The origins of this regiment date back to 1756, when it was raised as the 62nd Regiment (Royal Americans) in four battalions from American colonists and officered largely by foreigners (mostly German) of Protestant faith - the first time a British regiment had non-British officers. The regiment was re-numbered as the 60th Regiment in 1757. It fought at Louisborg and Quebec.
In 1797, a 5th battalion was raised on the Isles of Wight, primarily from Germans, and was equipped entirely with rifles - the first Rifle armed Regular battalion in the British army. It was also the first Regular unit to wear a green uniform (with red facings). A 6th battalion was raised in 1799; The 5th battalion saw extensive service in the Peninsula. The Light companies of the Line battalions of the 60th were later armed with Rifles as well. A 7th Battalion, again rifle armed, was raised in 1813 for service in the Americas during the War of 1812. Later in 1815 the Regiment's name was changed to the Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps, and then again in 18130 to The King's Royal Rifle Corps.
In 1797, a 5th battalion was raised on the Isles of Wight, primarily from Germans, and was equipped entirely with rifles - the first Rifle armed Regular battalion in the British army. It was also the first Regular unit to wear a green uniform (with red facings). A 6th battalion was raised in 1799; The 5th battalion saw extensive service in the Peninsula. The Light companies of the Line battalions of the 60th were later armed with Rifles as well. A 7th Battalion, again rifle armed, was raised in 1813 for service in the Americas during the War of 1812. Later in 1815 the Regiment's name was changed to the Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps, and then again in 18130 to The King's Royal Rifle Corps.
The 5th (Rifle) battalion of the regiment wore dark blue pants with red stripes down the outer seams - quite unique in the British infantry.
Battle Honors awarded to the 5th battalion include "Rolica" "Vimiera" "Talavera" "Busaco" "Fuentes d'Onor" "Albuhera" "Ciudad Rodrigo" "Badajoz" "Salamanca" "Vittoria" "Pyrenees" "Nivelle" "Nive" "Orthes" "Toulouse" and "Peninsula"
The motto of the Regiment is Celer et Audax (Swift and Bold). It is said to have been conferred by Major-General James Wolfe. Apparently, Wolfe was was greatly impressed with the alertness, intrepidity and spirited conduct of the grenadier companies of the 2nd and 3rd Battalion of the 60th Royal Americans before Quebec that he conferred it upon them. Curiously, it seems to have been forgotten later, and only officially restored to the Regiment in 1824!
The 5th Battalion fought mostly in 1-2 company detachments dispersed among the Peninsular army to bolster its skirmishing capabilities. 28mm Old Glory figures.
The 5th battalion, 60th Regiment was armed with the excellent Baker rifles. It had the green cords and short plumes of a Light unit. Another of the many detailed regimental histories of British regiments, that for the 60th (this including a number of uniform plates) can be found online at: https://archive.org/stream/regimentalchroni00walluoft#page/x/mode/2up
Fascinating regimental history. Is the uniform cut and accoutrements of the 60th identical to the 95th?
ReplyDeleteEssentially yes, Jon. They of course preceded the 95th (as rifles) by a few years.
DeleteOne of my favourite units to see on the field!
ReplyDeleteOddly the 7/60th served in North America during the War of 1812, but was sent to Maine as part of the occupation force when the state surrendered to the British. I don't think they ever saw combat. Seems a waste to me.
Yes, they were part of the Penobscott expedition, and were disbanded/absorbed into other battalions after 1815.
DeleteFascinating. I would like to have a go at thes ein 54mm using the AIP riflemen.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it. You don't see the 5/60th on the table nearly as much as their more famous cousins of the 95th. The blue pants with red stripes are pretty jazzy with the green jacket, eh?
DeleteA very distinguished unit. Nice to see them brought to life so colourfully on the table.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that the state of Maine surrounded to the British during the war of 1812. I have friends in Maine, I shall have to taunt them with that. ;)
Maine was originally part of the state of Massachusetts, and actually didn't become a separate state (it voted to secede) until rather late(1820), when it was admitted as the 23rd state as part of the famous Missouri Compromise (vis a vis slavery). They could have separated from Mass 8 years earlier under the Brits, it seems! :-)
DeleteNice troops peter, you really give us a great look into the units you paint. Very handy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paul. It is especially easy to get detailed information on the history of the British units - and I think that is only in part due to English being our own languiage, as opposed to, say French or German.
DeleteExcellent review and presentation. I think these guys suffer from being the poor "pop-culture" cousin to the 95th Rifles. (I'm sure the Sharpe books may have something to do with that.)
ReplyDeleteYou're right, and there are several more probable reasons for that:
DeleteFirst, despite being the first rifle armed regular unit, the majority of the Regiment as a whole were still red coated line troops.
Second, the men and officers of the 5/60th were largely "foreigners", chiefly Germans, unlike the 95th. Hence they left little in the way of English language memoirs No "Rifleman Hans"!
Third and perhaps the most important, is the way the troops were used - parceled out to each Division in small detachments of 1-2 companies, rather than being employed in greater numbers together in the Light DIvision like the 95th.
The thing I most enjoy about your blog Peter is receiving the benefit of your research.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I was sure you were incorrect with regard to the blue trousers, and opened my copy of C.E. Franklin's "British Napoleonic Uniforms" only to find that you are, as usual spot-on (and also that each coat required 44 buttons, which must have been something of an impost).
Thanks, Lawrence. The blue pants, while strikingly unusual, are pretty well documented, including Hamilton's contemporary plates.
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