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88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers)
Encyclopedia
The 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) ("the Devil's Own") was an Irish Regiment
of the British Army
, one of eight Irish regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland. As part of the Cardwell-Childers reforms of the British army, the regiment amalgamated with the 94th Foot, to form the Connaught Rangers
on 1 July 1881. It saw extensive service in the Peninsular War
, Crimean War
and Indian Mutiny.
by John Thomas de Burgh, 13th Earl of Clanricard
.
. They languished onboard for a month in Falmouth Harbour, then sailed as part of the convoy to Cape Town
. There the troops were not allowed to go ashore. After some time they sailed, via St. Helena, to the Plate estuary, and in July 1807 attacked Buenos Aires. Given they had been on board ships for more than a half year, they were likely in less than perfect physical condition - and also were fighting an "urban warfare" battle that favoured their Argentinian patriotic adversaries, they were not successful. Taking many casualties, the remainder of the 88th surrendered. They and the other troops were repatriated under a signed agreement that saw the British abandon their attempt to gain sovereignty over the Plate colonies. The 88th was among the first regiments to sail back towards Europe as part of the agreement.
at the Casa de Salinas and routed; then helped save the day in the initial night attack at Talavera when the King's German Legion (KGL) was surprised and ran; and were a steady force on the south side of the Medellin hill in the main battle of Talavera.
In 1810 the 88th had a major role to play in rebuffing the advancing French under Massena on Bussaco's ridge in Sept. 1810. With a bayonet charge under the leadership of Wallace they and the 45th sent the French reeling back down the slope. After Bussaco, they retreated along with Wellesley's other troops to the Lines of Torres Vedras. There, they were responsible for the lines just to the east of the town of Torres Vedras itself. Every morning, usually in pouring rain, they would assemble for two hours in the dark, just in case the French attacked in the dawn.
In 1811 they led the charge at the battle of Fuentes de Onoro
that cleared that town, in the final stages of the repelling of Massena out of Portugal.
In early 1812 volunteers of the 88th played a crucial role in the taking of Ciudad Rodrigo
. Then in the battle of Badajoz they achieved an incredible success through scaling the walls of the castle, when the British troops elsewhere were suffering terrible casualties at the breaches.
On 22 July 1812, in the Battle of Salamanca
, the 88th was the central regiment that climbed the hill at Miranda de Azon that crushed Macaune's troops and was the first step in the defeat of the French forces - and the turning point of the Peninsular War. As it was said of the Battle of Salamanca - it was when Wellesley beat 40,000 men in 40 minutes. It was in this battle that the regiment took the prized "Jingling Johnny"
trophy that was marched at the head of its parades for many years.
was recognised by the presentation to the City of Galway
of a pair of guns in memoriam, which until recently remained on prominent display on the city's main square, Eyre Square
, and now are displayed outside City Hall.
The Connaught Rangers served in India until 1870.
On 16 November 1870 they boarded the troopship HMS Jumna in Bombay, and the passage home began on the following morning (17 November). The Connaught Rangers had been 13 years in India. Nine officers, and 407 noncommissioned officers and men, died in India during this period.
The 88th were in January 1881 again based in India .
, the 88th amalgamated with the 94th Regiment of Foot to become the 1st battalion the Connaught Rangers.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the British Army
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...
, one of eight Irish regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland. As part of the Cardwell-Childers reforms of the British army, the regiment amalgamated with the 94th Foot, to form the Connaught Rangers
The Connaught Rangers
The Connaught Rangers was an Irish regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation in 1881 of the 88th Regiment of Foot and the 94th Regiment of Foot. It was disbanded in 1922.-History:...
on 1 July 1881. It saw extensive service 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...
, Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
and Indian Mutiny.
History
The regiment was raised on 25 September 1793 from the men of ConnaughtConnacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
by John Thomas de Burgh, 13th Earl of Clanricard
John de Burgh, 13th Earl of Clanricarde
John Thomas de Burgh, 13th and 1st Earl of Clanricarde PC , styled The Honourable until 1797, was an Irish nobleman and soldier. He was made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland in 1801....
.
The River Plate invasion
The 88th Foot embarked in late 1806 on ships to take part in the secret attack on Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. They languished onboard for a month in Falmouth Harbour, then sailed as part of the convoy to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. There the troops were not allowed to go ashore. After some time they sailed, via St. Helena, to the Plate estuary, and in July 1807 attacked Buenos Aires. Given they had been on board ships for more than a half year, they were likely in less than perfect physical condition - and also were fighting an "urban warfare" battle that favoured their Argentinian patriotic adversaries, they were not successful. Taking many casualties, the remainder of the 88th surrendered. They and the other troops were repatriated under a signed agreement that saw the British abandon their attempt to gain sovereignty over the Plate colonies. The 88th was among the first regiments to sail back towards Europe as part of the agreement.
Peninsular War
The 88th Foot landed in Portugal 13 March 1809. In Wellesley's advance on Soult at Oporto, the 88th was part of Beresford's flanking attack to the east, advancing through the rain and over swollen rivers to reach Chaves and then the Spanish border after a superhuman effort. Then in the attack against Victor, east from Portugal, they saw considerable action, being surprised before TalaveraTalavera
Talavera may refer to the following:Places* Talavera de la Reina, a city in Toledo province, Spain, where two battles took place:** Battle of Talavera, during the Peninsular War** Battle of Talavera de la Reina , during the Spanish Civil War...
at the Casa de Salinas and routed; then helped save the day in the initial night attack at Talavera when the King's German Legion (KGL) was surprised and ran; and were a steady force on the south side of the Medellin hill in the main battle of Talavera.
In 1810 the 88th had a major role to play in rebuffing the advancing French under Massena on Bussaco's ridge in Sept. 1810. With a bayonet charge under the leadership of Wallace they and the 45th sent the French reeling back down the slope. After Bussaco, they retreated along with Wellesley's other troops to the Lines of Torres Vedras. There, they were responsible for the lines just to the east of the town of Torres Vedras itself. Every morning, usually in pouring rain, they would assemble for two hours in the dark, just in case the French attacked in the dawn.
In 1811 they led the charge at the battle of Fuentes de Onoro
Battle of Fuentes de Onoro
In the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro , the British-Portuguese Army under Viscount Wellington checked an attempt by the French Army of Portugal under Marshal André Masséna to relieve the besieged city of Almeida.-Background:...
that cleared that town, in the final stages of the repelling of Massena out of Portugal.
In early 1812 volunteers of the 88th played a crucial role in the taking of Ciudad Rodrigo
Ciudad Rodrigo
Ciudad Rodrigo is a small cathedral city in the province of Salamanca, in western Spain, with a population of about 14,000. It is the seat of a judicial district as well....
. Then in the battle of Badajoz they achieved an incredible success through scaling the walls of the castle, when the British troops elsewhere were suffering terrible casualties at the breaches.
On 22 July 1812, in the Battle of Salamanca
Battle of Salamanca
The Battle of Salamanca saw Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish armies under the Duke of Wellington defeat Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces among the hills around Arapiles south of Salamanca, Spain on July 22, 1812 during the Peninsular War....
, the 88th was the central regiment that climbed the hill at Miranda de Azon that crushed Macaune's troops and was the first step in the defeat of the French forces - and the turning point of the Peninsular War. As it was said of the Battle of Salamanca - it was when Wellesley beat 40,000 men in 40 minutes. It was in this battle that the regiment took the prized "Jingling Johnny"
Turkish crescent
A Turkish crescent, is an elaborate percussion instrument traditionally used by military bands...
trophy that was marched at the head of its parades for many years.
Crimean War (1854-1856)
Their service in the Crimean WarCrimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
was recognised by the presentation to the City of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
of a pair of guns in memoriam, which until recently remained on prominent display on the city's main square, Eyre Square
Eyre Square
John F. Kennedy Memorial Park is an inner-city public park in Galway, Ireland, formerly officially named Eyre Square and still widely known by that name...
, and now are displayed outside City Hall.
India
After the Crimean War, the 88th returned to Britain, but in response to the Indian Rebellion, the 88th were soon deployed to India. The regiment, with a strength of 990 at this time, plus the depot of about 100, embarked during July 1857 in four detachments. It arrived in Calcutta in November. By 25 November 1857, 6 companies had reached the front, 4 at Cawnpore and 2 near Futtipore. By the end of 1858 the total loss of the 88th in the field during the operations, according to the returns of each engagement, amounted to one officer and 16 other ranks killed, and 6 officers and 138 other ranks wounded.The Connaught Rangers served in India until 1870.
On 16 November 1870 they boarded the troopship HMS Jumna in Bombay, and the passage home began on the following morning (17 November). The Connaught Rangers had been 13 years in India. Nine officers, and 407 noncommissioned officers and men, died in India during this period.
The 88th were in January 1881 again based in India .
Merger
In 1881, as part of the Childers ReformsChilders 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....
, the 88th amalgamated with the 94th Regiment of Foot to become the 1st battalion the Connaught Rangers.