Nicknames: The "Lions," from its ancient badge, the Lion of England, given to it by the Prince of Orange, the regiment being the first to join his Standard after landing at Torbay in 1688. "Barrell's Blues," from William Barrell, Colonel of the regiment in 1740, and its facings. The title of "The King's Own" was conferred by George I in 1715.
"Wilhelmstahl," "St. Lucia, 1778," "Roliça," "Vimiera," "Corunna," "Busaco," "Ciudad Rodrigo," "Badajoz," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Nivelle," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Lucknow," "Afghanistan, 1878-80," "Khartoum," "Modder River," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Motto: _Quo fata vocant_ (Whither the fates call).
_Plume_, Scarlet, with white base, worn on left side.
_Regimental March_, "British Grenadiers."
A third Colour is carried on ceremonial occasions by the drummers to commemorate the capture of a colour at Wilhelmstahl.
Raised in 1674 the regiment was in 1764 nicknamed the "Shiners" from its smart and clean appearance; and whilst in the Peninsula was called the "Old and Bold," "The Fighting Fifth," and also "Lord Wellington's Bodyguard." It formed part of a small force which beat off an overwhelming body of the enemy at El Boden in 1811, a performance which Wellington notified to the Army as "a memorable example of what can be done by steadiness, discipline, and confidence." A custom, which has long prevailed in this regiment, is for all ranks to wear roses in their caps on St. George's Day. Among the "men" who have served in the ranks was Phœbe Hassell, the famous female soldier, afterwards pensioned by George IV, and to whose memory there is a stone in the churchyard at Hove, Brighton.
"Namur, 1695," "Martinique, 1794," "Roliça," "Vimiera," "Corunna," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Orthes," "Peninsula," "Niagara," "South Africa, 1846-7, 1851-2-3," "Atbara," "Khartoum," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
The regiment is one of the very few bearing a battle honour won in Canada, that of "Niagara."
The regiment has a very ancient history, having existed for some time before being brought on the British establishment in 1688. It fought at Namur in 1695, and in 1707 was one of the regiments cut up at the fierce battle of Almanza. It won much distinction at the battle of Saragossa, and Colonel Harrison, who then commanded, was, as a mark of honour to the regiment, sent home with thirty standards, taken that day, to lay before the Sovereign. Tradition has it that one was the standard belonging to a Moorish Regiment in the Spanish pay, bearing an Antelope, and that that badge was forthwith conferred on the regiment. It won great fame during the Peninsular War. In the action at Echalar, 2nd August, 1813, its conduct was described by Wellington as "the most gallant and the finest thing he had ever witnessed." The title "Royal" was conferred in 1832.