Badges of the 63rd Foot - notes from the 1950s

[Paul Spellman]

Great stuff Dean,
Paul

[manchesters]

Dean,

Thankyou for putting these on here, the original notes of Usher on the subject.

i have printed them off but there are pages missing between 1812 and 1848.

Do you have those?

regards

[mooke07]

Apologies many images on my phone so hopefully these complete until home, cheers and thanks for noting them as being of interest, cheers Dean.

[mooke07]

More of text

[mooke07]

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[mooke07]

More 14

[mooke07]

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[manchesters]

Dean,

One left I think.
1834 - 1844 if you have it.

Actually two. Also required is 1850-55.

Much obliged.

regards

[Peter Brydon]

If this is the sort of article that appeared in the BCQ what a great find a whole run of the magazine would be.

P.B.

[Jeff Mc William]

Originally Posted by Peter Brydon

If this is the sort of article that appeared in the BCQ what a great find a whole run of the magazine would be.

P.B.

Yes Peter.
From what I was given to understand, there was only one copy of each issue which was circulated (and added to) by members, then returned to the editor, viz H.Y.Usher for one period. Regards Jeff
PS: I believe FM Sir Gerald Templer was one member.

[mooke07]

Thanks for the comments on this I am pleased it was of interest. Here are parts of it sorry Sinon, but disjointed will re-photograph it when home at the weekend, cheers Dean

[mooke07]

More of the early section

[mooke07]

3rd early pic

[mooke07]

Sir John

[jf42]

Originally Posted by mooke07

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I was curious as to the origin of the 'Fleur-de-Lis' emblem, traditionally associated with an C18th campaign against the Bourbon French in the West Indies, immediately after the Regiment was formed. Slack's 'History of the late 63rd Regiment ' (1884) speculates "There is every probability that sanction to wear the Fleur-de-Lis was obtained as a reward for the capture of Guadeloupe from the French in 1759.." He cites an officer portrait from 1797 that shows the emblem worn as an ornament on the epaulette. It also appeared on items of regimental plate, "some of it very old."(At that time there was little obvious context for the display of such an emblem anywhere else, i.e. no cap badges and only a restricted number of regiments were authorised to display 'ancient devices' on colours and drums).

Slack reports that the 63rd their baggage was taken by the enemy at Helvoetsluys. Presumably this was in 1795 during the debacle in the Netherlands. The 42nd RHR also cited this as the reason they were unable explain the origin of their red feather. He also avers "it is scarcely credible" that a regiment with "so high a character" would have adopted the 'Fleur de Lis' without authority- although this is precisely the sort of thing that did happen in the last quarter of the C18th, and in a small number of case persisted even after strict regulations were introduced in 1800-01. The 'Back Number' of the 28th is perhaps the most celebrated example.

There is a reference at iwm.org to the 63rd regiment sporting the symbol circa 1815, when they would still have been in the West Indies after seven years service in the Caribbean and three more to go (their fourth tour), but with no other details, and there is reference in the typed notes you posted to the emblem being found on a officer's belt buckle circa 1832-1855- but with no proven association to the 63rd. [EDIT: Correction- I now see the notes refer to a belt with a Fleur-de-Lis belt clasp from 1823]

Slack tells us that in 1856 the Fleur de Lis emblem, worn as an ornament on the coatees (epaulettes?) of the officers and Sergeant Major, was discontinued when the new tunic was introduced, since no written authority could be produced. Writing in 1884, he argues it woud be "a graceful act, and much appreciated by the corps" if the Fleur de Lis emblem could be restored. Presumably the wearing of the badge on undress headgear was another element in the campaign which finally met with success in 1923.

I see that 'Guadeloupe 1759' wasn't recognised as a battle honour until 1909 (Guadeloupe 1810 was awarded between 1817-19). Although Guadeloupe Day was celebrated as a Regimental Day in June, that date doesn't appear to correspond to the date of any particlular action.

While the 'Fleur de Lis' is a distinctive and attractive emblem, as a symbol of Bourbon France it seems an oddly generic device to choose, given that there were many regiments who could claim a share in defeating Bourbon France in 1759, (not least the 34th/Royal Sussex with their similarly belated 'Roussillon Feather' dating from 1881)

I wondered if there was more information to hand to explain how and when the 'Fleur de Lis' came to be chosen as a Regimental emblem of the 63rd.