The regiment had six rank and file killed: Lieutenants Rogers and Robertson, Ensign Pierce, one serjeant, and twenty-three rank and file wounded; twelve rank and file missing.
The word "Tournay," displayed by royal authority on the colour of the regiment, commemorates its heroic conduct on this occasion.
The enemy afterwards acquired so great a superiority of numbers, that the British army withdrew from its position, and a series of retrograde movements brought the army to the banks of the Rhine and the Waal.
1795
A severe frost having rendered the rivers passable on the ice, the British troops retired through Holland to Germany. The FIFTY-THIRD shared in the toil, privation, and suffering occasioned by long marches through a country covered with ice and snow: in the spring of 1795 they embarked for England, where they arrived in May.
The regiment was encamped near Southampton, where its ranks were completed by drafts from the 109th regiment; in November it embarked for the West Indies, and afterwards sailed with the armament, under General Sir Ralph Abercromby, for the conquest of the French West India Islands. The disasters which befell this fleet from storms at sea, and the number of shipwrecks which took place, are recorded in the naval history of Great Britain.
1796
Four companies of the regiment, commanded by Major Brisbane, arrived at Barbadoes in March, 1796, and they formed part of the armament which proceeded against St. Lucia; three other companies also arrived in time to share in the enterprise. A landing was effected on the 26th and 27th of April, and at midnight on the last-mentioned day, Brigadier-General (afterwards Sir John) Moore advanced with seven companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, under Lieut.-Colonel John Abercromby, and a detachment of Rangers along a defile in the mountains, and falling in with the enemy's post at Morne Chabot, carried it after a considerable resistance. The FIFTY-THIRD distinguished themselves on this occasion; and Sir Ralph Abercromby's thanks were expressed to the regiment in orders, accompanied by the declaration that he would bring its conduct before His Royal Highness the Duke of York.
The loss of the regiment on this occasion was one drummer and twelve rank and file killed; Captain Charles Stuart, Lieutenant Richard Collins, and John Carmichael, two serjeants, forty-four rank and file wounded; one drummer and eight private soldiers missing.