THE PRINCE OF WALES'S OWN (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Raised in 1685. It shared in the defence of Gibraltar in 1727, and added very considerably to its laurels in the wars of 1793-4. In an attack on the French camp at Famars, 23rd May, 1793, it not only gained a victory, but also its regimental march. Among the pieces of music which fanned the fiery zeal of the French was "Ça ira," to the strains of which they hurled themselves with impetuosity on the British troops. The colonel however, with a magnificent inspiration called out to his men "Come along, my lads, we'll break them to their own d——d tune," and bade his drummers strike up "Ça ira." The effect was irresistible, and the French found themselves flying from the sound of their own martial air. The regiment fought with characteristic bravery at Corunna, in Java, at Waterloo, in India, in the Crimea, New Zealand, and South Africa, reaping the highest commendation for gallantry and devotion everywhere.
Nicknames: "The Old and Bold" and "Calvert's Entire."
(Depot, Beverley.)
(Record Office, York.)
"Blenheim," "Ramillies," "Oudenarde," "Malplaquet," "Louisburg," "Quebec, 1759," "Martinique, 1762," "Havannah," "St. Lucia, 1778," "Martinique 1794, 1809," "Guadaloupe, 1810," "Afghanistan, 1879-80," "South Africa, 1900-02."
Uniform, Scarlet.
Facings, White.
Head-dress, Helmet.
Cap, Blue.
Regimental March, "Yorkshire Lass."
The officers wear a black line in the top and bottom of the lace, as a memento of General Wolfe's death.