The Prince Of Wales (North Staffordshire Regiment)

 The 64^th (“2^nd Staffordshire Regiment”) and the 98^th (Prince of Wale’s) from the above regiment.  The 11^th Foot, in 1758, was deprived of its 2^nd battalion, which was numbered the 64^th, after two years service under the former number.  It was named the “2^nd Staffordshire” in 1782, a title it bore until the amalgamation of 1882: when, however, the regiment was first designated the South Staffordshire, altered shortly after to its present name.  The year after it first had an independent existence it was despatched to the West Indies to take part in the capture of Martinique and Guadaloupe; sent home after that, it returned to the American continent at the outbreak of the war of Independence, served first at Nova Scotia, and then at Boston until the evacuation of the city, fighting also at Staten Island, Brooklyn, Ridgeway, Hill of Campo, Brandywine, the Acushusat River Expedition, Charleston, and Eutaw Springs, where the 64^th did not “give ground until over powered by numbers and severe slaughter.”  After general duty it once more appeared before Martinique and Guadaloupe in 1794, to help in their reduction and to suffer heavy loss; and after an interlude in Ireland, where the regiment defeated the French at Ballinamuck, it returned to the west Indies and saw the surrender of St. Martin, St. Lucia, Demerara, Essequibo, and Surinam; coming home in 1815 to form part of the Army of Occupation of France.  Embarking for India in 1849, the 64^th was employed in garrison duty there until 1856, when the Persians attacked Heart, and war consequently broke out between Great Britain and Persia.  The regiment formed part of the expedition, was at the storming of the Fort of  Reshire, the surrender of Bushire, and the battle of Kooshab; after which, with Mohumra as a “base of operations,” the army prepared to march on Ispahan.  But the war was virtually over.  The Persian forces, some seven thousand strong, took up a position at Ahwaz, but evacuated it without firing a shot on the approach of three hundred British soldiers.  On returning to India, the outbreak of the Mutiny called for the service of the Staffordshire men.  The enemy was met with at Futtehpore, Aong, Pandoo Nuddee, Kalee Nuddee, Kerkeroulie, Bareilly, and Cawnpore, when some of the 64^th were left to garrison the place, and the remainder served with Outram and Havelock in the advance on Lucknow.  The Cawnpore Harrison had meanwhile had severe work to do against the attacks of Tantia Topee; and the regiment also took part in the Rohilcund campaign, and in most of the operations that attended the suppression of the Mutiny.  During the campaign Drummer Thomas Flynn won the Cross for Valour for “conspicuous gallantry.”  Since that campaign the gallant 64^th have seen no active but much foreign service. The present 2^nd battalion of the regiment first appears in 1824, and was entitled the “Prince of Wale’s Regiment of Foot” in 1876, from its having acted as guard to his Royal Highness during his visit to Malta.  On this occasion new colours were presented to the regiment, and the Prince requested that the old should be entrusted to his care.  The title and the badge of His Royal Highness’s Plume date from this event, but five other battalions have borne the number.  The first served from 1760 to 1765, and fought at Havannah in 1762; the second from 1780 to 1783; the third, raised in 1796, became the 91^st; the fourth, formed in 1804, was disbanded in 1818 as the 97^th; and the fifth, enlisted in 1804 as the 99^th, disappeared as “the Prince of Wales Tipperary Regiment” in 1818.

North Staffordshire Regiment

           The Prince of Wale’s (North Staffordshire Regiment)-Regimental District No.64-is composed of the 64^th and 98^th Foot.  In 1758 the 2^nd battalion of the 11^th Foot was constituted the 64^th Regiment, and the newly formed corps were speedily under orders for the West Indies, where they were engaged at Martinique.  Returning home in 1763, they went to America in 1770, and served there till 1782, during which period occurred the revolt of the colonies against British rule.  After a short time at home, they went in 1793 to Barbados and again took part on the operations directed against Martinique and Guadaloupe, subsequently gaining the distinction of “St. Lucia” on their colours.  They were engaged a few years later under Brigadier Hughes at Surinam.  Duties elsewhere prevented their taking part in any of the Peninsular battles, but they were of some time in the army of occupation in France, from which time till 1856 only peace duties occupied their services.  In the latter year, however, the Persian War broke out, and brought to the 64^th an opportunity of showing they were no whit behind regiments, which had been more actively employed.  “Bushire,” “Reshire,” “Koosh-ab,”-all speak to the courage and endurance of the 64^th, in the operations in which they were engaged.  A yet more serious warfare awaited them in India; the moment they landed they marched under Havelock to Cawnpore, and had some sharp fighting at Futtehpore.  At the capture of Cawnpore, the conduct of the 64^th under Major Stirling provoked the greatest praise.  After capturing four villages and seven guns, our wearied troops were checked by a 24-pounder, which the rebels had placed in position on the road.  The 64^th were ordered to take it, and, despite the heavy loss they had incurred, they charged up to the grinning muzzle, captured it, and dispersed the rebels.  In the General Order issued by Havelock, he addressed the 64^th in the following words: “Your fire was reserved till you saw the colour of your enemies moustaches-this gave us the victory.”

           It is impossible to avoid mentioning in connection with this incident the somewhat aggrieved feelings that were naturally aroused amongst the officers and men of the 64^th by the fact of Lieutenant Havelock-now Sir H. Havelock Allen-heading them at the final charge, and being, therefore, recommended by his father for the Victoria Cross.  No one who remembers the General’s previous reticence as to his son’s valour will accuse him of paternal bias.  No one who recalls the previous and subsequent career of Lieutenant Havelock will deny that he was brave amongst the brave.  But it is not difficult to understand that the 64^th were hurt at even an apparent suggestion that their own officers were not competent to lead them, no matter how desperate the venture.  Perhaps the most dispassionate account of the incident is that contained in the work, “The Victoria Cross in India,” from which we have before quoted.

           “At the final action previous to the entry into Cawnpore, affairs at one time looked rather bad.  The British guns, owing to the fatigue of their cattle, could not come up quickly enough to reply to a 24-pounder placed on the road, which was doing great execution.  A large body of rebel infantry guarded this gun.  Havelock ordered his exhausted infantry to make a last effort.  They responded to the appeal, and advanced.  The 64^th regiment was more immediately opposite to the gun than the other regiments.  Major Stirling commanding the 64^th had lost his horse, but was gallantly leading his men on foot.  No other mounted officer was present.  Perhaps observing this fleet, perhaps only obeying the dictates of his own courage, Lieutenant Havelock placed himself in front of the regiment, and steered steadily for the 24-pounder, which fired round-shot up to 300 yards, and grape afterwards, with great precision and rapidity.  Cooly the 64^th drew nearer, losing men at every step, and equally coolly did Lieutenant Havelock ride at a foot’s pace straight for the muzzle of the gun.  At length, with a rush, the latter was captured; the enemy then fled, and the day was won.”

           They remained under General Wyndham to garrison Cawnpore, and in the attack made by the rebels on the 28^th of November were greatly distinguished.  Encouraged by a temporary success they had obtained, the rebels fought with redoubled vigour, hoping, doubtless, to revel in another massacre.  The 64^th frustrated the fiendish hope.  “Captain Wright, with only thirty men of the 64^th, held the Baptist chapel and the old burial ground.  Finding that the enemy were surrounding him he drew off his men in skirmishing order and stopped the advance of the Sepoys by a fire of musketry.  About this time he saw a wing of his own corps, about two hundred and fifty strong, commanded by Colonel Wilson, marching by order of General Wyndham to capture four guns that were playing with fatal precision on the British left.  Rallying his small force, Wright instantly led it as a sort of advanced guard to Wilson, on whose men the enemy now turned, their guns doing terrible execution.  The brave 64^th never wavered, but with a ringing shout rushed on the cannon, spiking three of them before the gunners had recovered from their surprise; but it was alike impossible to retain or carry them off, for the foe were ten to one.  Colonel Wilson and Major Stirling were shot, Captains Murphy and M’Crea were cut down at the guns, while Captain M’Kinnon and Lieutenant Gordon were severely wounded, taken prisoners, and murdered in cold blood.  The slaughter was great among the 64^th.”  During the episode, Drummer Thomas Flinn, of the 64^th Regiment, was wounded; but, nevertheless, he persisted in remaining with his comrades, and engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter with two of the rebel artillerymen.  Later on the regiment was engaged against Tantia Topee and in Rohileund, and through out the mutiny gained deservedly the reputation of being a gallant and dashing regiment.  Since then no warlike duties of importance have fallen to their lot.

All In A Days Work by Pippa Thew