"Join the Cause & Thank a Soldier"
ST GEORGE’S DAY
SPECIAL REGIMENTAL ORDER OF THE DAY
On this day, 23 April, we celebrate St George, Patron Saint of England and of chivalrous soldiers of every faith
and nation.
Although St George is among the most renowned of early Christian figures, his life is veiled in myth and legend.
Indeed, as early as 496 the Church included George among those saints ‘whose names are rightly reverenced
among us, but whose actions are known only to God’. Tradition has it that he was born in Cappadocia (modern
Turkey) of noble parents and, joining the Roman Army, he rose to the rank of tribune, the equivalent of colonel.
He became a Christian and, on 23 April 303, he was tortured and beheaded near Lydda in Palestine by the pagan
Diocletian for making a principled stand against that cruel Emperor’s persecution of Christians. George became
venerated throughout Christendom as an example of valour in defence of the Christian faith and of the poor and
defenceless. He was also revered by Islam under the name Gerghis or El Khoudi. Many miracles became attached
to his name, and he became widely recognized as a saint some time after the year 900.
Stories of St. George’s courage and faith soon spread and his reputation grew very quickly. He was adopted as the
patron saint of soldiers in 1098, when he was said to have come to the aid of a Crusader army at the Battle of
Antioch, and tales of his military prowess were spread far and wide by wandering troubadours. When King
Richard Coeur-de-Lion was campaigning in Palestine in 1191-92 he put his army under the protection of St
George, and around this time the Soldier Saint’s banner, a red cross on a white ground, was adopted as the
uniform of English soldiers. This later became the flag of England and the central cross of the Union Flag.
St George was well-known to the Anglo-Saxons as early as the 8th century, and in 1222 the Saint’s day, 23 April,
was declared a holiday in England. In the mid-fourteenth century, shortly after the battle of Crécy, he was adopted
by King Edward III as Patron Saint of England, and in 1415, the year of Agincourt, the Archbishop of Canterbury
raised St George's Day to a great feast and ordered it to be observed like Christmas Day. St George soon became a
stock figure in English folklore, epitomising the chivalrous Christian knight: strong in faith, valiant in battle, and a
protector of the weak and oppressed against the forces of evil.
The fame of St George was greatly increased by the publication in 1265 of The Golden Legend. It was this
medieval book which popularized the allegorical tale of George and the Dragon. According to this legend, a
dragon dwelt near the city of Silenae in Libya, keeping the people in terror. To satiate this personification of evil
the population offered tethered animals, until they had no more. They then provided human sacrifices, and in their
ultimate desperation a young princess was selected, the king’s daughter. The story then relates that St. George
rode up on his white charger, dismounted and fearlessly fought the dragon on foot until it succumbed. He then led
the dying monster into the city, using the girdle of the rescued maiden, and slew it in front of the people. St
George was greeted as their saviour and the King offered him riches as a reward for saving his daughter. This he
refused and asked that it be given to the poor. It was a potent myth of the triumph of good over evil, and as such
has echoed down the ages.
Our Regimental forebears have celebrated St George’s Day for over three hundred years, the first recorded
occasion being in 1704. Today the knightly virtues associated with the Soldier Saint, steadfast courage, honour,
fortitude in adversity, faith and charity, remain as important to us as ever.
For soldiers of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment it is also apt on this day to recall that William Shakespeare,
who was born and died on 23 April, puts some of his most eloquent reflections on England into the mouth of John
of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and gives his most rousing pre-battle oration to King Henry V, who was the first to
inherit both the English Crown and the Duchy of Lancaster:
‘I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge
Cry God for Harry, England and St George!’
ANNEX B TO SECTION VIII
THE WATERLOO DAY CITATION
After his escape from Elba, Napoleon began at once to reorganise his disbanded army, and his first move was an
offensive against the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian forces in Belgium. The Allies concentrated in front of Brussels
to intercept the French advance, and on the morning of the 18th of June, 1815, the armies of the Emperor
Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington met on the field of Waterloo. The 4th, or King’s Own, the 30th and 40th
Regiments of Foot played a notable part in the decisive battle which followed.
Wellington had determined to make his stand on a gently sloping ridge, in front of which stood several walled
farms, including La Haye Sainte in the centre, which became fortified as strongpoints. The greater part of his
infantry were drawn up in column behind the ridge, where they had some protection from the formidable French
artillery and could deploy into square or line to meet attacks by cavalry or infantry.
The 30th Foot had already been marching and fighting, without food, for two days before the battle, and at
Quatre Bras on the 16th June had earned high praise for beating off repeated charges by the French
cuirassiers. They were in Halkett's Brigade and had the honour of fighting throughout the day in the centre of
the field under Wellington’s immediate eye. The King’s Own and the ‘Fighting Fortieth’ were, like the 30th,
seasoned veterans of Wellington’s Spainish victories, and they had recently returned from campaigning in
America. With the 27th Inniskillings, they formed Lambert's brigade. After a forced march from Ghent, they had
arrived near the village of Waterloo late in the evening of 17th June, and next morning were placed in reserve
behind the centre of Wellington’s position.
The night before Waterloo had been particularly wet, and so it was about 11 o'clock before the ground was dry
enough for Napoleon to launch his first attack. The 30th were in the front line near the centre, while at this time
the 4th and 40th remained in reserve. All three Regiments were subjected to heavy cannonading and suffered
some losses. At this early stage in the battle only the Light Company of the 30th was engaged, skirmishing
with the French tirailleurs: the others were unable by reason of their position to return a shot.
At about 3 o'clock, following the repulse of a massed infantry attack on the Allied left centre, Wellington
committed his infantry reserve, and Lambert’s brigade was brought into the front line to defend the vital crossroads
behind La Haye Sainte. As they marched onto the field with flying Colours the band of the King’s Own
played the Marseillaise.
Shortly afterwards, mistaking allied redeployment on the ridge for signs of retreat, Napoleon launched eight and
a half thousand of his superb cavalry, led by Marshal Ney, in an impetuous charge against the centre of the
Allied line. The British regiments formed square and their disciplined musketry volleys felled the gallant
horsemen in great numbers, but in the intervals between the cavalry assaults the close-ranked squares were
devastated by the French artillery. Over the next two hours the 30th Foot beat off eleven charges by
cuirassiers and lancers, but losses from the French guns mounted, and when at one point the Regiment
closed to its left a perfect square of dead and wounded marked its former position.
The King’s Own and the 40th also held their ground against repeated attacks by French cavalry, infantry and
guns, sometimes combined and sometimes separately. At times, Lambert’s brigade was engaged by several
columns of infantry at once, and was frequently surrounded by French cavalry, who became more and more
desperate as the battle developed. Their position, some three hundred yards from the farm buildings of La Haye
Sainte, was particularly exposed when, at about 6.30, the farm was captured by the enemy. A French breakthrough
in Wellington’s centre appeared imminent, but despite the ferocity and persistence of the closequarter
infantry assaults, the constant and destructive cannonade of the enemy guns, and the fire of the French
tirailleurs on the rising ground to their front, neither Regiment yielded a foot of ground.
Towards the close of the day the 30th had the honour, together with the 73rd Foot, of repulsing the Grenadiers
of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, whom they routed with one volley. The Guard was Napoleon’s last reserve. Shortly
after 7 o’clock the Duke of Wellington ordered a general advance, and a ringing cheer ran from right to left along
the British line. The Duke galloped up to Lambert’s brigade and called out, ‘No cheering, my lads, but go on and
complete your victory.’ With fixed bayonets the King’s Own and the 40th dashed forward to sweep away the
tirailleurs, rout the French columns to their front and recapture La Haye Sainte. The general advance continued
until the men were so exhausted that they were forced to halt.
In the latter stages of the battle all three Regiments suffered severely. At the time of the advance the 30th
Foot were commanded by the officer sixth in seniority, all his seniors having been killed or wounded, and the
Commanding Officer of the 40th was shot dead during an attack by massed infantry. At the end of the day the
30th had lost about half its numbers, and around one in four of the King’s Own and the 40th had fallen around their
Colours, which in the latter case were shot to ribbons.
For their steadfastness, discipline and stubborn gallantry on this day the King’s Own, 30th and 40th Regiments of
Foot were permitted to encircle their badges with a wreath of laurels. Today the three Regiments which fought
side by side at Waterloo are one, and a tradition of . . . . years standing remains unbroken.
N.B. Insert appropriate number of years in final paragraph.
ANNEX C TO SECTION VIII
ARROYO DAY CITATION
Arroyo Dos Molinos is a small village in Spain where an unique action took place on 28th October 1811,
during the Peninsular War. On this occasion the 34th, or Cumberland, Regiment of Foot met and defeated
their French opposite numbers, the 34e Régiment d’Infanterie de la Ligne.
At that time the 34th were serving in the 2nd Division under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill, who was
sent by the Duke of Wellington to drive a troublesome French force under General Girard out of the
province of Estremadura. Hill set off to hunt Girard down, and after a week’s forced marching the French
were discovered on the evening of the 27th October. Accordingly, the British troops deployed for a surprise
attack at first light next day. Let Ensign George Bell of the 34th, whose first action this was, take up the tale:
‘All was still and cold and cheerless until about two o’clock in the morning of the 28th, when the word was
gently passed through all regiments: “Stand to your arms!” The whole division was now in silent motion
and moved on to the plain some few miles, pretty close to the enemy, who were quartered and encamped in
and about the little town of Arroyo Molinos. The division was now divided into three brigades, cavalry on
the flanks and centre. It was just before the dawn of day with a drizzling rain. We could just see our men to
call the roll.
‘Our gallant and worthy General, riding along our front, said, “Are you ready?” “Yes Sir”. “Uncase you
Colour, and prime and load”. All this looked very serious and I began to have a queer feeling of mortal
danger stirring my nerves. As I took the King’s Colour in charge, being senior ensign, the Major said, “Now
my lads, hold those standards fast, and let them fly out when you see the enemy.”
‘Away we went across the plain to be baptised in blood. Our skirmishers in advance had come across the
French outlying pickets and had begun operations. A cannon-shot came rattling past, making a hissing
noise, such as I had never heard before. Four sergeants supported the Colours in battle; my old friend
Bolland from Beverley was one of them. I said, “What’s that, Bolland?” “Only the morning gun, sir: they’re
coming on them now.” A little onwards and I saw two men cut across by that last shot, the first that I had
ever seen killed. I was horrified but said nothing.
‘The French were getting ready to be off again when our advance got up to their pickets and began the
quarrel. The horses were saddled and tied to olive trees, infantry gathering from different points for their
alarm-post – artillery taking up position – all getting on the defensive, when they were skilfully hemmed in
on three sides. Behind the little town the 71st and 92nd Regiments brought up their left shoulders, and came
pouring into the streets with a destructive fire; the French were now falling by fifties but fighting and
struggling hard to maintain their ground.
‘We had lined the garden walls, and kept pitching into their ranks while our cavalry gave them no time to
reform; a thick mist rolled down the craggy steep mountain behind the town; there was a terrifying cheer,
such as is not known except amongst British troops on the battleground; it drowned the clatter of musketry,
while the driving storm carried with it the enemy up this sierra, the 28th and 34th Regiments at their heels.
We pressed them so closely that they threw off their knapsacks, turned round, and fired into us; still our
men pushed on until this body of Girard’s brave army dropped their firelocks, dispersed, and as many as
could got clear away over the mountains.’
Captain Moyle Sherar, also of the 34th, recalled how:
‘In the French column one of the regiments was numbered thirty-four; in the British column also the thirtyfourth
Regiment led the pursuit, and got quite mixed up with the enemy. Several of the French officers, as
they tendered their swords, embraced the officers of the English thirty-fourth, saying: “Ah, Messieurs, nous
sommes des frères, nous sommes du trente-quatrième régiment tous deux. Vous êtes des braves”
[Gentlemen, we are brothers; we are both of the 34th Regiment. You are brave men].’
In his tactical plan, Sir Rowland Hill had ordered the 28th and 34th to go round the village to cut off the
French retreat, and so it was to them that the spoils of war largely fell. Nearly thirteen hundred prisoners
were taken, together with Girard’s guns and baggage, at a cost of only seven British killed and sixty-four
wounded. The 34th were virtually unscathed, but they had played a vital part in the victory. Of them, Hill
wrote in his dispatch:
‘No praise of mine can do full justice to their admirable conduct; the patience and goodwill shown by all
ranks during the forced marches, in the worst of weather; their strict attention to the orders they received;
the precision with which they moved to the attack; their obedience to command during the action; in short,
the manner every one of them has performed his duty, from the commencement of the operation, merits my
warmest thanks.’
Arroyo has ever since had a special place in the annals of the Regiment. The ‘Cumberland Gentlemen’, as
they were nicknamed, had met their opposite numbers in the French Army and had made them their
prisoners, including the band with their drums, and the drum major with his long staff. These trophies
remain a proud possession of the Regiment to the present day, and Arroyo Day is kept every year in
remembrance of an unique victory.
ANNEX D TO SECTION VIII
THE LADYSMITH DAY CITATION
In 1899, as the threat of war with the Boer republics of South Africa grew, 1st Battalion The King’s
(Liverpool Regiment) was moved up from the Cape to the strategic border town of Ladysmith in Natal,
and reinforcements were rapidly mobilised. The latter included 2nd Battalion The King’s Own at
Lichfield, 1st Battalion The Border Regiment in Malta, 1st Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment at
Fulwood Barracks, Preston, and 1st Battalion The Manchester Regiment in Gibraltar.
On 13 October 1899 the Boers invaded Natal, and both the King’s and Manchesters were involved in
indecisive fighting on the frontier before falling back on Ladysmith. Sir George White, the British
commander, decided to defend the town, and by early November 23,500 Boers surrounded the garrison of
some 13,500 men. The siege that followed lasted for nearly four months.
It was essential to the prestige of the British Empire that Ladysmith should be relieved, and General
Buller marched to the rescue with the Natal Field Force, which eventually included 2nd King’s Own, 1st
Border and 1st South Lancashires. But Buller’s way to Ladysmith was blocked by the Tugela River,
beyond which the Boers lay entrenched on the rocky heights, and he suffered a severe reverse at Colenso
on 15 December, when the Border Regiment had thirty casualties. A further relief attempt by the
Lancashire Brigade, including the King’s Own and the South Lancashires, ended in disaster at Spion Kop
on 24 January 1900 when, having endured sustained shelling and enfilade rifle fire all day on the exposed
summit, the troops were at length ordered to withdraw. The King’s Own lost 51 dead that day, together
with 121 wounded or missing; the South Lancashires lost 11 dead and 30 wounded. Nearby, in the same
operation the Border Regiment lost 16 men killed and some 140 wounded.
Meanwhile, in their positions around Ladysmith the King’s and Manchesters were under regular shellfire
and sniping attacks and remained for nearly three months under constant threat of attack. The outer
defensive perimeter, some 14 miles long, was overlooked along its length by higher ground. As the siege
wore on, the food ration was progressively decreased and the troops suffered greatly from dysentery and
fever. Despite all odds, it was vital for the morale of the whole Army that Ladysmith should be held.
Early on the morning of 6 January 1900 the Boers made a determined attack upon the Manchester’s
defences at Caesar’s Camp and succeeded in occupying some sangars. The position was reinforced by
the 1st King’s Mounted Infantry Company, and very heavy fighting continued all day until the enemy
were at length thrown back. The Manchesters, who had 34 men killed and 40 wounded in this sharp
engagement, were thanked in the following terms by their brigade commander:
‘The Officer Commanding 7th Brigade wishes to convey to all ranks of the Manchester Regiment his
admiration of the courage and determination displayed by them in the action of the 6th January 1900. The
casualty list testifies to the severity of the fighting, and the fact that all the positions were maintained
shows how complete was the victory. The Brigadier is proud to have been so long associated with the
Battalion, which has invariably come to the front when called upon to show the enemy and the world at
large how stubbornly an Englishman can fight.’
Sir George White later recalled how ‘During the attack on Caesar’s Camp a remote corner was held by
sixteen of the Manchester Regiment who fought from three in the morning until dusk, when the
Devonshires reinforced them. Fourteen of the little band lay dead, and of the two survivors one was
wounded – but they still held their position.’ The two heroic survivors were Privates James Pitts and
Robert Scott, who had held their post all day, without food and water, with little support and under
constant fire. Both were awarded the Victoria Cross.
Beyond the Tugela, Buller prepared for a more methodical advance, and on 23 February the Lancashire
Brigade crossed the river to attack Pieter’s Hill, key to the Boer blocking position. The King’s Own, who
were leading on the left, came under fire from Hart’s Hill to their left flank, which they swung round to
capture, and the South Lancashires moved up the long slope to assault the main Boer position. It was
recognisably the climax of the battle and the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel MacCarthy
O’Leary ordered ‘Fix bayonets – Prepare to charge!’ and addressed his beloved 40th for the last time:
‘Remember, men, the eyes of Lancashire are watching you today.’ Almost at once the Colonel was
wounded, but he stepped forward, a tall, imposing figure in front of the first line, and shouted ‘Charge!’
before being hit twice more and falling dead, close to the enemy trenches, in the act of waving on his
leading companies.
‘At his words’, wrote Private Neligan, ‘the whole Regiment rose like one man, and the black slope fairly
twinkled with the glitter of the bayonets as they flashed in the sun. Like a wall of rock the gallant 40th
closed upon their foe, and the best disciplined troops in the wide world could not have withstood that
irresistible rush. Like demons let loose they charged upon the enemy, who quailed before the contact, and
those who were able rushed precipitately away, falling in dozens under the bullets of our men. The Boers
who were unable to escape sued piteously for quarter, and the Lancashire lads, now as merciful as they
had been brave, gave it to them, though with a bad grace as they were burning to avenge the losses they
had already sustained.’
In the words of Buller’s despatch, ‘the enemy’s main position was magnificently carried by the South
Lancashire Regiment about sunset.’ The following day, 28 February 1900, Ladysmith was relieved. The
cost had been very heavy: our forebears suffered over 160 casualties in the defence of Ladysmith and
another 715 during the relief operations.
On account of the endurance and gallant action of our predecessor regiments in the defence and relief of
Ladysmith, both separately and together, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment has chosen to celebrate
Ladysmith as one of its premier Regimental Days.
ANNEX E TO SECTION VIII
THE FONTENOY CITATION
When the War of Austrian Succession broke out in 1743 a British army of sixteen thousand men,
including the 8th and 34th Regiments of Foot, was despatched to Flanders to support the cause of the
young Archduchess Maria Theresa against the Prussians, Bavarians and French, thereby maintaining the
balance of power in Europe.
The first major British engagement was at Dettingen on 26 June 1743. King George II personally took
command of his Army in this action, and a combination of well-drilled musketry and disciplined close
quarter fighting gradually forced the French back to win the day. The 8th, or King’s, Regiment fought in
the front rank of the British infantry to gain this victory, the last battle in which a ruling King of England
took the field in person.
In April 1745 the French under Marshal Saxe were besieging Tournai, and the Duke of Cumberland
marched to the relief of that town with an Anglo-Dutch force of fifty thousand men. Leaving part of his
army to continue the siege, Saxe took fifty-six thousand troops to occupy a blocking position near the
village of Fontenoy. His hilltop entrenchments, dominated by three redoubts, were well-manned and
formidable: nevertheless, shortly after dawn on 11 May 1745 Cumberland mounted a frontal attack.
After a brief contest the Dutch gave way and took no further part in the battle, and this threw the full
burden of the fight upon the British. Cumberland, with considerably more courage than generalship,
responded by launching fifteen thousand British and Hanoverian infantry, including the 8th and 34th, up
the slope in an attempt to smash his way through the centre of the French army. The infantry advanced
resolutely in three lines, of which the first two were British, passing between one of the French redoubts
and the fortified village of Fontenoy. The King’s Regiment, on account of their seniority, were again in
the front line.
‘Ten battalions of British infantry in the first line and seven battalions in the second, supported by some
Hanoverians, strode steadily forward through a murderous artillery crossfire right and left. At length they
were within fifty yards of the French behind their breastwork and received the first French fire. Down
came the muskets from the shoulder, and the first French line was almost blasted out of existence. Fresh
battalions shared the same fate, and the British continued their advance right into the French position.’
The French infantry in the centre were broken and fleeing in panic, and forty squadrons of cavalry were
also repulsed, but Saxe gathered reinforcements and at length sheer weight of numbers brought the
indomitable British Infantry to a halt. Assaulted on all sides by infantry, cavalry and artillery, the
survivors, unsupported and heavily outnumbered, were at length ordered to withdraw. They fell back
steadily, stubbornly returning the French fire and repulsing pursuing French cavalry. It was during this
fighting withdrawal that the 34th Regiment earned particular distinction. A contemporary report describes
their action in the following terms:
‘With the French artillery ploughing through ranks and the triumphant squadrons of French horse riding
around it, the Regiment, with cool, soldier-like courage and discipline, covered the retreat of their
comrades so effectually as to allow no trophies to the enemy.’
One hundred and eight of the 34th were killed or wounded at Fontenoy, and the King’s lost one hundred
and fifty-eight, including their Commanding Officer. The battle was at best inconclusive and is often
accounted an Allied defeat, but the British infantry played such an heroic part in this action as to enhance
still further their hard-earned reputation for dogged courage and rock-like discipline. For their
conspicuous gallantry this day in covering the retreat the 34th were granted the high honour and
distinction of bearing a Laurel Wreath on their Colours and appointments.
ANNEX F TO SECTIONVIII
THE GUADELOUPE DAY CITATION
Throughout the 18th century and into the Napoleonic period one of the main theatres of conflict between
England and France was in their sugar-rich West Indian colonies. All our predecessor regiments of foot
fought there, and all suffered appalling losses, not so much from enemy action as from yellow fever,
dysentery and other tropical diseases. These islands frequently changed hands, and today we
commemorate campaigns on the island of Guadeloupe, richest of all the French colonies in the Caribbean,
which was captured by our forebears no fewer than four times between 1759 and 1815.
The island of Guadeloupe is shaped somewhat like a butterfly, and on 24 January 1759 the 4th, or King’s
Own, and the 63rd Regiments of Foot landed near Basse Terre town on the outer edge of its western wing.
The newly-created 63rd had until the previous year been the 2nd Battalion of the 8th, or King’s, Regiment,
and so this was its first action under its new name. The town and its citadel, which had been bombarded
by the Royal Navy, were abandoned by the French garrison who withdrew into the mountainous interior
to fight a guerrilla campaign. Two months of irregular warfare followed around Basse Terre, with smallscale
British sorties into the hills. On 1 February Major John Trollope’s detachment of the 63rd had a
considerable success when they ‘repulsed a considerable attack’, taking thirty prisoners.
By early March the British troops were suffering severely from constant fatigues in the intense heat and it
was decided to move the greater part of the force to Grande Terre, the other wing of the butterfly, leaving
the 63rd alone to defend the semi-ruined citadel of Basse Terre. Their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-
Colonel Peter Desbrisay, was appointed ‘Governor and Commander-in-Chief of all His Britannic
Majesty’s forces in the islands of Guadeloupe.’ The French made a number of attacks on the isolated post,
in one of which Desbrisay and Trollope were both killed, but the gallant 63rd held their ground.
Meanwhile, the King’s Own were involved in a series of engagements to capture Grande Terre, turning
the flank of the enemy positions or driving them out of their entrenchments at bayonet point.
On 1 May 1759 the French governor hauled down the golden lilies of the French monarchy, the fleur de
lys. This French emblem was adopted by the 63rd as their badge, while its passing resemblance to a
mosquito gave to the Regiment its nickname, ‘the Bloodsuckers’.
Early in the French Revolutionary War, Britain again determined to weaken her adversary by seizing her
colonies, and in 1794 General ‘No Flint’ Grey (so-called on account of his penchant for silent night
attacks with the bayonet) was sent to capture the French islands of Martinique, St Lucia and Guadeloupe.
His force included the elite flank companies (Grenadiers and Light Infantry) of the 8th King’s, 34th, 40th
and 55th Regiments. Grey took all three colonies in an audacious series of combined operations which
involved numerous hard-fought actions and culminated in a brilliantly executed ten-day campaign to
wrest Guadeloupe from a French force twice the size of his own. The island fell on 21 April 1794.
The story now takes a tragic turn, for the gallant flank companies were ravaged by the endemic yellow
fever and, in their reduced and weakened state, were attacked by reinforcements from France. The veteran
Grenadiers and Light Infantry more than held their own, but incessant fighting and disease took its toll on
the outnumbered force and eventually the surviving British fell back to a fortified camp at Berville.
Hopelessly cut off, they fought on and beat off five assaults, inflicting 900 casualties on their 3,000
besiegers, until with their supplies exhausted they were obliged to surrender on 6 October with the
honours of war. Just 125 debilitated men staggered out, all that were left of the original three battalions
and 23 companies of infantry. The historian Fortescue wrote of them that ‘the records of the British Army
contain no grander example of heroism than this of the dying garrison of the Camp of Berville.’
In the course of the Napoleonic Wars the island of Guadeloupe was captured twice more, in 1810 and
again in 1815. On 28 January 1810 a British force of seven thousand men under Sir George Beckwith,
including the 63rd, made an unopposed landing on the island. The French retired towards Basse Terre, but
in an arduous eight-day campaign of manoeuvre over rugged mountain terrain Beckwith turned a
succession of fortified positions and forced the garrison to capitulate. The strategic island was returned to
France at the peace of 1814, but rallied to Napoleon during the Hundred Days. It was retaken on 9-10
August 1815, nearly eight weeks after Waterloo, by a British expedition which yet again included the 63rd
Regiment.
Today the fleur de lys emblem, which was so hard-earned by our predecessors on the fever-ridden island
of Guadeloupe and passed down through the Manchester and King’s Regiments, is proudly worn on the
buttons of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, and ‘Guadeloupe’ remains an inspiring example of heroic
endurance.
Nec Aspera Terrent
ANNEX G TO SECTION VIII
THE SOMME DAY CITATION
The Battle of The Somme, which saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the First World War, took place in France
astride the River Somme. It began on the 1st July 1916 and lasted for some four months. Battalions of all the
Regiments now forming The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment fought on The Somme, and most suffered heavy losses
in that great offensive, but today we in particular commemorate the sacrifice of the 1st and 11th Battalions of The East
Lancashire Regiment on the opening day of the Battle, and the remarkable success of the Liverpool and Manchester Pals
battalions that same day.
For the East Lancashires, the Battle of The Somme is not a story of exalting victory. Nor is there any tale
to tell of ground that was won, or of ground that was lost and regained. Rather it is a story to typify the spirit of the
fighting men of Lancashire, men who left their trenches on a summer morning and moved forward towards an
impregnable position knowing, as most of them must have known, that their chances of returning unscathed
were remote.
At 0730 hours on 1st July 1916 the artillery lifted and the British infantry advanced in extended lines
towards the German trenches. For a few moments there was silence, and skylarks could be heard singing
overhead; then suddenly machine guns opened up from behind largely unbroken wire and cut down the
attackers in swathes. The casualties were the worst ever suffered by the British Army on a single day:
fifty-seven thousand men fell, of whom well over twenty thousand died.
On the far left of the British attack, the 11th East Lancashires (the famous ‘Accrington Pals’) assaulted the
village of Serre, while a mile to their south their 1st Battalion (the old 30th Foot) attacked to the north of
Beaumont Hamel. Despite rapidly mounting casualties, the East Lancashires moved steadily forward, as
if on parade, until they melted away under withering machine gun fire. Small parties of both battalions
entered the German trenches, but they were never seen again. Within a few hours The East Lancashire
Regiment suffered more casualties than on any other day in its long history. Out of 700 officers and men
of the 1st Battalion who went into action that morning only 237 were present to answer their names when
the roll was called, while the 11th Battalion lost 594 killed, wounded and missing out of 720 in the attack.
The story was much the same along most of the line. Twenty of our predecessor battalions were in action that first day,
and several of them suffered devastating casualties. The 1st King’s Own lost 395 men that day attacking the Heidenkopf,
while 619 men of 1st Border fell in front of the wire at ‘Y’ Ravine and 516 of the 11th (Lonsdale) Battalion of that
Regiment fell in a spirited assault on the Thiepval Spur. There were, however, some penetrations of the German
defences, and the most spectacular British success on July 1st was on the right, at Montauban, where the Liverpool and
Manchester ‘Pals’ battalions of the 30th Division were among the very few to take all their objectives.
Four Pals battalions, the 17th, 18th and 20th King’s, and 19th Manchesters, stormed the German front and second lines
despite taking several hundred casualties from machine guns. Then two more Manchester battalions, the 16th and 17th
passed through to capture the village of Montauban, one thousand yards away at the top of a slope. As they advanced in
perfect order a machine gun opened up on their left flank, inflicting casualties; but the Manchesters silenced the gun and
the battalions charged on through the village to take their final objective, a trench just beyond, together with three field
guns. Before them the Manchesters saw open countryside, fleeing Germans and no defences. The anticipated
breakthrough appeared imminent, but neither orders nor reinforcements were forthcoming and the moment passed.
The offensive continued until November, by which time our forebears had earned thirteen hard-fought battle honours
and six Victoria Crosses, but had suffered appalling losses. Thus the battle came to be regarded as one of supreme
sacrifice, and so it has stood ever since, dedicated to the glorious memory of all who have fought and died, not only on
The Somme in 1916, but in all the numerous actions in which we have been engaged, before and since, which go to
make up the incomparable fighting record of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.
Nec Aspera Terrent Spectamur Agendo
ANNEX H TO SECTION VIII
THE QUEBEC DAY CITATION
Two of the former Regiments which now make up The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment played a prominent
part in the decisive Battle of Quebec, fought in Canada on the 13th September 1759. The capture of the
fortress city of Quebec from the French by Major General James Wolfe was a difficult and brilliantly
conducted joint operation. Wolfe's force, including the 47th Regiment and a corps styled the Louisburg
Grenadiers which included the Grenadier Company of the 40th, sailed up the River St Lawrence and arrived
off Quebec on the 26th June 1759.
His able adversary Montcalm was well prepared, and during July and August various fruitless attempts were
made to draw the French out of their fortified positions. These included an action on the 30th July when the
Grenadier Companies of the 40th and 47th paid for their rash gallantry with heavy casualties on the Heights
of Montmorenci.
Time was now running short, for the winter ice would soon close the St Lawrence to the British fleet. Wolfe
resolved on a bold stroke. Having first established his army above Quebec to threaten Montcalm's supply
routes, he secretly moved his force back downstream by night and scaled the precipitous cliffs to the west of
the city. As dawn broke on the 13th September the French were surprised to find Wolfe's army drawn up for
battle on the Plains of Abraham, within a mile of the walls of Quebec. The 47th were in the centre of the
British line and the Louisburg Grenadiers on the right flank.
Montcalm soon gathered his forces and about 10 a.m. his French regiments attacked, covered by the fire of
his Indian and Canadian auxiliaries on the flanks. With great coolness, Wolfe’s men waited in silence until
their opponents were within forty paces of the British line before delivering a perfect and devastating volley
which shattered the French regiments. A second volley was fired, followed by independent firing; then the
order to charge was given. The British line swept forward with sword and bayonet, driving the French back
to the city walls in confusion and with heavy loss. The 47th were well to the fore in the assault and did not
cease their pursuit until close to the St Louis Gate of the city, where Montcalm fell mortally wounded.
Wolfe too was mortally wounded, charging at the head of the Louisburg Grenadiers, who also pressed on
with their bayonets. At Wolfe’s dying request, Lieutenant Colonel Hale of the 47th had the honour of being
sent home with the despatches announcing the victory. Five days later Quebec surrendered and the following
year the fall of Montreal completed the conquest of Canada. The 40th, 47th and 55th Regiments of Foot were
present on that occasion to witness half a century of conflict in North America crowned with victory. No
regiments had done more to bring about this outcome.
The 47th were subsequently known as ‘Wolfe’s Own’ and tradition has it that the black line in the
Regimental lace was worn as an expression of sorrow for the General’s death. Today this black line is
perpetuated in the gold lace of our officers’ epaulettes and mess dress.
Few military victories have had more profound and lasting consequences than Wolfe’s at Quebec. It is no
exaggeration to say that one perfect volley on the Heights of Abraham caused half a continent to change
hands and, by removing the French threat to the American colonies, both hastened the independence of the
United States and ensured that North America remained part of the English speaking world.
‘Hot Stuff’
Tune: ‘The Lilies of France’
In June 1759 the last of the British expedition to Quebec sailed out of Louisbourg harbour, the troops
cheering and the officers drinking to the toast ‘British Colours on every French fort, port and garrison in
America’. Spirits were high as the great fleet steered for the St Lawrence River, and no doubt the men of the
47th sang the following rollicking ballad newly composed by Sergeant Edward Botwood of their elite
Grenadier Company, known to his comrades as ‘Ned Botwood the Poet’:
Come, each death-doing dog that dares venture his neck,
Come, follow the hero that goes to Quebec;
Jump aboard of the transports, and loose every sail,
Pay your debts at the tavern by giving leg-bail1;
And ye that love fighting shall soon have enough;
Wolfe commands us, my boys, we shall give them Hot Stuff.
Up the River St. Lawrence our troops shall advance,
To the Grenadier’s March we will teach them to dance.
Cape Breton2 we’ve taken and next we will try
At their capital to give them another black eye.
Vaudreuil3, t’is in vain you pretend to look gruff,
Those are coming who know how to give you Hot Stuff.
With powder in his periwig, and snuff in his nose,
Monsieur will run down our descent to oppose;
And the Indians will come, but the Light Infantry
Will soon compel them to betake to a tree.
From such rascals as these may we fear a rebuff?
Advance, Grenadiers, and let fly your Hot Stuff.
When the Forty-seventh Regiment is dashing ashore,
When bullets are whistling and cannon do roar,
Says Montcalm, ‘Those are Shirley’s, I know their lapels.’
‘You lie’, says Ned Botwood, ‘We swipe for Lascelles!
Though our clothing is changed, yet we scorn a powder-puff;
So at you, ye bitches, here’s give you Hot Stuff.’4
With Monkton and Townsend, those brave brigadiers,
I think we shall soon have the town ’bout their ears,
And when we have done with the mortars and guns,
If you please, Madam Abbess, a word with your nuns.
Each soldier shall enter the convent in buff
And then, never fear, we will give them Hot Stuff.
Poor Ned Botwood never saw the capture of Quebec, but died sword in hand when the Grenadiers stormed
the French entrenchments on the Heights of Montmorenci. His song, however, lived on and remained a
favourite of the British troops over twenty years later during the American Revolution.
1 Giving leg-bail = departing in haste without paying the bill.
2 Cap Breton = Louisburg, captured in 1758 by a British force including the 40th and 47th.
3 Vaudreuil was the Governor of French Canada.
4 Peregrine Lascelles, Colonel of the 47th, had bought up and issued the surplus uniforms of a disbanded American
regiment (Shirley’s) and so his Regiment were not wearing their usual white facings at Quebec, hence the deception.
ANNEX J TO SECTION VIII
THE INKERMAN DAY CITATION
The Battle of Inkerman, fought in the Crimea on 5 November 1854, was one of the very finest feats of arms in the
long and eventful annals of the British Infantry, and one in which four battalions of our predecessors, the 30th,
47th, 55th and 63rd Regiments of Foot, all played central roles and earned immortal distinction as ‘The Heroes of
Inkerman’.
After their victory at the Alma on 20 September the British and French armies laid siege to the fortified Russian
naval base at Sevastopol. It was in truth a risky venture, for the Allies were outnumbered by nearly two to one and
in a weak position. Faced by a well-defended fortress, they also had to contend with a strong Russian field army
which hovered on their right flank. The Allied siege lines on this vulnerable flank were held by fewer than three
thousand infantrymen of the British 2nd Division, six battalions in all, including the 30th, 47th, and 55th Regiments,
who occupied the scrub-covered Heights of Inkerman. They had only twelve field guns. Shortly after 5 o’clock on
the morning of 5 November this little force was attacked by General Soimonoff with over forty thousand Russians
supported by 135 guns, whose aim was to turn the British position and drive the Allies into the sea.
As the leading Russian columns loomed out of the mist they were at once stoutly engaged around Shell Hill by the
divisional picquets, which included men of the 47th and 55th. Brigadier Pennefather, then commanding the 2nd
Division, decided to fight the battle as far forward as possible, pushing out almost the whole division in small
bodies, one or two hundred at a time, to buy time for reinforcements to arrive. His plan was risky, relying on lowlevel
leadership, individual courage, and initiative to maintain a tenacious resistance to the advancing hordes, but
he had every confidence in his men. He also trusted to the fog and brushwood to conceal his lack of numbers.
Accordingly, all available men were sent forward to ‘feed the picquets’.
Lieutenant Colonel O’Grady Haly of the 47th (Lancashire) Regiment commanded the divisional picquets that
morning and, reinforced by a wing of the 30th, he mounted a vigorous counter-attack. Giving the order to charge,
he rode into the midst of the enemy and cut down three with his sword before he was unhorsed and bayoneted.
Private McDermond of the Light Company 47th was one of those who rushed to his rescue and he was awarded
the Victoria Cross for his gallantry on this occasion. As fresh enemy columns breasted the hill and emerged from
the gullies, the picquets slowly retired and the Russian masses poured towards the camp of the 2nd Division on
Home Ridge.
The outnumbered defenders put up a fierce resistance. All over the Inkerman Ridge, and in the surrounding
ravines, little knots of British soldiers fought desperate close quarter engagements in the fog-shrouded brushwood,
completely unaware of what was happening elsewhere on the field or even, mercifully, what odds they faced.
Major James Patullo of the 30th Foot summed up the fighting as follows: ‘Where the enemy was thickest, there
each English soldier forced his way without regard to regiment, and there he fought or fell, drove the enemy
before him or was repulsed, as fate or fortune ordained.’ In one of these close engagements Colonel Carpenter of
the 41st lay desperately wounded and surrounded by several Russians who were stabbing at him with their
bayonets when Private Beach of the 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment rushed forward alone and rescued him.
Thomas Beach earned the Victoria Cross.
On the left, one company of the 47th drove back eight times their own number; in the centre, six hundred men at
most of the 30th, 47th, 49th and 55th sprang forward, cheering loudly, and chased six thousand Russians back to
Shell Hill. Soimonoff was killed and half his division was beaten out of sight. On the other side of the field at
about this time, scarcely visible in the thick fog, four battalions of the Borodino Regiment, over 2,500 strong,
headed up the Post Road from the Quarry Ravine towards a rough stone breastwork known as the Barrier. Here
they were met by Colonel Mauleverer with some two hundred men of the 30th. As the head of the foremost
Russian column approached the Barrier, Mauleverer himself, his Adjutant and all the officers, mounted to the top
of the wall and leaped down among the enemy. In an instant, the men followed and with a cheer they tore into the
Russian mass with the bayonet. Mauleverer himself was gravely wounded, and numbers of the 30th fell killed or
disabled; but the encounter, if bloody, was short. Incredibly, Mauleverer’s men routed over twelve times their
own numbers and pursued them to Shell Hill. The Adjutant, Lieutenant Mark Walker, was prominent in the
charge and Mauleverer, modestly ignoring his own part in the action, recommended him for the Victoria Cross,
which he received.
By 7.30 a.m. three and a half thousand British infantry had soundly defeated twenty-five thousand Russians; but
the day was far from over. General Danneburg now assumed command of the Russian force on the Inkerman
Ridge, and with 28 fresh battalions still in hand he resumed the offensive. Again the Russian masses swarmed
forward; among them, four battalions of the Iakoutsk Regiment, over three thousand men, headed for the Barrier.
They were resolutely engaged and repeatedly charged by the indomitable remnants of the 30th, but weight of
numbers at length told and, after a foot to foot resistance long maintained against heavy columns, the surviving
few score men of the 30th retired fighting to the top of Home Ridge. They had once more outfought their
opponents, and when Pennefather launched a counter-attack with a small body of fresh troops these sufficed to
drive the Russians back. However, one Russian battalion was missed in the fog, and advanced up the slope of
Home Ridge. The only troops able to deal with this serious threat were the already exhausted 30th, many of whom,
despite the din of battle, had fallen asleep behind the breastwork. At first it was assumed that the silently
approaching troops were British, and the Russians were within a few yards of the crest when a cry of ‘Up, 30th,
up!’ roused the weary Regiment. The men sprang to their feet, bounded over the breastwork and laid into their
new enemies with the bayonet, driving the unfortunate Iakoutsk before them.
The Russians had taken fearful losses, but they still had a considerable numerical superiority, and their final
attempt to take Home Ridge almost succeeded. Six thousand men were launched straight up the Post Road. To
meet them, Pennefather sent forward the remnants of several regiments, including men of the 30th and 55th, and a
sharp skirmish followed in the thick scrub; but the Russians pushed on with great determination, by-passing this
thin screen and appearing on the almost undefended crest of Home Ridge. Small groups of defiant British soldiers
worried the flanks of the Russian columns, and repeatedly charged them, but lacked the critical mass to throw
them back. At one point the main body of the 55th, now reduced to some hundred men, was surrounded by a
Russian column which, again mistaken for British reinforcements, pushed the little band off the crest of Home
Ridge: but the gallant 55th quickly re-formed and charged, clearing its former ground at bayonet point. On another
occasion Lieutenant Colonel Daubeney and Colour Sergeant Walker of the 55th with just thirty men attacked the
flank of an advancing Russian regiment and, with rifle butts, bare fists and boots, forced their way entirely
through one of its battalions from flank to flank, causing the enemy’s whole attack to falter in fatal confusion.
The issue of the battle still hung in the balance at 8 a.m. when substantial Allied reinforcements began to arrive.
These included the 63rd Regiment who, having helped secure the Home Ridge and to recapture some guns, were
faced with yet another massive Russian column. Together with the 21st, the 63rd sprang to their feet and advanced
obliquely across the battlefield to the Barrier, sweeping all before them. The Russians made a determined stand at
the Barrier, and their fire told heavily on the 63rd, but the British line pressed forward and tumbled the Russian
masses back into the Quarry Ravine. Officer casualties were particularly heavy in the 63rd: Colonel Swyny was
shot dead and both Colour ensigns were among the fallen. ‘Come on the 63rd!’ were the dying words of Ensign
Hulton Clutterbuck, while Ensign Heneage Twysden was mortally wounded. The Colours of the 63rd were taken
up by Colour Sergeant Brophey and Sergeant Roberts, both of whom were also wounded. Despite repeated
Russian assaults, the 21st and 63rd maintained their exposed forward position at the Barrier until the end of the
battle, at 1 p.m., when the Russians had been defeated at all points and General Dannenberg gave the order to
retreat.
British casualties at Inkerman totalled 130 officers and 2,227 men, of whom 24 and 389 respectively were our
Regimental forebears, the greatest loss falling on the 30th and 63rd. Russian losses are less certain, but included
nearly five thousand dead and can hardly have been much less than twenty thousand.
Inkerman is rightly known as ‘the soldiers’ battle’, but it was also the regimental officers’ and NCOs’ battle, for it
was determined and inspirational Regimental leadership coupled with sheer bloody-minded courage that tipped
the scales of victory. We will give the last word to Sir John Fortescue, the great historian of the British Army,
who wrote:
‘The moral ascendancy of the British was astonishing. They met every attack virtually with a counter-offensive,
and hesitated not to encounter any numbers whether with bullet, bayonet or butt. There never was a fight in which
small parties of scores, tens, or even individuals, showed greater audacity or achieved more surprising results.
They never lost heart nor, by all accounts, cheerfulness. The enemy might be in front, flanks or rear, or all three
points together: it mattered not. They flew at them quite undismayed and bored their way out . . . Never have the
fighting qualities of the British been seen to greater advantage than at Inkerman.’
SECTION IX
REGIMENTAL MUSIC
MILITARY MUSIC
Throughout the ages, music has inspired soldiers to deeds of heroism in battle, put a spring in their step
on the march, added tone and colour to their ceremonial occasions and played an important role in their
daily lives. Until comparatively recent times drums and bugles were used to transmit orders on the
battlefield, and the latter still have a part in regulating Regimental routine through bugle calls.
THE REGIMENTAL MARCHES
The Regimental Quick March is an arrangement by Captain G Clegg of the Regimental March of The
King’s Own Royal Border Regiment. The latter march is itself a combination of three marches drawn
from the three historic counties which today constitute our Regimental recruiting area:
‘Corn Riggs are Bonnie’ The Regimental Quick March of the King’s Own Royal Regiment
(Lancaster), which as 4th of Foot was the senior of the old County
Regiments of Lancashire.
‘John Peel’ The well-known Border Regiment Quick March has strong
associations with the Cumberland fells.
‘The Lass o’ Gowrie’ The Quick March of the 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment.
The following are among the appropriate occasions for playing the Regimental Quick March:
Entering barracks or camp after a route or parade march.
When marching past a saluting base in quick time.
At the end of a band programme, immediately before the National Anthem.
When a band has been playing at a Regimental Guest Night, after the Regimental marches of all
the guests and immediately before ‘God Bless The Prince of Wales’, which will be the last march.
When marching the Regimental Colours on or off parade or out of Church.
Formed bodies of the Regiment will invariably march past to the Regimental March. The following old
Regimental Marches may be played in the Regimental areas appropriate to them, or on any occasion or
parade which has territorial or antecedent regimental connections, or when a substantial number of
spectators from that part of the Regimental area are present:
March Area Connection Parades
‘Corn Riggs are Bonnie’ Lancaster, Lonsdale and Furness St George’s Day, Waterloo
‘Here’s to the Maiden’ Liverpool Ladysmith, Somme
‘L’Attaque’ East Lancashire Waterloo, Inkerman, Somme
‘John Peel’ Cumberland and Westmorland Arroyo, Fontenoy
2
‘God Bless The Prince of Wales’ South Lancashire Waterloo, October Reunion
‘The Red Rose’ (Quick March) Central Lancashire Quebec, Kimberley
(Bolton, Preston, Wigan, etc)
‘The Lass o’ Gowrie’ Westmorland Inkerman
‘The Manchester’ Manchester Ladysmith, Inkerman,
The Regimental Slow March is ‘The Red Rose’ in slow tempo.
Occasions when the Regimental Slow March is played include:
When marching past a saluting base in slow time.
When marching the Regimental Colours into Church.
The following other Regimental Slow Marches are played on appropriate occasions and parades:
Occasion/Parade
‘Trelawny’ St George’s Day, Waterloo
‘God Bless The Prince of Wales’ Somme Day
‘The Lancashire Witches’ Waterloo
‘The 47th Regimental Slow March’ Kimberley (Association parade in Preston),
Quebec
OTHER TRADITIONAL REGIMENTAL MUSIC
Mess Occasions. On Dinner Nights in Mess the band programme may appropriately include:
On entering the Dining Room: ‘The Roast Beef of Old England’, a traditional eighteenth
century air.
Before the Regimental Marches:
‘Chinese Airs’. This piece was composed in 1927 by the Bandmaster (later Lieutenant Colonel
and Senior Director of Music) O W Geary, 1st Battalion The Border Regiment. At that time both
battalions of the Regiment were in Shanghai, China, hence the name of the arrangement. It
encapsulates the history of the Regiment – Spanish dances, nautical tunes and so forth. This piece
is only played in the Officers’ Mess.
After the Regimental Marches:
‘God Bless The Prince of Wales’. Introduced by the 30th in 1871 when the Prince of Wales (later
Edward VII) had a serious illness, the march was thereafter played at Regimental guest nights
after the Regimental march. This custom continued in The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment.
In the Mess anteroom: Traditional Regimental songs (See Annex A).
3
Regimental Days. Certain music has a traditional place in the celebration of our Regimental Days (see
Section VIII):
Waterloo Day: The Battalion forms square and re-forms line to the tune of ‘The Somerset
Poacher’, the old march of the 40th Foot (and, under its more familiar name of ‘The Lincolnshire
Poacher’, of the 4th Foot who fought alongside them at that decisive battle). ‘The Young May
Moon’ was played by the Band of the 30th Foot as they marched to Quatre Bras at the opening of
the campaign, while at Waterloo the 4th played ‘La Marseillaise’ as they entered the field.
Arroyo Day: Three French marches are played during the ceremonial trooping of the French
Drums:
‘La Rêve Passe’,
‘La Marseillaise’, played as a slow march.
‘March of the French 34th Regiment of Infantry’. This was originally scored for fifes
and drums, but was arranged for a military band in 1920 by Bandmaster O W Geary.
Inkerman Day: At the Warrant Officers’ Inkerman Dinner (see Sections VII and VIII) or other
celebrations on that day it would be very appropriate to play ‘The Russian Imperial National
Anthem’. This was an old tradition of the King’s Own Royal Regiment – in common with several
others – and perpetuates the pleasant custom of playing the enemy’s national anthem on the
battlefield, as was done in the Crimea and (see also ‘La Marseillaise’ above) in the Peninsular and
at Waterloo.
Parade Music
Fanfare: ‘The Regimental Reunion’, composed by Bandmaster G H Leask for the 1976 October
Reunion, when The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment adopted the South Lancashire Regiment Chapel
in Warrington Parish Church.
Troop: ‘The Regimental Colour’, composed by Bandmaster P Ryan under the pseudonym ‘Max
Baylys’ and dedicated to The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers, with whose 2nd Battalion he served
from 1924 to 1930.
‘The Dismissal’. A lively 6/8 quickstep of two 8-bar repeated phrases played in the East
Lancashire Regiment to march troops off parade after being dismissed, usually at a pace of 140.
Marches:
‘A Life on the Ocean Waves’. Played on ceremonial parades to commemorate the early
service of the 4th and 30th Regiments as Marines.
‘Quebec’. A quick march written by Bandmaster T W Stopford, who was appointed to the
Loyals in 1915, to commemorate the famous victory of 1759.
‘Lancastria’. A quick march composed by Bandmaster T Chandler who served with 2nd
King’s Own 1918-35.
‘The Prince’. A quick march composed for The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers on the
occasion of the 1930 Tidworth Tattoo. The 1st Battalion played it whenever they marched
back into barracks.
4
PREVIOUS REGIMENTAL MARCHES
Regimental marches as such were not common until the latter half of the nineteenth century. Before that
time, our predecessors are known to have favoured a variety of spirited popular and traditional airs. The
‘Grenadiers March’ (also known as ‘The Grenadiers Return’) inspired the elite Grenadier companies of
all our predecessor regiments, the 47th beat back the French from the walls of Tarifa in 1811 to the tune
of ‘Garryowen’, the Band of the King’s Own are said to have played ‘La Marseillaise’ as they marched
onto the field of Waterloo, and three of our old Regiments of Foot favoured ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’
in various guises, while the Regimental Band were ordered to strike up ‘The British Grenadiers’ as the
59th stormed the ramparts at Bhurtpore in 1826. Eventually the following were adopted as official
Regimental Marches:
Marches of the Regiments of Foot
4th (King’s Own): ‘Corn Riggs are Bonnie’. This traditional north country English air, to which
may be sung words by Robert Burns, was composed circa 1680, was first used by the 2nd King’s
Own circa 1872. Prior to this the 4th marched past to ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’, as did the 40th
and 81st.
8th (King’s): ‘Here’s to the Maiden’. The tune is that of the song of the same title, composed in
1777 by Thomas Linley for a production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s play ‘The School for
Scandal’. Linley, a composer of repute in his day, became the musical director at Drury Lane
Theatre in 1776 and was Sheridan’s father-in-law.
30th: ‘L’Attaque’. Adopted by the 30th Foot at Chatham in 1879, but believed to be an old French
march learned from a Regiment of Zouaves in the Crimean War. Tradition has it that the strains of
‘L’Attaque’ played by the French band so attracted Colonel Mauleverer of the 30th that permission
to adopt it was obtained.
34th: ‘John Peel’. This well-known hunting song was an obvious choice for a Regiment so closely
associated with the County of Cumberland. The words were written in 1829 by John Woodcock
Graves, a close friend and hunting companion of the famous John Peel. It was on a stormy night at
a small inn in Caldbeck, where both Graves and John Peel lived, that they heard a young girl sing
the old north country folk-tune ‘Bonnie Annie’, and Graves at once improvised some doggerel
verses starting ‘D’ye ken John Peel . . .’ Turning to Peel, Graves said, ‘John, that song will be sung
when we are both run to earth’. ‘John Peel’ is reported to have been sung by soldiers of the 34th
Foot at the Relief of Lucknow, India as early as 1858, and on 1 July 1916, the first day of the
Battle of the Somme, the Lonsdale Battalion of the Border Regiment charged up the Thiepval Spur
‘singing John Peel like mad and cheering to raise the dead’.
40th: ‘The Somerset Poacher’. A traditional English song better known as ‘The Lincolnshire
Poacher’. From 1782 until 1881 the 40th had the subsidiary title of ‘2nd Somersetshire Regiment’,
but the original tune is that of a Lancashire air, ‘The Manchester Angel’, about a soldier who
loved and left a ‘pretty young doxy’ in Manchester. The song was in print at York circa 1776.
47th: ‘The Mountain Rose’. The origin of this tune is unknown, but it is probably French. Its
adoption by the 47th (Lancashire) Regiment is believed to have been suggested by its title which,
by an association of ideas, connected with the Red Rose of Lancaster. For many years after 1881
this march was played by 1st Loyals in preference to ‘The Red Rose’.
55th: ‘The Lass o’ Gowrie’. An old Scottish tune, to which was set a song by Caroline, Lady
Nairne, who wrote many well-known Jacobite lays. The earliest version of the verse appeared in
1797 from the pen of William Reid of Glasgow as ‘Kate o’ Gowrie’. The 55th was raised at
Stirling in 1755.
5
59th: ‘The Lancashire Lad’. Thought to be an old English or French folk tune, which was used
by the 59th Foot and was given its Lancashire title around 1881 when the 59th became 2nd East
Lancashires and retained it as a battalion march.
63rd: ‘The Young May Moon’. This old Irish air, originally named ‘The Dandy O’, was
introduced into the opera ‘Robin Hood’, composed in 1784 by William Shield, a leading English
composer of his day who in 1817 became Master of the King’s Musik. The tune was popular with
British regiments in the Napoleonic Wars, and East Lancashire tradition has it that ‘The Young
May Moon’ was played by the band of the 30th Foot on the march to Quatre Bras during the
Waterloo campaign.
81st: ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’. This traditional air (see above) is believed to have been
adopted in 1820 when the Regiment were The Loyal Lincoln Volunteers.
82nd: ‘God Bless The Prince of Wales’. Composed by Henry Brinley Richards in 1851 with
words by John Ceiriog Hughes, this march was for obvious reasons adopted by 82nd Regiment,
who were also known as The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers. Their first Colonel of the Regiment,
Charles Leigh, was a gentleman of the Prince’s household.
96th: ‘The March Past of the 96th Foot’. This march, republished in 1882 as ‘The Manchester’,
consists of an arrangement of two Neapolitan song tunes, ‘Las Luisella’ and ‘Fenesta Vascia’. It
was composed by Signor Antonio Vlacco, the 96th Regiment’s Italian Bandmaster 1874-1883,
which explains the choice of tunes.
The King’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
Quick March: ‘Corn Riggs are Bonnie’. See above.
Slow March: ‘And Shall Trelawny Die’. It is not recorded when the Regiment adopted this
march, which is said to date from 1688. Two members of the Trelawny family, Charles and
Henry, commanded and were successive Colonels of the Regiment from 1682 to 1702. Their
brother, Jonathan (1650-1721), was one of the Seven Bishops imprisoned in the Tower of London
in 1688 by King James II for petitioning against the Declaration of Indulgence and tried for
‘seditious libel’. When the Bishops were acquitted cheering broke out in the army encamped on
Hounslow Heath. This trial caused such dissent in the West Country that a song with the refrain
‘And Shall Trelawny Die’ was apparently current, though the version of this Cornish ballad
known today was composed in 1825 by the Reverend Robert Hawker.
The King’s Regiment (Liverpool)
Quick March: ‘Here’s to the Maiden’. See above. When serving on the North West Frontier of
India, the 2nd Battalion adopted as a march the Pathan love song ‘Zachmi Dhil’ (‘The Wounded
Heart’) which features the singular lyrics ‘There’s a boy across the river with a bottom like a
peach, but alas – I cannot swim’.
Slow March: ‘The English Rose’. The title derives from the fact that the march includes an
arrangement of the tenor air of that name from Edward German’s opera ‘Merrie England’, first
produced in 1902.
The East Lancashire Regiment
Quick March: ‘L’Attaque’, inherited from the 30th, though the 2nd Battalion continued to play
the old Regimental March of the 59th, retitled ‘The Lancashire Lad’.
6
Slow March: ‘God Bless The Prince of Wales’. Introduced by the 30th in 1871 when the Prince
of Wales (later Edward VII) had a serious illness.
The Border Regiment
Quick March: ‘John Peel’, inherited from the 34th, though the 2nd Battalion continued to play the
old Regimental March of the 55th, ‘The Lass of Gowrie’. On the amalgamation of the 1st an 2nd
Battalions in 1947, Band Master Young rearranged the Regimental Quick March to include ‘John
Peel’, ‘The Lass of Gowrie’ and part of the French 34th Regiment Quick March.
Slow March: ‘The Horn of the Hunter’. This march comprises three tunes:
‘A Chinese Air’ (not to be confused with the arrangement ‘Chinese Airs’ above), believed
to have been adopted in commemoration of the 55th Foot’s part in the China War of 1841-
42.
‘Horn of the Hunter’, a Cumberland folk tune which forms the central portion of the
march.
‘La Ligne’, a tune of French origin to which the words of ‘Soldier, Soldier, Will You
Marry Me’ may be sung.
The South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Volunteers)
Quick March: ‘God Bless The Prince of Wales’. Inherited from the 82nd, the march was first
used publicly at the 1st Battalion Colour presentation in 1891. It was preceded by ‘The Somerset
Poacher’ and ‘The Lancashire Witches’ in the 1st and 2nd Battalions respectively.
Slow March: ‘The Lancashire Witches’, composed by Frederick Stanislaus, is from a light
opera of the same name produced at the Theatre Royal, Manchester in 1879. It was adopted first
as the 2nd Battalion’s quick march and then in 1931 became the Regimental slow march.
The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
Quick March: ‘The Red Rose’. This march is an adaption of an old Scottish air, ‘Down in the
Broom’, and was adopted by The Loyal North Lancashires in 1885 as appropriate to their Red
Rose of Lancaster badge. To it may be sung the words of Robert Burns’ poem, ‘O, my luve’s like
a red, red rose’ (see Annex A), believed to have been based on a ballad written by a Lieutenant
Hinches as a farewell to his betrothed. The 2nd Battalion (late Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) retained
‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’ as a Battalion March.
Slow March: ‘The 47th Regimental Slow March’. There is no traceable name for this traditional
march, which resembles ‘The Mountain Rose’ and may have a similar French origin. It was
officially adopted as the Loyals’ slow march in 1935. The score was not written down until about
that time, having previously been handed down orally within the Band. The present arrangement is
by Bandmaster E G R Palmer, who served with the Regiment 1931-54.
The Manchester Regiment
Quick March: ‘The Manchester’. Published in 1882, this was formerly ‘The March Past of the
96th Foot’. See above.
Slow March: ‘Farewell Manchester’. This is an adaption of a song of the same name, the tune of
which is based on ‘Felton’s Gavotte’, a harpsichord piece composed in 1728 by the Reverend
William Felton of Hereford Cathedral. The first regiment to be raised actually in Manchester was
7
the ill-fated one formed by Prince Charles Edward Stuart in the 1745 rebellion, and it was to this
tune that the army of the Young Pretender marched out of the city.
The Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Volunteers)
Quick March: ‘L’Attaque/God Bless The Prince of Wales’, from the East and South
Lancashire Regiments.
Slow March: ‘The Lancashire Witches’, from The South Lancashire Regiment.
The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment
Quick March: ‘John Peel’, a combination of ‘John Peel’ from the 34th, ‘The Lass of Gowrie’
from the 55th and ‘Corn Riggs are Bonnie’ from the King’s Own.
Slow March: ‘And Shall Trelawny Die’, from the King’s Own.
The King’s Regiment
Quick March: ‘The Kingsman’, a combination of ‘Here’s to the Maiden’ from the King’s
Regiment (Liverpool) and ‘The Manchester’ from the Manchester Regiment.
Slow March: ‘Lord Ferrars’ March’, a combination of ‘The English Rose’ from the King’s
Regiment (Liverpool) and ‘Farewell Manchester’ from the Manchester Regiment.
The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment
Quick March: ‘L’Attaque/The Red Rose’, from The East Lancashires and Loyals.
Slow March: ‘Long Live Elizabeth’ from Edward German’s opera ‘Merrie England’, which was
adopted by The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment in 1970 in honour of the Regiment’s Colonel-in-
Chief.
REGIMENTAL SONGS
There are words to several of our present and antecedent Regimental marches, including ‘John Peel’,
‘The Red, Red Rose’ and ‘Here’s to the Maiden’.
The song ‘Kings are Coming up the Hill’ is sung on suitable occasions, particularly at Regimental
boxing tournaments. There are several other songs which are associated with the antecedent Regiments
and are frequently sung after a dinner night in the Mess:
‘Sarie Marais’. A South African song reminiscent of the Regiment’s service there 1899-1902.
‘The Horn of the Hunter’ and ‘Joe Bowman’. Cumberland hunting songs, introduced to the
Border Regiment by Volunteer officers.
‘Rawtenstall Annual Fair’, a rather bawdy traditional Lancashire folk song.
‘Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls’, a ballad in praise of the eponymous Wigan delicacy.
The words of all these songs are shown at Annex A, while ‘Hot Stuff’, composed by Sergeant Ned
Botwood of the 47th Regiment during the Quebec campaign, will be found at Annex H to Section VIII
8
REGIMENTAL BANDS
The Regimental Band. The Regiment has a Volunteer Band, formerly the King’s Regiment-badged
North West Infantry Band (TA), which is based in Liverpool. Its full title is:
The Regimental Band of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment
The Regimental Band uses the six silver fanfare trumpets presented to The Queen’s Lancashire
Regiment by Freedom Towns.
The Band of The King’s Division. Our predecessor Regiments had their own Regular bands from the
mid-eighteenth century until 1994, when two King’s Division bands were formed to provide the six
divisional regiments with appropriate military support. In 2006 these were reduced to one Band of The
King’s Division, based at Weeton Camp, near Blackpool.
Cadet Bands. Two Army Cadet Force Bands are badged to The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment:
The Cumbria Army Cadet Force Band
The Lancashire Army Cadet Force Band
Dress: Regimental Bands of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment wear ceremonial dress uniform on
parade, including:
Scarlet tunic with dark (Royal) blue Regimental facings and musician’s wings.
Home Service pattern blue spiked helmet with Regimental helmet plate.
Blue trousers with a narrow red stripe on the seams.
White belt and accoutrements with Regimental buckle.
For further detail see Section XVI – Regimental Dress Regulations.
The Regimental Fanfare Trumpet Banners. The Fanfare Trumpet Banners are to be made of dark
blue (Garter blue) cord silk, edged with gold strands, with a Regimental Crest embroidered centrally on
each side in gold wire and coloured silks. If a banner has been presented (e.g. by a Borough) it will be
appropriate to display the donor’s crest on one side.
Regimental Music Stand Banners. These banners are to be of dark (Royal) blue superfine cloth
(Hainsworth’s No. 205 Garter blue), edged with gold strands, with a Regimental Crest embroidered
centrally. The banners are to have a pointed tip at the bottom, and in style are otherwise to match the
Fanfare Banners.
THE CORPS OF DRUMS
The Regiment has had drummers since its formation in 1680. Their prime purposes were to transmit
commands and beat a marching cadence on the battlefield and to regulate daily routine in camp, but
their lively music put a spring into soldiers’ step and heightened their martial ardour long before the
general introduction of regimental bands.
Today each of our three Battalions has a Corps of Drums, providing pageantry of which both The
Regiment and the North West can be justly proud. The greater part of their uniforms and accoutrements
are provided from Regimental funds, and the Regimental Charity owns their silver drums and bugles.
9
The Corps of Drums in each battalion is commanded by the Drum Major, who is responsible to the
Adjutant, and should consist of eighteen drummers equipped with side, tenor and bass drums, flutes and
bugles. The Regular Battalion Drummers are not separately established but usually double as Machine
Gun Platoons.
Dress: The Corps of Drums wear ceremonial dress uniform on parade, including:
Scarlet Drummer’s tunic with dark (Royal) blue Regimental facings, drummer’s wings, crown lace
and Royals cords.
Home Service pattern blue spiked helmet with Regimental helmet plate, the curb-chain chin strap
normally worn down by drummers and up by buglers. White Foreign Service helmets are worn in
hot weather overseas stations as appropriate.
Blue tweed trousers with a narrow red stripe on the seams.
White belt and accoutrements with Regimental buckle.
Drummer’s swords.
The Drum Major additionally wears a sash embroidered with Regimental devices and battle honours and
a warrant officer’s sword with metal scabbard. He carries the Drum Major’s staff.
In addition to its military merit and its drill, the appearance of a Corps of Drums in Full Dress uniform
provides in itself an imposing spectacle. Its significance is actually derived more from the historical
validity of the uniforms than from the mere colourful nature of what is worn. Without a proper historical
basis the uniform loses both its meaning and its dignity. It is therefore essential to ensure that there is no
deviation from correct patterns. For further detail see Section XVI – Regimental Dress Regulations.
The Arroyo Drummers. See Section III (Regimental Distinctions) and Section XVI (Regimental Dress
Regulations).
SILVER DRUMS
The Regiment is fortunate in having inherited nine sets of silver drums:
2nd Battalion King’s (Liverpool Regiment) Drums. Ten engraved silver Drums of 2nd Battalion
King’s (Liverpool Regiment) are held by 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, an eleventh
drum having been presented to the Royal Regiment of Canada. The origins of these drums are not
known.
1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment Drums. Presented to the 30th by Field Marshall Lord Plumer
in Malta, 1924, these drums were purchased by past and present officers and relatives in memory of
officers who were killed during the Great War 1914-18. They are now displayed in the Regimental
Council Chamber at Fulwood Barracks, Preston.
2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment Drums. These are now on loan to the Officers’ Mess of The
Army Foundation College, Catterick.
1st Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment (PWV) Drums. Presented at Victoria Barracks,
Portsmouth on the Waterloo Day parade, June 18th 1923, in commemoration of the bicentenary of the
40th, 1717-1917. This set of drums is now on display in the Officers’ Mess of the 1st Battalion.
10
2nd Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment (PWV) Drums. Subscribed to by all ranks of the 82nd
in memory of their comrades who fell in the Great War, these drums were presented by Lord Irwin,
Viceroy of India, on the Maidan at Calcutta on the occasion of the Proclamation Parade, 1st January
1927. They are now displayed in the Regimental Council Chamber at Fulwood Barracks, Preston.
1st Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Drums. Presented by Lieutenant General Sir
Charles Harrington, Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces of Occupation in Turkey, on 26th August 1922
at Chanak, these drums were subscribed to by all ranks of the 1st Battalion as a memorial to their fallen
comrades of the Great War, whose names are all inscribed within the drums. These rod-tensioned drums
are played by the 1st Battalion Corps of Drums and, when not in use, are displayed in the Sergeants’
Mess of the 1st Battalion.
4th Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Drums. These drums commemorate all those
who died in 1/4th Battalion The Loyal Regiment 1914-18 and were subscribed to by all ranks of the
battalion and by the people of Preston, Chorley and Lytham St Annes. They were presented to the
Mayor of Preston and GOC 55th (West Lancashire) Division on 13th June 1926. They are now held by
the 4th Battalion as display pieces.
1st and 2nd Battalion The Manchester Regiment Drums. In 1934 the City of Manchester gave a set of
eleven silver drums to each of the two Regular battalions of the Regiment. These were funded by a
public appeal. The 1st Battalion set was presented in Jamaica in October that year while the 2nd Battalion
Drums were presented on the occasion of a visit to Manchester by King George V, who as Colonel-in-
Chief accepted them on behalf of the Regiment. Both sets are playable and consist of a bass drum, two
tenor drums and eight side drums. The 1st Manchesters Drums are held and played by the present 2nd
Battalion Corps of Drums. Since World War II the 2nd Manchesters Drums have been held and played
successively by the Ardwick Battalion, 5th/8th Battalion The King’s Regiment, and The King’s and
Cheshire Regiment. They are now used by the 4th Battalion Corps of Drums.
DRUM HOOP MARKINGS
Various designs have in the past been used for our Regimental drums, but it has been a long-standing
custom in the British Army to adopt the markings of captured drums. Regimental policy is that:
The hoops of drums which are in use by battalions should be painted in a dog-tooth black and
white pattern (black towards the rims). At the battle of Inkerman, 5 November 1854, both the 34th
(Cumberland) and the 47th (Lancashire) Regiments captured sets of Russian infantry drums
marked in that way.
Drums which are used for display only should be left in their original (or present) livery.
SILVER BUGLES
First Battalion. The 1st Battalion Corps of Drums play a set of 16 silver bugles presented to the 1st
Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment (PWV) in 1913 by Lieutenant Colonel H H Douglas-Withers.
The Regiment also has a set of 16 silver bugles presented by the towns of East Lancashire, eight each to
the 30th and 59th, in appreciation of the Regiment’s services in 1914-18. These are at Regimental
Headquarters.
Second Battalion. The 2nd Battalion Corps of Drums have a set of 19 silver bugles presented to the 1st
Battalion The Manchester Regiment in 1938, subscribed to by serving officers, men and families. Each
bugle is engraved with the name of a Regimental Battle Honour. Following the Manchesters’ 1951-54
service in the Malayan Emergency an additional silver bugle was presented by the Kulim Police Circle
of Kedah. A further 14 silver bugles of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) are displayed in the Warrant
Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess of the 2nd Battalion: 12 of these were presented in 1920, the gift of
11
officers, serving and retired, of the Territorial battalions; the other two were presented by Captain
Denham and Lord Derby in 1910 and 1913 respectively.
Fourth Battalion. Eight bugles of the former 2nd Battalion The Manchester Regiment are held by Corps
of Drums of the 4th Battalion. A further three of this set were presented in 1987 to The Royal Regiment
of Canada, The Otago and Southland Regiment of New Zealand and 10th/27th Battalion The Royal South
Australia Regiment.
THE COMMANDING OFFICER’S AND ADJUTANT’S BUGLERS
Subject to the exigencies of the service, there should be an annual competition within each Corps of
Drums, testing drill, turnout and musical ability in sounding a selection of bugle calls. The winner and
runner-up are appointed Commanding Officer’s and Adjutants Buglers respectively, wear distinctive
badges and carry special bugles:
The 1st Battalion Commanding Officer’s Bugle: Presented for the use of the Commanding
Officer’s Bugler 59th Regiment by Captain and Adjutant Battye on 1st April 1888, this silver bugle
was carried throughout the Great War 1914-18 by the CO’s Bugler.
The 1st Battalion Adjutant’s Bugle: This silver bugle was presented to 1st Battalion The Loyal
Regiment (North Lancashire) by Tientsin British Municipal Volunteer Corps to mark the
Battalion’s tour in North China 1923-25.
The 2nd Battalion Commanding Officer’s Bugle: Presented to The King’s Own Royal Border
Regiment by the City of Lancaster.
REGIMENTAL AND BATTALION BUGLE CALLS
Regimental Call. This is the Call of our senior antecedent, The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment,
and is to be used when two or more Battalions of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment are represented on
parade or encamped together:
First Battalion Call. The first part of the former Call of The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment will be used
in camp and on parade by the 1st Battalion:
Second Battalion Call. The former Call of The King’s Regiment will be used in camp and on parade by
the 2nd Battalion:
12
Fourth Battalion Call. The former Call of 5th/8th Battalion The King’s Regiment will be used in camp
and on parade by the 4th Battalion:
THE LIVERPOOL SCOTTISH PIPES AND DRUMS
Unusually for an English Infantry Regiment, whenever possible the Duke of Lancaster’s has pipers as
part of its Liverpool Scottish heritage within the Liverpool TA Company. In addition, there is usually a
Liverpool Scottish Association Pipe Band.
Liverpool Scottish Music includes:
Quick March: ‘The Glendaruel Highlanders’.
Slow March: ‘Loch Rannoch’.
The Pipe Major's Toast. The Pipe Major (or senior piper) after playing in the Mess may be called in to
receive a ‘dram’ from the senior officer present. The toasting procedure is as follows.
The Piper, on completion of the piobaireachd (pibroch), re-enters the dining room without his pipes,
preceded by the Mess Sergeant who carries a salver on which is a quaich containing a dram of whisky
(previously diluted as required by the Piper!).They halt behind the Commanding Officer and senior
guest, and the piper salutes. The Commanding Officer stands up, takes the quaich, and hands it to the
Piper (the senior guest may be invited to do this if appropriate). The Piper holds the quaich with both
hands, at about chin level, and gives the Toast.
‘Slainte mor, slainte Banrighinn, slainte agus buaidh gu brath le Gillean Forbasach.’
Translation:
‘Good health, health to the Queen, health and success for ever to the Forbes Lads.’
The Piper then drinks the dram. All present reply ‘Slainte’ (Slanjer) and also drink the toast. The Piper
then kisses the underneath of the quaich (symbolising the hidden portrait of ‘the King over the Water’).
He replaces the quaich on the salver, salutes, and leaves the room followed by the Mess Sergeant.
ANNEX A TO SECTION IX
REGIMENTAL SONGS
JOHN PEEL
D’ye ken John Peel in his coat so grey
D’ye ken John Peel at the break of day
D’ye ken John Peel going far far away
With his hounds and his horn in the morning.
Chorus: For the sound of the horn called me from my bed
And the cry of the hounds which he oft times led
For Peel’s view Hallo would waken the dead
Or a fox from his lair in a morning.
Do you ken that bitch whose tongue was death
Do you ken her sons of peerless faith
Do you ken that fox with his last breath
Cursed them all as he died in the morning.
Chorus
Yes, I kenn’d John Peel and old Ruby too
Ranter and Royal and Bellman as true
From the drag to the chase, and the chase to the view
And the view to the death in a morning.
Chorus
And I followed John Peel both oft and far
Over many a gate and toppling bar
From low Denton Holme and to Scratchmore Scar
Whilst we struggled for a brush in the morning.
Chorus
Then here’s to John Peel from the Heart and Soul
Come fill, O fill, to him a brimming bowl
And follow John Peel through fair and foul
While we’re waked by his horn in the morning.
Chorus
John Peel (1776-1854) was born on Greenrigg Farm, Caldbeck in Cumberland and for over forty years
ran the famous pack of hounds that bore his name. Peel grew up with a very limited education, but
nothing could be said to him about the art of fox hunting. His friend John Woodcock Graves wrote of
him, ‘Peel was generous, as every true sportsman must be. He was free with the glass at the heel of the
hunt, but a better heart never throbbed in man.’ He was ‘lang in the leg and lish (nimble), wi a fine girt
neb (nose), and gray eyes, that could see for ever; and he’d a laal (little) pony that wad foller him like a
dog.’ His ‘coat so grey’ was a ‘lang lappeted cwoat of hodden-gray homespun’. Other garments worn
were ‘leather knee brutches and ankle jacks, a tall boxer hat, and he’d a laal bugle horn.’
2
THE RED, RED ROSE
O, my luve’s like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June;
O, my luve’s like a melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
till a' the seas gang dry.
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands of life shall run.
But fare thee weel, my only luve!
O, fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.
HERE’S TO THE MAIDEN
Here’s to the maiden of bashful fifteen,
Here’s to the widow of fifty;
Here’s to the flaunting extravagant queen,
And here’s to the housewife that’s thrifty;
Chorus: Let the drink pass,
Drink to the lass,
I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.
Here’s to the charmer, whose dimples we prize,
And now to the maid who has done, sir,
Here’s to the girl with a pair of blue eyes,
And here’s to the nymph with but one, sir.
Chorus
Here’s to the maid with a bosom of snow,
And to her who is brown as berry;
Here’s to the wife with a face full of woe,
And now to the girl that is merry:
Chorus
3
For let ’em be clumsy, or let ’em be slim,
Young or ancient, I care not a feather;
So fill a pint bumper quite up the brim,
And let us e’en toast them together.
Chorus
THE KING’S ARE COMING UP THE HILL
The King’s are coming up the hill, boys
The King’s are coming up the hill, boys
They all laugh at us, they all scoff at us
They all say our days are numbered.
Oh, to be a Kingo, victorious are we,
If you want to win the cup
Then you’d better hurry up,
’Cos the King’s are coming up the hill.
Victorious and glorious,
One bottle of beer between the four of us,
Glory be to God there isn’t any more of us,
’Cos one of us would drink the ******* lot!
SARIE MARAIS
Down under in the mealies by the old Transvaal
There lives my Sarie Marais.
I wooed her ’neath the shade of the old thorn tree
Just before I was sent away.
Chorus: Oh take me back to the old Transvaal
That’s where I long to be.
There’s never been another one since I first met
My beautiful Sarie Marais.
One night I sailed from Table Bay
The African moon above.
I vowed to be true to the one I love
My beautiful Sarie Marais.
Chorus
My Sarie Marais she came to me
When I to the war went away.
I asked her to wait till I came back,
My beautiful Sarie Marais.
Chorus
4
THE HORN OF THE HUNTER
For forty long years we have known him
A Cumberland Yeoman of old
But twice forty years they shall perish
Ere the fame of his deeds shall grow cold
No broadcloth of scarlet adorned him
No buckskin as white as the snow.
Of plain Skiddaw gray was his garment,
And he wore it for work, not for show.
Ch
orus : The Horn of the Hunter is silent
By the banks of the Ellen no more
Nor in Denton is heard it wild echo
Clear sounding o’er the dark Caldew’s roar
When dark draws her mantle around us,
And cold by the fire bids us steal,
Our children will say, ‘Father tell us
Some tales of the famous John Peel.’
And we’ll tell them of Ranter and Royal
Of Briton and Bellman so true
How they rattled their fox around Carrick
And pressed him from chase into view
h orus C
How often from Brathwait to Skiddaw,
Through Isel, Bewaldeth, Whitefield,
We galloped like madmen together,
To follow the hounds of John Peel.
Though long may we hunt with another
When the hand of old age we may feel
We’ll mourn for a sportsman and brother
And remember the tales of John Peel
h orus C
JOE BOWMAN
Down at Howtown we met Joe Bowman at dawn
The grey hill echoed back the glad sounds of his horn
And the charm of its notes sent the mist far away
And the fox to its lair at the dawn of the day
h orus : When the fire’s on the hearth and good cheer abounds
We’ll drink to Joe Bowman and his Ullswater hounds
For we’ll never forget how he woke us at dawn
With the crack of his whip and the sound of his horn.
5
Now his head’s in the crook and the bowl is below
And we’re gathered around by the fire’s warming glow
Our songs they are merry, our choruses high
As we drink to the hunters who join in the cry
Chorus
The shout of the hunters it startled the stag
As the fox came to view on the lofty Brock Cragg
‘Tally Ho’ we’re away o’er the rise and the fall
Joe Bowman, Kit Farra, Will Milcrest and all.
Chorus
Joe Bowman (1850-1940), Huntsman of the Ullswater Foxhounds for 41 seasons between 1879
and 1924, was probably the most famous fell huntsman after John Peel.
RAWTENSTALL ANNUAL FAIR
Down behind the gas works
Down in Rawtenstall,
That’s a little town in Lancashire,
Me and the lads the other Friday night
Went down to the Annual Fair.
There were side shows, figure eights, roundabouts and cocinuts,
Everybody were delighted.
Then we heard the showman shout:
Roll up, roll up, come and see the Fat Girl,
Forty stones of loveliness and every inch her own.
Eh, she were a bigun, wi accent on the big,
Farmers with their walking sticks kept giving her a dig.
Now this shapely lassie, sitting on her chassie,
Was blown up with air I do declare.
Things were going champion until some silly clown
Stuck her with a pin and the showman with a frown
Shouted ‘Hands to the pumps, lads, the vessel’s going down’,
Down at Rawtenstall Annual Fair.
Roll up, roll up, come and see the Mermaid,
See the lovely creature half a woman half a fish.
In went the lads, and with a show of swank
Little Tommy Atkins poured some whisky in the tank.
The mermaid got so frisky swimmin’ in the whisky
The first time that she came up for air
She bowed to the audience and gave her tail a swish,
Her tail came off and damn it lads she really looked delish.
She said ‘Now what’s your fancy, is it meat or is it fish?’
Down at Rawtenstall Annual Fair.
6
Roll up, roll up, see the Tattooed Lady,
See the lovely lady with the tattoos on her skin.
In went the lads and gave a mighty cheer
For tattooed on her body were the towns of Lancashire.
Now on her form so pretty was Manchester city,
The Town Hall were standin’ in the square.
There were Oldham, Bolton, Ashton-under-Lyne,
The coal fields of Wigan were doing mighty fine,
Till some silly bugger shouted ‘Don’t go down the mine’,
Down at Rawtenstall Annual Fair.
Roll up, roll up, see the House of Mystery,
Women pay a tanner to get tickled in the dark.
In went the lads like a flock of sheep,
The showman pulled a lever and they all fell in a heap.
Now when the got to t’bottom the showman he shot ’em,
You should have heard the language in the air.
Women got excited and caused a lot of strife,
I saw more dirty washin’ than I’ve seen in all my life,
And lots of other things I’ve never seen upon the wife,
Down at Rawtenstall Annual Fair.
UNCLE JOE’S MINT BALLS
There’s a little place in Wigan, a place you all should know
A busy little factory where things are all the go
They don’t make Jakes or Eccles cakes or things to stick on walls
But night and day they work away at Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls.
Chorus Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls keep you all aglow
Give ’em to your Granny and watch the bugger go
Away with coughs and sniffles, take a few in hand
Suck’em and see, and you’ll agree
They’re the best in all the land.
Me Dad has always wanted curly hair on his bald head
‘Suck an Uncle Joe’s Mint Ball’, that’s what the doctor said
So he got an Uncle Joe’s Mint Ball and sucked it all night long
When he got up next morning, he’d hairs all over his tongue.
Chorus
My Uncle Albert passed away from ale upon the brain
The doctors said that he were dead and would never walk again
So they gave the corpse an Uncle Joe’s and then stood back aghast
Cos the corpse jumped up and ran to the pub and spent the insurance brass.
Chorus
No comments:
Post a Comment