Soldier of 49th regiment, 1743A grenadier of the 49th Regiment (left), 1751
The regiment was raised in Jamaica by Colonel Edward Trelawney as Edward Trelawney's Regiment of Foot in 1743 from eight independent local companies.[1] The regiment was ranked as the 63rd Regiment of Foot in 1747 and re-ranked as the 49th Regiment of Foot in 1751.[1] The regiment landed in Ireland in 1764 and remained there until embarking for Newfoundland in 1772.[2]
The regiment moved to Boston in June 1775 for service in the American Revolutionary War.[2] It fought at the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, the Battle of White Plains in October 1776 and the Battle of Fort Washington in November 1776.[3] It went on to take part in the Philadelphia campaign, seeing action at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777, the Battle of Paoli later that month and the Battle of Germantown in October 1777.[3] It was following the British attack on the Americans at Brandywine, where the light company of the regiment took no prisoners and the Americans demanded vengeance, that the regiment decided to insert identifying red feathers in their shako helmets to prevent anyone else suffering on their account.[4] It then sailed for the West Indies in summer 1778 and took part in the British victory at the Battle of St. Lucia in December 1778 before returning to Ireland in 1780.[2] In 1782, the regiment received a county distinction becoming the 49th (the Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot.[1]
After losing its marine designation, the regiment was deployed to Canada in 1802.[2] The regiment served under Major-General Sir Isaac Brock at the Battle of Queenston Heights in October 1812 during the War of 1812.[4] The regiment returned home in 1815 to undertake Royal guarding duties at Weymouth.[2] The regiment's new scarlet coats and white breeches so impressed Princess Charlotte of Wales that she asked to be associated with the regiment. The regiment accordingly became the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (or the Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot in 1816.[1]
