Australia's Red Coat Regiments

(1788....1870)

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For a period of 82 years, 25 British Infantry Regiments, Several Service Regiments, and Marine Detachments, consisting of English, Scottish, Welsh & Irish service persons were assigned to duties in the Colony. These duties were a far cry from battles many Regiments had fought and were deemed, by all as mundane. Several of these Regiments had fought in conflicts in the West Indies, Americas, India, Canada & New Zealand prior to their arrival in the colony.

In the new colony of Australia the Regiments were assigned as convict guards, and were used to settle uprisings such as Castle Hill, the Eureka Stockade and many smaller riots, they were also responsible for the capture and return of escaped convicts. The Regiments were on some occasions, set the task of exploration. The last of these men left Australian shores in 1913.

They were marines who were stationed on English ships in Sydney Harbour.

Punishment issued to Soldiers was in some instances far more severe than that of the convicts. Up to 1,500 lashes were issued as punishment, but this was rare, it did occur, not many lived following. (An example was 300 lashes issued to a soldier for being absent from duty). Execution was also common and in some cases was carried out after the lash had been used.

The Soldiers were the law upholders and to break the laws of the day bought disgrace to the Uniform, King, and, the ultimate sin, the Regiment.

Therefore, the punishment for any indiscretion was severe and kept the soldiers focused and in line.

 

This site will give some insight into the Regiments and the men who settled.

To follow the format, click on the Regiments name BELOW, and then follow the links. It contains the men’s details on further pages, just click on their name.

 

Please NOTE . ,

 

After much thought we decided that all soldiers who served in Australia deserve some form of recognition for work they did to make our country what it is today. In most cases this site is the only place their name will appear for all to see. It is with this in mind we have added all soldiers who served in Australia, somewhere in the order of 36- to 37,000 names. Each one added their own piece of history no matter how small. It is not intended to justify or condone the actions, or behavior of some of the military and should not be taken that way.

 

The site is still dedicated only to those who settled. But could not allow the names of all soldiers fade into history.

 

An example of the Uniforms and Weapons worn and used by Foot Regiments

 

""""" Women recorded as serving with British Regiments """"

 

The Royal Marines

These units could not be called Red Coats as they were not Army units but Navy Marines. However, they did wear the red tunic.

1st,2nd,3rd,4th,The Marines and Royal Marines  ( ; service ; 1788 till 1791....1803 till 1812......1824 till 1829........1837 till 1845.......1862 till 1870 ....... 1859 till 1913

Specially formed Regiments

The New South Wales Corps. ( Rum Corps. ) "Renamed 1st /102nd Regiment of Foot " "Renamed 1st /100th Regiment Royal Dublin Fusiliers" ; service ; 1789 - 1810

1st / 2nd Battalion's................ 73rd Highland Regiment ; ; service 1810- 1814..

1st / 46th Foot ........................South Devonshire Regiment ; service; 1814 - 1818

 

Penninsular Regiments

1 st / 48th Foot.......Northamptonshire Regiment ; service; 1817 - 1824

1 st / 3rd Foot.........The Buff's The East Kent Regiment ; service; 1823 - 1827

2nd / 40th Foot.......Second Somersetshire Regiment ; service; 1823 - 1829 & 1852 - 1860

1 st / 57th Foot.......West Middlesex Regiment ; service; 1826 - 1831

1 st / 39th Foot.......Dorsetshire Regiment ; service; 1827 - 1832

1 st / 4th Foot.........Lancaster King's Own Regiment ; service; 1832 - 1837

1 st / 50th Foot.......West Kent Queen's Own Regiment ; service; 1834 - 1841 & 1866 -1869

1 st / 28th Foot.......The North Gloucestershire Regiment ; service; 1835 - 1842

2nd / 51st Foot.......Yorkshire , West Riding Light Infantry Regiment ; service ; 1838-1846

1 st / 58th Foot.......Rutlandshire Regiment ; service; 1844 - 1847

1 st / 11th Foot.......North Devonshire Regiment ; service; 1845 - 1857

1 st / 77th Foot.......East Middlesex Regiment ; service; 1857 - 1858

2nd / 14th Foot.......Buckinghamshire Regiment ; service; 1866 - 1870

Other British Regiments to serve

1 st / 63rd Foot......West Suffolk Regiment ; service; 1829 - 1833

1 st / 17th Foot.......Leicestershire Regiment ; service; 1830 - 1836

1 st / 80th Foot.......Staffordshire Volunteers Regiment ; service; 1836 - 1844

1 st / 96th Foot.......Manchester Regiment ; service; 1839 - 1849

1 st / 99th Foot.......Lanarkshire Regiment of Foot  ; service; 1843 - 1856

2nd / 65th Foot......Yorkshire , North Riding  Regiment of Foot   ; service ; 1846 - 1849

1 st / 12th Foot.......East Suffolk Regiment ; service; 1854 - 18670

1 st / 18th Foot.......Irish Regiment ; service; 1870 -1870

1 st / 21st Fusiliers...Royal North British Fusiliers Regiment ; service; 1833 - 1839

 

Service Corps to serve

Royal Artillery Regiment several served ; service ; 1856 - 1870 Consisted of the following units . (1st Battery, 1st Brigade Royal Artillery). (2nd Company, 6 Battalion Royal Artillery) (8th Company, 10th Battalion Royal Artillery) . ( 6th/10th Battalion Royal Artillery).( 3 Company , 7 Battalion Royal Artillery) (1st Battery , 4th Brigade Royal Artillery). (7th Battery, 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery). (1st Battery, 15th Brigade Royal Artillery).

Royal Engineers Corps & Royal Corps of Sappers and Miners

Royal Staff Corps

Royal Commissariat Corps

Royal Medical Corps

Royal Hospital Corps

 

Specially formed Mounted Police and Police Detachments

Royal Mounted Police Detachments

Non Military Police and Police Military Detachments

Governors guard of Light Horse ......... 31 Dec 1801

Vandiemenian Police

 

Pensioner and Veteran Corps to serve

1st /102nd ...........Invalids Company 1810 -1813

Military Tasmanian Pensioners Force  service ; ..............................1830-1850

Enrolled Military Pensioners Force Western Australia and Tasmania   ; service ; 1850 – 1880

Royal New South Wales Veterans Company Regiment .......; service;  1813-1823 &1826 -1833

Enrolled Pensioner Guard Western Australia: Service ; 1880 – 1887

New Zealand Fencibles ..............................................1850 – 1880

 

Other British Corps served as convict guards on board ship only. Only a small detachment of these soldiers were on board the ships. The Regiments did not remain. Some Regiments were mentioned in the pay records as having a member attached, in many cases this was only one soldier

37th Regiment- .......North Hampshire ..........................Soldiers recorded in Australia

came as guard on Second Fleet "Neptune" departed England 19th January 1790

 

84th Regiment-........York and Lancaster Regiment ......Soldiers recorded in Australia
Commanded by Lieutenant Beamish. Sailed from Downs, England on 18th July 1818 on board the ship "Morley", a ship of 480 tons built on the Thames in 1811 , on her second voyage as a convict ship to New South Wales.
84th Regiment c.1827. Served in the West and later the East Indies. Came to Australia as the guard on the convict ship "Fairlie" which arrived in VDL in July 1852

 

5th Regiment. .......Northumberland Fusiliers. .....................Soldiers recorded in Australiai

33rd Regiment......The Duke of Wellington's Regiment.......Soldiers recorded in Australia

34th Regiment......The Cumberland Regiment of Foot........Soldiers recorded in Australia

41st Regiment.......Welsh Regiment......................................Soldiers recorded in Australia

43rd Regiment......The Monmouth Light Infantry................Soldiers recorded in Australia

62nd Regiment......The Wiltshire Regiment .........................Soldiers recorded in Australia
70th Regiment.......The Surry Regiment ..............................Soldiers recorded in Australia
74th Regiment.......The Assaye Regiment.............................Soldiers recorded in Australia

91st Regiment.......The Argyllshire Regiment of Foot ..........Soldiers recorded in Australia

Ceylon Rifle Regiment..........................................................Soldiers recorded in Australia
Command Headquarters......................................................Soldiers recorded in Australia

86th Royal County down Regiment. A detachment were held in Sydney for 12months awaiting transport to India

 

Regiments who had soldiers serving on Norfolk Island only

38th Regiment.......1st Staffordshire Regiment ........Soldiers recorded on Norfolk Island

60th Regiment......The King's Royal Rifle Corps Regiment of Foot...Soldiers recorded on Norfolk Island

59th Regiment........2nd Nottinghamshire Regiment...Soldiers recorded on Norfolk Island

 

Line Regiments Served in New Zealand

  Thirteen British line Regiments served in New Zealand . This was along with service units

 

The Royal Marines.........Mainly based aboard ships as escorts 

1 st / 80th Foot...............Staffordshire Volunteers Regiment - Served 1840 - 1845

1 st / 12th Foot...............East Suffolk Regiment served 1860 - 1866

2nd / 14th Foot..............Buckinghamshire Regiment served 1860 - 1867

2nd / 18th Foot...............Irish Regiment served 1863 - 1870

1 st / 40th Foot...............Second Somersetshire Regiment Served 1860 - 1866

43rd Regiment...............The Monmouthshire Light Infantry Served 1863 - 1866

1 st / 50th Foot..............West Kent Queen's Own Regiment Served 1863 - 1866

1 st / 57th Foot..............West Middlesex Regiment Served 1860 - 1866

1 st / 58th Foot..............Rutlandshire Regiment Served 1845 - 1858

2nd / 65th Foot..............Yorkshire , West Riding Light Infantry Regiment Served 1846 - 1865

1st /  68^th  Foot………....The Durham Light Infantry Served 1864 - 1866

70th Regiment................The Surry Regiment Served 1863 - 1866

1 st / 96th Foot...............Manchester Regiment Served 1841 - 1847

1 st / 99th Foot...............Wiltshire Duke of Edinburgh Regiment Served 1845 - 1847

Royal Artillery - Various   1845 - 1870 (from 1861,  4th Brigade - C and I Batteries).

Royal Corps of Sappers and Miners - Served from 1835. 

Royal Engineers - 6th Company. Served until 1870, 

Army Medical Department - Served 1860 - 1866 

Army Hospital Corps - Served 1861 - 1870

Commissariat Staff Corps - Served 1861 - 1870

Puveyor's Department

Chaplain's Department

Military Train and Horse Transport Corps - 4th Battalion. Served 1861 - 1866. 

Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps (military Pensioners) - Auckland 1847-48

 

 

Military records , Pay rolls, Pay Musters, Cemetery Records, Church Records & General Muster Records. etc

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