Brief History of the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot

The Ninth were an infantry regiment in the British Army, and were the ninth most senior Regiment of Infantry (Guards excluded). They were initially raised in response to Monmouth’s rebellion in 1685.

During the Napoleonic wars the Regiment was at the forefront of the fighting and gained the name, “the fighting ninth” or the “holy boys” from the Britannia badge on the crossbelts being mistaken for the virgin Mary, by the Spanish and Portuguese.

The Regiment gained the following battle honours: Rolica, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Salamanca,Vittoria, San Sebastian, Nive and Peninsula, they also fought at numerous smaller engagements.

The 1st Battalion was commanded by Lt. Colonel Cameron following the death of Lt. Colonel Stuart at Rolica. They buried Sir John Moore, the army commander at Corunna and were the first to fight their way into France. They formed part of the army commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington.

The 9th of Foot served this country with distinction from its foundation in 1685 and continues to do so as part of the Royal Anglian Regiment today.

We focus on the regiment’s exploits in the Peninsular campaign (1808-1814) where they earned nine battle honours before departing to Canada to fight in the War of 1812 (1812-1814).