83rd Foot
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Origin and History
The regiment was raised in Ireland on October 14 1758 by Colonel Sebright.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:
- from October 14 1758: Colonel John Sebright (promoted colonel of the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot.
- from 1762 to April 1763: Colonel Bigoe Armstrong
The regiment was disbanded in April 1763 on its return to Great Britain.
Service during the War
In April 1762, the regiment was stationed at Cork in Ireland. It was then sent to Portugal to assist the Portuguese army to prevent the Spanish invasion of Portugal. It arrived from Ireland in May. By August 3, it had reached Sardoal near Abrantes. In November, a detachment of the regiment under Captain Thomas Browne repulsed an attack on the small fort of Marvao.
Uniform
Very few information is available about the uniform of this regiment: its distinctive colour was white.
Colours
no information available
References
Fortescue, J. W.: A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899
Kirby, Mike, The British Contingent - Uniform Information, Seven Years War Association Journal, Vol. XII No. 3
Mills, T. F., Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth (an excellent website which unfortunately does not seem to be online any more)
O'Hara, Danny, Eighteenth Century Wargaming Resources On-Line
Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756 - 1763. Edited and published by KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg e.V., Magstadt, 1989
United Services Magazine 1863, Issue 3
Acknowledgements
Digby Smith for information provided on this junior regiment.
