37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot.

Introduction & Story:

The regiment was raised in Ireland in 1702 by Thomas Meredith, an experienced Protestant officer who had risen to adjutant general. His regiment was posted to Flanders less than a year later and went on to fight at Blenheim (1704) and Ramilies (1706).

The regiment stayed in Europe until setting off for Canada in 1711, but later that year it lost 260 men in a shipwreck on the St Lawrence River and had to return to Britain. It remained in England and Ireland for much of the next 45 years, apart from a year spent raiding the Spanish coast in 1719 and service at Falkirk and Culloden between 1745 and 1746.

The regiment returned to the Low Countries during the 1740s and then garrisoned Minorca. From 1758 to 1763 it fought in Germany and was one of the six British infantry regiments at the Battle of Minden (1759). These regiments plucked roses from the battlefield’s hedgerows and their successor units still wear one on the anniversary of the battle, although in the 37th Foot’s case it also symbolises the red rose of Hampshire.

It fought throughout the American War of Independence from 1776 to 1783, during which time it was given its county designation of North Hampshire. After the British defeat, it moved to six years’ garrison duty in Canada. At the start of the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) it returned to the Low Countries, before moving on to Gibraltar in 1796 and then nine years in the West Indies from 1800.

In 1813 the regiment raised a 2nd Battalion, although this was disbanded only four years later. In the meantime, in 1814, 1st Battalion began 11 years in Canada. It was briefly back in England for a year in 1825, then the following year moved to Ireland for 17 years. These long garrison terms set the pattern for the rest of the century.

The regiment was in India for all but ten of the years between 1846 and 1881 and served during the Indian Mutiny (1857-59). It returned to England in 1875, but moved on to Ireland in 1880. A year later it was merged with the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot to form The Hampshire Regiment.

Tags: 37th_Rank_Firstname_Lastname

Recruit Tags: 37th_Rct_Firstname_Lastname



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Serjeant Major SjtMaj
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