Private 92nd Foot.....

[marilyn morning]

Listed on Hance Dixon's marriage record dated 16 Dec 1881, he is listed as a Private 92nd Foot. Searched for the meaning of 92nd and only seem to find reference to the 92nd Highlanders? Was there another 92nd?

Two sites I found in regards to the Military
www.regiments.org
www.answers.com

Marilyn

[JustJean]

Hi Marilyn

I know of at least one expert on this board that will tells us right off if this is right or wrong......found this on the internet.....

The 92nd Foot traced their origin to 1794, when there were actually several regiments that carried the designation of "92nd Foot." In 1798 the regiment was formed as the 92nd Highland Regiment of Foot and this is the designation that they would carry until 1881. Since they were raised by the Marques of Huntley, the last Duke of Gordon, they became known as "The Gordon Highlanders." Their kilts were the tartan of the Gordon's - dark green background with yellow stripes, while their regimental facings (cuffs, collars and flag background) were yellow. Completing the uniform was the traditional highland bonnet with a white plume.
At Waterloo the First Battalion of the 92nd was part Sir Denis Pack's, 9th Brigade, under division commander Sir Thomas Picton. At noon on June 18, 1815, the Gordon's found themselves on the ridge of Mount St. Jean near the left-center of the battlefield. This was opposite the crucial strong point of la Haye Saint, key to the British position. The French First Corp attack on their position was at 1 P.M. and this was successfully repulsed with steady volley firing. The French regrouped and began attacking with massed cavalry. The 92nd, with the rest of Picton's division, formed hollow squares and withstood charge after charge of the attacking French.

Located in the center of the square were the regiment's colors and officers. The 92nd carried two flags or colors. The King's color featured the traditional Union Jack with the regimental crest in the center. The Regimental color followed the practice of all British regiments by featuring the regimental facing color as its background. Thus, the Gordon's yellow facing color was the main color of the flag. Unfortunately, only the center fragment survives today of this regimental symbol carried with such valor.

In 1881, under the Cardwell system, the 92nd was linked with the 75th Regiment of Foot and became the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Through history, they would earn battle honors for many engagements. Their regimental crest of the "Head of the Stag" was the crest of the Marquis of Huntley. That the "Ivy of the Gordon's" would adorn their colors into the 20th Century.

If this indeed refers to the regiment you seek then you can see that in 1881 during the reforms that they had a name change.

Jean

[DavidWW]

Listed on Hance Dixon's marriage record dated 16 Dec 1881, he is listed as a Private 92nd Foot. Searched for the meaning of 92nd and only seem to find reference to the 92nd Highlanders? Was there another 92nd?

Two sites I found in regards to the Military
www.regiments.org
www.answers.com

Marilyn

Marilyn

In 1881 this was most probably the 92nd of Foot, The Gordon Highlanders.

Depending on the exact date involved in 1881, - this was the year of the Cardwell reforms of the British Army, - it might just also refer to the 75th of Foot, the Stirlingshire Regiment, who were amalgamated with the Gordons some time in 1881, producing a 2 battalion regiment known as the Gordon Highlanders, but numbers were dropped, altho' the combined regiment is known to researchers as The Gordon Highlanders (75th and 92nd), but is verging on the extremely unlikely that a Private in the 75th of Foot would describe himself as a Private of the 92nd ........

In 1994 The Gordons were combined with the Seaforths and Camerons to form The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordon and Camerons), and, assuming "President" Blair returns to power next Thursday, will become just 1 battalion of a "super-regiment" that will combine the 6 Scottish infantry regiments into the 5 battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland of which they will become 5th Battalion (Seaforth, Gordons, and Camerons).

There was indeed several other 92nd regiments but many decades prior to 1881, - when peace followed war disbandments regularly led to re-numbering of regiments, e.g., when raised in 1794 the Gordon's were the 100th of Foot.

Davie

[marilyn morning]

Hello Jean & Davie

Thank you for these detailed replies. You've both confirmed what I thought, but was slightly confused with the name change.

A friend has informed me of a book to answer questions on Scottish Regiments. "The Naming and Numbering of Scottish Regiments of Foot, Cavalry and Militia" by David Webster

Regards
Marilyn

[Garen]

A year late on this, but just in case this is of interest (apologies for bringing up an old thread):

I could find no H. Dixon on the Afghan war (my interest) medal roll for the 92nd Foot but there is a Private H. Dixon on the Egypt War medal roll, service no. 164, Egypt medal with clasp for Tel-el-Kebir and Khedieve's Bronze Star.

The only thing is this is the 1st Gordon Highlanders (75th). It's a possibility he transferred to the 2nd battalion (92nd) by December. Or it could be a completely different chap.

In 1881 the 92nd Gordons were involved in the 1st Boer war and were at Mujaba Hill, so another source to look out for. The other possibility is he joined the 92nd in Nov or Dec and was a new recruit.

Just as information.

[CatrionaL]

Hullo Garen

Welcome to Talking Scot.

Thank you for your contribution. It's great to have people with different areas of expertise on the Forum.

kind regards

Catriona

[DavidWW]

In 1881, following the Cardwell reforms, the previously separate 75th and 92nd of Foot joined together to become the 1st and 2nd Battallion of the Gordon Highlanders. Quite possible that there was a transfer between the battalions, for instance, to make up to strength the battalion about to go on foreign service, or already there.

One of the concepts involved in the Cardwell reforms was that one battalion would be back at home training, recruiting, and providing drafts for the other battalion overseas.

David