West Kent Connection

In 1782 the numbered infantry regiments were given territorial titles and the 50th became the West Kent Regiment. In many cases the origin of the title is a mystery but in the case of the 50th, the Colonel, at that time, was General Sir Thomas Spencer Wilson of Carlton Court near Woolwich, an ex Guards officer. The colonelcy of the West Kent Militia had been held by several members of the Wilson family in succession, and it was this unit that formed the 3rd battalion in 1881 when the regiment became the QO Royal West Kents.

Second Battalion

When hostilities were resumed after the Peace of Amiens, the regiment was ordered to raise a second battalion at Ashford, Kent. Most of the men were volunteers from the Militia but they also received men enrolled under the Defence Act, in the county of Gloucester. This battalion served as a home unit during the war, most of the time quartered at Eastbourne and Pevensey.

Vimiera

The first battalion served at Copenhagen in 1807, then Cadiz and other places in 1808-9. They then sailed to Portugal to join Sir Arthur Wellesley's Army. The first battle they fought in established the 50th as the Fighting Half-Hundred. They were commanded by Colonel George Townshend Walker who was more intelligent than most officers of his generation. When the French column of 2,000 advanced towards his line of 700 he moved them to a position than meant that the column approached at an oblique angle. This enabled his men to fire on the front and flank of the French formation. Only those Frenchmen on the outside of the column could return the fire, and when the 50th charged them they were unable to deploy into line and confusion ensued.

The French were routed on this occasion, and the tactic was imitated by other commanders including Wellington. The French General Loison, who witnessed the 50th's action, asked, some time later, to meet with Colonel Walker and congratulate him on his steadiness and talent. It was in this battle that the 50th captured a staff used to carry the French eagle. This was retained as a trophy and carried by a sergeant on campaign with the regimental and King's Colours. During the battle, Lieutenants Rudkin and Ryan were wounded and captured. Ryan later became a lieutenant-colonel and commanded the 50th in the First Sikh War. He died of wounds received at Sobraon.

Corunna

The regiment were with Fane's brigade at Rolica and Bentinck's brigade at Corunna. They suffered badly on the retreat and made a brave charge at the battle on 16th January 1808, commanded by Major Charles Napier who later commanded the army which conquered Scinde. He had served as an officer in the 50th since 1805 and was sent out to command the regiment. They charged through Elvina, suffering heavy casualties including Napier himself. A musket ball broke his leg, he was bayoneted in the side and back, was sabred on the head, had his ribs broken by gunshot and suffered severe contusions from being hammered with the butt of a French musket. He was also taken prisoner but was not treated by a doctor until two days later.

After the withdrawal from Corunna, the 1st and 2nd battalions were refitted at home in Kent and sent on the costly and unsuccessful Walcheren expedition. They were in the Peninsula again by May 1811 when they fought at Feuntes de Onoro in the 1st Division. The 1st battalion were in the brigade transferred to the 2nd Division to make up for the losses at Albuera, and remained in that division until 1814. They were again commanded by Charles Napier who had been released on exchange with a French officer. At the battle of Coa on 24th July 1810, Napier had two horses short from under him , and at the battle of Busaco he was badly wounded in the face. The regiment also took part in the battles at Almarez, Vittoria, the Pyrenees, the Nive and Orthes as well as many other skirmishes.

Punniar 1843

One of the shortest wars in British History was that fought against the Marathas in Gwalior State. Sir Hugh Gough won two victories at Punniar and Maharajpore on the same day, 29th December 1843. The 50th were at Punniar under Sir John Grey. They won a battle honour for this action.

The First Sikh War 1845-46

The 50th distinguished itself by fighting in all four of the battles of this war, Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sobraon. See First Sikh War They were in Sir Harry Smith's Division, performing great feats of bravery and losing many men.

Crimean Winter

A letter from S B 50th Regt. tells of the difficulties in surviving the Crimean winter in the area around Sevastopol. It is dated 11th December 1854:

"...for the last month it has been continually wet and cold. I can assure you it has been dreadful - up to our shoetops in slush and dirt in the trenches; and there we have to remain for 12 hours in the wet and cold. I have seen as many as four men die in a night in the trenches, with the cramp, from wet, cold and fatigue. We are getting more regiments out here now, and it is the fresh ones that suffer the most, as we are pretty well inured to it now. The 62nd landed about a fortnight back, and I heard yesterday they had lost 90 men. The 46th landed about the same time, and I hear that they have lost more. The 9th landed last week, and they are burying 5 or 6 a day. The 1st Royals lost 10 in one night; we lost 7, as we had a draught of recruits on the 22nd ult. I had an officer and 8 men posted to my company; I have lost the officer and 4 men since...We are now nearly all served out with another blanket and a cloak with a hood on it. It puts me in mind of old women's cloaks of former times: but we don't care as long as they keep us warm. If you could get a peep at the regiment now you would hardly know us, as we are all wearing the moustache, or may I say hair, for none of us have shaved since we have been in the Crimea, so you may guess some of us look like priests or monks."