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The Gloucestershire Regiment raised in 1694 in Plymouth has with one exception more honours than any other in the army.
The old 28th has 33, as well as the Sphinx, which the regiment has the unique privilege of wearing both front and at the rear of their caps. Several regiments bear representation of the Sphinx for helping to oust the French from Egypt at the opening of the 19th century but no other possesses the Glosters special distinction. The old28th (North Glosters) performed distinguished service at Alexandria 1801 by engaging the enemy in front and rear. After attacking, the regiment was assailed in the rear by cavalry. The men were ordered to right about and fired a volley as the enemy came within a few horses engths,occasioning dreadful carnage. So many horses fell that nearly all the remaining animals were brought down by stumbling over prostrate bodies. The charge being effectually settled, the 28th faced about again, and resumed their fire in front, though several of the men were compelled to resort to throwing stones, their ammunition being exhausted. The 28th were granted the privilege of wearing the regimental number both front and at the back of their caps,hence the nickname of “The Back Numbers”.
When the28th became the 1st Glosters Regiment, on the reorganisation of the army by Lord Cardwell. They were allowed to replace the numbers by the image of the sphinx, forward and behind the cap. There have been few campaigns that this country has engaged upon without one or other of the battalions of the regiment being in the conflict, but it would be unfair to its record not to say that the regiments conduct at Chillianwallah, or, rather, that of the 2nd Battalion of the Old 61st, contributed mainly to that great victory of the Sikhs
(Extract from the Cheadle Times, Staffordshire)
The old 28th has 33, as well as the Sphinx, which the regiment has the unique privilege of wearing both front and at the rear of their caps. Several regiments bear representation of the Sphinx for helping to oust the French from Egypt at the opening of the 19th century but no other possesses the Glosters special distinction. The old28th (North Glosters) performed distinguished service at Alexandria 1801 by engaging the enemy in front and rear. After attacking, the regiment was assailed in the rear by cavalry. The men were ordered to right about and fired a volley as the enemy came within a few horses engths,occasioning dreadful carnage. So many horses fell that nearly all the remaining animals were brought down by stumbling over prostrate bodies. The charge being effectually settled, the 28th faced about again, and resumed their fire in front, though several of the men were compelled to resort to throwing stones, their ammunition being exhausted. The 28th were granted the privilege of wearing the regimental number both front and at the back of their caps,hence the nickname of “The Back Numbers”.
When the28th became the 1st Glosters Regiment, on the reorganisation of the army by Lord Cardwell. They were allowed to replace the numbers by the image of the sphinx, forward and behind the cap. There have been few campaigns that this country has engaged upon without one or other of the battalions of the regiment being in the conflict, but it would be unfair to its record not to say that the regiments conduct at Chillianwallah, or, rather, that of the 2nd Battalion of the Old 61st, contributed mainly to that great victory of the Sikhs
(Extract from the Cheadle Times, Staffordshire)
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