Guide to the Records of the Somersetshire Regiment, 2nd (40th Regiment) (as filmed by the AJCP), 1832-1988

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Summary

Collection number:

M2579-M2580

Creator:

The 40th Regiment. 2nd Somersetshire

Extent:

20 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

Records 1823-1866 giving a synoptic history of the Regiment, its movements, action, casualties and personnel.

Regimental order books 1824-1865. Subject include movement of troops in Australia and guard detail for executions at Sydney Gaol.

Guard reports 1854 comprising reports of Emigration Barrack Guard, Gaol Guard and Treasury Guard.

New Zealand records 1860-1869 referring to conflicts and interviews with Maoris.

Correspondence files 1967-1988 referring to service in Australia and action at Eureka Stockade.

Biographical / Historical:

The 40th Regiment was raised in Nova Scotia in 1717 by General Richard Phipps out of independent companies stationed in North America and the West Indies. It was based at Annapolis Royal until 1759, when it moved to Halifax and later to Barbados. It was transferred to Ireland in 1767. It returned to North America in 1775 and served throughout the War of Independence.

In 1782 the Regiment took a county title as the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment. During the Napoleonic Wars it served in the West Indies, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and France. It took part in the Battle of Waterloo (1815) and formed part of the Army of Occupation in France (1815-1817).

In 1823 the 40th Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Balfour, was despatched in small detachments to New South Wales. They were based in both Sydney and Hobart and took part in the Black War in Van Diemen's Land in 1824. The Regiment left for India in 1829. It returned to Australia in 1852 and took part in the suppression of the Eureka Uprising in Victoria in December 1854. Detachments of the Regiment served in all the Australian colonies, including Moreton Bay and the Swan River. In the early months of 1860 troops from the 40th Regiment sailed from Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney to New Zealand and over the next five years fought in the Taranaki and Waikato campaigns. Colour Sergeant John Lucas won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in action at Tei Arei on 18 March 1861. The Regiment took part in the battle of Rangiriri (20 November 1863) and the Battle of Waiari (11 February 1864). It returned to England in 1866.

In 1881 the 40th Regiment amalgamated with the 82nd Regiment (Price of Wales's Volunteers) to form the Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment). In 1958 the Regiment was amalgmated with the East Lancashire Regiment to form the Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales' Volunteers). In 1970 the Lancashire and Loyal Regiments were amalgamated to form the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.