Historical Record of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1680, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1839Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1680, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1839
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
After its return to England, the regiment was again stationed at
Plymouth with four detached companies in village cantonments; a
thirteenth company was added to its establishment, and in the
summer of 1703 the nature of its services was changed, and it
became a corps of MARINES.
A corps was raised for SEA service by King Charles II., in 1664,
and designated the admiral's regiment; and during this reign
battalions for sea service were formed as the occasions of the
state required, of drafts from the land forces, and embarked
on board the fleet. In 1689 King William III. incorporated the
admiral's regiment in the second foot guards, and two marine
regiments were established for service on board the fleet. These
regiments were disbanded in 1698; but on the breaking out of the
war of the Spanish succession, six regiments of marines were
raised, and six regular regiments of foot were placed on the
establishment of the navy for sea service.[17] In May, 1703, the
QUEEN'S regiment, commanded by Colonel Seymour, was constituted a
corps of MARINES; and its colonel was appointed to the care and
command of Her Majesty's marine forces.
The uniform of the regiment underwent some alteration on this
occasion, and the three-cornered cocked hats, worn by the officers
and men, were replaced by high-crowned leather caps, covered
with cloth of the same colour as the facing of the regiment, and
ornamented with devices, the same as the caps worn at this period
by the grenadiers.[18]
The first service in which the QUEEN'S (now fourth) regiment was
called upon to engage after it was constituted a corps of MARINES,
was embarking on board the fleet commanded by Admiral Sir George
Rooke, for the purpose of conducting to Portugal the Archduke
Charles of Austria, who had been acknowledged by the British,
Dutch, Imperial, and Portuguese governments as sovereign of Spain
by the title of Charles III., an event which excited a lively
interest at the time, and from which most important results were
anticipated.
His Catholic Majesty arrived at Portsmouth on the 26th of December,
and was received by the fleet and town with the honours paid to
crowned heads; after visiting Queen Anne at Windsor, he went on
board, and put to sea, but was driven back by a storm.
[Sidenote: 1704]
The fleet again set sail on the 12th of February, 1704, arrived at
Lisbon on the 25th of that month, and was followed by transports
having a British and Dutch force on board under the command of Duke
Schomberg, which force was designed to assist King Charles in his
attempt to gain the throne of Spain.
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