74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot
Active	1787–1881
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain (1787–1800)  United Kingdom (1801–1881)
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Size	One battalion
Garrison/HQ	Hamilton Barracks
Engagements	Third Anglo-Mysore War Fourth Anglo-Mysore War First Anglo-Maratha War Second Anglo-Maratha War Napoleonic Wars Eighth Xhosa War Indian Rebellion

The 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot was a special group of soldiers in the British Army. They were a type of infantry unit, meaning they fought on foot. This regiment was first formed in 1787.

Later, in 1881, it joined with another regiment, the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot. Together, they became a new group called the Highland Light Infantry. This change happened because of new army rules called the Childers Reforms.

History of the 74th Regiment

How the Regiment Started

The 74th Regiment was created in Glasgow, Scotland, in October 1787. Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell helped set it up. The main reason for forming this regiment was for them to serve in India.

In February 1789, the soldiers sailed to India. They quickly became involved in important battles. They helped during the siege of Bangalore in 1791. They also took part in the siege of Seringapatam in 1792. These battles were part of the Third Anglo-Mysore War.

The regiment continued to fight in India. They were at the Battle of Mallavelly in 1799. They also helped attack during the siege of Seringapatam in April 1799. This was during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.

In 1803, the 74th Regiment fought in the First Anglo-Maratha War. They then faced a very tough battle called the Battle of Assaye in April 1803. This was during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. At Assaye, the regiment faced heavy cannon fire. They lost many soldiers. Out of about 500 men, 10 officers and 124 other soldiers were killed. Many more were wounded.

After Assaye, they fought at the Battle of Argaon in November 1803. They also helped capture Gawilghur in December 1803. The regiment returned to England in February 1806. Because it was hard to find new soldiers from the Highlands, they lost their "Highland" name. In April 1809, they became simply the 74th Regiment of Foot.

Fighting in the Napoleonic Wars

In January 1810, the regiment sailed to Portugal. They were there to fight in the Peninsular War. This war was part of the bigger Napoleonic Wars.

The 74th Regiment fought in many important battles. These included the Battle of Bussaco in September 1810. They also fought at the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in May 1811. Another key battle was the Battle of El Bodón in September 1811.

They also took part in several sieges. They were at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812. They also fought at the siege of Badajoz in March 1812. A major victory for them was the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812.

The regiment continued to pursue the French army. They fought at the siege of Burgos in September 1812. Then, they were at the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813. They followed the French into France itself. They fought at the Battle of the Pyrenees in July 1813. Other battles included the Battle of Nivelle in November 1813 and the Battle of the Nive in December 1813.

Their last battles in this war were the Battle of Orthez in February 1814. They also fought at the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814. After these long years of fighting, the regiment sailed to Ireland in June 1814.

The Victorian Era and Beyond

In May 1818, the regiment left Ireland for Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. Some soldiers were sent to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saint John, New Brunswick. In August 1828, they moved to Bermuda. They finally returned home to Britain in December 1829.

The regiment then traveled to the Caribbean. They went to Barbados in September 1834. From there, they moved to Grenada in December 1834. In November 1835, they transferred to Antigua. The regiment was then split up. Some soldiers went to Dominica and others to Saint Lucia in February 1837.

In May 1841, they moved to Quebec in Canada. They finally sailed home to Britain, landing in Deal in March 1845. Later that year, they got their "Highland" name back. They were once again the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot. Their leader, Colonel Eyre Crabbe, said that the regiment had always kept a strong connection to Scotland.

In 1851, the regiment sailed to the Cape Colony in South Africa. They were there to fight in the Eighth Xhosa War. In 1852, some soldiers from the regiment were on a ship called HMS Birkenhead. The ship was going to Port Elizabeth.

Very early in the morning on February 28, 1852, the ship hit rocks. This happened near Danger Point. The soldiers bravely gathered on the deck. They made sure that all the women and children got into the lifeboats first. The officers told the men not to jump into the water. They said that swimming to the lifeboats might make them tip over. This would put the women and children in danger. The soldiers stood firm as the ship sank. Sadly, 357 men drowned. The regiment's leader, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Seton, and many of his men were among those who died. This event showed great courage and discipline.

The regiment went to India in 1854. They helped to stop the Indian Rebellion in 1857. They returned home in 1864. The 74th Regiment then served in different places around the world. They were in Gibraltar in 1868. They moved to Malta in 1872. Then they went to the Straits Settlements in 1876. They also served in Hong Kong in 1878. They returned to the Straits Settlements in 1879 before finally coming home in 1880.

In 1881, new army changes called the Childers Reforms came into effect. The 74th Regiment joined with the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot. They became the 2nd battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. This marked the end of the 74th Regiment as a separate unit.

Battle Honours

The 74th Regiment earned special awards called "Battle Honours" for their bravery in these battles:

• Seringapatam (from the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War)
• Assaye (from the Second Anglo-Maratha War)
• From the Peninsular War: Busaco, Fuentes D'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula

Images for kids

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  An Officer in the East India Uniform of the 74th (Highland) Regiment, previously called 'Colonel Donald Macleod', by John Opie

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  Maratha gunners re-man their cannons at the Battle of Assaye in April 1803 (illustration by Alfred Pearse)

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  "The Wreck of the Birkenhead" (ca 1892) by Thomas Hemy

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  Memorial to the men of the 74th Highlanders in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, erected 1886