Regiment of the Line

Ray, Cyril

Published by Batsford, London, 1963

About this Item

By 1938 the Lancashire Fusiliers could trace its regimental history back 250 years, to innumerable battles fought in many far-flung lands. Cyril Ray's "Regiment of the Line" which carries the sub-title "The Story of XX The Lanscashire Fusilers" traces the deployments and the exploits of this distinguished Britsh Army regiment from its raising in 1688 to support a Dutch (Protestant) invasion under William of Orange agaisnt the reign of James II. It was be some time before the regiment, raised mainly from West Country farm folk, was to see action. This was to be in Ireland where James II, aided by strong French forces, was endeavouring to regain power. The Regimernt took part in the Protestant victory at the Boyne and the battles of Athlone and Aghrim. Then followed a series of less important postings, including the detested Sea Service aboard naval ships, two years in the Leeward Islands, a return to Ireland, then to Portugal and on to garrison duties at Gibraltar. After participating in the defeat of the Scottish rebellion at Culloden, which led to occupation duties there for the Regiment. Subsequently the Regiment was involved in numerous campaigns and battles --- with Wolfe in Canada, at the Minden, the American War of Independence, the Napoleonic Wars, including Corunna, the Crimean campaign. India, an expedition to Japan, several African campaigns including the Boar War. With the outbreak of WWI the Regiment was committed to the early engagements in France with involvement also in the Gallipoli landing, where it suffered heavy casualities, but was awarded "six VCs before breakfast." Units were also committed to the Western Front and during WWI the regiment lost more than 13,600 men killed, died of wounds or disease. Between the two World Wars there was service in India, Egypt. Gibraltar, Palestine and North China. In the 1939-45 conflict regiment battalions took part in Chindit operations and the Burma campaign, were in France where it provided the Duimkirk rearguard, returning with the D-Day forces. Other units saw action in North Africa, Algiera, Sicily and Italy, including the Cassino campaign, and with the surrender of German forces in Italy went to occupation duties in Austria. Cyril Ray has compiled an excellent book, which emphasises the many different locations and conflicts that British Army regiments were deployed to in more than two centuries of warfare. First edition of 1963 published for the Regiment by Batsford, 194 pages including bibliography and index, b/w art frontis and 30 plates (one double page) mostly art with photos for later campaigns. Red hard covers VG with light wear at corners, few spots to front board, damp marks to back mainly at upper right corner, gilt titles and rules to spine, on title page slip with sub-title pasted in below title, otherwise internally excellent, no inscriptions. Seller Inventory # 004731

Bibliographic Details

Title: Regiment of the Line

Publisher: Batsford, London

Publication Date: 1963

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Photos, Art

Condition: VG

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

Edition: 1st