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Unit nick names
https://www.wargame.ch/board/nwc/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10315		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  John Corbin [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:42 am ]
Post subject:  Unit nick names
During the Napoleonic wars.. were nick names common for various units ( brigades, division, corps ).. Especially the French armies

<center>Image
</center>
<center>Image
[img]</center>
<center>Monsieur le Marechal Baron John Corbin
Commanding L'Armee du Rhin
Grande Duc de Piave et Comte de Beauvais
Commanding the Division de Cavalerie de la Moyenne Garde
NWC President</center>
Author:  Kosyanenko [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 1:58 am ]
Post subject: 
They were very common. Most of the french regiments had it. There was a list of nicknames of the French units somewhere on the web. Unfortunately I don't remember where[:I]

<center>Image</center>
<center><b>Eyo Imperatorskogo Velichestva Leib-Kirassirskogo polku
General-Adjutant Anton Valeryevich Kosyanenko
Commander of the Second Army of the West </b></center>
Author:  clifton seeney [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sire there were name units but nickname I'm not sure!

General de Brig Kliff Marbot
II Corps Art Res Division .Commander
Marechal de Camp AN
Author:  clifton seeney [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Here are a few name units 9th Legers L' Incomparable 1800 the 18th line the brave 1797;57th Le Terrible

General de Brig Kliff Marbot
II Corps Art Res Division .Commander
Marechal de Camp AN
Author:  Bill Peters [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Digby-Smith's book on the French regiments offers some info.

The French regiments had a name from their Royalits origins. Not sure if they used those during the era of Napoleon.

Not sure that the Austrians had nicknames for their units.

1st "Schnitzel" Infantry Regiment?

Babe Ruth's Grenadier Bn?

Colonel Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)
Author:  Al Amos [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 4:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Check out the Napoleon Series. You guys really need to book mark it. It has a wealth of information.

Here is the link

http://www.napoleon-series.org/

From the home page go to MILITARY SUBJECTS...

Then go to ORGANIZATIONS, STRATEGY & TACTICS...

On that page click on FRANCE along the left-hand side of the page...

In the FRANCE section go down to MOTTOS of the cavalry, and MOTTOS of the infantry.

Y'all need to go into the forum as well. Great discussions with many current Nap authors, and many links to online books covering the Nap era are abundantly found.

Here is a link for the WHAT'S NEW archives. You will find a lot of good stuff there posted over the years.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/home/New/c_added.html

al
Author:  dean beecham [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Al, wow thanks. great links ,

<font color="red">Maréchal</font id="red">
<font color="red">BEECHAM</font id="red">
<font color="blue">La</font id="blue"> Commandeur, <font color="red">II Corps</font id="red">
ADN

Prince d` Istria et Comte d` Arles La Jeune Garde
Image
"Toujours féroce,jamais étourdi"
Author:  Ed Blackburn [ Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:14 am ]
Post subject: 
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="3" face="book antiqua" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Al Amos</i>
<br />Check out the Napoleon Series. You guys really need to book mark it. It has a wealth of information.

Here is the link

http://www.napoleon-series.org/

From the home page go to MILITARY SUBJECTS...

Then go to ORGANIZATIONS, STRATEGY & TACTICS...

On that page click on FRANCE along the left-hand side of the page...

In the FRANCE section go down to MOTTOS of the cavalry, and MOTTOS of the infantry.

Y'all need to go into the forum as well. Great discussions with many current Nap authors, and many links to online books covering the Nap era are abundantly found.

Here is a link for the WHAT'S NEW archives. You will find a lot of good stuff there posted over the years.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/home/New/c_added.html

al




<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Great link Al, thanks![:)][:D]

Major General Ed Blackburn
Commanding Second Div, II Corps, AAA
3rd Bn / 1st Regiment of Foot Guards
Image
Author:  John Corbin [ Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:46 am ]
Post subject: 
The link about mottos is nice but I se nothing about unit nicknames for the French units

any help appreciated..

<center>Image
</center>
<center>Image
[img]</center>
<center>Monsieur le Marechal Baron John Corbin
Commanding L'Armee du Rhin
Grande Duc de Piave et Comte de Beauvais
Commanding the Division de Cavalerie de la Moyenne Garde
NWC President</center>
Author:  Bill Peters [ Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:28 am ]
Post subject: 
John, I think I can help. Here are the nicknames as I know them:

5th Ligne - Le Garlic
11th Ligne - Le Pasterie
21st Ligne - Le Cologne
25th Ligne - Le Bon Bon

Does that help? [:D][:p][;)]

Colonel Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)
Author:  clifton seeney [ Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Mottos of French Infantry Regiments
By Robert Ouvrard

Infanterie de ligne
1 (Picardie)
Praeteriti Fides Exeplumque Futuri

2 (Provence)
Au plus près

3 (Piemont)
Résolus de crever plutôt que de ne pas tenir bon

4 (Blaisois)
L'impétueuse

5 (Navarre)
Navarre Sans Peur

6 (Armagnac)
Toujours là

7 (Champagne)
Je suis du Régiment de Champagne

8 (Austrasie)
Toujours en avant

9 (Normandie)
Vive Normandie

10 (Neustrie)


11 (La Marine)
His Fulta Manebunt

12 (Auxerois)
Le brave

13 (Bourbonnais)
Bourbonnais sans tache

14 (Forez)
Brave

15 (Béarn)
Sans peur et sans reproche

16 (Agenais)


17 (Auvergne)
Auvergne toujours !

18 (Royal Auvergne)
Brave 18e, je te connais, l'ennemi ne tient pas devant toi

19 (Flandre)
L'invincible

20 (Cambresis)
On ne passe pas

21 (Guyenne)
Je passe quand même

22 (Viennois)


23 (Royal)
Regiment of lions !

24 (Brie)


25 (Poitou)
Le 25e s'est couvert de gloire !

26 (Bresse)


27 (Lyonnais)
Beau 27e, en avant, en avant !

28 (Maine)
Inébranlable

29 (Dauphin)
Res Proestant Non Verba Fidem

30 (Perche)


31 (Aunis)


32 (Bassigny)
L'Invincible

33 (Touraine)


34 (Angoulême)


35 (Aquitaine)
Tous gaillards

36 (Anjou)


37 (Maréchal de Turenne)
Vaincre ou mourir

38 (Dauphiné)


39 (Isle-de-France)


40 (Soissonnais)


41 (La Reine)


42 (Limousin)


43 (Royal-Vaisseaux)


44 (Orléans)
Toujours unis !

45 (La Couronne)
Hanc Coronam Mastreka Dedit

46 (Bretagne)
Mourir plûtot que faillir

47 (Lorraine)
Semper Fidelis

48 (Artois)
Dur Comme Roc

49 (Vintimille)
En avant toujours

50 (Hainaut)


51 (La Sarre)
Plus est en nous

52 (La Fère)


53 (Alsace)


54 (Royal-Roussillon)


55 (Condé)
France d'abord

56 (Bourbon)
Dignes de nos ainés

57 (Beauvoisin)
Le Terrible

58 (Rouergue)


59 (Bourgogne)
Tocos y se gaousos

60 (Royal-Marine)


61 (Vermandois)


62 (Salm-Salm)
Nec Pluribus Impar

63 (Ernest)


64 (Salis-Samade)
Auxilium nostrum a Domino

65 (Sonnenberg)
Pro Rege et Patria

66 (Castella)
Castella Fortiter et Prudenter,Castella Tuetur Propugna Acula

67 (Languedoc)


68 (Beauce)
Valeur et Discipline

69 (Vigier)
Vis Nulla Revellet

70 (Médoc)
Je m'accroche

71 (Vivarais)


72 (Vexin)


73 (Royal-Comtois)


74 (Beaujolais)


75 (Monsieur)
Le 75e arrive et bat l'ennemi

76
Fortiter Resistendo

101


102
Ex Serviture Libertas

103
Rien d'impossible

104


105
Decori par Virtus

106
Toujours debout

107


112
Le vainqueur de raab

115
Jamais content

117
En avant ! toujours en avant !

118
Peg barz

119
Toujours prêt à bondir

120
Sanglier des Ardennes

121


122


123


124


125


126


127


128


129


130
Tout droit !

131


132
Un contre huit !

133
Les Lions

134


135


136
Je ne recule ni ne dévie

137


138


139
La Victoire ou la Mort

140


141
Semper plusque aut

142


143
Qui s'y frotte…..

144


145


146


147


148


149
Résiste et mord

150
Par le fer quand le feu manque

151
On ne passe pas

152
Diables Rouges

153
Où se trouve le 153, l'ennemi ne passe pas; il recule

154
Je ne recule pas d'une semelle

155


156






Infanterie légère
2e léger
Nec Plutibus Impar Merebinum

3e léger
Per Hoec Regnumet Imperium

4e léger
Résiste ou crève

5e léger
Le Brave

6e léger
Fidelliate et Honore

7e léger
J'y suis

8e léger
Fidelis-Felix-Fortis

9e léger
L'incomparableUn contre dix

10e léger
Fidelitati et Honore

11e léger


12e léger
In Hot Signo Vinces

13e léger
In Hoc Signo Vinces

14e léger
Nec Plurisbus Impar

15e léger


16e léger
Sans Peur et sans reproches

17e léger
Jacobus Rex !

18e léger
A de tels hommes, rien d'impossible

19e léger
La Garde

20e léger
Fortiter et Prudenter

21e léger
His Consecro Vires

22e léger


23e léger
Toujours prêt

24e léger


25e léger



Tu ju Mon General!




General de Brig Kliff Marbot
II Corps Art Res Division .Commander
Marechal de Camp AN
Author:  John Corbin [ Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:02 am ]
Post subject: 
The mottos are nice but I am looking for nicknames

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="3" face="book antiqua" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by clifton seeney</i>
<br />Mottos of French Infantry Regiments
By Robert Ouvrard

Infanterie de ligne
1 (Picardie)
Praeteriti Fides Exeplumque Futuri

2 (Provence)
Au plus près

3 (Piemont)
Résolus de crever plutôt que de ne pas tenir bon

4 (Blaisois)
L'impétueuse

5 (Navarre)
Navarre Sans Peur

6 (Armagnac)
Toujours là

7 (Champagne)
Je suis du Régiment de Champagne

8 (Austrasie)
Toujours en avant

9 (Normandie)
Vive Normandie

10 (Neustrie)


11 (La Marine)
His Fulta Manebunt

12 (Auxerois)
Le brave

13 (Bourbonnais)
Bourbonnais sans tache

14 (Forez)
Brave

15 (Béarn)
Sans peur et sans reproche

16 (Agenais)


17 (Auvergne)
Auvergne toujours !

18 (Royal Auvergne)
Brave 18e, je te connais, l'ennemi ne tient pas devant toi

19 (Flandre)
L'invincible

20 (Cambresis)
On ne passe pas

21 (Guyenne)
Je passe quand même

22 (Viennois)


23 (Royal)
Regiment of lions !

24 (Brie)


25 (Poitou)
Le 25e s'est couvert de gloire !

26 (Bresse)


27 (Lyonnais)
Beau 27e, en avant, en avant !

28 (Maine)
Inébranlable

29 (Dauphin)
Res Proestant Non Verba Fidem

30 (Perche)


31 (Aunis)


32 (Bassigny)
L'Invincible

33 (Touraine)


34 (Angoulême)


35 (Aquitaine)
Tous gaillards

36 (Anjou)


37 (Maréchal de Turenne)
Vaincre ou mourir

38 (Dauphiné)


39 (Isle-de-France)


40 (Soissonnais)


41 (La Reine)


42 (Limousin)


43 (Royal-Vaisseaux)


44 (Orléans)
Toujours unis !

45 (La Couronne)
Hanc Coronam Mastreka Dedit

46 (Bretagne)
Mourir plûtot que faillir

47 (Lorraine)
Semper Fidelis

48 (Artois)
Dur Comme Roc

49 (Vintimille)
En avant toujours

50 (Hainaut)


51 (La Sarre)
Plus est en nous

52 (La Fère)


53 (Alsace)


54 (Royal-Roussillon)


55 (Condé)
France d'abord

56 (Bourbon)
Dignes de nos ainés

57 (Beauvoisin)
Le Terrible

58 (Rouergue)


59 (Bourgogne)
Tocos y se gaousos

60 (Royal-Marine)


61 (Vermandois)


62 (Salm-Salm)
Nec Pluribus Impar

63 (Ernest)


64 (Salis-Samade)
Auxilium nostrum a Domino

65 (Sonnenberg)
Pro Rege et Patria

66 (Castella)
Castella Fortiter et Prudenter,Castella Tuetur Propugna Acula

67 (Languedoc)


68 (Beauce)
Valeur et Discipline

69 (Vigier)
Vis Nulla Revellet

70 (Médoc)
Je m'accroche

71 (Vivarais)


72 (Vexin)


73 (Royal-Comtois)


74 (Beaujolais)


75 (Monsieur)
Le 75e arrive et bat l'ennemi

76
Fortiter Resistendo

101


102
Ex Serviture Libertas

103
Rien d'impossible

104


105
Decori par Virtus

106
Toujours debout

107


112
Le vainqueur de raab

115
Jamais content

117
En avant ! toujours en avant !

118
Peg barz

119
Toujours prêt à bondir

120
Sanglier des Ardennes

121


122


123


124


125


126


127


128


129


130
Tout droit !

131


132
Un contre huit !

133
Les Lions

134


135


136
Je ne recule ni ne dévie

137


138


139
La Victoire ou la Mort

140


141
Semper plusque aut

142


143
Qui s'y frotte…..

144


145


146


147


148


149
Résiste et mord

150
Par le fer quand le feu manque

151
On ne passe pas

152
Diables Rouges

153
Où se trouve le 153, l'ennemi ne passe pas; il recule

154
Je ne recule pas d'une semelle

155


156






Infanterie légère
2e léger
Nec Plutibus Impar Merebinum

3e léger
Per Hoec Regnumet Imperium

4e léger
Résiste ou crève

5e léger
Le Brave

6e léger
Fidelliate et Honore

7e léger
J'y suis

8e léger
Fidelis-Felix-Fortis

9e léger
L'incomparableUn contre dix

10e léger
Fidelitati et Honore

11e léger


12e léger
In Hot Signo Vinces

13e léger
In Hoc Signo Vinces

14e léger
Nec Plurisbus Impar

15e léger


16e léger
Sans Peur et sans reproches

17e léger
Jacobus Rex !

18e léger
A de tels hommes, rien d'impossible

19e léger
La Garde

20e léger
Fortiter et Prudenter

21e léger
His Consecro Vires

22e léger


23e léger
Toujours prêt

24e léger


25e léger



Tu ju Mon General!




General de Brig Kliff Marbot
II Corps Art Res Division .Commander
Marechal de Camp AN

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

<center>Image
</center>
<center>Image
[img]</center>
<center>Monsieur le Marechal Baron John Corbin
Commanding L'Armee du Rhin
Grande Duc de Piave et Comte de Beauvais
Commanding the Division de Cavalerie de la Moyenne Garde
NWC President</center>
Author:  clifton seeney [ Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:21 am ]
Post subject: 
The French mottos in some cases are the same as nick names as the 57th and thNicknames of British Units during the Napoleonic Wars
By John Cook and Robert Burnham, FINS

Most military units throughout the world have a nickname that they are often called in an informal setting. Sometimes these nicknames are given out of respect for some heroic deed, but more often they were given to the unit by people outside of the unit to make fun of it. The reasons why units received these negative nicknames varied from misconduct on the field to the color of their uniforms to their pretensions.

Unfortunately over the years, even though the nickname has stuck, the reasons why they were given have been lost,. The British Army is rich in tradition and in many cases not only have the nicknames survived, but the reason why they received it has also. Interestingly, in a sampling of 60 British memoirs and diaries from the Napoleonic Wars, very few of the writers referred to their own units by their nicknames, which would re-inforce the negative side of the nickname.

The nicknames listed below are from a variety of sources. In some cases we were able to pinpoint exactly when the nickname came into use (such as the "Die Hards" for the 57th Foot). In others, the nicknames were in use prior to the Napoleonic Wars. Although the nickname may have been earned 50 - 75 years earlier, the regiment was still referred to by the nickname ( such as the "Slashers" for the 28th Foot.) In other cases, the nickname was earned earlier and was recorded in the regiment's official history, but it is difficult to determine whether they were still used.


Nicknames of the Divisions
During the Peninsula War, the British Army was organized into eight infantry divisions. Each division had a nickname, usually based upon some action they had participated in.

Division
Nickname
Reason for Nickname

1st Division
Gentlemen Sons
It had the Guards Brigade assigned to it.

2nd Division
Observing Division
It was often on detached duty in Estremadura and missed most of the battles between 1810 & 1813


Surprisers
For its action taking the French by surprise at Arroyo Molinos & Almaraz

3rd Division
Fighting Division
Was always in the middle of the hardest fighting

4th Division
Supporting Division
Supported the 2nd Division in Estremadura in 1810 & 1811


Enthusiastics
For its conduct in the battle of the Pyrenees

5th Division
Pioneers
Unknown; possibly involved in road building

6th Division
Marching Division
Was in many of the campaigns of 1810 - 1812, but until Salamanca did not see much action

7th Division
Mongrels
It was a mixed division, with very few British regiments in it

Light Division
"The Division"
Name given by the members of this division to it, because its reputation as a fighting force


Light Bobs
Traditional name for any light infantry force




Cavalry Regiments
Regiment
Nickname
First Used
Reason for Nickname

Household Cavalry
Unfortunate Gentlemen
Unknown
Unknown

The Life Guards
The Cheeses
1788
After a reduction in social qualifications for recruiting officers, the members of the regiment declared that they were 'no longer gentlemen but cheesemongers' ie 'tradesmen'


The Cheesemongers
1815
Same as above


The Piccadilly Butchers
1810
Were used to quell the Burdett riots during which one rioter was killed


Roast and Boil
Peninsula
Because they were part of the Guard & thought to be better fed than the Line

Royal Horse Guards
The Blues
1660
Color of uniform

1st Dragoon Guards
The Trades Union
1800s
Used to quell trade riots


The Royals
1800s
Regimental Name

2nd Dragoon Guards
The Bays
1600s/1700s
Color of Horses


Rusty Buckles
1700s
Because of a less than spectacular parade in Ireland

3rd Dragoon Guards
The Old Canaries
1600s/1700s
Color of facings

4th Dragoon Guards
The Blue Horse
1746
Color of facings

5th Dragoon Guards
The Green Horse
1700s
Color of facings


The Green Dragoons
1700s
Color of facings


The Old Farmers
1700s/1800s
Due to 80 years spent in Ireland

7th Dragoon Guards
The Black Horse
1700s
Color of facings


The Virgin Mary's Bodyguard
1700s/1800s
Sent by George II to assist Maria Theresa, of Austria.

1st Dragoons
The Bird Catchers
1815
Captured an Eagle at Waterloo

2nd Dragoons
The Greys
1700s/1800s
Color of uniforms when first raised. Also color of horses.


The Bird Catchers
1815
Captured an Eagle at Waterloo

6th Dragoons
The Old Inniskillings
1750s
Regimental Badge had Inniskilling Castle on it.


The Skillingers
1700s/1800s
Slang for Inniskilling


The Inniskillings
Peninsula
From Badge

7th Hussars
The Saucy Seventh
1809
Because of high uniform standards

11th Light Dragoons
The Cherry Pickers
1811
Detachment captured by French whilst picking cherries and had to fight dismounted

12th Light Dragoons
The Supple Twelfth
1812
Because of high standards of training that led to their superb performance at Salamanca

13th Light Dragoons
The Lily-Whites
1784
Due to white stripe on overalls.


The Ragged Brigade
Peninsula
Due to worn out equipment and clothing

14th Light Dragoons
Hawks
1812
Eagle on shako plate resembled a hawk


The Emperor's Chambermaids
1813
Captured King Joseph's chamberpot at Vitoria

15th Light Dragoons/Hussars
Eliott's Light Horse
1759
Reference to George Augustus Eliott, Lord Heathfield who raised them to help quell a strike by journeymen tailors - see next nickname.


The Tabs
1759
Reference to number recruits who joined the regiment when it was raised who were formerly journeymen tailors by trade; a Tab was a nickname for a journeyman (one who was employed by another) tailor and a reference to the small piece of cloth that the tailor used to incorporate into clothing to identify his work.

17th Light Dragoons
The Horse Marines
1795
Because a detachment served on the HMS Hermione

18th Light Dragoons
Drogheda Light Horse
1759
Originally from Ireland

Light Dragoons
Young Eyes
Peninsula
Given to them by Foot Guards



Infantry Regiments
Regiment
Nickname
First Used
Reason for Nickname

Foot Guards
Old Eyes
Peninsula
Given to them by Light Dragoons

1st Foot Guards
The Tow-Rows
Unknown
From the regimental march


The Coalers
1600s
The regiment's officers once hired the men out to 'heave' coal to raise money to refurbish the officers' mess at St James' Palace.

2nd (Coldstream) Foot Guards
Coldstreamers
1600s
Recruited from Coldstream, Scotland

1st Foot
Pontius Pilate's Bodyguards
1630s
It is the oldest regiment in the British army. Originally Régiment de Douglas; when in French service, the story goes that at a regimental 'function', to which officers of the Régiment Picardy had been invited, a dispute arose concerning which regiment was the oldest. An officer from the Régiment Picardy claimed that his regiment was the oldest in any army, anywhere, and that the Régiment Picardy had been on duty on the night following the Crucifixion. He then promptly passed out. An officer of the Douglas' replied that the Picardies must have been asleep at their posts, and that if the Régiment de Douglas had been on duty Christ would not have been crucified. Now, the flawed logic of this will not have escaped you, since on the night following the Crucifixion the deed was already done and, as a result they received the nickname.

2nd Foot
Kirke's Lamb
1682
Regimental badge is the Paschal Lamb and they were commanded by a Colonel Kirke

3rd Foot
The Buffs
1700s/1800s
Because of their facing color


The Resurrectionists
1810
Because of the large number of wounded men and those who escaped from the French who returned after Albuera


Resurrection Men
1810
Same as above

4th Foot
The Lions
1685
Regimental badge had a lion

5th Foot
The Fighting Fifth
Peninsula
Wellington's comment "The ever fighting, often tried, but never failing fifth."


Wellington's Bodyguard
Peninsula
Often served as the Army HQ guard


The Old and Bold
c1808
Because of service at Rolica

6th Foot
Saucy 6th
1790s
Because of high recruiting standards

7th Foot
The Elegant Extracts
1685
When the regiment was raised, the officers came from many different regiments

8th Foot
The Leather Hats
c1780
Used civilian hats during American War of Independence

9th Foot
The Fighting Ninth
c1808
Unknown


The Holy Boys
Peninsula
Spanish thought the figure of Britannia on their shako plate was the Virgin Mary

10th Foot
The Yellow Bellies
1700s/1800s
After the Yellow Belly frog that lives in the Lincolnshire Fens


The Springers
1776
Was used as light infantry during the American War of Independence

11th Foot
Bloody Eleventh
1812
Due to heavy casualties at Salamanca (340 of 412)

12th Foot
The Old Twelfth
1700s
Number of Regiment


The Old Dozen
1700s
Number of Regiment

14th Foot
Calvert's Entire
c1806
Colonel was Sir Harry Calvert and had three battalions from 1806 to 1824

15th Foot
The Snappers
1777
At the Battle of Brandywine the regiment ran short of ball which was distributed to the best shots, whilst the remainder 'snapped' powder charges only.

16th Foot
The Old Bucks
1700s/1800s
From Buckinghamshire and senior to the 85th Regiment

17th Foot
The Tigers
c1804
For service in India; its regimental badge was the Bengal Tiger.

18th Foot
Paddy's Blackguards
1684
Was an Irish Regiment


The Namurs
1695
For service at Namur

19th Foot
The Green Howards
1740
Because of facing color and their colonel was named Howard

20th Foot
Kingsley's Stand
1759
Having been stood-down by the Duke of Brunswick and placed in reserve due to casualties after Minden, Major General Kingsley, also Colonel of the regiment, declined to obey the order with the words "Kingsley's Regiment, at its own request will resume its portion of duty in the line."


The Two Tens
1700s/1800s
Because their regimental number was always shown in Roman numerals thus XX


The Minden Boys
1700s/1800s
Service at Minden

21st Foot
Grey Breeks
1600s/1700s
When first raised, wore grey trousers

22nd Foot
The Red Knights
1795
Uniform was entirely red: coat, waistcoat and trousers


The Two Twos
1800s
Because of regimental number

23rd Foot
Nanny Goats
1800s
Mascot was a goat


Royal Goats
1800s
Mascot was a goat

24th Foot
Howard's Greens
1737
To prevent confusion with 19th Foot, who also had green facings and a colonel called Howard

27th Foot
The Skins
c1800
Corruption of Inniskilling, from where they were recruited

28th Foot
The Slashers
1775
At the Battle of White Plains, the regiment had to leave its muskets behind to climb a cliff and drove the rebels from their positions with their short swords. Alternatively, soldiers of 28th are alleged to have cut off the ear of an anti-British magistrate in Montreal in 1764.


The Silver Tailed Dandies
Peninsula
Officers' coat-tails were apparently longer than regulation and had ornate silver decorations on them

29th Foot
The Firms
Peninsula
For standing Firm at Albuera

30th Foot
The Three Tens
1700s/1800s
Because of regimental number

31st Foot
The Young Buffs
c1760
Because of facing color they were mistaken by George II for 3rd Foot who greeted them with "Bravo Buffs" at Dettingen. On being told that they were not the 'Old Buffs' but the 31st Foot, he replied "then bravo Young Buffs."

33rd Foot
Havercake Lads
1700s/1800s
Corruption of 'have a cake lad'. Recruiting sergeants using the promise of oatcake to tempt recruits (apparently a great delicacy for those whose diet was somewhat limited)

34th Foot
Cumberland Gentlemen
Peninsula
Large officers from Cumberland

35th Foot
Prince of Orange's Own
1700s/1800s
William III (of Orange) gave them their orange regimental distinctives

36th Foot
The Grasshoppers
1700s/1800s
Facing color was grass green

39th Foot
The Green Linnets
1700s
Possibly because of facing color

40th Foot
Fighting Fortieth
1700
Unknown


The Exellers
1700s/1800s
The regimental number in Roman numerals was XL

41st Foot
The Invalids
1787
Was originally raised as an invalid regiment

42nd Foot
The Forty-twa
1700s/1800s
Because of regimental number

44th Foot
Little Fighting Fours
Peninsula
Because the regiment had a large number of short men

45th Foot
Old Stubborns
c1809
Because of service at Talavera

46th Foot
The Red Feathers
1777
At Brandywine Creek, the regiment's light company defeated a group of rebels who swore revenge. In order that they not be confused with another regiment the 46th stained their plumes red

47th Foot
The Cauliflowers
c1740
White facings


Wolfe's Own
1700s
Served under Wolfe at Quebec

50th Foot
The Dirty Half-Hundred
1700s/1800s
Because black facings ran after they got wet


The Blind Half-Hundred
1801
Because of large number of ophthalmia cases while serving in Egypt

53rd Foot
The Old Five and Threepennies
1700s/1800s.
Because of regimental number


The Red Regiment
1820
Name given by Napoleon to then when they guarded him on St. Helena

54th Foot
The Popinjays
1700s/1800s
Green shade of their facings


The Flamers
1781
Burned 12 privateers at New London

55th Foot
The Cattle Reavers
1700s/1800s
Recruited from border region of England and Scotland; reavers were cattle thieves


The Two Fives
1700s
Because of regimental number

56th Foot
The Pompadours
1755
Because of their purple facings

57th Foot
The Steelbacks
c1760
Had a reputation for being a flogging regiment


The Diehards
1811
Cry to men of regimental commander who laid serious wounded at Albuera

58th Foot
The Honeysuckers
1813
Were caught stealing beehives by Wellington and were flogged.


The Steelbacks
1813
Were caught stealing beehives by Wellington and were flogged.

59th Foot
The Lilywhites
1700s/1800s
Because of facing color

60th Foot
Jaggers
Peninsula
Regiment was mostly Germans; corruption of jaegers.

61st Foot
The Flowers of Toulouse
1814
Regiment's heavy casualties at Toulouse were very apparent due to new uniform coats on the dead

62nd Foot
The Springers
1776
Were used as light infantry to pursue rebels at Trois Rivières in Canada

62nd Foot
The Splashers
1758
Regiment had to use their buttons for ammunition when they ran out of ball at the defence of Carrickfergus; their buttons thereafter had a dent or 'splash' in them in commemoration


The Moonrakers
1700s/1800s
Moonrakers is a nickname of people from the county of Wiltshire in south-west England. Legend says that two smugglers were caught by excise officers retrieving kegs of brandy they had hidden in a pond and told the officers that they were attempting to retrieve a cheese, the reflection of the moon in the water (hence raking the moon).

63rd Foot.
The Bloodsuckers
1808
The Fleur-de-lys shako badge bore a similarity in appearance to the blood-sucking insects in the West Indies that spread the disease which virtually wiped out the regiment

64th Foot
The Black Knots
c1760
Had black facing color and regimental badge had heraldic device of Lord Stafford -- a knot

69th Foot
The Ups and Downs
1700s/1800
Because of regimental number


The Old Agamemnons
c1790
Served as marines on the HMS Agamemnon; nickname supposedly given to them by Admiral Nelson

71st Foot
The Assaye Regiment
1803
For service at Assaye where all 17 officers and 384 men out of 550 were casualties; the remnant being command by a sergeant-major

72nd Foot
The Wild Macraes
c1780
Originally recruited from the Clan Macrae

76th Foot
The Old Imortals
c1790
Because of high casualties during Lake's campaigns in India. The Seven and Sixpennies 1700s/1800s: after the number - seven shillings and a sixpence in pre-decimal currency.


The Seven and Sixpennies
1700s/1800s
Because of its number - seven shillings and a sixpence

77th Foot
The Pot Hooks
1700s/1800s
Their number '7' looked like a pot-hook

78th Foot
The King's Men
c1793
Because the regimental motto 'Cuidich'n Righ' means 'Help to the King'.

83rd Foot
Fitch's Grenadiers
c1795
Raised by Lieutenant Colonel Fitch

85th Foot
The Young Bucks
1700s/1800s
From Buckinghamshire, but junior to the 16th Foot which was also from that county


The Elegant Extracts
1811
A large number of officers were court-martialed and had to be replaced by officers from other regiments.

86th Foot
Royal County Downs
1792
An Irish Regiment

87th Foot
Blayney's Bloodhounds
1798
Hunted rebels in Ireland under Lord Blaney


The Faughs
1700s/1800s
From their motto "Faugh-a-Ballagh" (Clear the Way)


Aigle Catchers
1811
Captured an Eagle at Barosa


The Aiglers
1811
Captured an Eagle at Barosa

88th Foot
Devil's Own
1700s/1800s
Unknown

92nd Foot
Gay Gordon's
1790s
Unknown

95th Foot:
The Rifles
1800s
Becaused they carried a rifle.


Manningham's Sharpshooters
1800
When the unit was formed it did not have a regimental number.


The Sweeps
c.1802
The uniform was such a dark green they resembled chimney sweeps.


The Grasshoppers
Peninsula
Because of their green uniform

96th Foot
The Ups and Downs
1803
Because of their regimental number

97th Foot
The Celestials
1798
Because of blue facings

99th Foot
The Nines
1700s/1800s
Hence the expression 'dressed up to the nines'. The officers of regiment were considered particularly sartorial).

Brunswick Oels
Death or Glory Men
Peninsula
Death Head Skull on Shako


Owls
Peninsula
Corruption of Oels

Kings German Legion Light Battalions
Halkett's Green Germans
Peninsula
Halkett was brigade commander





Miscellaneous
Royal Horse Artillery
Right of the Line
Unknown



Galloping Gunners
Unknown
Because they rode horses

Corps of Drivers, Artilley
Wee Gees
Peninsula
Sound made to turn horses

Commissariat Train
Newgate Blues
1795
Uniforms were blue and they recruited from the Newgate area where there was a prison. (The train drivers were considered to be thieves.)

Highland Soldiers
Rories
Peninsula
Unknown


e 9th legere.

General de Brig Kliff Marbot
II Corps Art Res Division .Commander
Marechal de Camp AN
Author:  Al Amos [ Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
John, quite often the mottos are the nicknames. I believe the 57th Line is an example of this. Also, check out the Nap Series site, and you will find various articls on specific unit histories. Nicknames should be found there. And... in the forum about two or three months ago, one thread covered all the regimental histories one can find online. There were quite a few of them with links provided. Going through them should provide your answer. A last resort would be to post your question on thier forum. al
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