The York and Lancaster Regiment
- South Wall of the Ropery
The name of S * Plant can be seen on the same brick as the obliterated regimental number “84″. The date is clearly “1834″
Three of the regiment’s battle honours have been included: - ”Nive”, “India” and “Peninsula”.
Also, the name of the regiment is confirmed as being, at that time, “York and Lancaster”.
This brick has always been high on my list of favourites … yes! I do have favourite bricks!
I was intrigued as to why the number 84 had been obliterated and I have found a possible answer.
I shall include a number of quotes from a contact I found in Rotherham who writes “The 84th received the York and Lancaster title in 1820 … can find no direct reference to Chatham in the histories”.
In 1834 the Regiment was in the West Indies having left Ireland in 1827 for Jamaica, returning in 1838.
At present there is no record of S. PLANT.
Between 1838 and 1842 the Regiment were home, spending two of those years in England.
At the time of the Cardwell Reforms in 1881 the 84th became the 2nd Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. (Note that the name was kept).
The 65th (2nd North Riding) Regiment of Foot became the 1st Battalion at the same time.
The numbers of the predecessor Regiments were officially dropped but continued to be used unofficially for a long time.”
After this a theory began to form as to the obliteration of 84.
The York and Lancaster Regiment did pass through Chatham at later dates, especially the First World War and possibly a soldier who knew little, or nothing, of the 84th connection, took out the ‘84′ to leave just the name of his own Regiment.
As I stated earlier, this is just a theory and if anyone knows more please leave some details.
