[14] The following tradition has been preserved in the regiment:—The facings and breeches of the THIRTY-FIRST being of the same colour as those worn by the Third “Buffs,” King George II. mistook it for the latter regiment, and called out “Bravo, Buffs,” with a view of animating the men to further gallantry; and when reminded that it was the THIRTY-FIRST, and not the “Old Buffs,” His Majesty then rejoined, “Bravo, Young Buffs;” and this name, valuable for the time and manner of its being conferred, has been since retained by the Regiment.
[15] Although the results of the Battle of Dettingen, fought on the 27th of June, 1743, were not equal to those attending the victories gained over the French by Edward the Third and Henry the Fifth, yet there are circumstances which render the conflict at Dettingen similar to those of Creçy and Agincourt. At Creçy, on the 26th of August, 1346, King Edward the Third and his son Edward the Black Prince were present; and at Dettingen, King George the Second was accompanied by his son the Duke of Cumberland. It was the début of both the Royal Princes on the tented plain, and the chivalrous bearing of the Black Prince, particularly his behaviour to the prisoners, finds a parallel in the conduct of the Duke of Cumberland, who refused to have his wound attended to, until the surgeons had examined that of a French officer, the Count De Fenelon, who had been taken prisoner and conveyed to the Duke’s tent. “Begin,” said His Royal Highness, “with the wound of the French officer; he is more dangerously hurt than I am, and stands more in need of assistance.”
The disadvantage under which the British fought at Dettingen was equal to that at Agincourt, and the impetuosity of the enemy, in both instances, prevented the English army perishing from want of provisions.
All these battles are likewise noted for the number of the French Royal family and nobility who were present; and the battle of Dettingen is further remarkable as being the last action in which a British Monarch commanded the army.
The want of provisions and tents, unfortunately, compelled the victors to abandon the field of battle, otherwise Dettingen might have rivalled many of the achievements recorded in British History.
[16] “The Dutch, in their flight, breaking in on the English ranks, were fired upon by those troops, which did them considerable damage; a Highlander in Lord Semphill’s (forty-second) regiment being asked ‘Why he fired upon them; they were his friends?’ replied, ‘I am sure they are the greatest enemy we have seen this day.’”—Biggs’s Military History of Europe from 1739 to 1748.
[17] Vide List of Battles, Sieges, &c., inserted in Appendix, [page 223].
[18] The regiments which returned to England from Flanders, on this occasion, are specified in the List inserted in the Appendix, [page 224].
| 2nd Batt. | Constituted | 2nd Batt. | Constituted |
| 3rd Foot, | the 61st Regiment. | 24th Foot, | the 69th Regiment. |
| 4th ” | the 62nd Regiment. | 31st ” | the 70th Regiment. |
| 8th ” | the 63rd Regiment. | 32nd ” | the 71st Regiment. |
| 11th ” | the 64th Regiment. | 33rd ” | the 72nd Regiment. |
| 12th ” | the 65th Regiment. | 34th ” | the 73rd Regiment. |
| 19th ” | the 66th Regiment. | 36th ” | the 74th Regiment. |
| 20th ” | the 67th Regiment. | 37th ” | the 75th Regiment. |
| 23rd ” | the 68th Regiment. |