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

Uniform Details

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced white with a black cockade (left side) Grenadier British mitre with: an unknown colour front embroidered with the King's cypher and a crown over it; a small red front flap with the white horse of Hanover surmounted by the motto "Nec aspera terrent"; red back; an unknown colour headband wearing the number 76 in the middle part behind
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) Collar none Shoulder Straps red fastened with a white button (left shoulder) Lapels unknown colour laced white (same lace as above) with 7 pewter buttons and 6 white buttonholes (same lace as above) Pockets pockets with white laces (same lace as above), each with pewter buttons Cuffs unknown colour (slashed in the British pattern) laced white (same lace as above) Turnbacks linen
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	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard black Scabbard black Footgear black shoes

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.

King's Colour - Source: PMPdeL

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

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.