1st/11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot

1845 - 1857

Known as (nickname)................................................... " The Bloody Eleventh " " One and All"

Facings............................................................................ DEEP GREEN

Braided Lace.................................................................. Gold

Service in Australia ....................................................... July 1845 the 11th Headquarters and three companies sailed from Chatham on board the "Castle Eden" for Sydney. The balance of the Regiment sailed on board the "Ramilies" in August of that year. Transferred to Hobart but due to internal discipline problems with the 99th Regiment, they were recalled to Sydney in 1846 to restore Law and order. In 1857 the Regiment returned to England

Commanding Officer......................................................Lieut. Colonel H. K. Bloomfield

Surnames of the 1/11th Regiment soldiers who stayed

Weapons used by the 1/11th North Devonshire Regiment

A Transcript written by William Pidcock, a member of the 1/11th Regiment

Representation of the 11th Regiment Uniform

Ships the 11th Regiment sailed on

This Regiment began its military career in 1685 as the Colonel the Duke of Beaufort's Musketeers. For several years known by the name of its Commanding officer. In 1751 it became the 11th regiment of Foot. 1782 saw it become the 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment, retaining this name until 1881.

The 77th Foot East Middlesex Regiment relieved the 11th regiment in 1857

The following is a history of many name changes.

1685.....The Colonel the Duke of Beaufort's Musketeers

1687.....Known by the Commanding Officer's name

1751.....11th Regiment of Foot

1782.....11th ( North Devonshire ) Regiment of Foot

1881.....The Devonshire Regiment

1958......Amalgamated with the Dorset Regiment & became The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment.

The 1st/11th Regiment (North Devonshire) was garrisoned in the colony from 1845 to 1857.
The 99th Regiment was very unpopular in Sydney. It was widely known for its rough and near mutinous behaviour. The 1st/11th Regiment was brought to Sydney from Van Dieman's Land to control the riotous 99th Regiment." "The first division of the regiment containing headquarters and three companies, sailed from Chatham aboard the Castle Eden in July 1845. The remainder of the regiment followed in the Ramilies in August 1845 for Sydney. After service in Sydney they were transferred to Hobart Town, returning in 1846 to restore discipline in the unruly 99th Regiment. The 11th was a popular regiment returning to garrison Sydney in response to a public petition in 1848. The 11th occupied Victoria Barracks until they returned to England in 1857" 1830-1840- A bounty of £3 0s 0d was paid to enlisting men. A further 16s was paid to whoever recruited him.
A soldier retired on a pension of 2/2d per day. Good conduct pay was 1d per day. The treatment of British soldiers in the early colonial days was so bad, indeed worse than for convicts, that many of them committed minor offences just so they could be gaoled, then assigned and given benefits that many ticket of leave men and emancipists enjoyed such as grants access to marrying or the ability to operate a business. About 100 men from the1st/11th Devonshire Regiment remained in Sydney. These soldiers had applied to be discharged and it had been approved before the 11th went home in 1857. 1st/11th Regiment- arrived Australia on the convict transport 'Hashemy' in 1849 and were posted to Port Arthur (Tasmania) then moved to Sydney to quell a rumoured rebellion. They were stationed in Sydney and still in Sydney in 1856.

References:
The Army in Australia, Austin M. , . " Excerpt from microfilm by W. F. Pascoe Pty Ltd 1996 , . .Taylor J The Devons, A History of the Devonshire Regiment 1865 -1945. White Swan Press Bristol, 1951

References
Military records ,Pay rolls, Pay Musters, Cemetery Records, Church Records & General Muster Records, Mitchell Library ,Sydney Australia

The information is intended for short Historical value only,

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