Below is a history of the 67th South Hampshire Regiment from 1785-1881 It shows the Date, War, and Battles fought, some have pictures. Click on the blue links to read about the role the Regiment played. I am trying to research all the battles and as I do I will be updating the Information I have. See the Colours

Gibraltar  

67th South Hampshire Regiment of Foot.

St Domingo

An Expedition had proceeded to St Domingo in 1794 in order to aid planters against persecution. In 1796 the 67th South Hampshire's were sent to St Domingo, were tropical diseases, desertions and active service took its toll on them. The British evacuated in 1798 the 67th left towards the end of the year and proceeded to Jamaica .

Jamaica

Jamaica reduced its ranks even more.

England and Ireland

On its return to England the South Hampshire's were in bad shape they had lost 500 of the 750 men. On the 16th of May 1803 war was declared on France and the regiment was sent to Ireland to recruit and by October 1803 the regiment had enough men to form a 2nd Battalion. The 1st Battalion was sent for service in India, and remained inactive there until 1816 when the Mahratta War flared up.

Back To Top

India

The 1/67th was in India from 1805-1826 and had an uneventful time in India until 1818 when an uprising of tribal chief's intent on revenge for British domination started the Mahratta uprising. The 1/67th marched across the entire width of India, from Bengal to Bombay. Along the way they subdued riots, invested fortresses, engaged in hill and jungle fighting, and survived through monsoons, and disease.

1806-1807 Fort William, Calcutta
1808-1810 Dinapore
1811-1813 Ghazipur
1814-1815 Cawnpore
1816-1817 Meerut, Soonera,
1818- 3rd Mahratta War
1819- Asseerghur
1819- Maleagaon
1820- India
1821- Meelat Fort
1821-1823 Sholapore
1824-1826 Poona 

Back to Top

Mahratta War. (Uprising)

In 1816 The Pindari Campaign started, the Pindari were small groups of horse mounted bandits lead by chieftains. It was decided that the Madras Army would advance from the south and push the Pindari into the forces of the Bengal Army Bombay troops in the north at Gujarat . The Bengal Army's reserve included the 67th and had assembled in Rewari early in November 1817 under Ochterlony. These plans were pushed aside when renewed hostility of the Maratha created a war against the peishwa, Indore , and the Bhonsla raja of Nagpore and an outbreak of Cholera in the army of the North. Ochterlony left Rewari on November 27th and had advanced to the Rajput city of Jaipur and secured allegiance Pathan, Ameer Khan and his large force. Mehidpur was followed by Holkar's and the opposition broke, all that was left to do was round up the Pindari. On its return to England (1826) they were rewarded by King George IV with permission to add the Royal Bengal Tiger, the word "India" and the figures 21 to there Colour's and Badges. This was when a new nickname started to appear "TIGERS"

The 2nd/67th South Hampshire Battalion was sent the the Peninsular Wars. And in 1811 took part in the Battle of Barrosa.

1811. The 2nd / 67th South Hampshire's were part of the British, force with Spanish, and Portuguese troops under Spanish General Lapena who had night marched his troops for 15 days from Algeciros trying to relieve the Island fortress of Cadiz . Three times or more the General got his men lost and in one case ran into a well armed, in depth French force in which General Lapena withdrew without detection. After losing his way yet again Lepena found himself on Barrosa Ridge with 7,000 French between him and the Fortress of Cadiz. Taking the French by surprise he sent his Spanish units into a pine wood were large concentrations of French were located. The 2/ 67th flanked two battalions of Guards and a company of Grenadiers, and waited as the French advanced in line.

The 2/67th flanking fire dismayed the French which halted in disorder and in doing so stopped a 2nd French battalion behind from opening fire. The 2/67th immediately advanced from the flanks in a pincer movement, and the French never fully recovered from the disorder. But three times they captured the ridge and three times they were driven off and buy the end of the day defeated, having lost 3,000 of the 7,000 men. The allied forces numbered 4,000 who were tried from night marches, and whose casualties were 1,200 they also captured 400 prisoners, five cannon, and a prized eagle ensign. The 2nd /67th gained the battle honour for Barrosa. Later the 2nd /67th was involved in Barcelona , and the fort of San Felipe south of Tarragona on the 31st of May 1813 . In 1815 the Duke of Wellington awarded the battle honour for Peninsular to units that served with him from 1808-1814 so both the 2 /67th and the 37th (who were in Spain ) got the battle honour

After hostilities the Regiment went to Gibraltar and remained there until 1817. When the 2nd /67th was disbanded on the 27th of May 1817 Due to the reduction of the standing army after the war. They received The Battle Honour "Barrosa" the day before they disbanded.

The 1/67th were in India for twenty-one years and on its return to England (1826) they were rewarded by King George IV with permission to add the Royal Bengal Tiger, the word "India" and the figures 21 to there Colours and Badges. This was when a new nickname started to appear "TIGERS"

Back to Top

Briton tried to extend commercial influents in the Orient. But the British and Chinese had different ideas about how treaties intended to open Canton, and Shanghai, to British trade and shipping should be interpreted. England formed allies with France and fought to enforce trading rights and better treatment of Europeans. Below are the Regiments that took part

The South Hampshire's were part of reinforcements sent to China, earlier an attempt to force passage up the Pei-ho river had failed at Taku Forts, at the rivers mouth. Little did The South Hampshire's Know but they were about to receive there first four Victoria Crosses. The forts were located on both banks of the Pei-ho River and protected the town of Tuka.

General Sir. Hope Grant Commanded two British divisions 14,000 men and planned to sail up the coast land his forces at Peh-tang, the unloading started on the 30th July 1860 and took until the 9th of August. Then move south overland and attack three forts. Between the forts and Peh-tang lay two fortified villages and a marsh. On the 12th of August the General split his two divisions one followed a small path the other headed through the marsh. The South Hampshire's and two other battalions headed through the marshland, the cannon and horse bogged down in the marshland and Tartar cavalry attacked the rear baggage train but the South Hampshire's with Martini rifles made the enemy horsemen withdraw in disorder.

The village of Sin-ho was captured and over the next week supplies, cannon, and ammo were moved down from Peh-tang to Sin-ho. At dawn on the morning of August 21st the British cannon opened up and by 0700 am had destroyed the enemy's artillery. The South Hampshire's and the 44th Foot were detailed as storming parties and started to move forward over the marshy ground. Two miles from there objective they faced mashes, until the last 200 yards then came the fixed defences of iron and wooden spikes where they would be under continuous fire from muskets. Then a moat would separate the invading force from the fort, which the men began to swim. A group of about six made it across and cut the ropes to the drawbridge, the doors being locked and barred the men found a small hole in the fort wall.

A South Hampshire Officer Lieutenant Nathaniel Burslem began to cross the bridge and was hit in the chest but continued across and made it to the small hole he was joined by a South Hampshire Private Thomas Lane who picked up a piece of wood and began digging at the hole trying to enlarge it. The enemy dropped a 12 pound shell onto Private Lane which stunned him, his helmet saving his life. Private Lane was then spiked with a bayonet which came through the hole they were still trying to enlarge.

On the other side of the main gate Lieutenant Edmund Lenon, and Ensign John Chaplin who carried the Regimental Colour, found a small hole Chaplin entered the fort and began taking enemy fire, while Lenon passed the furled Colour through the hole Chaplin was hit twice once in the forearm and once in the shoulder. Lenon got through the hole and together they reached the parapet, by this time others had gotten through the breach made by Burslem and Lane and followed Chaplin and Lenon along the parapet taking the enemy by surprise. Chaplin was again wounded bent double he crawled forward unfurled the Regimental Colours and thrust it in the place of the enemy flag which was removed. Gradually the fort was overcome and the two other forts seeing the British victory quickly surrendered. Burslem, Lenon, Chaplin, and Lane were awarded the Victoria Cross.

One Captain was promoted, nine others were "mentioned." Ten men were Killed or died of there wounds and sixty-three others wounded. The capture of the forts led to the occupation of Pekin, where the Chinese surrendered on October 13th.

Shanghai

April 1862, 3 companies of the 67th, nine officers 320 other ranks under Major Hague and Captain Stack were sent to Shanghai. Brigadier General Staveley took over command in Shanghai port and advanced to Kah-ding, 10 miles before reaching it they encountered a strongly posted position. In moving his troops for the attack they were spotted and the enemy escaped one man form the 67th being wounded. On reaching Kah-ding on April 28th Saveley bombarded the defences for an hour and a breached the walls. On May 6th Staveley left Kah-ding leaving a number of troops there, he reached Singpoo on May 9th where he breached the wall and took over the city 3 days later. He also took Najaur where Lt. Kingsley's company stormed an important outwork.

Staveley again headed back to Kah-ding and relieved the garrison which he sent to Shanghai. Deployment of the 67th was No 10 Company moved from Tientsin to Tuka on may 24th, Headquarters left Tientsin for Shanghai, No. 3 and 5 companies were at Najaur and No.8 at Fahwa. Later the troops were again called out when Kah-ding was again under threat, chasing off the enemy the 67th had only one casualty. For the entire year of 1863 the regiment was at Shanghai, leaving there on July 1865 and headed for South Africa

Later surrender was forced on the 67th and many other Regiments in the occupation forces not by a formidable enemy but climate, bitterly cold Chinese winters brought catarrh, bronchitis, and other chest ailments. The summers brought dysentery, cholera, and diphtheria. Year after year the Regiment was reduced and lost 100 men through death and sickness. It was at this time the 67th was sent to South Africa.

Back to Top

JAPAN Expedition 1862 - 1864

In 1862 28 men of the 67th went to Japan to reinforce the military train they remained there until March 1864 being relieved by the 2/20th Then in July 1864 3 companies under Major Miller reinforced the 2/20th in Yokohama Japan being enlarged to 5 companies. Leaving Japan in December 1864 and headed for Cape Town South Africa and was stationed at Kings Williams Town, British Kaffaria.

Units that took part:

Back to Top

South Africa 1865

The 67th arrived July 1865 and there stay was uneventful. The battalion left South Africa on July 26th 1866 150 men transferred to other units and the battalion embarked on transport boats and headed for Ireland.

Ireland 1866

The Battalion arrived in Ireland on September the 24th 1866 leaving on May 1867 for England from Dublin.

England 1867

May 30th 1867 saw the battalion arrive at Portsmouth and within a year saw new colours presented by Lady Buller on the 25th August 1868. On September 1872 they got orders for Burma.