  The 1st Battalion (41st Foot) was raised as a regiment of invalids in 1719, and it was for a long time known as the "1st Invalids," and as such appears in most of the old "Army Lists." In the era of George II., it distinguished itself in Germany. The 2nd Battalion (the 69th Regiment) was known as "The Old Agamemnons," so called by Lord Nelson at the naval battle of St. Vincent, from the name of his ship, the "Agamemnon," on which the regiment served as Marines; also the "Ups and Downs" from the fact that their number can be read either way up. The regiment has fought with the greatest distinction in many quarters of the world. The curious military arrangements which opened the door for abuse in bygone days are seen in the fact that Colonel Sir Henry Walton, K.C.B., who afterwards commanded the 23rd Regiment, received a commission on the day he was born, through the influence of his father, and at the age of four was gazetted Ensign in the 41st Foot on full pay, and at the age of thirteen was posted to the command of a company. Nickname: "Wardour's Horse." (Depot, Perth.) (Record Office, Perth.) The Sphinx, superscribed "Egypt." "Guadaloupe, 1759," "Martinique, 1762," "Havannah," "North America, 1763-64," "Mangalore," "Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Corunna," "Busaco," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Waterloo," "South Africa, 1846-7, 1851-2-3," "Alma," "Sevastopol," "Lucknow," "Ashantee, 1873-4," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Egypt, 1882, 1884," "Kirbekan," "Nile, 1884-85," "Paardeberg," "South Africa, 1899-1902." Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (No one provokes me with impunity). Uniform, Scarlet. Facings, Blue. Regimental Tartan. Head-dress, Feather bonnet, scarlet, white and green diced border, scarlet hackle. White sporran with five black tassels. Blue glengarry cap. Regimental March, "Highland Laddie." The Pipers wear the feather bonnet the same as the men, being the only pipers to do so. Allied Regiments: 5th Regiment "Royal Highlanders of Canada," and 1st Bn. New South Wales Scottish Rifle Regiment, Australia. |
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