Military historical art of the North Staffordshire Regiment, now part of the Staffordshire Regiment, to be published by Cranston Fine Arts, the military print company.

  The Prince of Wale’s (North Staffordshire Regiment)-Regimental District No.64-is composed of the 64^th and 98^th Foot.  In 1758 the 2^nd battalion of the 11^th Foot was constituted the 64^th Regiment, and the newly formed corps were speedily under orders for the West Indies, where they were engaged at Martinique.  Returning home in 1763, they went to America in 1770, and served there till 1782, during which period occurred the revolt of the colonies against British rule.  After a short time at home, they went in 1793 to Barbados and again took part on the operations directed against Martinique and Guadaloupe, subsequently gaining the distinction of “St. Lucia” on their colours.  They were engaged a few years later under Brigadier Hughes at Surinam.  Duties elsewhere prevented their taking part in any of the Peninsular battles, but they were of some time in the army of occupation in France, from which time till 1856 only peace duties occupied their services.  In the latter year, however, the Persian War broke out, and brought to the 64^th an opportunity of showing they were no whit behind regiments, which had been more actively employed.  “Bushire,” “Reshire,” “Koosh-ab,”-all speak to the courage and endurance of the 64^th, in the operations in which they were engaged.  A yet more serious warfare awaited them in India; the moment they landed they marched under Havelock to Cawnpore, and had some sharp fighting at Futtehpore.  At the capture of Cawnpore, the conduct of the 64^th under Major Stirling provoked the greatest praise.  After capturing four villages and seven guns, our wearied troops were checked by a 24-pounder, which the rebels had placed in position on the road.  The 64^th were ordered to take it, and, despite the heavy loss they had incurred, they charged up to the grinning muzzle, captured it, and dispersed the rebels.  In the General Order issued by Havelock, he addressed the 64^th in the following words: “Your fire was reserved till you saw the colour of your enemies moustaches-this gave us the victory.”           It is impossible to avoid mentioning in connection with this incident the somewhat aggrieved feelings that were naturally aroused amongst the officers and men of the 64^th by the fact of Lieutenant Havelock-now Sir H. Havelock Allen-heading them at the final charge, and being, therefore, recommended by his father for the Victoria Cross.  No one who remembers the General’s previous reticence as to his son’s valour will accuse him of paternal bias.  No one who recalls the previous and subsequent career of Lieutenant Havelock will deny that he was brave amongst the brave.  But it is not difficult to understand that the 64^th were hurt at even an apparent suggestion that their own officers were not competent to lead them, no matter how desperate the venture.  Perhaps the most dispassionate account of the incident is that contained in the work, “The Victoria Cross in India,” from which we have before quoted.

           “At the final action previous to the entry into Cawnpore, affairs at one time looked rather bad.  The British guns, owing to the fatigue of their cattle, could not come up quickly enough to reply to a 24-pounder placed on the road, which was doing great execution.  A large body of rebel infantry guarded this gun.  Havelock ordered his exhausted infantry to make a last effort.  They responded to the appeal, and advanced.  The 64^th regiment was more immediately opposite to the gun than the other regiments.  Major Stirling commanding the 64^th had lost his horse, but was gallantly leading his men on foot.  No other mounted officer was present.  Perhaps observing this fleet, perhaps only obeying the dictates of his own courage, Lieutenant Havelock placed himself in front of the regiment, and steered steadily for the 24-pounder, which fired round-shot up to 300 yards, and grape afterwards, with great precision and rapidity.  Cooly the 64^th drew nearer, losing men at every step, and equally coolly did Lieutenant Havelock ride at a foot’s pace straight for the muzzle of the gun.  At length, with a rush, the latter was captured; the enemy then fled, and the day was won.”           They remained under General Wyndham to garrison Cawnpore, and in the attack made by the rebels on the 28^th of November were greatly distinguished.  Encouraged by a temporary success they had obtained, the rebels fought with redoubled vigour, hoping, doubtless, to revel in another massacre.  The 64^th frustrated the fiendish hope.  “Captain Wright, with only thirty men of the 64^th, held the Baptist chapel and the old burial ground.  Finding that the enemy were surrounding him he drew off his men in skirmishing order and stopped the advance of the Sepoys by a fire of musketry.  About this time he saw a wing of his own corps, about two hundred and fifty strong, commanded by Colonel Wilson, marching by order of General Wyndham to capture four guns that were playing with fatal precision on the British left.  Rallying his small force, Wright instantly led it as a sort of advanced guard to Wilson, on whose men the enemy now turned, their guns doing terrible execution.  The brave 64^th never wavered, but with a ringing shout rushed on the cannon, spiking three of them before the gunners had recovered from their surprise; but it was alike impossible to retain or carry them off, for the foe were ten to one.  Colonel Wilson and Major Stirling were shot, Captains Murphy and M’Crea were cut down at the guns, while Captain M’Kinnon and Lieutenant Gordon were severely wounded, taken prisoners, and murdered in cold blood.  The slaughter was great among the 64^th.”  During the episode, Drummer Thomas Flinn, of the 64^th Regiment, was wounded; but, nevertheless, he persisted in remaining with his comrades, and engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter with two of the rebel artillerymen.  Later on the regiment was engaged against Tantia Topee and in Rohileund, and through out the mutiny gained deservedly the reputation of being a gallant and dashing regiment.  Since then no warlike duties of importance have fallen to their lot.

           The 98^th, the 2^nd battalion of the North Staffordshire, dates from 1824, and is, according to Colonel Archer, the sixth regiment, which has borne that number.  Their first duty was in South Africa, where they served for several years, after which they fought in the China War of 1840-41, their officer being Colonel Campbell.  In 1846 they repaired to India and bear the distinction “Punjaub” in commemoration of the services they rendered during that anxious time.  In 1850 they took part in the campaign against the fierce Afridis, and in the fighting in the Kohat Pass rendered signal and meritorious service.  Returning home in 1855, a couple of years later saw them again in India, sharing in the operations under General Cotton against the Eusufzies.  For many years the 98^th remained in India, finding from time to time plenty of occupation in the occasionally irksome duties developing upon the army in “our Great Dependency;” and after a stay in England, whither they returned in 1867, the Afghan troubles of 1879-80 caused them again to seek “the tented field,” though their participation in the operations was limited to the steps taken after the taking of Candahar.  No subsequent warfare has fallen to their lot, but amongst the minor military services which from time to time occupy our forces, the Zhob Valley Expedition of 1884 broke for the 98^th the spell of inaction.    

The Prince of Wale's North Staffordshire Regiment

Formed as the 2nd battalion of the 11th Foot, in 1756, becoming the 64th of foot in 1758. and a second regiment formed in 1824 as the 98th of foot.. Both Regiments becoming the becoming the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1881.

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