76th Foot
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Origin and History
The regiment was raised in 1756 as the 61st Foot and renumbered as the "76th Regiment of Foot" in 1758.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:
- at least in 1758 and 1759: Colonel Lord John Forbes
The regiment was disbanded in 1763 at the end of the Seven Years' War.
Service during the War
On October 26, 1758, the regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Worge, embarked at Kinsale in Ireland to take part in the expedition against Gorée in Sénégal. On November 11, the amphibious expedition sailed for Sénégal. Worge had been appointed governor of Sénégal and, after the capture of Gorée on December 29, the fleet escorted him and his troops to Sénégal.
As of May 30, 1759, the regiment was stationed in Ireland and counted 1 battalion for a total of 700 men.
To do: campaigns from 1760 to 1762
Uniform
Privates
Headgear |
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Neckstock | white | ||||||||||||
Coat | brick red lined with linen and laced white (unknown braid pattern) with 3 white buttonholes under the lapels (same lace as above)
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Waistcoat | no information available yet | ||||||||||||
Breeches | thicken breeches of an unknown colour | ||||||||||||
Gaiters | white with black buttons brown, grey or black during campaigns (black after 1759) | ||||||||||||
Leather Equipment |
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Troopers were armed with with a "Brown Bess" muskets, a bayonet and a sword. They also carried a dark brown haversack with a metal canteen on the left hip.
Officers
Officers of the regiment wore the same uniforms as the private soldiers but with the following differences
- silver gorget around the neck
- an aiguilette on the right shoulder
- silver lace instead of normal lace
- a crimson sash
Officers wore the same headgear as the private soldiers under their command; however, officers of the grenadier company wore a more decorated mitre cap.
Officers generally carried a spontoon, however, in battle some carried muskets instead.
Musicians
no information available yet
Colours
King's Colour: Union with its centre decorated with a rose and thistle wreath around the regiment number "LXXVI" in gold Roman numerals.
Regimental Colour: unknown field colour with its centre decorated with a rose and thistle wreath around the regiment number "LXXVI" in gold Roman numerals. The Union in the upper left corner.
References
Fortescue, J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899
Lawson, Cecil C. P., A History of the Uniforms of the British Army - from the Beginnings to 1760, vol. II, p. 95
Mills, T. F., Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth through the Way Back Machine
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.