The Queen's Colour and Regimental Colour of The 1st Battalion The Royal Hampshire Regiment.
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For 21 years of active service in India H.R.H. King George IV authorized the figure of the Bengal Tiger and the words "INDIA" to be subscribed and borne to its Regimental Colour. The colours carry thirty-eight battle honours, Twenty on the Queens Colour and eighteen on the Regimental Colour. A further one hundred and eighteen battle honours which the Regiment has gained are not borne on the Colours. |
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Nick Names |
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The Royal Hampshire's are known as the "Tigers" because of the Bengal Tiger which the soldiers wear on their cap badge, awarded to 67th South Hampshire Regiment by King George IV For 21 years active service in India, 1805-1826. Past Nicknames have been
Royal Tigers
The Tigers
1st Battalion - "The Stone Wallers" ( for Pacaut Wood )
2nd Battalion- "The Incomparables"
An unofficial name for the Wessex Brigade of which R.Hamps was part of was "The cardboard Cavaliers" (Thanks Barnie for the above 3 nicknames) |
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Mascott |
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This is Fritz the dog and was taken at the Freedom of Portsmouth, August 1950. He appears in allot of the post War photos.
Sent in by Richard Gilbert
Ottawa, Canada
The Story of Fritz "coming soon" |
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Associations |
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President: Brigadier R.G. Long CBE MC BA DL Chairman/Secretary: Lieutenant Colonel H.D.H. Keatings OBE (Tel: 01962 885522) |
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Regimental Marches |
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There are three official and one unofficial marches of the Royal Hampshire Regiment. The 1st Battalion march was originally known as The Highland Piper, though since its adoption by the Regiment it has come to be known more suitably as "The Hampshire" It is a traditional Scottish air. The 2nd Battalion march, I'll gang nae mair to yon Toun, is also Scottish in origin, its words being derived somewhat loosely from the Burns poem. The march of the 3rd (militia) Battalion is as remote from Hampshire connections as are the others. It is called the Cork Hill and is as Irish as the others are Scottish. The tune is original and is not derived from any known song; but who wrote it is a mystery. Possibly the obvious lack of connection with the county inspired the adoption of the fourth, unofficial, march. This is The Farmer's Boy and is often used as a lead-in to one or other of the three official marches. The Farmer's Boy also is Anon or Trad but is none the worse for that and is certainly much more in keeping with the county spirit of the Regiment.
In 1921 while the 2nd battalion was in Youghal Ireland a bomb exploded killing 7 band members and wounded 19 at the time of the incident the band was playing the march "Viscount Nelson" which has never been played by a band of the Royal hampshire Regiment since. this tradition has been past on the the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
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Regimental Collect |
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O Christ, who wast tempted for us in the wilderness, lead, we pray Thee, Thy servants of the Royal Hampshire Regiment, who have been undismayed in battle through all trials of this mortal life until, entering Thy Heavenly Kingdom where the desert shall blossom as the rose, we may find rest in thee; Who with the father and the Holy Ghost reignest, One God for ever. Amen.
The Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you this day and ever more. Amen. |
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| Alliances /Freedoms / Affliations / Privileges |
Alliances
The Sault Ste. Marie Regiment 1922-1936
The Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury Regiment 1936-1946
49th (Sault Ste Marie) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA 1947-1992
The Wellington and West Coast and Taranaki Regiment
5th Battalion (Wellington West Coast and Taranaki),
The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
Freedoms
| Borough of Aldershot |
11th Sep. 1945 |
| Borough of Bournemouth |
13th Sep. 1945 |
| City of Winchester |
15th Sep. 1945 |
| City of Southampton |
25th April 1946 |
| City of Portsmouth |
20th May 1950 |
| Borough of Romsey |
26th Sep. 1959 |
| Borough of Basingstoke |
16th July 1966 |
| Borough of Rushmoor |
20th May 1981 |
| New Forest District (Affiliation) |
8th July 1986 |
| Borough of Test Valley |
25th June 1986 |
| Borough of Christchurch |
19th Oct. 1987 |
| Borough of Eastleigh |
14th Sep. 1991 |
| The Privilege of Jersey |
9th May 1992 ( Liberation Day ) |
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Customs / Traditions |
The Minden Rose
The Regiment wears a red Minden rose in its head- dress on 1st August every year. This is in memory of the 37th Foot who picked roses as they returned from the famous Battle of Minden in 1759 when six battalions of British Infantry advanced against and, for the first time, attacked massed squadrons of cavalry and defeated them.
Not playing of the March "Viscount Nelson"
In 1921 while the 2nd battalion was in Youghal Ireland a bomb exploded killing 7 band members and wounded 19 at the time of the incident the band was playing the march "Viscount Nelson" which has never been played by a band of the Royal hampshire Regiment since. this tradition has been past on to the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
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