  The regiment is the oldest of the old Indian regiments. It was raised in India in the reign of Charles I., but in 1748 it became the Madras European Regiment, and under Clive rendered splendid service at many famous Indian battles which gradually won that Empire for the British Crown. The 2nd Battalion (103rd Foot) has an equally glorious Indian record. After 223 years of Indian service the 1st Battalion came to England for the first time in 1868, and in 1870 the 2nd Battalion came home for the first time after 209 years service. Nicknames: "The Blue Caps." During the Indian Mutiny, Nana Sahib warned his men against those "blue-capped soldiers who fought like devils." "The Old Toughs," from the long period of hard service in India. (Depot, Winchester.) (Record Office, Winchester.) "Copenhagen," "Monte Video," "RoliÇa," "Vimiera," "Corunna," "Busaco," "Barrosa," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Ciudad Rodrigo," "Badajoz," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Waterloo," "South Africa, 1846-7, 1851-2-3," "Alma," "Inkerman," "Sevastopol," "Lucknow," "Ashantee, 1873-4," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan, 1878-9," "Burma, 1885-87," "Khartoum," "Defence of Ladysmith," "Relief of Ladysmith," "South Africa, 1899-1902." Uniform, Dark Green. Facings, Black. Head-dress, Black fur busby with black plume. Cap, Dark Green with green band. Regimental March, "I'm Ninety-five." Allied Regiment: 6th Regiment (The Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles) of Canada. |
|
