86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot

History

The regiment was raised in 1793 as a volunteer corps in Shropshire, and taken into the British Army the following year as the 86th (Shropshire Volunteers). In 1795, after the Battle of Groix it absorbed the remnants of the disbanded 118th Regiment of Foot (Fingall's Regiment), which had been raised in 1794 for service as marines.

In 1809 it became the 86th (Leinster) Regiment of Foot, and then in 1812 it was renamed as the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot.

In 1881 it became the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. Its lineage is continued today by the Royal Irish Regiment.

Battle honours

Battle honours won by the regiment were:

Egypt (sphinx superscribed "Egypt")

India, Bourbon, Central India

Victoria Cross recipients

Captain Henry Edward Jerome - 1858, Jhansi (Indian Rebellion of 1857).

Lieutenant Hugh Stewart Cochrane - 1858, Jhansi (Indian Rebellion of 1857).

Private James Byrne - 1858, Jhansi (Indian Rebellion of 1857).

Private James Pearson - 1858, Jhansi (Indian Rebellion of 1857).

Colonels of the Regiment

Colonels of the Regiment were:

Sir Cornelius Cuyler's Shropshire Volunteers

1793–1794: Gen. Sir Cornelius Cuyler, Bt.

86th (the Shropshire Volunteers) - (1794)

1794–1795: Gen. Russell Manners

1795–1804: Gen. William Grinfield

1804-1806: Gen. Sir James Henry Craig, KB

86th (The Leinster) Regiment of Foot - (1806)

1806–1810: Lt-Gen. Sir Charles Ross, Bt.

1810–1832: Gen. Francis Needham, 1st Earl of Kilmorey

86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot - (1812)

1832–1835: Lt-Gen. William Harris, 2nd Baron Harris of Seringapatam and Mysore, CB, KCH

1835–1836: Maj-Gen. Hon. Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, GCMG, KCB, KCH

1836–1837: Gen. Sir James Watson, KCB

1837–1843: Lt-Gen. Sir Arthur Brooke, KCB

1843–1852: Gen. John Maister

1852–1854: Maj-Gen. Roger Parke

1854–1862: Gen. Lord James Hay

1862–1881: F.M. Sir John Michel, GCB