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The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers inherited a unique history and
set of traditions from its four former regiments ORIGINS
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 The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was one of England’s premier county regiments and can trace its ancestry back to the year 1674.When first raised it was part of the Dutch Service and known as the Irish Regiment, or Viscount Clare’s Regiment. Until 1751, like most other regiments, it was known successively by the names of the colonels who commanded them at the time. The Regiment was transferred to the British Service in 1689. From 5 June 1685 its order of precedence was the 5th Regiment of the Line. It was not until 1 July 1751 that it was designated by that number as the "5th Regiment of Foot" when the system of naming regiments after their Colonels was dropped. As a fusilier regiment, it wears a hackle, which in this case is red over white. This distinction was originally a white plume which His Majesty’s Fifth Regiment of Foot had taken from the head dress of fallen French troops at St. Lucia in December 1778. The Fifth Regiment of Foot became His Majesty’s Fifth (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot with the county affiliations of 1782. In 1829 King George IV ordered the white plume to be worn by all infantry regiments, and in order not to take away from the Fifth (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot’s battle honour, their plume was distinguished by being made red over white. This came from the legend that the men of the Fifth ( Northumberland) Regiment of Foot dipped the white plumes in the blood of the French at St. Lucia. On 4 May 1836 it became a fusilier regiment and was redesignated as the 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot. With the Cardwell reforms of 1881, the regiment was linked with the county on 1 July 1881, as the Northumberland Fusiliers with the general loss of numbering. Regular battalions continued for many years afterwards to refer to themselves as the "Fifth Fusiliers" unofficially .On 3 June 1935, the regiment was given the prefix "Royal". With the British Army reforms of the late 1960s forming large regiments, it was merged with other regiments and became the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers on St George’s Day, 23 April 1968. To this day, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers continues
to wear some of the insignia of the four county regiments from which
it was formed and to honour their traditions and carry their battle
honours. |
 The Royal Warwickshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It was first formed in the 17th century under the name the 6th Regiment of Foot. In 1873, they received the title the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The regiment became involved in a number of notable campaigns. These included the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, the War of the Spanish Succession, the Napoleonic Wars, the Boer Wars, the two World Wars and the Korean War. In 1963, they became the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and in 1968 were amalgamated with other battalions to become the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Battles 1690 - Boyne ( Glorious Revolution) |
 The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was an infantry regiment of the Britsh Army. It was first formed in 1685 under the name The Ordnance Regiment. It was later renamed to the 7th Regiment of Foot and in 1881 became known as The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). During its three hundred years of service, the regiment became involved in several campaigns. These included the American and French Revolutions, the Napoleonic Wars, and the two World Wars in the twentieth century. In April 1968, it was amalgamated with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and the Lancashire Fusiliers to form The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Battles 1778 - Monmouth ( War of American Independence) |
 The XX Lancashire Fusiliers were first formed in Devon in 1688 and given the name Peyton’s Regiment of Foot. In 1782, it became the East Devonshire Regiment and in 1881, it was renamed to The Lancashire Fusiliers. During the early years, the regiment served during the Battle of the Boyne, the War of the Spanish Succession and the Seven Years War. During the First World War, it raised thirty battalions and represented every campaign. The regiment also raised seventeen battalions during the Second World War. In 1968, it amalgamated with other Fusilier regiments in the British Army to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Battles 1690 - Boyne ( Glorious Revolution) |
