68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry)

68th Regiment of Foot
Glengarry cap badge of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot
Active	1756-1881
Country	U.K.
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry, Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion Two between May 1800 and September 1802
Garrison/HQ	Sunderland Barracks
Motto(s)	Faithful
Colours	Facing colour: Dark Green up to 1816 Bottle Green up to 1834 Green up to 1861 Dark Green up to 1881
March	I'm Ninety Five, (1856-1881)
Anniversaries	Inkerman Day (5 November)
Engagements	Seven Years' War Peninsular War Crimean War New Zealand Wars

The 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1758 and amalgamated into the Durham Light Infantry in 1881. It saw action during the Seven Years' War before being converted to Light Infantry in 1808, fighting with distinction in the Peninsular Army under Arthur Wellesley. It would go on to fight with some distinction during the Crimean War, was present during the Indian Mutiny and the New Zealand wars before returning to India between 1872 and 1888. It would become the 1st battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in 1881, the other regular battalion, the 2nd, being the former 106th Bombay Light Infantry.

In August 1756, after the loss of Minorca in the Seven Years' War, the 23rd Regiment of Foot, together with 14 other regiments was ordered to raise a 2nd Battalion, which it did while in Leicester. On 22 April 1758 the 2nd battalion was separated from the 23rd regiment as a new regiment and ranked as the 68th in order of precedence with the appointment of a new Colonel as Lambton's Regiment of Foot or the 68th Regiment of foot. (The practice of referring to regiments by their Colonel's name was gradually going out of fashion, being replaced by the regiments order of precedence.)

In May 1758 it marched to the Isle of Wight as part of the forces (14,000 soldiers in 5 brigades and 6000 marines) stationed on the island at the request of Britain's ally Frederick the Great of Prussia. The intention was to conduct raids (descents as they were then called) on the French coast to disturb privateers in the area, distract the French army and relieve pressure on Britain's allies, the Prussians. The first expedition (3 Guards, 9 line regiments) anchored at Cancale Bay, near St Malo, on 5 May, the grenadier company being part of the forces that destroyed four King's ships, 60 merchantmen and several privateers in Parame. The remainder of the regiment constructed fortifications around Cancale until taken off on 12 June. After threatening other ports in the region the fleet returned to Britain on 6 July.