52nd regiment foot units regimental number 52nd regiment foot 52nd regiment foot light infantry regiment british_army 18th 19th centuries regiment saw active service american war independence posted india napoleonic wars 52nd present major battles peninsula campaign celebrated regiments described sir regiment surpassed arms arms borne men largest british battalion formed final charge napoleon involved campaigns india regiment raised line regiment numbered 54th foot renumbered 52nd regiment foot regional designation 52nd regiment foot given regiment regular british_army regiment designated light infantry regiment merged 43rd regiment foot regiment later known regimental structure period 52nd existence british_army comprised infantry cavalry line regiments household divisions regiments line numbered given territorial designations 52nd case roughly represented area troops drawn rigid english regiments significant proportion irish scots regiments comprised battalion 52nd intermittently occasionally commanded lieutenant colonel infantry battalion composed companies centre companies flank companies regular line regiments specialist light company companies commanded captains beneath battalion comprised men excluding musicians officers 1st senior battalion regiment frequently draw fit recruits 2nd battalion maintain strength sent active service 2nd battalion consequently weaker periods long service battalions generally operating strength seriously strength battalions dissolved temporarily drafted regiments happened 52nd occasions 52nd initially battalion regiment increased recruiting resulted creation second battalion 1st battalion saw action spain portugal 2nd remained stationed england regiment officers men concentrated 1st battalion training light infantry 2nd battalion transferred foot new second battalion raised battalions saw extensive action napoleonic wars time heavy losses resulted reduction 2nd battalion skeleton staff 2nd eventually reformed new recruits saw service holland following conclusion war battalions england 2nd transferred 1st battalion preparation service 52nd remained england campaign disbanded subsequently 52nd remained battalion regiment merger 43rd light infantry initially raised regular line regiment 52nd fought line american wars early indian campaigns light regiment regular british regiment designated prior british_army relied mercenaries provide light infantry conditions demanded temporarily regular line companies regular regiments required include company light infantry training light troops inconsistent frequently inadequate consequently beginning british_army late 18th century duke york recognised need dedicated light troops especially coming war napoleon experienced light infantry early war french british_army bolstered light infantry mercenaries germany british light infantry companies proved inadequate effective french flanders campaign netherlands infantry reform urgent raised later designated rifles decision train line regiments light infantry techniques operate light line infantry sir proponent light infantry model suggested regiment line infantry 52nd undergo training followed shortly 43rd foot fight campaigns line regiments designated light infantry moore wrote 52nd diary evident officers individual soldier knows perfectly discipline carried severity officers attached men men officers method training unlike regiments light infantry officers men expected familiar drill routines including weapons training ranks received additional training encouraged develop initiative self direction field need react direct orders regiments time fought tight formation allowing easy administration orders light infantry worked small groups advance main line complicated calls developed pass orders consequently emblem light infantry regiments light infantry fought pairs soldier cover loading line regiments fired fired taking careful aim targets consideration given light infantry rifles improved accuracy expected difficulty expense obtaining sufficient rifled weapons resulted standard infantry musket issued troops accuracy musket decreased long range french muskets likely took place ranges yards yards provided accuracy point blank range french infantry earlier americans frequently multi shot muskets british light infantry standard ball ammunition light infantry equipped lightly regular line regiments marched minute tasks light infantry included advance rear guard action flanking protection armies forward called regular line formations battles act fortification parties war regarded army elite corps regimental history early history 52nd began standard infantry line regiment colonel received papers raise new regiment numbered 54th foot renumbered 52nd regiment foot stationed england ireland time previous 52nd foot renamed 50th foot regiment posted canada regiment command colonel departed ireland aboard transport quebec route ship ran aground dense fog near coast nova scotia wreck remained intact board including soldiers wives safely transferring effects regimental provisions shore general murray governor quebec sent schooner retrieve personnel belongings carry quebec american war independence years founding regiment saw active service american war independence 52nd shipped america canada arriving boston fought battles lexington major general led main assault bunker hill brigadier leading 52nd 43rd foot support occasion 52nd fought alongside 43rd suffered heavy casualties bunker hill company men left august men drafted regiments officers returned england regiment obtained new recruits introduction county titles regiments resulted 52nd adding indian wars 52nd arrived madras years war spanning second anglo wars second war begun british responded news war france moving french held bases india ali ruler sided french marched british died succeeded son continued war minor campaigns peace treaty signed shortly detachment 52nd took siege 52nd stormed breach command sir lord appointed governor general war sultan resumed attacked british allies known war initially military actions fairly minor 52nd involved battle near regiment fought march near december year flank companies 52nd foot formed party assault defenders abandoned fortress successfully taken cost british soldier wounded assault band 52nd played spur attackers 52nd present february siege battalion company received heavy casualties crossing battle 52nd came aid lord companies exposed danger capture sued peace siege treaty signed ending war august regiment took assault french revolutionary wars war broke following french occupation netherlands january creation assault planned dutch colony ceylon force commanded colonel foot including 52nd left india ceylon laying siege february island british hands 52nd returned britain bolstered new recruits second battalion created 52nd took expeditions short stations returned england january regiment 2nd battalion transferred foot prior transfer men officers 1st battalion converted corps light infantry began training colonel 52nd formed brigade rifles line regiments training undertaken lieutenant colonel devised tactics light infantry training new second battalion raised napoleonic wars battalions 52nd experienced active service napoleonic wars paths occasionally overlapping 1st battalion stationed sicily helped train local soldiers later accompanied moore sweden august 2nd battalion accompanied expedition copenhagen taking assault copenhagen led 52nd landed portugal august 43rd positioned village provide cover army landings nearby companies 52nd posted advance guard encounter enemy battle following battle british commander superseded turn superiors sir sir respectively signed convention commanders recalled england explain actions command british troops sir 52nd colonel october sir led army spain reaching far december reinforced troops england including 1st consisted 52nd 43rd led moore army totalled advance cut short news napoleon defeated spanish held madrid approaching army moore turned men retreated mountain roads bitter winter weather french cavalry pursued british_army length journey set provide rearguard protection british troops core reserve commanded consisted 52nd battalions displayed ill discipline plagued regiments retreat stand buying time rest army away following 52nd reserve reformed comprised 43rd 52nd 1st deployed reserve time protecting crossing river near separated reserve main army marched troops eventual transportation england 52nd remained main army caught french ensuing battle january moore killed army including 52nd evacuated england 52nd 43rd returned peninsula june designated command general lisbon hearing army engagement french undertook forced march arriving mere hours battle march extraordinary achievement covering miles hours time infantry march miles day standard henceforth 52nd generally remained advance army forward party role theirs war february added brigade creating 52nd forming brigade companies holding forward outpost involved july took battle held left main french charge successfully repulsed inflicting high casualties killed wounded captured suffered casualties wellington army retreated lines late acted rearguard french unable defences engaged british army number small skirmishes fought temporary command sir came french divisions fog april engagement wellington later wrote consider action fought french glorious british troops engaged returning england 52nd 2nd battalion joined unsuccessful netherlands surrounded marshes officers men came fever malaria years strength battalion eventually returned peninsula battalion manning outposts near early battle engaged initially set reserve came aid struggling provided fighting retreat wellington retired army rest year battalions 52nd manned outposts constantly moved mark changing french positions january saw siege companies 52nd colonel captured francisco january built trenches main assault enemy fire army artillery breached walls column assault planned january forming column assaulted breach near 52nd led hope followed command 52nd major breach carried fortress taken half hour high cost british portuguese casualties died days later army turned attention strong fortress british failed carry earlier occasion dug trenches near stormed established batteries april deemed ordered storm breach reached ditch french exploded gunpowder defences place toll heavy wellington ordered withdrawal fortress walls achieved encouraging attack fortress taken great cost british casualties days army sacked town revenge 52nd 43rd lost officers men resulting reduction 52nd saw action peninsula soon assault wellington marched men confront french near month armies marched counter marched seeking advantage july wellington attacked battle achieving comprehensive victory reserve battle pursued retreating french august saw army madrid 52nd remained wellington led force attempted siege unsuccessful lifted wellington october 52nd covered army retreat portugal winter retreat bore similarities earlier retreat suffered poor supplies bitter weather rearguard action including skirmish near 43rd 52nd lost men reached november 52nd men clothing set including 52nd described highly men steady aspect mixed little corps attended 43rd good humour relaxed spring army returned offensive leaving portugal marching northwards spain french stood preparation battle took place june held centre allied line took bridges battle proved overwhelming victory british following day 52nd sent pursuit retreating french enemy rearguard august volunteers 52nd involved 52nd crossed france october stormed 52nd fought battles november december february battle 52nd led assault ridge heavy fire advance later described sir majestic seen days end napoleon napoleon april news arrived wellington camp late prevent april battle 52nd city later period 52nd left peninsula bolstered new recruits sent holland sir force unsuccessful attack bergen march spent time belgium returning home england peace agreements finally settled french governor april army left peninsula infantry marched transportation new 52nd returned england june stood dover comrades 43rd official welcome allied visit england later chatham joined 52nd returned belgium transferred 1st battalion january 52nd departed portsmouth embark america fighting war continued prevented sailing time conditions improved news arrived napoleon escape 52nd sent belgium start days napoleon marched swiftly france meet allies formed armies duke wellington commanding commanding 52nd assigned 2nd general adam response napoleon movements june posted west southwest brussels cavalry screen wellington forward army engaged french june later fell remain contact prussian allies retreated following took position near village field wide parallel ridges running west east creating shallow valley allies took position northern ridge army prepared battle june 2nd division initially held reserve placed centre left following french cavalry british squares afternoon adam brigade brought reinforce right position 52nd endured heavy bombardment 52nd reported old officers served war stated exposed 52nd squares undergo occasion hours french artillery mile 52nd squares stood waiting british artillery fired heads activity happening field battle drew close napoleon launched assault british line 52nd left met number regiments including 1st foot guards repulsed 3rd retreat 4th moved forward threaten left 52nd sir wheeled left deploying parallel french column fired left flank watching right later recalled directed fire poured bank fell battle gained seeing 52nd begin advance wellington ordered won stand battalion advanced field later followed bayonet charge general adam guard broke forced retreat having pursued french jean 52nd crossed valley floor start battle separated armies attacked square old guard personal body guard napoleon formed british right inn alliance forced retreat 52nd largest battalion british battalions operating strength men officers present wounded killed later history 1st battalion sent paris remained stationed france 2nd battalion disbanded line reductions army occurred following conclusion napoleonic wars returning england 52nd stationed responsible domestic command col experience fitted posting establish military style metropolitan police service sir regiment posted dublin following years 52nd received number overseas regiment stationed turn new_brunswick nova_scotia newfoundland early 52nd performed garrison duty barbados british units frequently supplemented local forces regiment returned canada posted new_brunswick nova_scotia quebec left canada 52nd later returned india arriving regiment found heat dust india 52nd described great clouds dust rose columns march worse rear order fair chance order march changed daily india indian rebellion took siege delhi artillery bombardment walls attempt city september gate blown party engineers accompanied 52nd won victoria_cross bravery 52nd led assault blown gate amidst action won victoria_cross days heavy fighting city won 52nd remained india returned england sixteen years received ireland england malta gibraltar reforms merged 43rd regiment foot regiment fought alongside campaigns newly combined unit named 52nd 2nd battalion 1st green jackets 43rd 52nd merged rifles colours honours like british regiments 52nd carried flags known colours king colour second regimental colour regiment number centre surrounded following presentation colours 52nd king colour included centre non standard addition second colour regimental buff 52nd case small union flag corner regimental number took centre colours carried battle identification rallying point care attending colours battle dangerous target enemy artillery assault symbolic significance colours loss grave issue extreme measures taken prevent occurring forward positions maintained light infantry frequently bearing colours reason newly raised rifles received colours converted line regiments 52nd retained existing colours light infantry regiments opted carry peninsula 52nd 43rd battle honours awarded regiment performance certain battles campaigns displayed colours 52nd received following honours peninsula delhi decorations regimental badge regimental badge 52nd showed horn suspended knot number horn badge light infantry regiments adapted regiments standard newly formed regiments represented calls orders instead standard line infantry drum regimental badge worn equipment including belts frequently officers shoulder wings war 52nd fulfilled dual role line light infantry contributing fortress assault parties companies led breach assaults known hope dutch lost troop deemed act high honour lead troops faced greatest danger 52nd contributed hope officers survived likely battlefield promotions assured ranks receive commander chance promotion greatly increased 52nd offered recognition survived hope entitled wear right arm badge displaying laurel letters honour awarded 52nd commanding officer restricted 52nd victoria_cross victoria_cross instituted british_empire highest decoration date 52nd merged 43rd soldiers 52nd awarded victoria_cross delhi accompanied party engineers led engineers ordered lay charge blow gate entry city obtained charges detonated sounded advance attended wounded officer explosion party enduring intense fire city defenders explosion party awarded home recipient medal won following assault blown gate carried away wounded heavy fire city delhi morning assault medals display winchester regiment 54th regiment foot 52nd regiment foot sir 6th sir cyrus 52nd regiment foot sir 52nd regiment foot light infantry sir 1st sir 1st sir sir sir sir uniform equipment regiment life 52nd foot wore traditional british_army red coats buff american wars coat long tailed buff buff company wore hat regimental number officers wore crimson silver light infantry regiment uniform accordingly changed light infantry dress origins american war independence uniforms altered allow ease field wings similar worn added shoulders quick removal coats possible time irregular light infantry sought conspicuous dress traditional red coat returned new regular light infantry rifles permitted retain green clothing german regiments line regiments required retain red coat remained duties napoleonic wars 52nd foot continued wear red uniforms buff officers silver lace ranks lace worn pairs red orange stripes according regulations commentator described lace red blue stripes light infantry officers wore short jackets tailed coats line regiments white silver buttons silver scarlet shoulder wings uniform completed crimson match buff turn backs officers generally wore buff grey field officers 52nd wore silver regimental badge light infantry wings designate rank order stipulated star majors crown lieutenant star crown light infantry commonly wore narrow waist belt instead customary shoulder belt 52nd adopt cap retained napoleonic period adorned brass badge green light infantry 52nd officers officers generally carried sabre officers responsible providing paying uniforms consequently variable style decoration present according officer private means equipment consume significant portion officer pay napoleonic era 52nd plain regimental sabre example cost approximately days pay ensign red coat remained standard uniform british_army introduced standard colonial conditions use lighter materials slight change design uniform equipment remained restrictive particularly colonial warfare light bob situation compared enemy light marching order tight red jacket place breast buff leather belts quarter inch thickness nail breadth hang box containing rounds ball weight shoulders square packed containing shirts notions plant cap head point weight equal iron pot place shoulder musket bayonet weighing stone days provisions couple liquid official service uniform developed tropics mutiny india regiments fought uniform white drill standard uniform 52nd regiment white uniforms use field early grey colour purposes discarded coats adopting indian traditions wore shirts shirts dyed 52nd developed wear standard issue forage caps following mutiny regiments returned standard red clothing legacy despite continual merging units legacy 52nd remains 52nd battle honours represented belt badge rifles rifle regiment rifles carry colours museums record actions 52nd hold collections artifacts memorabilia including archives managed officers 52nd recorded experiences regiment notable reverend young ensign carried believed actions taken sir lord 52nd defeat close battle overlooked official dispatches histories wrote memoirs truth regard knew 52nd achieved light volume work history lord regiment 52nd light infantry battle published served primary source historians publish memoirs successfully grandson slavery abolitionist wrote chapter indian mutiny publication book criticised fellow officers 52nd
52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot