British Army Regiment Nicknames - AWI
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:08 pm
Below are listed the nicknames of the British regiments involved in the AWI. These nicknames were either given during or prior to the war. Reader will note that many well known nicknames associated with these regiments were given to them during the Napoleonic wars. An example of this is the 1st Rgt Foot Guards who are known as the Grenadier Guards. The name was given because of Waterloo. During the AWI, they were known as the Coalers. I have included the county designation or more formal name in (). Reader will note that there were a fair number of Slashers, Splashers, Springers and Snappers.
Regiment Nickname
1st Rgt Foot Guards "The Coalers"
In 1600's, Rgt officers had once hired men out to haul coal in order to raise money to refurbish officer's mess.
2nd Rgt Foot Guards "Coldstreamers"
Recruitment area in Scotland
"The Lilywhites"
Uniform facing colour
3rd Rgt Foot Guards (The King's Rgt; The King's Foot Guards; The Scots Guards or The Scotch Guards)
1st Foot (Royal) "Pontius Pilate's Bodyguards"
Combination of Rgt being oldest in the army together with the legend that Christ's tomb was guarded by Caledonian (Scottish) Legionaries at the crucifixion.
3rd Foot "The Buffs"
Uniform facing colour
4th Foot (The King's Own) "The Lions"
Rgt badge was a lion
5th Foot (Royal Northumberland Fusilliers) "The Shiners"
Rgt gave a smart appearance at an inspection in Ireland 1769.
6th Foot (1st Warwickshire) "The Dutch Guards"
Rgt was raised in 1674 for service in Holland. Nickname given to Rgt by William III when it accompanied him to England in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution.
7th Foot (Royal Fusilliers or the English Fusilliers) "The Elegant Extracts"
When originally raised, the officers came from many different regiments.
"The Hanoverian White Horse"
The Rgt badge was a white horse.
8th Foot (The King's Own) "The Leather Hats"
During AWI, Rgt wore civilian hats. Tradition continues to the present day.
9th Foot (East Norfolk) "Ligonier's"
Rgt Colonel's name
10th Foot (The North Lincolnshire) "The Yellow Bellies"
After the yellow bellied frog native to Lincolnshire.
"The Springers"
Used as light infantry during AWI.
"The Poachers"
Rgt march was an old ballad with this title.
13th Foot (1st Somersetshire) "Murray's"
Rgt Colonel's name
14th Foot (Bedfordshire) "Rossmore's"
Rgt Colonel's name
15th Foot (Yorkshire East Riding) "The Snappers"
During battle of Brandywine, Rgt ran short of ball. Remaining balls were given to the best shots, while others 'snapped' on powder charges only.
16th Foot "The Old Bucks"
From Buckinghamshire
17th Foot (Leicestershire) "The Lilywhites"
Uniform facing colour.
18th Foot (Royal Irish) "Paddy's Blackguards"
Originally an Irish Rgt.
"The Namurs"
Nic given in recognition of the Rgt's assault on Namur Castle on the 20th August, 1698.
19th Foot "The Green Howards"
Because their facing colours were green and their colonel was named Howard.
20th Foot (East Devonshire) "Kingsley's Stand"
In 1759 at battle of Minden, Rgt was ordered to the reserves due to heavy casualties. Rgt Colonel Kingsley disobeyed order stating, 'Kingsley's Rgt, at its own request, will resume its position in the line'.
"The Minden Boys"
In recognition of the Rgt's performance at the Battle of Minden.
"The Two Tens"
Roman numeral for Rgt number was shown as XX
21st Foot (Royal North British Fuzileers) "The Grey Breeks"
Rgt originally wore grey trousers. 'Breeks' is the Scottish word for trousers. One of the consequences of the failed Jacobite rebellion of 1745 was that Scotland lost its name. Scotland was renamed as North Britain.
22nd Foot (Cheshire) "The Two Twos"
Rgt number
23rd Foot (Royal Welch Fusilliers) "The Goat Boys" "The Nanny Goats"
Rgt mascot was a goat. Tradition has continued to the present day. The first time that the mascot ever went into battle was at Bunker Hill, 1775.
"Old Mindonians"
Rgt participated in the Battle of Minden, 1st August, 1759.
24th Foot "Howard's Greens"
To avoid confusion with 19th Rgt, who also had green facings and a colonel named Howard.
26th Foot "Cameronian"
Name of the original Rgt Colonel (Cameron).
27th Foot "Inniskilling"
Recruitment area in Scotland.
28th Foot (North Gloucestershire) "The Slashers"
At the battle of White Plains, the Rgt had to leave its muskets behind in order to climb a cliff. At the top they drove off the Americans with their short swords (bayonets).
29th Foot (Worcestershire) "Ever Sworded"
In 1749 a surprise attack by supposed friendly Indians led to an order that all officers must carry swords on or off duty. Tradition carries on to the present day (for officers who are on duty).
"Vein Openers"
Rgt involved in the Boston Massacre, thereby drawing first blood in the AWI.
"Two and a Hook"
Rgt number
30th Foot (Cambridgeshire) "Three Tens"
Rgt number in Roman numerals, XXX.
31st Foot (Huntingdonshire) "The Young Buffs"
George II mistook Rgt for the 3rd Rgt (The Buffs) at battle of Dettingen. Upon being corrected, he replied, 'Bravo, Young Buffs'.
33rd Foot (1st Yorkshire West Riding) "Havercake Lads"
Corruption of 'have a cake, lad' which was used by recruiting sergeants to tempt potential new recruits.
"The Pattern"
Rgt had a reputation for excellent discipline during AWI.
34th Foot (Cumberland) "Cavendish's"
Rgt Colonel's name
35th Foot (Royal Sussex) "Prince of Orange's Own" "The Orange Lilies"
William III (of Orange) gave Rgt their orange colourings.
37th Foot (North Hampshire) "Coote's"
Rgt Colonel's name
38th Foot (1st Staffordshire) "Pump and Tortoise"
Rgt was raised in 1705 and spent almost the first 60 years of its existence stationed in the West Indies where it became so depleted by climate & disease that it only went through the motions of being a regiment. A modern phrasing might be that the Rgt was "All Show (Pomp => Pump) and No Go (Tortoise)".
40th Foot (2nd Somersetshire) "The Excellers"
Rgt number in Roman numerals is XL.
42nd Foot (Black Watch) "Forty Twa"
Rgt number in Scots.
44th Foot (East Essex) "The Two Fours"
Rgt number
45th Foot (Nottinghamshire) "Haviland's"
Rgt Colonel's name
46th Foot (South Devonshire) "The Red Feathers"
Rgt involved in the Paoli 'Massacre' for which American troops swore revenge. Rgt accepted challenge, but dyed plumes red in order to avoid being confused with another Rgt.
"The Surprisers"
In reference to the action at Paoli where the American troops were attacked by surprise at night.
"The Lacedemonians"
Taken from a speech given by the Rgt Col just before Rgt went into action during the AWI, on the discipline of the Spartans, aka the Lacedemonians.
47th Foot (Lancashire) "The Cauliflowers"
White uniform facing
"Wolfe's Own"
Served under Wolfe at Quebec. Rgt added black lace to uniform in his memory.
48th Foot (Northamptonshire) "The Black Cuffs"
Uniform cuff colour.
49th Foot (Hertfordshire) "Maitland's"
Rgt Colonel's name
52nd Foot (Oxfordshire) "Clavering's"
Rgt colonel's name
53rd Foot (Shropshire) "The Old Five and Three Pennies"
Rgt number
"The Brickdusts"
Red uniform facing colour.
54th Rgt (West Norfolk) "The Flamers"
Burned 12 American privateers at New London, Connecticut, during the AWI.
55th Foot (West Moreland) "The Cattle Reavers"
Recruited from England Scotland border area. 'Cattle Reavers' are cattle thieves in Scots.
57th Foot (West Middlesex) "The Steelbacks"
Reputation as a flogging Rgt.
59th Foot (2nd Nottinghamshire) "The Lilywhites"
Uniform facing colour.
60th Foot "Royal Americans"
Loyalist (primarily German immigrants) recruiting.
62nd Foot (Wiltshire) "The Springers"
Used as light infantry in Canada 1776.
"The Splashers"
At the battle of Carrickfergus 1758, Rgt used their buttons when balls ran out. Afterwards, uniform buttons were worn 'splashed' or dented.
"The Moonrakers"
Nickname of the Wiltshire region with reference to the tradition of illegal alcohol production. The story was that men captured trying to fish liquor casks out of a pond with rakes claimed they knew nothing about the submerged kegs, but rather were trying to retrieve submerged cheese wheels while pointing to the reflection of the moon on the pond's surface.
63rd Foot (West Suffolk) "The Blood Suckers"
During the SYW, Rgt was stationed in Guadaloupe. Rgt badge was the Fleur-de-Lys which resembles the mosquito.
64th Foot (2nd Staffordshire) "The Black Knots"
Uniform facing and Rgt badge (black knot).
65th Foot (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) "Urmston's"
Rgt Colonel's name
69th Foot (South Lincolnshire) "The Ups and Downs"
Rgt number
70th Foot (Glasgow Lowland)
Recruitment city
71st Foot (Fraser's Highlanders)
Rgt Colonel's name.
74th Foot (Argyleshire Highlanders)
Recruitment area
76th Foot (McDonnell's Highlanders)
Rgt Colonel's name
79th Foot (Royal Liverpool Vol's) "Liverpool Blues"
Uniform facing colour.
80th Foot (Royal Edinburgh Vol's)
Recruitment city
82nd Foot "The Duke of Hamilton's"
Named after Rgt sponsor rather than Rgt Colonel.
83rd Foot (Royal Glasgow Vol's)
Recruitment city
84th Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
Rgt recruited from the discharged veterans of 1763 who had settled in British America.
"Young Highlanders"
Nickname of 2nd Battalion.
85th Foot (Westminster Vol's)
Recruitment City
86th (Rutland Vol's)
Recruitment area
87th Foot "The Faughs"
Rgt motto - 'Faugh-a-Ballagh' (Clear the Way).
88th Foot "Keating's"
Rgt Colonel's name.
89th Foot (Worcestershire Vol's)
Recruitment area
90th Foot (Yorkshire Vol's)
Recruitment area
91st Foot (Shropshire Vol's)
Recruitment area
92nd Foot "Stuart's"
Rgt Colonel's name
93rd Foot "McCormick's"
Rgt Colonel's name
94th Foot "Dundas'"
Rgt Colonel's name
97th Foot "Stanton's"
Rgt Colonel's name
98th Foot "Fullerton's"
Rgt Colonel's name
99th Foot (Jamaica Rgt)
Recruited from the Midlands for service in Jamaica.
105th Foot (Loyalist) "Volunteers of Ireland"
Originally, a Loyalist Rgt recruited from Irish immigrants in Philadelphia 1778.
Regiment Nickname
1st Rgt Foot Guards "The Coalers"
In 1600's, Rgt officers had once hired men out to haul coal in order to raise money to refurbish officer's mess.
2nd Rgt Foot Guards "Coldstreamers"
Recruitment area in Scotland
"The Lilywhites"
Uniform facing colour
3rd Rgt Foot Guards (The King's Rgt; The King's Foot Guards; The Scots Guards or The Scotch Guards)
1st Foot (Royal) "Pontius Pilate's Bodyguards"
Combination of Rgt being oldest in the army together with the legend that Christ's tomb was guarded by Caledonian (Scottish) Legionaries at the crucifixion.
3rd Foot "The Buffs"
Uniform facing colour
4th Foot (The King's Own) "The Lions"
Rgt badge was a lion
5th Foot (Royal Northumberland Fusilliers) "The Shiners"
Rgt gave a smart appearance at an inspection in Ireland 1769.
6th Foot (1st Warwickshire) "The Dutch Guards"
Rgt was raised in 1674 for service in Holland. Nickname given to Rgt by William III when it accompanied him to England in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution.
7th Foot (Royal Fusilliers or the English Fusilliers) "The Elegant Extracts"
When originally raised, the officers came from many different regiments.
"The Hanoverian White Horse"
The Rgt badge was a white horse.
8th Foot (The King's Own) "The Leather Hats"
During AWI, Rgt wore civilian hats. Tradition continues to the present day.
9th Foot (East Norfolk) "Ligonier's"
Rgt Colonel's name
10th Foot (The North Lincolnshire) "The Yellow Bellies"
After the yellow bellied frog native to Lincolnshire.
"The Springers"
Used as light infantry during AWI.
"The Poachers"
Rgt march was an old ballad with this title.
13th Foot (1st Somersetshire) "Murray's"
Rgt Colonel's name
14th Foot (Bedfordshire) "Rossmore's"
Rgt Colonel's name
15th Foot (Yorkshire East Riding) "The Snappers"
During battle of Brandywine, Rgt ran short of ball. Remaining balls were given to the best shots, while others 'snapped' on powder charges only.
16th Foot "The Old Bucks"
From Buckinghamshire
17th Foot (Leicestershire) "The Lilywhites"
Uniform facing colour.
18th Foot (Royal Irish) "Paddy's Blackguards"
Originally an Irish Rgt.
"The Namurs"
Nic given in recognition of the Rgt's assault on Namur Castle on the 20th August, 1698.
19th Foot "The Green Howards"
Because their facing colours were green and their colonel was named Howard.
20th Foot (East Devonshire) "Kingsley's Stand"
In 1759 at battle of Minden, Rgt was ordered to the reserves due to heavy casualties. Rgt Colonel Kingsley disobeyed order stating, 'Kingsley's Rgt, at its own request, will resume its position in the line'.
"The Minden Boys"
In recognition of the Rgt's performance at the Battle of Minden.
"The Two Tens"
Roman numeral for Rgt number was shown as XX
21st Foot (Royal North British Fuzileers) "The Grey Breeks"
Rgt originally wore grey trousers. 'Breeks' is the Scottish word for trousers. One of the consequences of the failed Jacobite rebellion of 1745 was that Scotland lost its name. Scotland was renamed as North Britain.
22nd Foot (Cheshire) "The Two Twos"
Rgt number
23rd Foot (Royal Welch Fusilliers) "The Goat Boys" "The Nanny Goats"
Rgt mascot was a goat. Tradition has continued to the present day. The first time that the mascot ever went into battle was at Bunker Hill, 1775.
"Old Mindonians"
Rgt participated in the Battle of Minden, 1st August, 1759.
24th Foot "Howard's Greens"
To avoid confusion with 19th Rgt, who also had green facings and a colonel named Howard.
26th Foot "Cameronian"
Name of the original Rgt Colonel (Cameron).
27th Foot "Inniskilling"
Recruitment area in Scotland.
28th Foot (North Gloucestershire) "The Slashers"
At the battle of White Plains, the Rgt had to leave its muskets behind in order to climb a cliff. At the top they drove off the Americans with their short swords (bayonets).
29th Foot (Worcestershire) "Ever Sworded"
In 1749 a surprise attack by supposed friendly Indians led to an order that all officers must carry swords on or off duty. Tradition carries on to the present day (for officers who are on duty).
"Vein Openers"
Rgt involved in the Boston Massacre, thereby drawing first blood in the AWI.
"Two and a Hook"
Rgt number
30th Foot (Cambridgeshire) "Three Tens"
Rgt number in Roman numerals, XXX.
31st Foot (Huntingdonshire) "The Young Buffs"
George II mistook Rgt for the 3rd Rgt (The Buffs) at battle of Dettingen. Upon being corrected, he replied, 'Bravo, Young Buffs'.
33rd Foot (1st Yorkshire West Riding) "Havercake Lads"
Corruption of 'have a cake, lad' which was used by recruiting sergeants to tempt potential new recruits.
"The Pattern"
Rgt had a reputation for excellent discipline during AWI.
34th Foot (Cumberland) "Cavendish's"
Rgt Colonel's name
35th Foot (Royal Sussex) "Prince of Orange's Own" "The Orange Lilies"
William III (of Orange) gave Rgt their orange colourings.
37th Foot (North Hampshire) "Coote's"
Rgt Colonel's name
38th Foot (1st Staffordshire) "Pump and Tortoise"
Rgt was raised in 1705 and spent almost the first 60 years of its existence stationed in the West Indies where it became so depleted by climate & disease that it only went through the motions of being a regiment. A modern phrasing might be that the Rgt was "All Show (Pomp => Pump) and No Go (Tortoise)".
40th Foot (2nd Somersetshire) "The Excellers"
Rgt number in Roman numerals is XL.
42nd Foot (Black Watch) "Forty Twa"
Rgt number in Scots.
44th Foot (East Essex) "The Two Fours"
Rgt number
45th Foot (Nottinghamshire) "Haviland's"
Rgt Colonel's name
46th Foot (South Devonshire) "The Red Feathers"
Rgt involved in the Paoli 'Massacre' for which American troops swore revenge. Rgt accepted challenge, but dyed plumes red in order to avoid being confused with another Rgt.
"The Surprisers"
In reference to the action at Paoli where the American troops were attacked by surprise at night.
"The Lacedemonians"
Taken from a speech given by the Rgt Col just before Rgt went into action during the AWI, on the discipline of the Spartans, aka the Lacedemonians.
47th Foot (Lancashire) "The Cauliflowers"
White uniform facing
"Wolfe's Own"
Served under Wolfe at Quebec. Rgt added black lace to uniform in his memory.
48th Foot (Northamptonshire) "The Black Cuffs"
Uniform cuff colour.
49th Foot (Hertfordshire) "Maitland's"
Rgt Colonel's name
52nd Foot (Oxfordshire) "Clavering's"
Rgt colonel's name
53rd Foot (Shropshire) "The Old Five and Three Pennies"
Rgt number
"The Brickdusts"
Red uniform facing colour.
54th Rgt (West Norfolk) "The Flamers"
Burned 12 American privateers at New London, Connecticut, during the AWI.
55th Foot (West Moreland) "The Cattle Reavers"
Recruited from England Scotland border area. 'Cattle Reavers' are cattle thieves in Scots.
57th Foot (West Middlesex) "The Steelbacks"
Reputation as a flogging Rgt.
59th Foot (2nd Nottinghamshire) "The Lilywhites"
Uniform facing colour.
60th Foot "Royal Americans"
Loyalist (primarily German immigrants) recruiting.
62nd Foot (Wiltshire) "The Springers"
Used as light infantry in Canada 1776.
"The Splashers"
At the battle of Carrickfergus 1758, Rgt used their buttons when balls ran out. Afterwards, uniform buttons were worn 'splashed' or dented.
"The Moonrakers"
Nickname of the Wiltshire region with reference to the tradition of illegal alcohol production. The story was that men captured trying to fish liquor casks out of a pond with rakes claimed they knew nothing about the submerged kegs, but rather were trying to retrieve submerged cheese wheels while pointing to the reflection of the moon on the pond's surface.
63rd Foot (West Suffolk) "The Blood Suckers"
During the SYW, Rgt was stationed in Guadaloupe. Rgt badge was the Fleur-de-Lys which resembles the mosquito.
64th Foot (2nd Staffordshire) "The Black Knots"
Uniform facing and Rgt badge (black knot).
65th Foot (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) "Urmston's"
Rgt Colonel's name
69th Foot (South Lincolnshire) "The Ups and Downs"
Rgt number
70th Foot (Glasgow Lowland)
Recruitment city
71st Foot (Fraser's Highlanders)
Rgt Colonel's name.
74th Foot (Argyleshire Highlanders)
Recruitment area
76th Foot (McDonnell's Highlanders)
Rgt Colonel's name
79th Foot (Royal Liverpool Vol's) "Liverpool Blues"
Uniform facing colour.
80th Foot (Royal Edinburgh Vol's)
Recruitment city
82nd Foot "The Duke of Hamilton's"
Named after Rgt sponsor rather than Rgt Colonel.
83rd Foot (Royal Glasgow Vol's)
Recruitment city
84th Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
Rgt recruited from the discharged veterans of 1763 who had settled in British America.
"Young Highlanders"
Nickname of 2nd Battalion.
85th Foot (Westminster Vol's)
Recruitment City
86th (Rutland Vol's)
Recruitment area
87th Foot "The Faughs"
Rgt motto - 'Faugh-a-Ballagh' (Clear the Way).
88th Foot "Keating's"
Rgt Colonel's name.
89th Foot (Worcestershire Vol's)
Recruitment area
90th Foot (Yorkshire Vol's)
Recruitment area
91st Foot (Shropshire Vol's)
Recruitment area
92nd Foot "Stuart's"
Rgt Colonel's name
93rd Foot "McCormick's"
Rgt Colonel's name
94th Foot "Dundas'"
Rgt Colonel's name
97th Foot "Stanton's"
Rgt Colonel's name
98th Foot "Fullerton's"
Rgt Colonel's name
99th Foot (Jamaica Rgt)
Recruited from the Midlands for service in Jamaica.
105th Foot (Loyalist) "Volunteers of Ireland"
Originally, a Loyalist Rgt recruited from Irish immigrants in Philadelphia 1778.