51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment of Foot
Encyclopedia
The 51st Regiment of Foot was a British Army
line infantry
regiment. During the Childers Reforms
it was united with the 105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
to form the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
.
. Originally numbered the 53rd, Napiers, Regiment of Foot, and bearing the name of its colonel, Robert Napier, it was re-numbered in 1757, with the name of its new colonel, as 51st Brudenells Regiment. In 1759 they saw action at the battle of Minden
, which later became their first battle honour. Following the war, the 51st had garrison duty in Ireland and Minorca, acquiring their county association in 1783 as the 51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment.
The regiment was at Gibraltar at the start of the French Revolutionary Wars
and in 1795 they were in Corsica at the siege of Calvi
.
In 1803-05 it took part in the Kandyan Wars in Sri Lanka
.
In 1808 the 51st became a Light Infantry
regiment and took part in Peninsular War
, where they fought in every major action. Following Napoleon's escape from Elba in 1815, they fought in the Battle of Waterloo
.
In 1881, as part of the Childers Reforms
, the 51st was amalgamated with the 105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
to form the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
line infantry
Line infantry
Line infantry is a type of infantry which composed the basis of European land armies from the middle of the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century....
regiment. During the Childers Reforms
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
it was united with the 105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
The 105th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The King's Own Light Infantry ....
to form the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755. The regiment's traditions and history are now maintained by The Rifles.-The 51st Foot:...
.
Service history
The 51st was formed in 1755 for service during the Seven Years' WarSeven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. Originally numbered the 53rd, Napiers, Regiment of Foot, and bearing the name of its colonel, Robert Napier, it was re-numbered in 1757, with the name of its new colonel, as 51st Brudenells Regiment. In 1759 they saw action at the battle of Minden
Battle of Minden
The Battle of Minden—or Thonhausen—was fought on 1 August 1759, during the Seven Years' War. An army fielded by the Anglo-German alliance commanded by Field Marshal Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, defeated a French army commanded by Marshal of France Louis, Marquis de Contades...
, which later became their first battle honour. Following the war, the 51st had garrison duty in Ireland and Minorca, acquiring their county association in 1783 as the 51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment.
The regiment was at Gibraltar at the start of the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and in 1795 they were in Corsica at the siege of Calvi
Siege of Calvi
The Siege of Calvi was a siege of French Revolutionary forces in Calvi, Haute-Corse in July and August 1794 by British forces, ending in a British victory.- Context :...
.
In 1803-05 it took part in the Kandyan Wars in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
In 1808 the 51st became a Light Infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
regiment and took part in Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
, where they fought in every major action. Following Napoleon's escape from Elba in 1815, they fought in the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
.
In 1881, as part of the Childers Reforms
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
, the 51st was amalgamated with the 105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
The 105th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The King's Own Light Infantry ....
to form the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755. The regiment's traditions and history are now maintained by The Rifles.-The 51st Foot:...
.