British Regular and Provincial Regiments
that served in Newfoundland 1694-1919


From
To
Rgmt #
Title
1694 - 1698 28th Regiment of Foot
1699 - 1699 2nd Queen’s Regiment of Foot
1717 - 1871 Royal Regiment of Artillery
1717 - 1871 Corps of Military Artificers (Royal Engineers)
1717 - 1764 40th Regiment of Foot
1762 - 1762 1st Royal Scots Regiment of Foot
1762 - 1762 22nd Regiment of Foot
1762 - 1762 42nd Highland Regiment of Foot
1762 - 1762 60th Royal Americans
1762 - 1764 45th Regiment of Foot (2nd Marines)
1762 - 1762 77th Highland Regiment of Foot
1762 - 1762 78th Highland Regiment of Foot
1764 - 1776 59th Regiment of Foot
1772 - 1774 49th Regiment of Foot (6th Marines)
1776 - 1781 42nd Royal Highland Regiment
1776 - 1776 65th Regiment of Foot
1778 - 1780 Royal Newfoundland Volunteers
(Captain Pringle)
1780 - 1783 His Majesty’s Newfoundland Regiment of Foot
(Major Pringle)
1779 - 1783 71st Regiment of Foot
1783 - 1787 37th Regiment of Foot
1787 - 1800 4th King’s Own Regiment of Foot
1795 - 1802 Royal Newfoundland Regiment
(Skinner’s Fencibles)
1803 - 1816 The Newfoundland Regiment of Fencible Infantry
(The Royal Newfoundland Regiment)
(Lt Col Skerrett)
1805 - 1813 Royal Nova Scotia Fencible Infantry
1801 - 1804 66th Regiment of Foot
1804 - 1814 St.John’s Volunteer Rangers
1812 - 1813 103rd Regiment of Foot
1816 - 1818 98th Highland Regiment of Foot
1814 - 1815 93rd Southerland Regiment
1818 - 1824 74th Regiment of Foot
1818 - 1871 Royal Corps of Sappers and Miners
1824 - 1824 Duke of York’s Rifle Corps and Light Infantry
1824 - 1841 Newfoundland Veteran Companies
1841 - 1862 Royal Newfoundland Companies
1860 - 1871 Royal Newfoundland Volunteers
1862 - 1870 The Royal Canadian Rifles
1914 - The Royal Newfoundland Regiment



 


Brief History of Several of the above noted Regiments


In 1754 the British Government determined to raise two Highland Regiments for service in North America in their continuing struggle with France. Simon Fraser, Master of Lovat, was commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment to be designated the 78th Regiment of Foot. The second Regiment was designated the 77th Regiment of Foot (Montgomerie’s Highlanders). The 78th Regiment (Fraser’s Highlanders) were assembled as Iverness and after being recruited to full strength the regiment departed Glasgow in 1757 en route to America. In 1758 they participated in the capture of Louisbourg and the following year joined General Wolfe in the capture of Quebec.

In 1762 the French Government assembled a force of nearly seven hundred troops under command of Count D"Haussonvile with the intention of capturing St.John’s. On the 24th of June they landed at Bay Bulls and proceeded to march toward St.John’s which being only lightly defended surrendered shortly.

Colonel William Amhearst, who commanded troops in New York, was tasked with the recovery of the colony from the French. The British force was comprised of the Royal Scots, the 77th Montgomerie’s the 78th Fraser Highlanders and the Royal Americans. Amhearst landed at Torbay and a detachment of 78 Fraser Highlanders under the command of Captain McDonnell was tasked with the clearing the landing site of French skirmishers. On the morning of the 15th the Fraser Highlanders were able to slip past the French advance posts under cover of fog and engage the enemy in a surprise attack. The French were driven from Signal Hill and after two days of mortar barrage surrendered to Amhearst on the 18th of September effectively ending French involvement in North America.




The Regimental Colours
His Majesty's Royal
Newfoundland Regiment
of Foot



The Regimental Colours
His Majesty's Royal
Newfoundland Regiment
of Foot



The Kings Colours
His Majesty's Royal
Newfoundland Regiment
ofFoot


2009    |    The Signal Hill Tattoo    |    Home