Ceylon Rifle Regiment. Soldiers recorded in Australia

Very little is known of this Regiment

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The Regiments:

Known as (nickname)...................................................

Facings..........................................................................1799-1820 . white /  buff; 1820-1873  green; facings

Braided Lace............................................................... .white (gold for officers)

Service in Australia .......................................................It appears only a very small amount of soldiers left the ships they escorted. These Soldiers were recorded in the pay sheets of other Regiments

• 1795   five independent companies of Malays in Ceylon transferred from Dutch to HEIC service *
• 1801  Malay Regiment companies regimented (increased to ten coys by recruitment of former  Dutch Malays from St. Helena) and transferred to British regular establishment as a light infantry corps, also known by name of Colonel *
• 1807  1st Ceylon Regiment 
• 1814   converted to light infantry with a rifle company *
• 1818   1st Ceylon Regiment (Light Infantry)   *
• 1822  Ceylon Regiment (Riflemen)  
• 1827  Ceylon Rifle Regiment
• 1851  Reduced to 18 companies *
• 1854  Reduced to 14 companies *
• 1869  Reduced to 9 companies *
• 1871  Reduced to 8 companies *
• 1873 Disbanded *

Ceylon Rifle Regiment (C.R.R.) was a regular native regiment formed by the British in Ceylon  . Its history goes back to 1795 when five independent companies of Malays   where transferred from Dutch to H.E.I.C. The East India Company, also the English East India Company, and sometimes the British East India Company was an early English Joint Stock Company   that was formed for pursuing trade with the East Indies, India  and  China   The oldest among several similarly formed European East India Companies, the Company was granted an English,   Royal Charter under the name Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies, by  Elizabeth 1st on 31 December 1600.⁽¹⁾ After a rival English company challenged its monopoly in the late 17th century, the two companies were merged in 1708 to form the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies, commonly styled the Honourable East India Company,^[1] and abbreviated, HEIC Dutch to HEIC   service. Since then the regiment under deferent names had fought for the British in theKayndyan War   and the Uva Rebellion of 1818. The action the Ceylon Rifle Regiment saw was in the Matale Rebelion  in 1848. Since it served no practical application and was disbanded in 1873.

The Soldiers listed below represent the soldiers who were in Australia on Garrison Duty. It is unsure if they settled. If it is confirmed they will be given their own page and be listed above. The list of names has come from many areas, Military records of the Regiment , Pay rolls, Pay Musters, Cemetery Records, Church Records & General Muster Records etc etc . Many soldiers transferred from Regiment to Regiment

This list is still being compiled and will take a long time to complete. If the letter is not linked it is not yet complete.

A vast amount of assistance in compiling this list was given by Ken Larbalestier crossbows2@msn.com.au it is with much thanks we add the information he supplied and typed.

If not for his work and assistance many soldiers would never have been listed.

Surnames

• SYMONDS J. J.

• WIGMORE Richard Percival

References

Military records of the Regiment , Pay rolls, Pay Musters, Cemetery Records, Church Records & General Muster Records. some information  * gathered from http://regiments.org/

(1) The Register of Letters &c. of the Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies, 1600–1619. On page 3, a letter written by Elizabeth I on January 23, 1601 ("Witnes o^r selfe at Westminster the xxiiij^th of Ianuarie in the xliij^th yeare of o^r Reigne.") states, "Haue been pleased to giue lysence vnto o^r said Subjects to proceed in the said voiadgs, & for the better inabling them to establish a trade into & from the said East Indies Haue by o^r tres Pattents vnder o^r great seale of England beareing date at Westminster the last daie of December last past incorporated o^r said Subjecte by the name of the Gou^rno^r & Companie of the me^rchaunts of London trading into the East Indies, & in the same tres Pattents haue geven them the sole trade of the East Indies for the terme of XV^teen year's ..." (sic)