76th Regiment of Foot - Garrison Duties

Garrison Duties

The 76th, now in Canada, were part of the force that took part in the failed Battle of Plattsburgh at Lake Champlain in September 1814. The regiment then served thirteen years in Canada, defending Canada's border with the USA against any further aggression by Canada's neighbours. The regiment did this duty professionally, despite the boredom that was ever-present in doing these duties. The 76th finally returned home in 1827, their job done.

The 76th then, due to peace that would not be shattered until the 1850s, had garrison duties as their main role. They went to the West Indies and to the Mediterranean; in 1834 they returned to Canada. They were then stationed in Bermuda for just a year, from 1840–1841, before returning once again to Canada where they remained until 1843. In 1850 they were deployed to Malta, the only British possession in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea; and they were deployed to Corfu. In 1853, the regiment was again sent to Canada, staying there until 1857, performing numerous duties including putting out the fires that occasionally occurred. In 1858, the regiment was stationed in Dublin. In 1861, the 76th arrived in Glasgow, with a few companies being dispatched to Ayr and Paisley. The following year, the regiment was moved to Aldershot: first by sea to Liverpool, then by rail to their final destination. In 1865 the 76th returned to the country they had been created for: India. They remained there until 1868, being deployed to Burma and remaining there for a further three years.

The 76th was linked in 1881 with the regiment at that time titled 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment, whose training depot they shared in Halifax, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, due to the Childers Reforms (a continuation of the Cardwell's Reforms of the armed forces) to form the 2nd Battalion of the regiment.

On 6 June 2006 The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) amalgamated with the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Green Howards - all Yorkshire-based regiments in the King's Division - to form the Yorkshire Regiment.