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The history of the Gloucester Regiment
in military art prints from Gibson's Regiment 1694 to the Gloucestershire
Regiment of World War Two. Historical military prints of the Gloucesters
include the battle of Waterloo and the Battle of Alexandria.
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The two battalions forming this regiment wre the 28th (North
Gliucestershire), and 61st (South Gloucestershire), which were
"linked" before they were territorialised. The former,
raised in 1694, was, with the exception of a detachment left at
Newfoundland, disbanded four years later; but it reappears in the
"Army List" in 1702. It took part in the battles of Huy,
Neer-Hespen, and Ramillies, was decimated at Almanza, was with the Vigo
expedition in 1719, was present at Fontenoy, and in the L'Orient
expedition of 1746.
The next names on its colours to that of "Ramillies", which
is the first, are "Louisburg" and "Quebec,
1759". These were granted for its services in the campaign
which cost Wolfe his life, and for its work at Montreal and Sillery.
The 28th also assisted in the capture of Martinique and Havannah, and
seemed fated to see most of its active service in the West; for, after
fighting in the War of American Independence at Brooklyn, White Plains,
Brandywine, and Germanstown, it was employed in 1778 at St Lucia and St
Kitts; and in 1796 it again returned to the West Indies, to serve at St
Lucia and Grenada.
Meanwhile it had fought also in Flanders, at Nimeguen and
Gueldermalsen, in 1794; and after service at Minorca and Cadiz, it
embarked for the Egyptian campaign of 1801. There, at Alexandria,
it won the distinction, peculiar to the 28th, of having the number
formerly, and now the Sphinx, both in front and in rear of the head
dress. For in the battle it was attacked in rear as well as in
front, and met the assualt in line, the men standing back to back.
It took part also in the affairs of Mandora and Aboukir.
After service at Copenhagen and elsewhere the 28th went to
Portugal. It was in the retreat to Corunna; afterwards at
Walcheren, leaving a part of its strength to fight at the Douro and
Talavera, and at Busaco, Torres Vedras, Badajoz, and Albuhera. In
this latter fighting a 2nd battalion, formed in 1803, and disbanded in
1815, took part. The other battalion served at Arroyo dos Molinos,
Almaraz, Burgos, Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, and
Toulouse. At Waterloo it suffered heavily, being reduced to four
companies, and the "colour staffs were shot to pieces; one of them
was two yards long, the other only one". The French cavalry
failed to break their square, and the 28th stood firm, with Picton's
cry, "Remember Egypt!" in their ears.
Despached to India in 1842, the 28th was prevented by sickness from
taking part in the Afghan campaign, and saw no further fighting until
1854, when it was filled up to war strength with some difficulty; but it
distinguished itself at Alma, Inkerman and Sevastopol, where the men
showed the greatest bravery in the attack on the cemeteries.
The 61st was formed form the 2nd battalion of the Buffs, and received
its number in 1758. It had two predecessors; the first existed
from 1742 to 1748, and the second afterwards became the 59th. It
first saw service, as the 61st, at Guadaloupe in 1759, and next at the
celebrated defence of Minorca in 1781; at St Lucia in 1795; and in
America from 1776 to 1780, where it fought at Stillwater.
After serving in South Africa in 1799, in joined General Baird's
command for the Egyptian campaign, and, marching across the desert from
Kosseir on the Red Sea, reached Kennah, on the Nile, in ten days.
The march was most distressing, and a drummer died of exhaustion.
Private Connell, when he was reported missing, had the heroism to go
back and find him, notwithstanding his own weariness. He found the
drummer dead; but Connell's conduct in this case led to his being
eventually commissioned in the 61st. The regiment took part in the
siege of Alexandria, after which the officers were given gold medals by
the Sultan, and "Egypt", with the Sphinx, was added to the
colours. At Maida, in 1806, the flank companies crossed bayonets
with the French; and for their gallantry the word "Maida" was
placed on the "appointments of the grenadiers and light infantry of
the 61st"
A 2nd battalion, raised in 1803, did duty in Ireland, and was
disbanded in 1814. Meanwhile the whole of the 1st battalion was
despatched to Portugal in 1809, and remained there till the end of the
war, sharing in the glories of Talavera (where Corporal Rose
distinguished himself, and was eventually rewarded with a commission),
Busaco, Almeida, Ciudad Rodrigo; at the siege of the forts of San
Vincente, St Cajetano, and La Merced, outside Salamanca; at the battle
of Salamanca (where Privates Crawford and Coulson carried the colours to
the front when the officers fell); and at Burgos, the Pyrenees, the
Nivelle, Nive Bayonne, Orthes, Tarbes, and Toulouse.
The 61 was despatched to India in 1845, and did not return home until
1860. Duting this period it took part in the Sikh War, fought at
Sadoolapore, Chillianwallah, and Goojerat, was engaged in the frontier
war near Peshawur in 1851, and finally at the siege of Delhi during the
Mutiny. Here Doctor H. T. Reade gained the Cross for Valour.
The present facings are white; but the 28th had originally yellow,
and the 61st pale buff facings, the latter from its having been once a
battalion of the 3rd Foot. The buttons bear the royal crest and
the initials "G.R." within a laurel wreath of single leaves;
the tunic collar bears the Sphinx over "Egypt". with two
laurel twigs; in the front and on the back of the helmet is also the
Sphinx etc.; and the waistplate has, in addition, the territorial
title. The latter, with the arms of the city of Gloucester, is
worn on the forage cap.
The Royal South Gloucester and the Royal North Gloucester Militia
form the 3rd and 4th battalions. They were raised in 1750 and
1761, and the latter had the royal crest on its buttons. The
Volunteer battalions are the 1st Gloucestershire, Bristol (green with
green facings), and the 2nd Gloucestershire, Gloucester (green and
red). The 28th were called "The Braggs" from the name of
one of their colonels, who is said to have commanded the regiment for
twenty five years, and "The Slashers", either from their
bravery at White Plains and the Brunx, when they wore short swords, and
used them, or from the story that on one occasion in Canada some of the
officers disguised themselves as Indians, and attacked a magistrate who
had given great offence to the regiment, "and with their swords
slashed off his ear". The depot is at Bristol.
Extract from "The British Army and Auxiliary Forces" Colonel
C. Cooper King, R.M.A. , 1894 |
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Glosters Return by David Griffin
The allied invasion of Normandy Operation Overlord was the greatest sea-bourne military operation in history. Key to its success and at the heart of the invasion were the Landings of the British 50th division on Gold beach and the Canadian 3rd Division on Juno beach. They provided a vital link between the landings of the British 3rd Division on Sword beach and the Americans on Omaha and Utah beaches. They were also crucial in securing the beachhead and the drive inland to Bayeux and Caen.
Signed limited edition of 1850 prints. Image size 25 inches x 17 inches (64cm x 43cm). Price £55.00
**Signed limited edition of 1850 prints. (One copy reduced to clear) Image size 25 inches x 17 inches (64cm x 43cm). Price £40.00
ITEM CODE DHM1360
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28th Gloucester Regiment at Waterloo by William Barnes Wollen.
Open edition print. Image size 30 inches x 19 inches (76cm x 48cm). Price £56.00
Open edition print. Image size 23 inches x 14 inches (58cm x 36cm). Price £48.00
ITEM CODE DHM0016
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Battle of Alexandria by Peter Archer.
Depicting the Royal Artillery along with the Gloucester regiment and Black Watch against Napoleons forces in Egypt 21st March 1801.
Rare edition print. Image size 27 inches x 14 inches (69cm x 36cm). Price £70.00
ITEM CODE VAR0999
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Quatre Bras by Lady Elizabeth Butler.
28th Gloucester Regiment shown in square repelling the French cavalry.
Open edition print. Image size 30 inches x 14 inches (76cm x 35cm). Price £42.00
Open edition print. Special Promotion : This print is 30% off for a limited time only! Image size 14 inches x 6 inches (35cm x 16cm). Price £18.48
Small number of giclee canvas prints available. Size 40 inches x 26 inches (102cm x 66cm). Price £600.00
Small number of giclee canvas prints available. Size 36 inches x 22 inches (91cm x 56cm). Price £450.00
Antique black and white Photogravure Size 13 inches x 27 inches (33cm x 69cm). Price £800.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm) Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm) . Price £
**Open edition print. (2 copies reduced to clear) Image size 30 inches x 14 inches (76cm x 35cm). Price £36.00
ITEM CODE VAR0311
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Gloucester Regiment by Richard Simkin.
Open edition print. Image size 9 inches x 12 inches (23cm x 31cm). Price £14.00
Original chromolithograph published c.1888. Image size 10 inches x 13 inches (25cm x 33cm). Price £140.00
**Open edition print. (One copy reduced to clear) Image size 9 inches x 12 inches (23cm x 31cm). Price £7.00
ITEM CODE UN0267
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Surgeon General Herbert Taylor Reade VC.
Winning his VC during the Siege of Dehli, 14th September 1857, with a small number of men of the 61st foot, cleared rebels from the rooftops, where they had been firing down on wounded men that Reade had been attending.
Open edition print. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £14.00
ITEM CODE VAR0482
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61st Foot at the Battle of Salamanca by Tom Croft.
61st Foot (South Gloucestershire) The Battle of Salamanca, 22nd July 1812.
One copy available only. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £24.00
ITEM CODE DHM9418
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Glosters Return by David
Griffin 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment on Gold Beach, D-Day, 6th
June 1944.The allied invasion of Normandy 'Operation Overlord' was the greatest
sea-bourne military operation in history. Key to its success and
at the heart of the invasion were the Landings of the British 50th
division on 'Gold' beach and the Canadian 3rd Division on 'Juno'
beach. They provided a vital link between the landings of the
British 3rd Division on 'Sword' beach and the Americans on Omaha and
Utah beaches. They were also crucial in securing the beachhead and
the drive inland to Bayeux and Caen. Each print carries the printed signatures of Lt Col N. Welch
MBE,
Commander M Cree, Wing Commander A.J. Wolton and is individually signed
and numbered by the artist.
28th Gloucester Regiment at Waterloo by Wollen
Battle of Alexandria by Peter Archer Depicting the Royal Artillery along with the Gloucester regiment and
Black Watch against Napoleon's forces in Egypt 21st March 1801.
Quatre Bras by Lady Butler 28th Gloucester Regiment shown in square repelling the French cavalry.
Surgeon General Herbert Taylor Reade VC Winning his VC during the Siege of
Dehli, 14th September 1857, with a
small number of men of the 61st foot, cleared rebels from the rooftops,
where they had been firing down on wounded men that Reade had been
attending. Born in Perth, Canada, on
20th September 1828, the son of Staff Surgeon George Hume Reade, who
became Colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Canadian Militia and died at Scutari
in 1854. He was also the elder brother of Surgeon General Sir John Reade,
KCB, KStJ, QHS, KHS. Herbert Reade was educated in Canada and qualified in
Dublin joining the army as Assistant Surgeon to the 61st Foot (Gloucesters)
in 1850. In 1857 he was promoted Staff Surgeon 2nd Class, saw actionduring
the Indian Mutiny and took part in the attack on Ferozepore, and the Siege
and Assault on Dehli in the same year, gaining his Victoria Cross while
with the Regiment.
The citation reads: "Dates of Acts of Bravery: 14 and 16 Sept 1857.
During the siege of Dehli, and on the 14th Sep 1857, while Surgeon Reade
was attending to the wounded at the end of one of the streets of the city,
a party of rebels advanced from the direction of the Bank, and, having
established themselves in the houses of the street, commenced firing from
the roofs. The wounded were thus in very great danger, and would have
fallen into the hands of the enemy, had not Surgeon Reade drawn his sword,
and calling upon the few soldiers who were near to follow, succeeded after
heavy fire, in dislodging the rebels.
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| Regimental
Books Available: |
The
Gloucestershire Regiment in the War 1914 - 1918. by Everard Wyrall
(1931)
As the subtitle states these are the records of the 1st
(28th Foot), 2nd (61st Foot), 3rd (Special Reserve) and 4th, 5th and 6th
(First Line T.A.) Battalions, in other words this is the history of the
battalions of the regiment which existed prior to the outbreak of
war. The one appendix lists the twenty-four battalions that existed
during the war, indicating the theatre of war in which they served and in
which division. Eight of these battalions did not serve overseas,
and of the rest only one (7th Service Battalion) did not serve on the
Western Front, it went with 13th Division to Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and
Persia. Total losses amounted to 8,100, 72 battle honours were
awarded and in the appendix is shown which honours were awarded to which
battalion, information not seen in any other Great War regimental history;
and four VCs were won but only one of them by one of the battalions
covered in this book. In August 1914 the 1st Battalion was stationed
in Bordon, part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, and was among
the first British troops to disembark in Le Havre, on 13th August.
The first quarter of this book is concerned with the doings of the 1st
Battalion which saw action in the early battles of the war - Mons and the
retreat, the Marne, the Aisne, First Ypres and Givenchy. The 2nd
Battalion was in China when war broke out and came home to join the newly
formed 81st Brigade, 27th Division which arrived in France in December
1914 and in November 1915 was transferred to Salonika, where it remained
for the rest of the war. Three chapters of the book deal with the
operations in that theatre of war. The three Territorial battalions
were in the South Midland Division, later the 48th which crossed to France
at the end of March 1915 and fought on the Western Front till November
1917, when it was sent to Italy where it remained till the
armistice. The final chapter gives the account of operations in that
theatre. The author, a well known military historian, was probably
the most prolific among the writers of regimental and divisional
histories, some thirteen in all, and this account reflects the skill of
the writer in producing a very readable narrative, which draws on the
Battalion Diary, on individual accounts of actions, some quite lengthy,
and makes use of footnotes to give casualty details in addition to those
contained in the text, various comments, and items of information from
other sources to confirm or add to the main text. The maps are
good. There is no Roll of Honour nor list of honours and awards.
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357 pages. Price £22.
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