THE BUFFS (East Kent Regiment)
The 3rd Foot (The Buffs) was so called first in 1708. Its previous title was "The Holland Regiment," having been in the Dutch Service from the time of Queen Elizabeth. It was raised in 1572 to the number of 3000 men by London Guilds, when the Dutch were in revolt against Spain. To this circumstance, the regiment owes the time-honoured privilege it enjoys of marching through the City of London with drums beating and colours flying without let or hindrance, the custom being derived from the privileges of the Train Bands of Elizabethan days. It was nicknamed the "Buff Howards" from the colour of its facings and Colonel's name, 1737 to 1749; also the "Old Buffs," to distinguish it from the 31st Regiment, which was the "Young Buffs." Other nicknames given were "The Nutcrackers," on account of its prowess in cracking the heads of the enemy, and "The Resurrectionists," which was obtained at Albuhera where the regiment was dispersed by the Polish Lancers, and reappeared shortly after.
(Depot, Lancaster.)
(Record Office, Preston.)
"Namur, 1695," "Gibraltar, 1704-5," "Guadaloupe, 1759," "St. Lucia, 1778," "Corunna," "Badajoz," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "St. Sebastian," "Nive," "Peninsula," "Bladensburg," "Waterloo," "Alma," "Inkerman," "Sevastopol," "Abyssinia," "South Africa, 1879," "Relief of Ladysmith," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Uniform, Scarlet.
Facings, Blue.
Head-dress, Helmet.
Cap, Blue with scarlet band.
Regimental March, "Corn rigs are bonnie."