HISTORY OF THE 12th (THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT 1685-1913)

King James II came to the throne in 1685 and was immediately faced with threats of rebellion by the Dukes of Monmouth and Argyll which necessitated an increase in the regular to meet them. Accordingly additional cavalry and infantry regiments were raised including the Suffolk, which formed at Norwich as the Duke of Norfolk’s Regiment of Foot. The title then changed with the Colonel’s name till 1751 when Foot numbers were introduce and the Regiment became 12th Foot, adding East Suffolk in 1782 and finally, in 1881, it became The Suffolk Regiment.
This is a very detailed history by an experienced author who observes that he was much assisted by the wealth of personal diaries, journals and varied reminiscences of the old 12th, probably more than possessed by any other regiment, all of which were put at his disposal. and have been put to good use. There are one or two informative appendices, such as the succession of Colonels with biographies, succession of COs and Adjutants and a chapter on uniform, equipment and the Colours. Following the accession of William and Mary to the throne (1688) the Regiment was sent to Ireland to fight the rebels supporting ex-King James and took part in the Battle of the Boyne. In 1743 the 12th Foot gained its first battle honour, Dettingen, the last occasion on which the British Sovereign led his troops in battle. Six years later they were one of the six infantry regiments at Minden, one of the great victories over the French, which is still celebrated today by the six regiments (or their descendants) with a ceremonial parade in which the drums parade garlanded with roses and personnel wear a rose in their headgear. The regimental cap badge of a castle superscribed ‘Gibraltar’ reflects their defence of the Rock during the four-year siege 1779-1783. During the almost 230 years covered by this history the Suffolks served in India (Seringapatam is a principal battle honour), in Africa during the Kaffir and Boer Wars, in New Zealand in the Maori War, on the NW Frontier in the 2nd Afghan War, in the West Indies and Mauritius. Colour plates depict uniforms, battle scenes and the Colours in 1686 and 1849 (1st 8n)