The Northumberland Fusiliers,
COMPRISING
1st to 4th Batts. (formerly) The 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers); with
5th Batt. The Northumberland Militia.
"Quo fata vocant."
St. George and the Dragon. The United Rose (slipped) and Crown.
TITLES.
1674-88. A "Holland Regiment" (in service of Prince of Orange: previous
to 1684 "The Irish Regiment").
1688-94. Colonel Edmond Lloyd's Regiment of Foot.
1694-1751. (Its Colonel's name) Regiment of Foot.
1751-82. The 5th Regiment of Foot.
1782-1836. The 5th (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot.
1836-81. The 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot.
1881 (from). The Northumberland Fusiliers.
PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGNS, BATTLES, &c.
* "Honours" on the Colours.
1690. Boyne.
1691. Athlone.
1691. Limerick.
1692-97. Flanders.
1695. Namur.
1707-13. Spain.
1709. Caya.
1727. Gibraltar.
1758. Cherbourg.
1760-63. Germany.
1760. Corbach.
1760. Warbourg.
1761. Denkern.
*1762. Wilhelmstahl.
1775-78. America.
1775. Lexington.
1775. Bunker's Hill.
1776. Brooklyn.
1776. Long Island.
1776. White Plains.
1776. Brunx.
1777. Brandywine.
1777. Germantown.
1778. St. Lucia (La Vigie).
1787-97. Canada.
1799. Bergen.
1799. Egmont-op-Zee.
1799. Crabbendam.
1799. Alkmaer.
1806. Buenos Ayres.
*1808-14. Peninsula.
*1808. Roleia.
*1808. Vimiera.
*1809. Corunna.
1809. Flushing.
1809. Talavera.
*1810. Busaco.
1811. El Bodon.
*1812. Ciudad Rodrigo.
*1812. Badajos.
*1812. Salamanca.
*1813. Vittoria.
*1813. Nivelle.
*1814. Orthes.
*1814. Toulouse.
1814. Plattsburg.
1857-58. Indian Mutiny.
*1857. Lucknow.
*1878-80. Afghanistan.
*1898. Khartoum.
1900. South Africa.
Uniform.—Scarlet (since 1688). Facings.—At first Yellow, subsequently changed to Green; in 1832 a "faded-leaf" Green; afterwards White, and now (1900) Gosling-green.
Regimental and other Badges.—"St. George and the Dragon" (adopted when "The Irish Regiment" became English). Also "The United Red and White Rose, with the Royal Crest," and the Motto "Quo fata vocant" (from 1751).
Nicknames.—(1) "The Shiners" (at the time of "The Seven Years' War," from its smart appearance). Also (from Peninsula times) "The Old Bold Fifth" and "The Fighting Fifth." Also known, through being at headquarters in 1811, "Lord Wellington's Body-guard."
Notes.—For defeating a French division of Grenadiers at Wilhelmstahl (1762) it was granted the privilege of wearing Fusilier caps; also a white plume for gallantry at St. Lucia, and when it took the feathers from the caps of their French opponents. The 5th is now the only regiment retaining the distinction by a red and white hackle. At Wilhelmstahl Phœbe Hassell, the notorious "female soldier," served in the ranks. Its investment of Ciudad Rodrigo was specially commended by Lord Wellington. The territorial title was bestowed in 1782 in compliment to its Colonel, Earl Percy.
Bibliography.—Historical Record of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers. 1674 to 1837. [London: Clowes. 1838.]
A Short Narrative of the 5th Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers. Printed for Private Circulation. [London: Howard, Jones, and Parkes. 1873.]