Photographs of the Norfolk Regiment during the reign of Queen Victoria

THE ROYAL NORFOLK REGIMENT

The Regiment was formed as Cornwell's Regiment in 1785, becoming the 9th of foot in 1751, and becoming the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1935. Amalgamating with the Suffolk regiment in 1959 as the 1st East Anglian regiment.

REGIMENTAL BATTLE HONOURS.

VICTORIA CROSS AWARDS.

Six members from the regiment received Victoria Cross's. One during World war One, and Five during World War Two.

The Norfolk Regiment

This regiment was raised in Gloucestershire in 1685, with Henry Cornwell as colonel.  In the Irish wars it served Londonderry, the Boyne, Molhill, Ballymore, Athlone, Aughrim, Galway, and Limerick; and next in Holland, at Kaiserswerth, Venloo, Ruremonde, Stevenswart, and Liege, Huy, and Limburg.  Thence it sailed for the Peninsula, where, at the defence of Castel de Vide, the gates of the town were treacherously opened to the enemy, and the regiment was made prisoner of war.  It also fought at Valencia de Alcantara, Albuquerque, Badajoz, Alcantara, Ciudad Rodrigo, Villena, and Almanza, where again it was compelled to surrender, losing in the action more than three-fourths its strength in rank and file, and twenty-four officers.  Only the Colonel, Stewart, with a few officers and men escaped, and these, taking refuge in Alcira, were besieged in their turn and also compelled to surrender.  It saw no further active service for more than sixty years, when it formed part of the expedition against Belle Isle and Havannah.  In 1776 it embarked for Canada, and after fighting at Fort Ticonderaga, Skenesborough, Castletown, Fort Anne, and Wood Creek, it surrendered with Burgoyne at Saratoga.  Colonel Hill preserved the colours by taking them from their staves and concealing them in his baggage; he was afterwards allowed to retain them by the King.  Finally they were trooped at Sandhurst, and lodged in the chapel of the Royal Military College.

           The title “9^th Foot” appears officially in 1751, and the county title “East Norfolk” was added in 1782, to be changed to the present designation in 1881.

           Between 1788 and 1800 the regiment assisted at the capture of Tobago, Martinique, St. Lucia, Guadaloupe, Bergen, and Egmont-op-Zee, and in the expedition to Ferrol.  From 1799 to 1803 there were three battalions, and a second battalion was re-formed in 1804, and lasted until 1815.  As a two battalion regiment the 9^th fought in the Peninsula between 1808 and 1814 in ninety recorded actions, for which “Roleia,” “Vimiera,” “corunna,” “Salamanca,” “St. Sebastain,” “Nive,” and “Peninsula” are borne on the colours; and for eleven others “honorary distinctions were granted.”

           In 1842 it formed part of the “Army of Vengeance.” Under General Pollock; fighting at the Khyber Pass, Mammoo Khel, Jugdulluck, Tezeen Pass, Huft Kotal, and Istaliff, and earning the distinction “Cabool, 1842,” for the last of honours.  With the army of Sutlej, under Sir Hugh Gough, the 9^th was engaged at Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon, bearing these names also on the colours.  During the Crimean War it shared in the siege operations before Sevastopol from November 1854, until the termination of hostilities.

           The present 2^nd battalion was added in 1858, and, after serving in China and Japan, was transferred to India to take part in the Jowaki campaign of 1877-78, and in the Afghan War of 1879-80, for which it bears the name of “Kabul, 1879,” and “Afghanistan” on its colours.

           The scarlet uniform now has white facings; but at first these seem to have been orange, and in 1751 were yellow.  The regimental badge is a figure of Britannia, but with an olive- branch instead of a spear in the right hand (as was formerly used).  This was said to have been given by Queen Anne for services in Spain; but it is not referred to in the warrants of 1751, or 1768.  It is borne on the button, tunic collar, helmet-plate, forage- cap, and waist-plate.  On the latter also is the Castle of Norwich, derived from the Norfolk Militia.

           The 3^rd and 4^th battalions are formed from the 1^st and 2^nd Norfolk Militia, raised in 1759.  The Volunteer battalions are the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Norfolk, with head- quarters at Norwich, Great Yarmouth, East Dereham, and Norwich.  All wear scarlet with white facings.

           The ninth have long been known as the “Holly Boys”-it is said from the “Britannia” on the cross-belts, which the Spaniards thought was the “Virgin Mary”; but this seems rather far- fetched.  It is also said to have arisen from the men having used the leaves of a Bible for wadding on one occasion.

           The depot was at Norwich.