
part.
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "JOHN MACDONALD,
"Adjutant-General.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland,
"Commanding the FIFTH Regiment, Malta."
The reserve companies embarked from Cork on the 1st of August,
1835, and proceeded to Dover, where they passed the succeeding
fifteen months, and in October, 1836, marched to Gosport.
[Illustration: FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT (NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS),
M DCCC XXXV.]
[Sidenote: 1836]
His Majesty King William IV. having been pleased, in 1836, to
approve of the corps being equipped as Fusiliers, and designated
the "FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT, OR NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS;"
commissioned the Ensigns as second Lieutenants accordingly,
and gave his Royal permission that the word "WILHELMSTHAL," in
commemoration of _the field_ on which it originally took its
grenadier caps from the enemy, should be borne on its colours and
appointments, as will appear by the subjoined copies of letters.
"_Horse-Guards, 4th of May, 1836._
"Sir,
"I have the honour to acquaint you, by direction of the General
Commanding-in-Chief, that his Majesty has been graciously pleased
to approve of the FIFTH OR NORTHUMBERLAND REGIMENT OF FOOT, being
in future equipped as a Fusilier Regiment, and being styled the
FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT, OR NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS.
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "JOHN MACDONALD,
"Adjutant-General.
"Officer commanding the Fifth Regiment of Foot,
"or Northumberland Fusiliers."
"_Horse-Guards, 14th of May, 1836._
"Sir,
"I have the honour to acquaint you, by direction of the General
Commanding-in-Chief, that his Majesty has been graciously
pleased to permit the FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT, OR NORTHUMBERLAND
FUSILIERS, to bear on its colours and appointments, in addition
to any other badges or devices which may have heretofore been
authorized, the word 'WILHELMSTHAL,' in commemoration of the
gallantry displayed by the regiment while serving with the
allied army, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, at the battle
of Groebenstein, on the 24th of June, 1762, particularly in
the capture of a great number of prisoners belonging to the
grenadiers of France, and the regiment d'Aquitaine, in the woods
of 'WILHELMSTHAL.'
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "JOHN MACDONALD,
"Adjutant-General.
"Officer commanding Fifth Foot,
"or Northumberland Fusiliers,
"Malta."
On the 14th of December, 1836, the Governor of Malta, Major-General
Sir Henry Bouverie, presented the new colours to the regiment,
drawn up for the purpose in review order on the Florian Parade.
His Excellency, on arriving in front of the line, was received with
a general salute, the band playing and drums beating, after which
the company on the right flank closed ranks, and was marched by
its Captain in quick time (the band playing the grenadier's march)
to the point in the front of the line, where the new colours were
stationed, under a guard, and an escort of colour-serjeants; on
arriving at which the company was halted, its ranks opened, and the
colours, which appeared for the first time displayed, were saluted
with presented arms, the music playing "God save the King."
The march was then resumed in open order, and the colours escorted
in slow time towards the left flank of the line, and thence to
their appointed station in front of the centre, whilst the band and
escort filed through the ranks to their posts on the right; the
colours were received by a general salute from the regiment; arms
were then shouldered, three sides of a square, open to the front,
formed, and the service of consecration read in a most appropriate
and impressive manner by the Rev. J. T. H. Le Mesurier, Chaplain
to the Forces; the children of both sexes of the soldiers of the
regiment, attired in uniform suits of new clothes that had lately
been presented to them, repeating the responses.
Prayers being ended, His Excellency Sir Henry Bouverie handed the
colours to the Lieutenants, under a general salute from the square,
and then addressed the regiment in nearly the following terms:--
"Officers and Soldiers of the FIFTH Fusiliers,
"I am happy that it has fallen to my lot to present to you these
colours. I do it in the full confidence that they will never
be disgraced by insubordination, by loss of discipline, or
misconduct in garrison, or in the field.
"The glorious deeds which are recorded in your annals, and
inscribed upon these colours, will serve to incite in you the
determination to equal them; to surpass them I believe to be
impossible.
"The inspection, which I shall this day finish, of your regiment,
will, I have no doubt, furnish me with the opportunity of
reporting my entire satisfaction with the interior economy and
management of the regiment, as well as with your movements in the
field; and I trust that I shall never have occasion to alter the
high opinion I have formed of you, not only here, but in scenes
on service, of which I was myself a witness."
His Excellency having concluded his appropriate address,
Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland replied to the following purport.
"Permit me, Sir, on behalf of myself and the regiment, to return
our best thanks for the very kind and flattering terms in which
you have been pleased to present these colours. It must be a
great additional source of gratification to all ranks to receive
so honourable a charge from the hand of a distinguished officer,
who, having personally witnessed the regiment in conflict with
the enemy, can therefore duly appreciate its conduct; and this
will doubtless prove a strong incitement to such a discharge
of their duty, whenever they may have the good fortune to be
similarly circumstanced, as will emulate those deeds to which
your Excellency has so handsomely alluded."
The square was then reduced, and his Excellency having rode down
the line, ranks were closed, open column formed, and the review
commenced by marching past in slow and quick time, and in column at
quarter distance. The manual and platoon exercises (the latter also
kneeling as light infantry) were then performed, under the orders
of Brevet Major Johnson, after which the Lieutenant-Colonel put
the regiment through a variety of manœuvres and firings, in close,
extended, and skirmishing order, of which his Excellency expressed
his unqualified approbation.
In the evening his Excellency dined with the officers of the
regiment at the mess, where a large party of about fifty persons,
consisting of Vice-Admiral Sir Josias Rowley, the Captains of the
squadron, commanding officers of corps, heads of departments, and
staff, was assembled to meet him.
On the following Sunday the colours were, according to custom on
such occasions, taken with the regiment to church; when the duties
of soldiers, both as men and Christians, were inculcated by the
chaplain to the forces in the most impressive manner.
[Sidenote: 1837]
The regiment embarked from Malta on the 28th of March, 1837, and
arrived on the 4th of April following at Corfu, where it has
continued until the end of the year 1837, which brings this memoir
to a conclusion.
The foregoing pages show that the FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT, OR
NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS, has preserved by its conduct in time of
peace, untarnished, the laurels which it has acquired in war. Soon
after its formation it availed itself of the opportunities which
then occurred of acquiring a reputation for gallantry in action;
and, under the influence of zealous officers and an excellent
_esprit de corps_, it has conducted itself, in the various
situations in which it has been placed during a period of more than
one hundred and sixty years, so as to preserve its character and
acquire additional honour. The distinctions which have, from time
to time, been conferred on this corps, show the estimation in which
its services are held:--the inscriptions which it bears on its
colours are memorials of its gallantry in battles and sieges, where
the British troops have acquired never-fading laurels, and have
elevated the military character of their country, to the admiration
of the nations of Europe.
* * * * *
The Compiler of the Records of the Army feels it his duty
to state, that Colonel Sutherland, of the FIFTH FOOT, OR
NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS, has evinced great zeal and devotedness
in procuring information on all subjects in which the honour
of his regiment is concerned, and furnished a statement of its
services which has facilitated the preparation of this narrative
for publication. The most effective assistance has also been
afforded by Captain John Spence, of the same regiment, in the
completion of this memoir.
[Illustration: FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT (NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS), M
DCCC XXXVII.
[_To face page 106._
]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] This treaty was conducted, on the part of Great Britain, by Sir
William Temple, whose memoirs and correspondence on the subject are
extant.
[2] "In this siege the Prince and the Rhingrave were ever at the
head of the attacks, and made great use as well as proof, of the
desperate courage of the English troops."--_Sir William Temple's
Memoirs._
"Amongst the rest of the troops that lay before the town, the
English under Colonels Fenwick, Widdrington, and Ashley, to the
number of 2600 men, petitioned his Highness to assign them a
particular quarter, that they might be commanded separately,
that so, if they behaved themselves like valiant men, they
might have all the honour, and if otherwise, all the shame to
themselves. This request his Highness readily granted, and they
made it appear, by their fierce attacks, that they deserved this
distinction."--_Boyer's Life of King William._
[3] The English made their attack in the following order:--
2 Serjeants and 10 Firelocks.
1 Serjeant and 12 Grenadiers.
1 Officer, 1 Serjeant, and 12 Grenadiers.
1 Lieutenant, 2 Serjeants, and 30 Firelocks.
1 Serjeant and 12 men with Half-pikes.
1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 2 Serjeants, and 50 Firelocks.
1 Serjeant and 12 men with Half-pikes.
1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Serjeant, and 28 men with spades and
shovels.
The support:
1 Captain, 1 Serjeant, and 58 Men.--_London Gazette._
[4] "The English Brigade being frequently put on the most
desperate attacks, and always behaving themselves according to
their accustomed bravery; his Highness, after a very sharp night's
service performed by them, gave each regiment a fat ox, and six
sheep, which they killed and hung upon poles in sight of the army,
to divide into equal parts to each company. Some of the Dutch
murmuring at this bounty to the English in particular, were told
that the same was given to save Dutchmen's lives, and therefore
they ought to be thankful to his Highness for it."--_Life of Major
John Bernardi._
[5] "The Earl of Ossory with his troops performed
wonders."--_London Gazette_, No. 1329.
Brussels.--"Many wounded men have been brought hither, which are
most of the Prince of Orange's Guards, and the English and Scots
regiments, who did things to the admiration of those that beheld
them."--_London Gazette_, No. 1330.
"The Earl of Ossory, with the English and Scots regiments, engaged
in the attack on the side of Castehau, in which the Officers and
Soldiers, in imitation of his Lordship, who always charged with
them, behaved themselves with that courage and bravery which is so
natural to them, and consequently suffered much."--_Account of the
Battle of St. Denis._
[6]
"Whitehall, 4th July, 1685.
"This day three Scots Regiments of Foot, consisting of about 1500
men, lately come from Holland, marched through the city, on their
way to Hounslow Heath, where they are to encamp. They are the best
men, and best prepared for service, that ever were seen, having
their tents, and all other necessaries of their own with them.
To-morrow the three English Regiments are expected from Holland.
"I send your Grace the Articles of War, prepared by his Majesty's
order for the present occasion.
"WILLIAM BLATHWAYTE,
"Secretary at War.
"To the Duke of Albemarle."
_War-Office Records._