40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot
Encyclopedia
The 40th Regiment of Foot was an infantry
regiment of the British Army
, formed in 1717 and amalgamated into The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) in 1881.
in August 1717 out of independent companies stationed in North America and the West Indies. In 1751, they were numbered the 40th Regiment of Foot, and in 1782 took a county title as the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot.
, where they served at both Sydney
, and Van Diemens Land.
They were then transferred to Bombay, with the first units of the 40th leaving Australia in 1828. While in India, the 40th was stationed in a number of places within the Bombay Presidency
. In 1839 they were sent to the Sindh
and took part in the capture of Karachi
. The regiment then carried out operations in the Sindh against Nasar Khan. They captured the fort at Kajak in 1841.
They also fought during the First Anglo-Afghan War
. The regiment entered Afghanistan
in 1841 and camped at Quetta
on their way to Afghanistan where they experienced one of the worst out breaks of disease of any regiment of the British army. The fought with General Nott
during his campaign
in Afghanistan in 1842. They returned to India
in December 1842 and fought in the Gwalior Campaign
at the Battle of Maharajpore in 1843.
They returned to Australia in 1852 and remained until 1860, serving in Victoria, where they suppressed the Eureka Rebellion of 1854. Detachments from the regiment were also stationed in South Australia and Western Australia.
From 1860 until 1865, the regiment took part in the Taranaki
and Waikato campaigns, during the New Zealand Wars.
, and in southern France won a medal at Nivelle. With his regiment he sailed in the Castle Forbes, arrived in Sydney
in January 1825 and went on with a detachment to Port Dalrymple (Van Diemens land), where he replaced Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Cameron as civil and military commandant in April. He soon won popular acclaim for his hospitality, upright impartiality and prompt attention to duty. His wife Charlotte died in childbirth at Launceston on 22 August 1825, aged 33, leaving him with several young children. For some months his position was uncertain because the Colonial Office proposed to supersede him by appointing Edward Abbott as civil commandant at Port Dalrymple, despite (Sir) George Arthur's strong pleas for his retention.
In February 1826 Balfour went to Sydney to transfer command of the regiment to Van Diemen's Land, and was warmly welcomed on his return next month to Launceston where Matthew Brady
and his bushrangers were daily becoming more threatening. When Balfour's well organized pursuit harassed the gang, Brady announced that he would attack Launceston; his capture of Richard Dry
's home on 4 March made Balfour divide his forces, but the bushrangers were driven off. A public meeting at Launceston praised his courageous action and next month, when Abbott's appointment was formally announced, Balfour was given a grand farewell dinner in the court-house. To retain his services Arthur on his own initiative divided the colony into military districts and placed Balfour in command of them all. He was also granted 2000 acres (8.1 km²), although he had no intention to settle.
In Hobart Town Balfour was chosen as president of the committee of the board for general purposes. His inquiries led to important new regulations for the public stores and civil establishment. He also recommended 'elegant and ornamental' extensions to the Hobart barracks to prevent overcrowding and the loss of discipline through officers living in town lodgings. He left Van Diemen's Land in December 1826, and sailed from Sydney with dispatches from Governor (Sir) Ralph Darling for the Foreign Office. Believing them urgent he left the ship in the pilot boat off Portsmouth and went straight to London. His costs for this zealous act were refused by the Colonial Office. He became commanding officer of the 82nd Regiment in January 1828 and was posted to Mauritius. He retired from the army in 1832 and died in London in February 1838.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, formed in 1717 and amalgamated into The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) in 1881.
Formation
The regiment was raised by General Richard PhilippsRichard Philipps
General Richard Philipps was said to have been in the employ of William III as a young man and for his service gained the rank of Captain in the British army. He served at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and made the rank of Lt. Col. in 1712.In 1717 he was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia by...
in August 1717 out of independent companies stationed in North America and the West Indies. In 1751, they were numbered the 40th Regiment of Foot, and in 1782 took a county title as the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot.
Service in the Empire during the 19th Century
The 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot spent a number of years of duty in the Australian colonies. From 1823 to 1829, they were posted to New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, where they served at both Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and Van Diemens Land.
They were then transferred to Bombay, with the first units of the 40th leaving Australia in 1828. While in India, the 40th was stationed in a number of places within the Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
. In 1839 they were sent to the Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
and took part in the capture of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. The regiment then carried out operations in the Sindh against Nasar Khan. They captured the fort at Kajak in 1841.
They also fought during the First Anglo-Afghan War
First Anglo-Afghan War
The First Anglo-Afghan War was fought between British India and Afghanistan from 1839 to 1842. It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between the United Kingdom and Russia, and also marked one of the worst...
. The regiment entered Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in 1841 and camped at Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
on their way to Afghanistan where they experienced one of the worst out breaks of disease of any regiment of the British army. The fought with General Nott
William Nott
Sir William Nott GCB was a British military leader in British India.- Early life :Nott was born in 1782, near Neath in Wales, the second son of Charles Nott, a Herefordshire farmer, who in 1794 became an innkeeper of the Ivy Bush Inn at Carmarthen in Wales...
during his campaign
First Anglo-Afghan War
The First Anglo-Afghan War was fought between British India and Afghanistan from 1839 to 1842. It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between the United Kingdom and Russia, and also marked one of the worst...
in Afghanistan in 1842. They returned to India
Company rule in India
Company rule in India refers to the rule or dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent...
in December 1842 and fought in the Gwalior Campaign
Gwalior Campaign
The Gwalior Campaign was fought between British and Marathan forces in Gwalior in India, December 1843.- Background :The Maratha Empire controlled much of central and northern India and had fallen to the British in 1818 giving the British control over almost all of the Indian subcontinent...
at the Battle of Maharajpore in 1843.
They returned to Australia in 1852 and remained until 1860, serving in Victoria, where they suppressed the Eureka Rebellion of 1854. Detachments from the regiment were also stationed in South Australia and Western Australia.
From 1860 until 1865, the regiment took part in the Taranaki
First Taranaki War
The First Taranaki War was an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty that took place between Māori and the New Zealand Government in the Taranaki district of New Zealand's North Island from March 1860 to March 1861....
and Waikato campaigns, during the New Zealand Wars.
Colonel William Balfour
A prominent officer of the regiment was Colonel William Balfour(1785–1838) who joined the regiment as a boy ensign in 1799, purchased his lieutenancy in 1800, and was promoted captain in 1802, major in 1808 and lieutenant-colonel in 1814. He saw service at Copenhagen; in the Peninsula he won the approval of Sir John MooreSir John Moore
Sir John Moore may refer to:*Sir John Moore, 1st Baronet, British admiral *John Moore , British general...
, and in southern France won a medal at Nivelle. With his regiment he sailed in the Castle Forbes, arrived in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in January 1825 and went on with a detachment to Port Dalrymple (Van Diemens land), where he replaced Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Cameron as civil and military commandant in April. He soon won popular acclaim for his hospitality, upright impartiality and prompt attention to duty. His wife Charlotte died in childbirth at Launceston on 22 August 1825, aged 33, leaving him with several young children. For some months his position was uncertain because the Colonial Office proposed to supersede him by appointing Edward Abbott as civil commandant at Port Dalrymple, despite (Sir) George Arthur's strong pleas for his retention.
In February 1826 Balfour went to Sydney to transfer command of the regiment to Van Diemen's Land, and was warmly welcomed on his return next month to Launceston where Matthew Brady
Matthew Brady
Matthew Brady was a notorious bushranger in Van Diemen's Land in the early 19th century. Born from two immigrants from Ireland, he was sometimes known as the "Gentleman Bushranger" due to his good treatment and fine manners when robbing his victims.Originally a corporal in a British regiment, he...
and his bushrangers were daily becoming more threatening. When Balfour's well organized pursuit harassed the gang, Brady announced that he would attack Launceston; his capture of Richard Dry
Richard Dry
Sir Richard Dry, KCMG was an Australian politician, who was Premier of Tasmania from 24 November 1866 until 1 August 1869 when he died in office...
's home on 4 March made Balfour divide his forces, but the bushrangers were driven off. A public meeting at Launceston praised his courageous action and next month, when Abbott's appointment was formally announced, Balfour was given a grand farewell dinner in the court-house. To retain his services Arthur on his own initiative divided the colony into military districts and placed Balfour in command of them all. He was also granted 2000 acres (8.1 km²), although he had no intention to settle.
In Hobart Town Balfour was chosen as president of the committee of the board for general purposes. His inquiries led to important new regulations for the public stores and civil establishment. He also recommended 'elegant and ornamental' extensions to the Hobart barracks to prevent overcrowding and the loss of discipline through officers living in town lodgings. He left Van Diemen's Land in December 1826, and sailed from Sydney with dispatches from Governor (Sir) Ralph Darling for the Foreign Office. Believing them urgent he left the ship in the pilot boat off Portsmouth and went straight to London. His costs for this zealous act were refused by the Colonial Office. He became commanding officer of the 82nd Regiment in January 1828 and was posted to Mauritius. He retired from the army in 1832 and died in London in February 1838.