THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
1755
In the winter of 1755, when the attacks made by the French on the British settlements beyond the Allegany Mountains, in North America, appeared to render a war between the two countries inevitable, King George II. resolved to augment the strength of his regular army, and a letter of service was addressed to Colonel William Whitmore, major in the third foot guards, authorizing him to raise, form, and discipline a regiment of foot, of ten companies, which was numbered the FIFTY-FIFTH; but two colonial corps being soon afterwards disbanded, viz., Major-General Shirley's and Major-General Sir William Pepperell's, which had been numbered the Fiftieth and Fifty-first regiments, it obtained rank as FIFTY-THIRD regiment.[6]
This regiment was raised in the south of England: its uniform was cocked hats; red coats, faced with red, lined with yellow, and ornamented with yellow lace; red waistcoats and breeches, and white gaiters. The colonelcy was conferred on Colonel William Whitmore, by commission dated the 21st of December, 1755; the lieut.-colonelcy was given to Major George Craufurd, from the thirty-fifth regiment, then in Ireland; and Captain William Arnot was nominated major.
1756
Early in 1756 the formation of the regiment was completed, and the following officers were appointed to commissions in the corps:—
| Colonel, William Whitmore. | |
| Lieutenant-Colonel, Geo. Craufurd. | Major, Wm. Arnot. |
| Captains. | ||
| John Lindsay. | Geo. Sempill. | Tho. Thompson. |
| Jas. Wakeman. | Tho. Benson. | Captain-Lieut., Lord |
| Jas. Mc.Farlane. | Robert Lamb. | Viscount Allen. |
| Lieutenants. | ||
| Geo. O. Kenlock. | Jas. Worsley. | John Slowe. |
| Rob. Wright. | Jno. Campbell. | Wm. Hughes. |
| Chs. Chambre. | Jno. Donellan. | Tho. Dyson. |
| John Manmore. | ||
| Ensigns. | ||
| Cha. L. Richards. | Geo. Massey. | Dougal Ewart. |
| Tho. Moore. | Lodovick Grant. | Geo. C. Brown. |
| John Wright. | Westley Groves. | Jas. Frognorton. |