THE PRINCE OF WALES'S

LEINSTER REGIMENT

(ROYAL CANADIANS)

   Family History Additional Interest Page

The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment traced its history back to 1760 and was disbanded as an Irish Regiment in 1922 when Southern Ireland withdrew from the United Kingdom. Throughout the the website, whilst recording what I have discovered, I have tried to identify the soldiers and officers of this 'forgotten' regiment. With the help of the descendents of the men who served it has been possible to publish photographs and stories of those who served their country. To continue to discover who were 'The Leinsters' click the button Regiment History. If you only have time for a quick overview just scroll down. If you want to contribute there is a Submit information button.

Many years have passed since the disbanding of the Leinster Regiment and the winding-up of the original Regimental Association but at last the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment Association has now been reformed to remember and commemorate the existence of this Irish Regiment. You can find out more from this link

 

Short History

The Price of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) in addition to wearing as a badge the Prince of Wales's Plume, was the only regiment in the army which had the distinctive Canadian maple leaf as a specially distinctive badge, and in earlier years the "Beaver" of Canada was worn by the 1st Battalion.

In addition to the two Regiments of Foot, there were three Militia Battalions of the Leinsters. The 3rd Battalion (King's County Militia) who staffed the Regimental Headquarters at Birr (Ireland) and who also volunteered for the South African War embarking on the 7th March 1900, returning to Birr on the 26th May, 1902. The 4th Battalion (Queens County Militia) who were stationed at Maryborough. and the 5th Battalion (Royal Meath Militia) who were quartered at Navan.

The Regiment fought in the Great War of 1914 to 1918 and won many more battle honours. An Irish Regiment, the Leinster Regiment was disbanded  in 1922 when Southern Ireland withdrew from the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State.

Through out the pages of the website many soldiers and officers are named, and some photographs are published.

The 1st Battalion

The 2nd Battalion

The 1st Battalion (100th Foot)

The  1st battalion was originally formed in 1760 but has a very short tenure being disbanded in 1763! Troubles however were part and parcel of the British Empire of the ages, and so the Regiment was reformed in 1780 and sent off in 1781 to India where for some four years the regiment took part in many campaigns against Hyder Ali and Tippo Dahib. To give some idea of the scale of involvement, during this period the 1st battalion lost 1, 230  members. By 1785 the 1st battalion was back in England where it was stood down and disbanded once more. This last for some twenty years when in 1805 the battalion reformed and served with distinction in the war in America between 1813-14, principally in Canada  when with the capture of the "Fort of Niagara" on the 13th December 1813, "the 100th Regiment was most conspicuous by its daring". For this act of gallantry the 100th Foot were granted permission to bear the words "Niagara" on it's colours and appointments.

By 1814, the 1st battalion were down to only 400 men when, as part of a British Force totaling only 1,500 persons led by Major General Riall, they attacked an American force some 6,000 persons in strength. Such was the tenacity of these 400 souls, that following the battle it was reported that "it was impossible for men to have done more ... with greater courage."

With so few soldiers left, the 100th Foot was once more disbanded in 1818, but by 1858, on the 10th January the Regiment was once again reformed being awarded the highest honour possible from the Prince of Wales, when at Shorncliffe Camp the 100th Foot were presented with it's colours by his HRH Price of Wales. In 1872 the Regiment were at Aldershot in Hampshire, England when on the 27th February they formed part of a ceremony in London to mark the occasion of the National Thanksgiving for the recovery of HRH price of Wales after illness.

By 1887, the battalion were in India (Calcutta) when new colours were presented to the 1st battalion by the Countess of Dufferin, the old former colours being presented to the Dominion of Canada where they were kept in the library of Parliament in Ottawa.

The next war service of the 1st Battalion was in South Africa during the Boer War, being part of the 8th Division led by Sir Leslie Rundle, alongside the 2nd Battalion the Grenadier Guards, the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards and the 2nd Battalion the East Yorkshire Regiment. The 1st Battalion took part in some of the hardest fighting at Bloemfontein and Orange River Campaigns. For the efforts of the 1st Battalion the battle honours "South Africa 1900-1902" were added to the Regiments colours

Back to top       Read more extensive detail about the exploits of the Leinster Regiment ? Click Here

The 2nd Battalion (The 109th Foot)

The 2nd Battalion had a difficult start being originally raised in 1761, disbanded two years later in 1763, raised again in 1794 and disbanded again in 1795. The troubles of the British Empire in India saw the raising once more of the colours in 1853 and the 2nd battalion as part of the force led by Sir Hugh Rose was sent to subdue the Indian Mutiny.

In addition to the arduous march across the centre of India, fighting every inch of the way, notable engagements for the 2nd battalion were

• January 30th 1858, the siege and capture of Rathghur
• January 31st 1858 action at Baroda
• February 3rd 1858 the relief of Saugor
• February 12th 1858 the capture of Garracota
• March 2nd, 1858, action at the pass of Muddenpur
• April 3rd 1858, the storming and capture of Jhansi

After the battle of Jhansi the India forces assembled at Betwa, outnumbering the British Forces ten to one, but in the ensuing battle the dash and gallantry of the 2nd Battalion was most conspicuous and the British Forces took the day.

Despite this the 2nd battalion continued their fighting spirit with action at Loharu, Koonch, Multra, Garowtee  and Calpee, and although having attained almost immortal glory, the losses of the 2nd Battalion had been severe. Yet despite this they continued on, participating in engaging the enemy at a major battle in Gwalior and on June 16th at Morar. Because of the gallant efforts of the officers and men of the Leinster Regiment in this campaign the Regiment was awarded the battle honour of "Central India"

!862 saw the 2nd Battalion engaged against hostile tribes in Aden including action in Arabia in Bir Said. A year later new colours were presented to the 2nd Battalion in 1863 and in 1875 the regiment returned to India, but this time to Calcutta as a guard of honour for a visit by HRH Edward Prince of Wales. The periods between 1880 - 1901 saw the 2nd Battalion serving in England, Malta, Canada and the West Indies.

In January 1902 the 2nd Battalion departed from the West Indies to join the 1st Battalion in the South African Campaign (2nd Boer War) when the British Army first came up against the "Guerrilla Warfare" of De Wet, De La Rey and Botha.

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To read more extensive detail about the exploits of the Leinster Regiment, which includes the names of soldiers that served with the Regiment, descriptions of where they went and how they travelled, then click here.  

Acknowledgements:

Extracted from "Short Histories of Territorial Regiments of the British Army"  (up to 1902) obtainable from the Naval & Military Press

Page was last updated January 23, 2008