THE QUEEN'S (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
The regiment is the oldest English infantry unit, having been raised in 1661 by the Earl of Peterborough. Nicknamed "Kirke's Lambs," from its Colonel and badge in 1682. Was raised to garrison Tangier, and received then the badge of the "Paschal Lamb," the crest of the House of Braganza. Was known when raised as the "1st Tangerines." The title "Royal" and motto, Pristinæ virtutis memor, was conferred for its brilliant conduct at Tongres in 1685, where for 28 hours it gallantly maintained itself against 40,000 of the enemy, and by its heroism saved the rest of the army from being taken by surprise.
A detachment was on board the "Birkenhead" when that transport was wrecked, and in order to allow the women and children to be saved, stood firm in their ranks on the deck of the doomed ship, until the waves swallowed all but the deathless glory of their deed.
(Depot, Canterbury.)
(Record Office, Hounslow.)
"Blenheim," "Ramillies," "Oudenarde," "Malplaquet," "Dettingen," "Guadaloupe, 1759," "Douro," "Talavera," "Albuhera," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Punniar," "Sevastopol," "Taku Forts," "South Africa, 1879," "Chitral," "Relief of Kimberley," "Paardeberg," "South Africa, 1900-02."
Motto: Veteri frondescit honore (May it flourish by its ancient honors).
Uniform, Scarlet.
Facings, Buff.
Head-dress, Helmet.
Cap, Blue.
Regimental March, "The Buffs."
Allied Regiment, 2nd Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, Toronto.