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King's Own Royal Regiment Museum Lancaster |
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REGIMENTAL HISTORY FAMILY HISTORY PHOTO GALLERY
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REGIMENTAL HISTORY - 19TH CENTURY Peninsula - The Napoleonic Campaigns chart Britain's progress in breaking the control which Napoleon established over Europe. Britain dispatched troops to fight the French right across Europe. The main actions were fought in Spain and Portugal - known as the Peninsula. Portugal, with its long and profitable history of trade with Britain, was the first European power to defy Napoleon's Continental System. It was quickly brought into line by force. Its neighbour, Spain, was also overrun. The Spanish royal family was forced to resign in favour of Napoleon's brother Joseph. Anti-French feeling was strong. With guerrilla warfare against the French under way, the British saw the Peninsula as a possible point of entry into Europe. The King's Own was involved throughout these campaigns. They fought in North Africa, Northern Europe, the Peninsula and at the final victory at Waterloo in 1815. Find out more An Incident in
the Peninsula War - Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, of the 4th or
King’s Own Regiment and the Bridge at Barba del Puerco 1811 North America - The King's Own was one of the few regiments to fight in both the Peninsula and the North American campaign of 1814-15. Find out more North America 1814-15 Australia - Within eighteen years of the 'discovery' of Australia in 1770 the colony was used as a convict settlement. Newly independent America refused to take any more prisoners, British jails were seriously overcrowded and Australia seemed to provide an ideal solution. Transportation of convicts began once more in 1787. After 1810, when local guards rebelled, the British Army was given responsibility for guarding the prisoners. In 1831 the King's Own were sent out to undertake this duty. The King's Own were responsible for providing garrisons for the settlements in New South Wales and Tasmania, as well as smaller presence on the remote Norfolk Island. See a picture of Private
Henry Watts, before he sailed to Australia. Crimea - The King's Own fought throughout the Crimean War and suffered heavy losses through disease and battle injury. The war was the direct result of Russia's efforts to expand her territory around the Black Sea. Britain and France both became involved. As world forces they had interest in maintaining the balance of power. Both sent in their troops to support Turkey against Russian advances. The Crimean War is famous for the medical work of Florence Nightingale. She had reacted to press reports that came from eye-witness accounts. This was the first time newspaper correspondents were able to report from a war zone. Nurses were not the only women with the troops. A number of wives of King's Own soldiers also witnessed the appalling conditions at first hand. Find out more - Crimea Medals Find out more - Indian Mutiny Medal Abyssinia - The British government often employed its military strength to settle its disputes with foreign powers. In this case the Army was called upon to free a number of Europeans held captive in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) by Emperor Theodore. The King's Own was one of three regiments to serve in this campaign. On arrival from India the King's Own marched many hundreds of miles inland to the fortress of Magdala. After the Battle of Arogie the Abyssinians were defeated and the fortress was stormed days later. Emperor Theodore committed suicide. Find out more - March to Magdala Lancaster became the permanent home of the King's Own as a result of the army reforms of Edward Cardwell, the Secretary of State for War from 1868. Fundamental changes were made. Cardwell reorganised the War Office, revised soldiers' terms of service and formed a permanent army reserve. He also reformed the promotion system for officers and redistributed foreign garrisons. In Britain Cardwell divided brigades on a regional basis. Each brigade was broken up into a number of districts, with an allotted regiment consisting of two battalions. The Militia and Volunteer Battalions were now brought into this district system. South Africa - The Boer War 1899-1902 was fought between the countries of the British Empire and the Boer (or Afrikaner) population of South Africa. The Boers, mainly of Dutch origin, wanted full independence from Britain. However, South Africa was economically important - especially for gold and diamonds - and was not to be easily surrendered. Men from the King's Own regular, volunteer and militia battalions fought during the three years of war. The Boer forces were skilful in guerrilla tactics and used them widely, preventing a speedy victory for the British. The Regimental Chapel in Lancaster was built as a memorial to those who fell during the South African Campaign. The Chapel was dedicated on 29th July 1904. A memorial records the names of 18 officers and 264 other ranks. More on the Action at Spion Kop, January
1900
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