Historical record of the Thirteenth, First Somerset, or the Prince Albert's Regiment of Light Infantry / containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685, and of its subsequent services to 1848.

OF

THE THIRTEENTH,

FIRST SOMERSETSHIRE REGIMENT;

OR

PRINCE ALBERT’S REGIMENT OF LIGHT INFANTRY.

When James Duke of Monmouth denounced the character and pretensions of King James II., asserted his own claims to the throne, and organized a military force to establish his authority, the small regular army then in England was not deemed sufficiently numerous for the protection of the crown and kingdom against lawless usurpation, and a number of additional corps of cavalry and infantry were embodied. Among the noblemen who stood forward in support of the throne at this important juncture, was Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon, who was appointed colonel of one of the regiments ordered to be raised,—now Thirteenth Light Infantry,—by commission dated the 20th of June, 1685.

This regiment was raised in the southern counties of England, and its general rendezvous was at Buckingham, where the Earl of Huntingdon established his head-quarters; it consisted of ten companies, which were raised by Colonel the Earl of Huntingdon, Lieut-Colonel Francis Villiers, Major Charles Morgan, Captains Watson Dixey, Thomas Condon, Thomas Skipworth,—Hildibran, John Tidcomb, Bryan Turner, and Charles Hatton; and a number of loyal men coming readily forward to enrol themselves under the colours of the regiment, it was speedily formed and quartered at Buckingham and Aylesbury. In the middle of July it was employed to guard prisoners taken after the overthrow of the rebel army at Sedgemoor.

The rebellion being suppressed, and the Duke of Monmouth beheaded, the King assembled many of the newly-raised corps on Hounslow Heath, where the Earl of Huntingdon’s regiment encamped in the beginning of August: it was reviewed on the Heath by His Majesty; the officers and soldiers received the expression of the King’s royal approbation of the ready manner in which they had come forward to support the throne at the hour of danger, and they afterwards marched into garrison at Hull.

On the 6th of January, 1686, the establishment was fixed at the following numbers and rates of pay, viz. (see p. 3).

The uniform of the regiment was, round hats with broad brims, the brim turned up on one side, and ornamented with yellow ribands; scarlet coats lined with yellow; yellow breeches, and gray stockings; the pikemen were distinguished by white sashes tied round their waists.

In June the regiment was again encamped on Hounslow Heath, and in August it marched into Yorkshire and Cumberland; the head-quarters being at York, where it passed the winter.

From York the head-quarters were removed, in February, 1687, to Chester, where they remained during the following twelve months.