Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland Inspectorate of Gibraltar
Army Regiments & Lodge No. 325 I.C.
Army Regiments & Lodge No. 325 I.C.
We find in the Minutes a vast amount of military personal applying to our Lodge for admission; the extent was quite large, ranging from Privates, Colour Sergeants and Sergeant Majors.
On numerous occasions we find that only the number of the regiment was entered against a persons name or only the name of the regiment as it was then being called.
This proves difficult for the modern day researcher especially since regiment names changed quite frequently prior to 1751, when most were called after their Colonels names. However a Royal Warrant was issued in July 1751 that directed that thenceforth all regiments should be known by their numbers, or ranking in the Line.
Further complications arose due to the reforms introduced by Viscount Edward Cardwell (secretary of state for war, 1868-74) who reformed the Army Regiments in 1881 and from thenceforth Regiments were amalgamated and their regiment's names changed.
It was therefore necessary to establish what regiments served here and during what periods to assist in entering data into the Lodge's database. The Royal Artillery was a slightly different affair as they had up to ten companies in any one battalion, and in their case I concentrated solely on the period 1800 - 1827. These being established, the correct names etc. can be placed against each regiment. In fact, some one hundred and two regiments served in Gibraltar between 1704 and 1914, these included Artillery, Engineers, Cavalry, Foot Guards and Infantry, many of the units returning to the 'Rock' more than once.
Information has been obtained from the following sources - 'A guide to the Regiments & Corps of the British Army on the Regular Establishment' J. M. Brereton - 'The Regimental Records of the British Army 1660-1901' J.S.Farmer - 'History of
the Royal Artillery' Captain F. Duncan', 1873 - 'Battery Records of the Royal Artillery' M.E.S. Laws, 1954 - 'In search of the Forlorn Hope' John M. Kitzmiller II - The Garrison Library (Gibraltar), as well as some regimental museums. I should add that the main interest lies with the regiments and dates of those regiments that were partly or wholly involved not only in the constitution of the first stationary Irish Lodge in Gibraltar, but also past military connections of the founder members. The constitution of this Lodge took place on the 23rd January 1827.
The regiments concerned are the:
4th (Ordnance Lodge No. 5 E.C.),
7th (Lodge 68 I.C.) and 8th Battalions Royal Artillery,
the 26th Foot (Lodge 26 I.C.),
the 42nd Foot (Lodge No. 42) and the 64th Foot (Lodge 130 I.C.).
4th Battalion Royal Artillery
(Ordnance Lodge No. 5 E.C.)
This Battalion was formed on the 1st January 1771, by drafting six companies from the Battalions already in existence, which were thus reduced from ten to eight companies, and by the formation, in addition, of two new companies. At the same date, eight companies of invalids were formed from the men on out-pension, two of which were attached to each Battalion, but were not borne upon the effective strength. These eight companies were consolidated in 1779 in one invalid battalion, with a regular staff, and effective companies were raised for the other battalions, in their stead. It was reduced in January, 1819, after a service of forty years and reformed at Woolwich on the 16th August, 1848. The 4th Battalion were present in Gibraltar from 1802 to 1821.
7th Battalion Royal Artillery
(Lodge 68 I.C.)
The formation of a battalion of Artillery on the Irish establishment was not contemplated until the year 1755, when, on the requisition of the Lord-Lieutenant, a party of twenty-four non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Artillery, under the command of a First Lieutenant, left Woolwich for Dublin, for that purpose. In the following year it was styled "The Artillery Company in Ireland". Two years later, the company was considerably increased and was styled the "Regiment of Royal Irish Artillery".
In 1778, the Regiment was augmented from four to six companies, and in August 1783, an invalid company was added which raised the establishment to 701. However three months later there was a most serious reduction and the total fell to 386. In 1793 there was a large recruitment and by successive augmentations the establishment had reached a total of no less than 2069, which were organized into one invalid and twenty marching companies. By a King's letter, dated 20th May 1795, these were constituted into two Battalions, the company of invalids remaining distinct. This gave an addition of Staff Officers and Sergeants raising the total establishment from 2069 to 2085. In October 1800 the invalid company was raised from fifty-three to 100 - and the strength of the Regiment reached its maximum, 2132.
This establishment continued, until the 1st March 1801, when, in anticipation of the amalgamation with the Royal Artillery, eight companies, with a proportion of Field Officers, were reduced, followed next month by a reduction of two more. On the 1st April 1801, the remaining ten marching companies, with Field and Staff-Officers, were incorporated with the Royal Artillery, and numbered as the 7th Battalion of that corps. Its Colonel commandant was Lieutenant-General Straton, who died in Dublin on the 16th May 1803. At the time of the amalgamation, six of the companies were stationed in Ireland, and four in the West Indies. The 7th Battalion were present in Gibraltar from 1819 to 1826.
8th Battalion Royal Artillery
The number of non-commissioned officers and men in the Horse Brigade and Marching Battalions of the Royal Artillery on the 1st January, 1803, was 6777; on the 1st June the total had increased to 7119; and in two months more, it stood at 7439. The Corps of Gunner-drivers had increased in the same period by 1109 men. It was therefore resolved to increase the Regiment by another battalion, the 8th. On the 13th September seven companies were formed, and on the 6th December, three additional companies were added to the battalion. Many of the men for the 8th Battalion were obtained by calling for volunteers from the Army of Reserve. Listed below are the 8th Battalions Company's that were stationed at Gibraltar as well as the other Company's names. The 8th Battalion were present in Gibraltar from 1804 to 1822.
Uniform
Blue coat with scarlet facings, cuff and collar gold embroidered.
Yellow worsted lace being used for all beneath the rank of corporal.
Gold-laced cocked hat, black leather cockade, white cloth breeches,
with short gaiters and white stockings in summer, and long gaiters
in winter.
26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot
(Lodge 26 I.C.)
1st Battalion
(formerly) The 26th (The Cameronians) Regiment of Foot.
2nd Battalion
(formerly) The 90th (Perthshire Volunteers--Light Infantry) Regiment; with Militia Batts.
3rd & 4th Battalions
The 2nd Royal Lanark Militia.
The 26th first served in Gibraltar in 1727, again from 1728-1738, June 1812 to September 1822 and March 1850-April 1853. The 1st Battalion in 1688 was named The Cameronian Guard. The regiment was raised at Douglas (Lanarkshire), May 1689, by Colonel James Douglas, Earl of Angus, from Scottish Covenanters, followers of Richard Cameron who was killed at Airds Moss, Ayrshire, 1680. In 1689 it was known as The Earl of Angus's Regiment of Foot. The official title subsequently changed with Colonels' names; 1 August 1692 Andrew Monro, 25 August 1693 James Ferguson, 24 October 1705 John Borthwick, 1 January 1706 James, Earl of Stair, 24 August 1706 George Preston, 3 May 1720 Philip Anstruther, though the Regiment was referred to as 'Cameronians'.
In 1751 it was known as the 26th Regiment of Foot, from 1786, the 26th (or Cameronian) Regiment of Foot. In 1881 it amalgamated with 90th Light Infantry Regiment Perthshire Volunteers to form The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
Uniform
1st Batt., Scarlet and White facings (in 1689); Scarlet and Pale Yellow facings (in 1713).
2nd Batt., Scarlet and Buff (in 1794).
Now Dark Green and Rifle Green for both Batts.
42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch)
(Lodge No. 42, Hibernia Lodge)
1st Battalion
(formerly) The 42nd (Royal Highland -- The Black Watch).
2nd Battalion
(formerly) The 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot; with Militia Battalion.
3rd Battalion
The Royal Perth Militia.
The 42nd first arrived in Gibraltar October 1797 - October 1798 and again returned in 1800, 1803-05, 1806-08 and October 1825 to February 1832. The 1st Battalion 1725-39 was known as The Black Watch and between 1739-51 as The Highland Regiment. The 2nd Battalion between 1758-86 was known as The 2nd Batt. 42nd Highlanders.
The regiment was raised near Aberfeldy, Perthshire on October 1739 from independent Companies of loyal Highlanders; the command was given to Colonel John Lindsay, Earl of Crawford and ranked as 43rd Foot. It was renumbered 42nd in 1749; in 1739 it was known as Earl of Crawford's Regiment of Foot (also known as 'The Highland Regiment'). The title subsequently changed with Colonels' names; 14 January 1741 Hugh Lord Semphill, 25 April 1745 Lord John Murray until 1751 when it was known as the 42nd Regiment of Foot changing again in 1758 when it was called the 42nd (The Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot.
From 1861 it was known as the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch) and in 1881 it amalgamated with the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot to form The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). From 1936 it was called The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). Its sombre dress of black, blue, and green tartan gave rise to its popular name.
Uniform
1st Batt., 1725 to 1739, the Highland dress with the tartans of the respective captains;
1739 to 1758, Red with Buff facings and "the 42nd tartan";
1758 to present time, Red with Dark Blue facings.
2nd Batt., as the 42nd, and also as the 73rd, the Highland garb and "42nd tartan"
were long in wear. Subsequently (circa 1786) Scarlet, with Dark Green facings,
was adopted.
64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
(Lodge 130 I.C.)
1st Battalion
(formerly) The 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment.
2nd Battalion
(formerly) The 98th (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Foot; with Militia Batts.
3rd Battalion
The 2nd King's Own Stafford Militia.
4th Battalion
The 3rd King's Own Stafford Militia.
The 64th first arrived in Gibraltar in 1795 - 1796, later returning in August 1818 where it remained until September 1827. Its origins began in 1740-48 as the 1st Battalion, then known as the 64th (Irish) Regiment of Foot, later being disbanded. Between 1756-1758 it was known as the 11th (2nd Batt.) Regiment of Foot, later regimenting in. The 2nd Battalion began in 1760-63 when it was known as the 98th Regiment of Foot, later being disbanded. In 1779-84 it was known as the 98th Regiment of Foot, again later being disbanded.
It was augmented as a separate regiment on the 21st April 1758 and was commanded by Colonel the Hon. John Barrington, and ranked as the 64th Foot. In 1758 its title was the 64th Regiment of Foot changing in 1782 to the 64th (or 2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot. In 1881 the regiment amalgamated with the 98th (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Foot to form The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment). In 1921 the title was varied to The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's).
Uniform
Scarlet with White facings, when raised the 64th had Black,
and the 98th White facings respectively.
by W.Bro V.J.Power L.C.G.I.
by W.Bro V.J.Power L.C.G.I.
