68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 68th Regiment of Foot
Glengarry cap badge of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot
Active	1756-1881
Country	U.K.
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry, Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion Two between May 1800 and September 1802
Motto(s)	Faithful
Colours	Facing colour: Dark Green up to 1816 Bottle Green up to 1834 Green up to 1861 Dark Green up to 1881
March	I'm Ninety Five, (1856-1881)
Anniversaries	Inkerman Day (5 November)
Engagements	Seven years war Peninsular War Crimean War New Zealand Wars

The 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) was a famous infantry regiment in the British Army. It was formed in 1758 and later became part of the Durham Light Infantry in 1881.

This regiment fought in many important wars. These included the Seven Years' War, The Peninsular War, the Crimean War, and the New Zealand Wars. They were known for their bravery, especially during the Peninsular War under Arthur Wellesley. They also played a part in the Indian Mutiny.

How the Regiment Started

In 1756, Britain lost Minorca during the Seven Years' War. Because of this, 15 regiments were told to create a second battalion. In 1758, one of these new battalions was separated from the 23rd Regiment. It was then officially named the 68th Regiment of Foot. Its first leader was Colonel John Lambton.

Fighting in the Seven Years' War

In May 1758, the 68th Regiment was sent to the Isle of Wight. Their job was to help Britain's allies, the Prussians. They were meant to attack small parts of France. This would distract the French army and help the Prussians, who were facing tough battles.

On August 7, the 68th landed on the French coast. They left on August 16. Later, on September 3, they landed at Lunaire Bay. Here, they faced a strong French force and had to retreat. It's thought that Britain lost about 1500 soldiers, either killed or captured. Many injured soldiers died on the way back to England due to infections on the ships.

After returning to England, the 68th had to give 173 men to another regiment. This left them with very few soldiers. They had to search the countryside for new recruits. In March 1760, the 68th sent 600 men to the West Indies. This left the regiment with only 58 soldiers.

Not much happened for a while. In July 1763, the regiment was sent to Ireland.

Service in the West Indies

On June 2, 1774, the regiment left Ireland with 250 soldiers. They arrived in Antigua on June 21. Eight years later, six companies from the 68th were sent to fight rebellious Caribs in St. Vincent.

In March 1773, the regiment returned to Britain. They moved to Scotland in May 1774 and then back to Ireland in December 1775. The regiment stayed in Ireland for seven and a half years.

In September, the 68th left Ireland for Portsmouth with 793 men. When they heard about the Peace of Paris, some soldiers in the regiment rebelled.

After guarding prisoners of war, the regiment was sent to Jersey and Guernsey in October. They returned to Britain in June 1784. In October 1785, they left for Gibraltar.

Their time in Gibraltar was quiet. The regiment was then sent to the islands of Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Grenada. Here, they fought against runaway slaves. They returned to Britain in September.

In late November, two battalions of the regiment went to the West Indies. They arrived in early 1801. They were stationed on Martinique, Barbados, The Saints, and Dominica. The Treaty of Amiens was signed in 1802, and they returned St Lucia and Martinique to the French. However, war started again in May 1803. In June, the 68th was sent to take back St. Lucia. By February 1805, after losing many men, the 68th returned to England.

The Walcheren Campaign

The 68th regiment spent the winter in Ripon. By December 1807, they had gained new recruits, bringing their numbers to 436 soldiers. They stayed in Yorkshire. While in Hull, they were told to become a light infantry regiment. This meant they would be faster and more flexible in battle.

In 1809, a large British army of nearly 40,000 men invaded Walcheren island. This was an attempt to destroy a French navy fleet and to make Napoleon focus on them instead of Austria. The 68th landed on July 30. On August 1, they chased French forces to the walls of Flushing. Flushing fell after a siege on August 15. The regiment left in December to go to Deal.

In June 1811, the regiment was sent to Portugal.

The Peninsular War

The 68th landed in Lisbon on June 27, 1811. By July 17, they joined the 7th Division. For the rest of the year, the regiment marched around Northern Portugal and Spain. As they marched, more and more soldiers became sick. Up to 25 men died each month throughout 1812. Even with new soldiers joining, the regiment rarely had more than 300 men ready for battle. In January 1812, they were a reserve force when the army captured Cuidad Ridrigo. On March 16, they were also a reserve for the capture of Badajoz. They did not see combat in either of these events.

Battle of Salamanca

On June 2, the regiment marched into Spain with the 7th Division. They took a position near Salamanca. The regiment was joined by a company of soldiers from Brunswick. The 68th was then ordered to defend the village of Moresco. They blocked all entrances to the village and fought off French attacks until nightfall.

Early on July 22, the 68th and the 2nd Cacadores fought with French soldiers called Voltiguers. They held a hill until other troops relieved them later that afternoon. The 68th marched with the 7th Brigade in the main battle. It was a big defeat for the French army. On August 12, the 68th and 51st regiments were the first to march into Madrid. The next day, the 68th, 51st, and Chasseurs Britanniques attacked fortified buildings holding about 200 French troops, who surrendered. In September, Wellington's army besieged Burgos, while the 68th covered the attackers.

The regiment spent the winter in Paços de Baixo and Paços de Cima. They were very weak, with only 235 men ready for duty and 247 sick. There was a brief idea to combine them with another weak regiment. However, by April 1813, they had 429 men ready for duty.

They began marching into Spain again in early May.

Battle of Vitoria

Wellington arrived near Vitoria on June 20. The 7th Division, along with the 3rd, formed the left-center part of the attack the next day. They moved south across the River Zadorra. As they advanced, they came under heavy cannon and musket fire. A soldier from the 68th, Pte John Green, said:

I really thought that, if it lasted much longer, there would not have been a man left to relate the circumstance.

—Pte John Green, 68th Regiment

They found shelter in a ditch. When more troops arrived, they advanced forward. They camped that night.

Fighting in the Pyrenees

In July 1813, the British army moved into the Pyrenees mountains. Most of the French army retreated back to France. The French commander, Soult, launched two attacks on Spain on July 25. After marching, the 68th regiment attacked the French on a hill near Urroz. With help from other troops, they pushed the French off the hill. On August 2, the 7th Division attacked the weak center of Soult's army. At the end of the month, Soult tried to take back San Sebastian. When they heard their main attack had failed, the French retreated.

Battle of Nivelle

In October, Wellington's army crossed into France. On November 10, he attacked a strong defensive position that Soult had been building for three months. The 68th and their brigade captured several forts at Sare, facing some French resistance. Colonel Inglis wrote that 'The 68th made the attack with its usual vivacity...'. As the army went into winter camps, the regiment had only 197 men.

By the start of the next attack in February 1814, they had 258 soldiers.

Battle of Orthez

The 7th Division advanced across the Nive river. They took positions south of the Adour river. This was to draw Soult's attention away from Wellington's main attack. On February 27, the division reached Orthez after crossing a river. They attacked Soult's right side. The 68th, 82nd, and the Chasseurs Britanniques charged the French, forcing them out.

On March 8, the 4th and 7th Divisions went north. They entered Bordeaux on March 12. They stayed there for the rest of the month near the French troops. Napoleon gave up his power on April 12. The Regiment went back to Ireland, arriving on April 26.

Service in India

The regiment stayed in Corfu until September 1857. Then they were shipped back to England. On November 5, they received new flags from the Duke of Cambridge. In December, they went to India to help stop the Indian Mutiny. They arrived on March 30, 1858. On November 1, control of India moved from the East India Company to the British Crown.

The regiment, which had been resting in Burma, was finally going to return to England in August 1863. However, the governor of New Zealand asked for more soldiers to deal with fighting against the Maori people. So, the regiment was sent to New Zealand. They were there from October to November 1863.

Fighting in New Zealand

Three ships carrying the 68th Regiment arrived in Auckland in mid-January 1864. Immediately, groups of soldiers were sent to Tauranga, Rangarir, and Maketu.

In April, the Maoris returned and began to occupy their fortified villages, called Pās. Two of these were on the Tauranga Harbour peninsula. The 68th, along with other groups, was sent to Tauranga. Two small forts (redoubts) were built. The commanding officer, Major-General Cameron, wanted to destroy the Maori Pās quickly. On the evening of April 28, about 720 men of the 68th crossed the river to get behind the Maori lines. Around 4 PM, over 300 men from another regiment and the Naval brigade charged the Maoris. They defeated them by about 5 PM. The 68th had set up a protective line to capture the enemy, but they didn't have enough men to stop all the Maoris from escaping.

For six weeks, the 68th stayed in the Te Papa area to make sure no new Pās were built. On June 21, a patrol of about 600 men from the 68th, 43rd, and other local groups, led by Lieutenant Colonel Greer from the 68th, found a similar-sized Maori patrol in some rifle pits. Greer sent for more soldiers. They arrived two hours later and then attacked the rifle pit. Sergeant Murrey was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

The 68th stayed in Te Papa until February 1864. Then they were sent to Wanganui. There was growing mistrust between the army and local militias because colonists were taking more land. They went to Auckland in February 1866. They left New Zealand in March and reached Portsmouth between mid-June and early July.

Victoria Cross Heroes

Three members of the 68th Regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery in the British Military.

The soldiers who received the Victoria Cross were:

• Pte. John Byrne
• Sgt. John Murray
• Capt. Thomas de Courcy Hamilton

Battle Honours

These are the battles and campaigns where the 68th Regiment fought bravely and earned special recognition:

• Salamanca
• Vittoria
• Pyrenees
• Nivelle
• Orthes
• Peninsula
• Alma
• Inkerman
• Sevastopol
• New Zealand

Commanders of the Regiment

Here are some of the leaders who commanded the 68th Regiment over the years:

• General John Lambton (1758-1794)
• Major General John Mansell (1794)
• Major General Thomas Dundas (1794)
• Colonel Alured Clarke (1974)
• Major General Charles Stuart (1794-1795)
• General Thomas Trigge (1795-1809)
• Colonel John Coape Sherbrooke (1809-1813)
• Major General Henry Wards (1813-1831)
• Colonel John Keane (1831-1838)
• Lieutenant General William Johnston (1838-1844)
• Major General Edward Gibbs (1844)
• Lieutenant General Charles Nicol (1844-1850)
• Lieutenant General Douglas Mercer (1850-1854)
• Lieutenant General William Lewis Herries (1854-1857)
• Lieutenant General Robert Christopher Mansel (1857-1864)
• General Lord William Paulet (1864-1881)

Images for kids

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  Re-enactors in the uniform of the 68th Regiment during the period of the Peninsular War

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  A map showing the Battle of Nivelle

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  Private Thomas Kirkham, a veteran of the Napoleonic wars. He was wounded at the Battle of Orthez and later moved to Canada. He is wearing the Military General Service Medal.

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  Soldiers of the 68th Regiment in their everyday uniform, late April 1855. Henry Sladden, the 4th man standing from the left, is wearing his D.C.M.. This might be the first photo ever taken of this medal.

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  A drawing showing the positions of British and Māori forces at the Gate Pā, on April 29, 1864.

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  Monument to the Victoria Cross winners of the Durham Regiment, located in Durham Cathedral square.