84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot
Encyclopedia
The 84th Regiment of Foot was a regiment in the British Army
. In 1881 it was amalgamated with the 65th Regiment of Foot to create the York and Lancaster Regiment
, with the 84th becoming the 2nd Battalion
.
The regiment was raised on 2 November 1793 by Lt.Col.George Bernard, and was the third regiment to be ranked as the 84th Regiment of Foot
. The 1st Battalion of the 84th Foot served in the ill-fated First Walcheren Expedition of 1794. It moved to the Cape of Good Hope
in 1796 and India in 1799.
A 2nd Battalion was raised and sent to the second Walcheren Campaign
in 1809. The battalion then served in the Peninsular War
from 1812 to 1814 during which the regiment gained its first medals. The Army Gold Medal
s were awarded to Lt.Col.R.Lloyd and Maj.J.Tonson. The 2nd Bn, 84th Foot fought its first action of the war in late 1813 at the Battle of the Bidassoa
(or Vera
). They then went on to fight at Nivelle
in November and Bayonne
(or Nive) in December where Wellington
's force, despite being outnumbered by Marshal Soult's army, defeated Soult. The 2nd Battalion returned to Britain where it was absorbed by the 1st Battalion in 1819.
and the 2nd Battalion was raised in Lancashire
) which would remain the regiment name when it merged with the 65th Regiment of Foot in 1881. In 1810 the 1st Bn, 84th Foot was sent to the French
held island of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean
where they participated in the capture of the island. It was also the first time the 65th Foot and the 84th Foot were to come into contact with each other.
After this the battalion served in Bangalore
for the next four years. From there they were involved in the recapturing of Kurnool
in 1815 and against the Mahratta
princes in the last stages of the Pindari Campaign or 3rd Mahratta War . The 84th Foot was returned to England
in 1819 for seven years home service where it absorbed its 2nd Battalion. In 1820 apparently a detachment traveled on HMS Coromandel
as escorts for convicts bound for Van Diemen's Land
and New South Wales
.
In 1827 the 84th Foot was sent to Jamaica
where it helped quell the slave riots there. The regiment remained in the West Indies until 1839.
for the next few years, mainly in India and Burma. It was not until 1857 that it would see action again in the Sepoy Rebellion in India. The 84th Foot had been in Burma when the rebellion of 1857-1858 broke out. The 84th Regiment were moved from Rangoon to India and detachments scattered throughout the various forts that were soon besieged and the Regiment received great acclaim for their actions during this period. General Outram
wrote of the 84th:
The 84th Regiment is the only regiment ever to receive a salute from the battery at Fort William, Calcutta when they left India in 1859. The regiment was involved in the Relief of Lucknow
and a detachment was in the Siege of Cawnpore
while most of the regiment was part of the relief force sent to Cawnpore. After Cawnpore and Lucknow
were recaptured the 84th Regiment was involved in the large scale protection of the country side under a Brigadier Douglas who, whilst surrounded wrote:
es awarded to men serving in its ranks all won during the Indian Mutiny :
in 1880 when Childers Reforms
began in 1881 and the regiment became the 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
.
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...
. In 1881 it was amalgamated with the 65th Regiment of Foot to create the York and Lancaster Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
-History:It was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two other regiments:*65th Regiment*84th RegimentThe title of the regiment was derived not from the cities of York and Lancaster, or from the counties...
, with the 84th becoming the 2nd Battalion
2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
The 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was formed by the redesignation of the 84th Regiment of Foot in 1881.-History:...
.
The regiment was raised on 2 November 1793 by Lt.Col.George Bernard, and was the third regiment to be ranked as the 84th Regiment of Foot
84th Regiment of Foot
84th Regiment of Foot refers to one of three infantry regiments that served in the British Empire:* 84th Regiment of Foot , served entirely in India, no successors...
. The 1st Battalion of the 84th Foot served in the ill-fated First Walcheren Expedition of 1794. It moved to the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
in 1796 and India in 1799.
A 2nd Battalion was raised and sent to the second Walcheren Campaign
Walcheren Campaign
The Walcheren Campaign was an unsuccessful British expedition to the Netherlands in 1809 intended to open another front in the Austrian Empire's struggle with France during the War of the Fifth Coalition. Around 40,000 soldiers, 15,000 horses together with field artillery and two siege trains...
in 1809. The battalion then served in the 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...
from 1812 to 1814 during which the regiment gained its first medals. The Army Gold Medal
Army Gold Medal
The Army Gold Medal , also known as the Peninsular Gold Medal, with an accompanying Gold Cross, was a British campaign medal awarded in recognition of field and general officers' successful commands in recent campaigns, predominately the Peninsular War...
s were awarded to Lt.Col.R.Lloyd and Maj.J.Tonson. The 2nd Bn, 84th Foot fought its first action of the war in late 1813 at the Battle of the Bidassoa
Battle of the Bidassoa (1813)
In the Battle of the Bidassoa on 7 October 1813 the Allied army of Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington wrested a foothold on French soil from Nicolas Soult's French army. The Allied troops overran the French lines behind the Bidassoa River on the coast and along the Pyrenees crest between the...
(or Vera
Vera, Spain
-External links: - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía - Diputación Provincial de Almería - Vera town information....
). They then went on to fight at Nivelle
Battle of Nivelle
The Battle of Nivelle took place in front of the River Nivelle near the end of the Peninsular War . After the Allied siege of San Sebastian, Wellington's 80,000 British, Portuguese and Spanish troops were in hot pursuit of Marshal Soult who only had 60,000 men to place in a 20-mile perimeter...
in November and Bayonne
Battle of Bayonne
In the Battle of Bayonne on April 14, 1814, General of Division Thouvenot's French garrison attacked the Allied besieging force under Lieutenant General John Hope...
(or Nive) in December where Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
's force, despite being outnumbered by Marshal Soult's army, defeated Soult. The 2nd Battalion returned to Britain where it was absorbed by the 1st Battalion in 1819.
India
The 1st Battalion in India was stationed in Bombay by 1807 and in 1809 the regiment was given the secondary title of York and Lancaster (the 1st Battalion was raised in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and the 2nd Battalion was raised in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
) which would remain the regiment name when it merged with the 65th Regiment of Foot in 1881. In 1810 the 1st Bn, 84th Foot was sent to the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
held island of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
where they participated in the capture of the island. It was also the first time the 65th Foot and the 84th Foot were to come into contact with each other.
After this the battalion served in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
for the next four years. From there they were involved in the recapturing of Kurnool
Kurnool
Kurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
in 1815 and against the Mahratta
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
princes in the last stages of the Pindari Campaign or 3rd Mahratta War . The 84th Foot was returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1819 for seven years home service where it absorbed its 2nd Battalion. In 1820 apparently a detachment traveled on HMS Coromandel
HMS Malabar (1804)
HMS Malabar was a 56-gun fourth rate of the Royal Navy. She had previously been the East Indiaman Cuvera, which the Navy bought in 1804. The Navy converted her to a storeship in 1806. After being renamed HMS Coromandel she became a convict ship and made a trip carrying convicts to New South Wales...
as escorts for convicts bound for Van Diemen's Land
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
In 1827 the 84th Foot was sent to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
where it helped quell the slave riots there. The regiment remained in the West Indies until 1839.
Indian Mutiny
The regiment travelled around the various garrisons of the British EmpireBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
for the next few years, mainly in India and Burma. It was not until 1857 that it would see action again in the Sepoy Rebellion in India. The 84th Foot had been in Burma when the rebellion of 1857-1858 broke out. The 84th Regiment were moved from Rangoon to India and detachments scattered throughout the various forts that were soon besieged and the Regiment received great acclaim for their actions during this period. General Outram
Sir James Outram, 1st Baronet
Lieutenant General Sir James Outram, 1st Baronet GCB KSI was an English general who fought in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and is considered a British hero.-Early life:...
wrote of the 84th:
The 84th Regiment is the only regiment ever to receive a salute from the battery at Fort William, Calcutta when they left India in 1859. The regiment was involved in the Relief of Lucknow
Siege of Lucknow
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of the Residency within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was abandoned.Lucknow was the capital of...
and a detachment was in the Siege of Cawnpore
Siege of Cawnpore
The Siege of Cawnpore was a key episode in the Indian rebellion of 1857. The besieged British in Cawnpore were unprepared for an extended siege and surrendered to rebel Indian forces under Nana Sahib, in return for a safe passage to Allahabad. However, under ambiguous circumstances, their...
while most of the regiment was part of the relief force sent to Cawnpore. After Cawnpore and Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
were recaptured the 84th Regiment was involved in the large scale protection of the country side under a Brigadier Douglas who, whilst surrounded wrote:
Victoria Crosses
The 84th Foot had six Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
es awarded to men serving in its ranks all won during the Indian Mutiny :
- Abraham BoulgerAbraham BoulgerLieutenant Colonel Abraham Boulger VC was born in Kilcullen, County Kildare, and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Boulger was 21 years old, and a...
- Joel HolmesJoel HolmesJoel Holmes VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
- George LambertGeorge Lambert (VC)George Lambert VC , born in Markethill, County Armagh, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.He was 37 years old, and a Sergeant-Major in the 84th Regiment of...
- John SinnottJohn SinnottJohn Sinnott VC was born in Wexford and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
- Augustus Anson
- Patrick MylottPatrick MylottPatrick Mylott VC was born in Hollymount, Claremorris, County Mayo and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He was approximately 37 years old, and...
Amalgamation
The 84th Regiment left India in 1859 for England and then began another tour of the empire which ended with the 84th Foot stationed in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1880 when 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....
began in 1881 and the regiment became the 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
The 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was formed by the redesignation of the 84th Regiment of Foot in 1881.-History:...
.