Battle Honour ST LUCIA 1778,1796
The Battle Honour ST LUCIA 1778,1796 is emblazoned on the Regimental Colours of the Royal Irish Regiment. The following concerns the Battle Honour granted for 1796.
In the autumn of 1795, the 27th Inniskillings received orders to join an expeditionary force of 30,000 men, under command of Sir Ralph Abercromby, in operations against the French in the West Indies. Although the Regiment had helped capture St Lucia in 1778, the Peace Treaty concluding the Anglo-French War restored the island to the French in 1783.
The French defences on Morne Fortuné were the key to the island and, when the British landed, the fortress contained 2,000 enemy native troops officered by 100 Frenchmen, and five 35 pounder guns. Attacking the hill was no easy task for the British because of the steep jungle clad hillsides and ravines. The British guns opened fire on 14 May, but the main assault occurred on 24 May 1796.
Although the enemy were outnumbered, there was little space available close to the summit of the hill for the British to attack as they might have wished. Many men became casualties because of the difficulty of supporting the attacking formation. However, the Inniskillings charged at an opportune moment and drove the defenders from the hill-top back into the fort. Late that evening, the French sent out a flag of truce and, on the following day, surrendered.
The Inniskillings earned great praise for their exploits on this day and, in a General Order, Abercromby wrote:
The behaviour of the Enniskillen Regiment of Infantry who acted on that day with him (General Moore, the Commander of the British Troops in the battle) was so worthy of praise that it deserves the Commander-in-Chief's highest approbation.
In recognition, Abercromby granted the Regiment the honour of flying their King's Colour on the fort's flagstaff for one hour before the usual 'Union Flag' on the occasion of the surrender ceremony.
When the Inniskillings returned to England, as a mark of further recognition for their achievement on St Lucia, soldiers of the 27th Regiment were granted the privilege of exemption from the liability to be drafted to other regiments without their own consent. On 6 April 1836, the Inniskillings received the official permission to add ST LUCIA to the Battle Honours on The Queen's Colours.
To read the events of the Battle Honour for 1778, click on ST LUCIA, 1778.
