South Lancashires

The regiment traces its history back to the 30th Regiment of Foot which was raised on 8th March 1689 as Castleton’s Regiment to fight for William of Orange against the French. The 30th Regiment of Foot took part in the American War of Independence of 1775-83.

In 1782 the Regiments were given county titles and the 47th became The Lancashire Regiment. In 1854 they were dispatched to the Crimea where the regiment’s first VC’s were awarded. The 40th became the 2nd Somersetshire Regiment serving with Wellington at Waterloo and in 1839 in the Afghan War. On 1st July 1881 the Old Regiments of Foot were re-designated and the 40th became the 1st South Lancashire Regiment, Prince of Wales Volunteers.

The 1st Battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel W. MacCarthy O’Leary arrived in Durban on 23rd December 1899 and made its w ay to Estcourt. On 9th January 1900 they joined the 5th Division and served with the relief force fighting at the battles of Spioenkop, Vaalkrantz and the Breakthrough. 

See Angloboerwarfor an in depth look at the regiment site