NOTES ON OCTOBER 2008 MEETING

A History of the Border Regiment

During the past year two groups in Alston have loaned artefacts relating to the Alston Mounted Volunteers to the Military Museum of the Border Regiment in Carlisle. Some years ago the Church of St. Augustine came into possession of the Mountaineer's flag and it has since been displayed on a wall. However, it was in poor condition and deteriorating rapidly. The Wardens of the church decided that it would be preferable for the flag to be placed in a protected environment and it was therefore sent to the museum on an indefinite loan basis. Similarly the Alston Moor Historical Society loaned some Mountaineers officer's equipment, including a sword and hat. In the light of this connection the Society felt it appropriate to invite the Museum Curator, Stuart Eastwood, to give a presentation entitled ‘A History of the Border Regiment'.

An illustrated history of the Regiment was presented in great detail and the speaker revealed a tremendous knowledge and understanding of the subject. Many in the audience were surprised to hear the importance of the role played by the Border Fusiliers throughout Britain's very turbulent history.

The museum collection covers the events of the Regiment's past 300 years and is housed, most appropriately, in Carlisle Castle which, from 1873 to 1959, served as the Regimental Depot. Since 1703 a number of regiments were raised in Cumberland and Westmorland eventually, in 1881, becoming the Border Regiment. This is the name by which the Regiment is best known, although in a recent spate of military cutbacks, it is now part of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

The catalogue of campaigns in which the Regiment has participated with great distinction is extensive and appears to cover every major conflict, including the more recent events in the Falklands, Iraq, Bosnia, Ireland and Afghanistan. A commendable number of officers and soldiers have been decorated, including several Victoria Crosses. The VC is the only decoration which is awarded to both officers and soldiers from the ranks.

Before formal regiments were organised there was no particular pattern to the groups of mercenaries and soldiers fighting on a random basis. Gradually the various groups acquired a more local flavour and were brought together into Regimental Depots. This home base provided a sense of affinity with the area, and they became part of the local community e.g. in Carlisle the colours of the regiment were held in the Cathedral and would be paraded through the streets on appropriate occasions. Hitherto the lot of the ‘common soldier' was very hard and demanding, but after the Crimean War conditions improved and soldiers enjoyed better pay and conditions, making their lifestyle much more acceptable, although still hard. Soldiers of the Regiment, a significant number of who were from Ireland, tended to serve with the regiment for long terms, largely as they had not learned skills which would earn them a living in the civilian world outside the army.

In 1859 groups of Rifle Volunteers were formed and intended to supplement the regular forces. The Alston Mounted Volunteers was a significant part of this force and was unique by virtue of being mounted. These groups were the pre-cursors of the present day Territorial Army and then, as now, they could opt to go on 6 months tours of duty in any of the then current theatres of war. In WW1 another volunteer group was created in the form of the Army Cyclists Corp. whilst WW11 saw the formation of the well known and respected Home Guard, which became known as ‘Dads' Army'. The Border Regiment supported both of these entities in addition to the regular troops.

The 5 th Earl of Lonsdale was a great sponsor and supporter of the Regiment and, to avoid delays at the hands of the War Office in funding the equipping of the Regiment prior to WW1, he provided the required resources from his personal estate. He served with the regiment as Commander-in Chief and his patronage was very valuable. In WW11 the 1 st Battalion of the Regiment was seconded to the Airborne Division where they had the unenviable task of flying into enemy territory in flimsy, wooden gliders.

The county of Cumbria has every right to be proud of the service the Regiment has rendered to the country, and this is recalled, recorded and displayed for posterity, in the Border Regiment Museum in Carlisle Castle..