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Tiger &
Sphinx Association Feature of the Quarter |
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For this page, we are embarking
on an attempt to review the regimental history as it is put forward in
Lieutenant Colonel C. Greenhill-Gardyne's The Life of a Regiment.
We have completed the tour of Volume I and start now on Volume II, which
picks up after the Napoleonic wars. What follows is not the precise text of his work (except what is in
quotation marks), but rather chapter summaries. For those of you who
may be a little ahead of the game, Lt-Col Greenhill-Gardyne waits until
nearly the end Volume II before giving much in the way of the 75th's
history. The Life of a Regiment is extremely readable and provides
many interesting anecdotes; we strongly recommend a full reading!
This page was last updated on
Saturday, 03 April 2010. Volume II, Chapter One When we left our heroes at the end of Volume I, they (like the 42nd) were being feted in Edinburgh after Napoleon's crushing defeat at Waterloo. The Regiment was just seven months at home, during which Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia specifically expressed a desire to review them, before being sent on to Ireland where their steadiness and exemplary conduct. In November 1818, they were held in readiness to embark for Jamaica; they finally departed on 12 April 1819 aboard Chapman, Nautilus, and Ocean. Greenhill Gardyne briefly breaks from the Regimental history, noting how many of the men who had served throughout the Peninsular and Napoleonic campaigns were discharged. He gives very brief insights into some of the men, particularly Piper Alexander Cameron. The battalion's arrival at Up-Park Camp, Jamaica on 14 June begins the 'most melancholy epoch of their history.' The tropical heat and disease posed a subtle foe such that a mere five months later, the Regiment had lost 10 officers (plus two wives and two children), 13 sergeants, 8 drummers, 254 men (plus 32 wives and 29 children). As one soldier would write, 'Tha mi fo ghruaim gar an dean mi innseadh, Ged's tric do smuaintean a tighn a'm'chridh, bearr leam furlough air ais gum eolais, Na Lan mo phoca de dh'or am Righ' (I'm sad at hear, how sad I dare not tell, vain thoughts of you in my lone heart ever dwell, and all the riches of this torrid land would I barter for a furlough to my native strand.) Lieutenant-General John Hope was appointed Colonel in January 1820, but unfortunately the Regiment received Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin, KCB, as its new Officer Commanding in October. Though a very experienced officer, Stovin had no concept of leading Highlanders and caused deep offense by appearing at the head of the Regiment in a cocked hat instead of a Highland bonnet. Though the Regiment made no explicit complaint, their sentiments were informally communicated to the Duke of York and Stovin transferred to the 90th. The ranks did not fare well in its new recruits, either. In the early 1820s, drafts were received from other regiments which were not Scottish and not up to the Regiment's normal standard, though those of the mid-1820s were quite good. The Regiment was occupied with normal garrison duties, and included service to quell
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