The Hampshire Regiment

 The Hampshire Regiment (Regimental District No. 37) consists of the 37^th and 67^th Regiments.  The former were raised in 1702, in Ireland, and forthwith departed to “seek the bubble reputation” in the wars under Marlborough.  They fought at Schellenberg and famous Blenheim, at Neer Hespen and Ramillies, at Oudernarde and Marlplaquet.  As “Ponsonby’s Regiment” they fought at Dettingen, soon after returning to Scotland on the occasion of the rebellion, during which they fought at Culloden, where they were hotly engaged.  On the suppression of the rebellion the regiment returned to Flanders, and several throughout the whole of the subsequent campaign, notably at their battle of Val, where they sustained serious losses. The next name on their colours-Minden-recalls the share they had in the important campaign in Germany.  At Minden the 37^th were the first to advance, which they did with great boldness and rapidity.  Their attack was directed against the French left, where were posted the flower of the enemy’s cavalry.  Undoubtedly the regiment was one of those on which the heaviest of the fighting fell, and which may be said to have won the victory, a victory so decisive that, “after five hours incessant firing, the whole French army literally fled in the greatest disorder, with the loss of forty-three pieces of cannon, ten stand of colours, and seven standards.” Under the Hon. J. Stuart they took part in the expedition, commanded by General Studholm Hodgson, against Belle Isle, in which they evinced great courage and sustained considerable loss.  They then served in America, fighting at Brooklyn and in other early affairs, during the latter part of the war being stationed at New York.  After a short sojourn at home, the 37^th went to Flanders at the commencement of the war with France, speedily distinguishing themselves at Dunkirk, and particularly in the disastrous conflicts near Tournay on May 18^th and 22^nd, 1794, and in the capture of the village of Pontichon.  Later in the same year the 37^th again won deserved credit at Druiten, on the Maes, a credit nobly sustained throughout that terrible winter, with its engagements at Nimeuguen and Guildermalsen, and especially in the fearful retreat to Bremen, where “the high keen wind carried the drifted snow and sand with such violence that the human frame could scarcely resist its power; where the cold was intense; the water which collected in the hollow eyes of the men congealed as it fell, and hung in icicles from their eyelashes; the breath froze, and hung in icy incrustations about their haggard faces, and on the blankets and coats which they wrapped about them.”  From that time for many years the service that fell to the lot of the 37^th was more solidly useful than exciting.  They assisted in various ways to cause of their country in the War then raging, but did not till early in 1814 join Lord Wellington’s army; earning however, the distinction of “Peninsula” on their colours.

           After the peace of 1814 they went to Canada, and remained there until 1826, a second battalion-which had been raised in 1811, and was disbanded four years later being stationed in Holland, and forming part of the garrison of Antwerp during the battle of Waterloo.  They served in Malta, the Ionian Islands, Jamaica, and North America.  After a short stay at home they went, in 1846, to Ceylon, remaining there ten years.  In 1857 the regiment served in India, and undoubtedly contributed not a little to the safety of Calcutta, surrounding the palace of the ex-king of Oude, whom rumour-subsequently confirmed-asserted to be in the league with the mutineers.  They were present at the first relief of Azemghur and in the night attack on Arrah, subsequently earning considerable praise for the effective and arduous service of clearing the Judgespore jungles.  No further important services of a warlike nature have been required of the gallant 37^th, who, with short intervals at home, have been chiefly stationed for the last thirty years in India. The second battalion of the Hampshire Regiment is the 67^th, which was originally constituted in 1756 as the second battalion of the 20^th Foot, acquiring its present numerical position in 1758, and having James Wolfe, of Quebec fame, for its first colonel.  The first service of the regiment was at Belle Isles in 1761, and subsequently in the short campaign of 1762 against the Spaniards.  Service in the West Indies decimated their ranks by the deadly climate as fatally as a series of the fiercest engagements, and a considerable period was necessary for recruiting both the corporate and individual strength of the regiment.  In 1805, however, when they were ordered to India, they had their full complement of 1,200, exclusive of officers.  In India the regiment remained for more than twenty years, during which had its full share of arduous and valuable, if not widely known, services.  Dinapore, Benares, Ghazeepore, Cawnpore, Meerut-such were some of the places whither they were despatched, and when often enough sharp fighting awaited them.  They formed part of the army of reserve under Major-General Sir David Ochterlony.  Subsequently they were engaged in the siege and capture of Ryghur, and at Surat, Nunderbar, Cokermundaye, Tonloda, and Kopriel.  In March, 1819, the flank companies of the regiment joined the force detailed for the attack on Azeer, and particularly distinguished themselves for their hardihood in the face of tremendous odds; proceeding, in February, 1819, to Asseeghur to join the force under Generar Daveton.  Throughout the latter part of the campaign under General Doveton they were actively engaged, and remained in Bombay until 1826, returning to England later in the same year, having earned by their long and loyal service in the Peninsula the distinction of the “Royal Tiger” and “India.”

           Meanwhile a 2^nd battalion, which had been raised in 1803, had been participating in the warfare that raged almost incessantly on the continent of Europe.  Under Sir Thomas Graham they were present at the defence of Cadiz, where, though our forces were not strong enough to raise the siege, yet the loss and annoyance they inflicted on the enemy was so great as occasionally to suggest to the latter that “they were besieged, rather than besieging Cadiz.”  The name “Barossa” on the colours of the regiment testifies to their participation in one of the most brilliant victories of the war.  Subsequently they were engaged in the operations against Tarragona and Barcelona, and were thus prevented from sharing in the later battles of the war, though their distinguished service was recognised by the granting of “Peninsula” as a distinction.  The 2^nd battalion was disbanded in 1817, and the first battalion remained in England until 1833, subsequently being stationed at Gibraltar, in the West Indies, and Canada.  During the Russian War the regiment was stationed in Jamaica, afterwards coming in for the latter part of the Indian Mutiny.  The North China campaign of 1860 brought them once more within the welcome sphere of active service, which was the first to land at the Taku Forts, and worked, splendidly in the hard work of road making which proceeded the assault.  On the occasion of the assault itself, the 67^th, under Colonel Knox, particularly distinguished them, forcing their way through the narrow breach and planting the colours of the regiment on the cavalier.  The credit of this piece of esprit de corps must be given to Lieutenant Burslem, Ensign Chapman, and Private Lane.  On the occasion of the capture of Pekin a wing of the 67^th was told off to storm the breach when made, a necessity which the timely yielding of the Chinese obviated.  They were the British troops to enter, and on the termination of the war were left for a time to garrison the Taku Forts.  Two years later we find them in China, on the occasion of the Taeping rebellion, and a few years afterwards doing duty at the Cape and Natal.  After a short sojourn in England, the 67^th went to Burmah in 1872, and six years later took part in the Afghan campaigns of 1878-80.

           On the occasion of the third Afghan campaign of 1879 the 67^th formed part of the column under General Roberts.  At Charasiah the main body of the regiment was not present, though they shortly after joined the troops under General Baker.  At Cabul the narrowly escaped severe loss from the explosion at Bala Hissar, their quarters being in the adjacent garden.  In the November following, a company of the regiment under Captain Poole and Lieutenant Carneige, had a sharp affair with a large body of Afghans.  The force of the Hampshire consisted only of twenty-eight men, and “overwhelmed by numbers, the slender company had to retreat, leaving three of their force behind.  One who was wounded in the hip had to be abandoned, and was dreadfully mutilated before death.  His companion seeing this, flung himself into the Cabul River to avoid a similar fate, and perished miserably, despite the efforts of Captain Poole and others to save him.”  In this skirmish Captain Poole was himself wounded, as well as five privates.  Throughout the campaign till, on the 12^th of August 1880, they found themselves in the third brigade (Brigadier Baunt) of General Stewart’s division, preparing to retire from Kabul, the 67^th availed of all the opportunities that offered-and these were not few-to add still more to the high reputation they already possessed.  Since then, if we expect the expedition into Burmah in 1885, and those now pending, in which they have done splendid work, no active service of importance has fallen to the lot of the Hampshire Regiment.  Extracted from 'Her Majesty’s Army'          

EDMUND HENRY LENON  (Lieutenant, afterwards Major)  67^th (South) Hampshire Regiment            On august 21^st 1860, the Taku Fort was attacked and captured-about 500 of our men being killed and wounded.  When the moment of assault came, Lieutenant Lenon, with some others, sprang into the ditch, which was filled with water, and swam across, entering through the embrasures.  He was the third to gain a footing on the walls.  

Ightham Oasts Near Seven Oaks by Graeme Lothian. (P)