Being one of the "Old Corps" the Vth Regiment had;
In the center of their colours, St. George killing the dragon, being their ancient
badge; and in the three corners of their second colour, the rose and crown.
The 5th Foot traces its long history back to 1674 when raised as the Irish Regiment to fight the French in Holland under Col. Daniel (O'Brien), IIId Viscount Clare. Being called back to England in 1685 to suppress Monmouth's Rebellion, the regiment became the 5th Regiment of Foot in July of 1751.
Leaving Ireland on May 7, 1774, the 5th arrived in Boston July of 1774. The regiment's Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies saw action at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 and were part of the British "march back" to Boston.
After fighting in the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, the Battle of White Plains, October 28, 1776, and participating in the capture of Fort Washington, New York, November 16, 1776 and Fort Lee, New Jersey, November 20, 1776, the 5th spent the cold, bitter winter of 1776-1777 quartered near New York City.
As part of Howe's campaign to capture Philadelphia, the 5th again saw action at the Battle of Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1777. The regiment spent the winter of 1777-78 comfortably in Philadelphia, until France entered the war, necessitating the evacuation of the city and retreat to New York. On the retreat through New Jersey, the British Army was attacked at Monmouth Court House on June 28, 1778. Once back in New York, the 5th remained until November 3, 1778 when they left America for the French West Indies.
The same badge of St. George and the dragon, to be painted on the drums,
and bells of arms, with the rank of the regiment underneath.
Evidence suggests that the drum would also have had depictions of the
rose and crown to the upper right, lower right, and lower left of the badge of
St. George and the dragon, and "V Regt" in gold leaf to the upper left.
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