Colours Of The British 5th Foot Or Northumberland Regiment In The SYW

This is another famous British regiment but, unlike most of the other British SYW regiments whose colours I have posted, it did actually see action in the Seven Years War. 

It was first raised in  1674 to serve with the Dutch army by Colonel Daniel O'Brien, Lord Clare. It was in Dutch service on and off until 1688. It fought at the Boyne in 1690 then in the Nine Years War and during the War of the Spanish Succession fought in Spain and Portugal.

During the Seven Years War it took part in the raid on Rochefort in 1757. In 1760 it went to Germany and covered the retreat of the Allies at Corbach that year. In 1761 as part of Granby's Corps it fought at Vellinghausen and in 1762 fought at Wilhelmstahl where it reputedly captured a number of French grenadiers and tradition tells us the regiment was awarded the right to wear bearskin caps like those of the French.

The regiment's flag (and uniform facing) colour of Gosling Green has been the subject of much debate and even controversy. The colour I have used is taken from the JSAHR article which uses the original Napier illustration from 1751 so I believe it is authentic - a very yellowy and only faintly green colour. The centrepiece shows St George and the dragon.

More detail of the regiment's history and uniform can be found on the Kronoskaf web page here: https://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=5th_Foot