The Grenadier Company wore black tops to its white feathers, and the Light Company red heckles, in commemoration of their conduct in the American War, 1776.
FIFTIETH FOOT.
| Titles. | Colour of | Campaigns, Battles, &c. | ||
| Uniform. | Facings. | |||
| 52nd Foot. 1755–1757 50th Foot. 1757–1782 50th West Kent. 1782–1827 50th The Duke of Clarence’s. 1827–1831 50th, The Queen’s Own. 1831—— | Scarlet, 1755—. | Scarlet, 1755–1767. Black, 1767–1831. Blue, 1831—. | Corbach, 1760. Denkern, 1761. Wilhelmstahl, 1762. Germany, 1759–1762. Corsica, 1794. Mandora, 1801. Alexandria, 1801. Egypt, 1801. Copenhagen, 1807. Roleia, 1808. Vimiera, 1808. Corunna, 1809. Flushing, 1809. Almaraj, 1812. Badajos, 1812. | Vittoria, 1813. Maya, 1813. Pyrenees, 1813. Nive, 1813. Orthes, 1814. Peninsula, 1808–1814. Punniar, 1843. Moodkee, 1845. Ferozeshah, 1845. Aliwal, 1846. Sobraon, 1846. Alma, 1854. Inkerman, 1854. Sevastopol, 1855. New Zealand, 1863–1866. |
The Regiment was raised, it is said=, in Ireland.
The first Regiment numbered the 50th was raised in 1745 as “Shirley’s American Provincials,” made 50th in 1754, and disbanded in 1757.
It bears “The Sphinx” for Egypt, 1801.
It was nicknamed “The Blind Half-Hundred” from so many men suffering from ophthalmia during the Egyptian Campaign; also “The Dirty Half-Hundred” from the men in action wiping their faces with their black facings, during the Peninsula War; also known as “The Gallant Fiftieth” for its gallantry at the battle of Vimiera, 1808.
FIFTY-FIRST FOOT.
| Titles. | Colour of | Campaigns, Battles, &c. | ||
| Uniform. | Facings. | |||
| 53rd Foot. 1755–1757 51st Foot. 1757–1782 51st Second Yorkshire West Rid=ing. 1782–1809 51st Second Yorkshire West Rid=ing Light Infantry. 1809–1821 51st, Second Yorkshire West Rid=ing, The King’s Own Light Infantry. 1821—— | Scarlet, 1755—. | Sea-Green, 1755–1821. Blue, 1821—. | Minden, 1759. Corbach, 1760. Warbourg, 1760. Germany, 1758–1762. Minorca, 1782. Corsica, 1794. Corunna, 1809. Flushing, 1809. Fuentes-d’Onor, 1811. Badajos, 1812. Salamanca, 1812. | Burgos, 1812. Vittoria, 1813. Pyrenees, 1813. Nivelle, 1813. Orthes, 1814. Peninsula, 1808–1809. Do., 1811–1814. Waterloo, 1815. Netherlands, 1815. Pegu, 1852–1853. |
The Regiment was raised in Yorkshire, and its facings were chosen by its first Colonel, who had served in the 2nd Foot.