The Princes of Wales's

Very few got to the Crimea, the remainder, ie two regiments of Light Dragoons, three of Rifles ( Jagers ) and six battalions of Light Infantry were spread around various garrison towns in Southern England between 1855 and 1858. Most eventually left for South Africa, England glad to be rid of them as there was much friction between British garrison troops and those returning from the Crimea. It was also soon evident that they would not make good colonists in South Africa, and in 1858, 1,400 were sent to India. With the Mutiny suppressed, soldiers of the Legion were invited to volunteer for the East India Company's regiments, or return to South Africa. Bt 1862 nearly 500 men of the Jagers had been accepted for the new 109th Foot, including their own German Officers, some of the latter were to do well in British service. It was expected therefore that this unusual reinforcement would attract some ribald nicknames, " The German Mob " and the " Jagers ", were two examples.
In 1864 the regiment was sent abroad to Aden and was engaged in some action against an Arab enemy in which a German contingent played its part. A glance at the Amry Lists of 1864-6 shows German names mingled with the British. Whilst at Aden on the 23rd of January 1866 colours were presented to the regiment by Mrs Raines, wife of General Officer Commanding, Aden. That year the regiment moved back to India. For the next eleven years spent in India there was still a strong German contingent, although the German Language was forbidden.
HRH Edward Prince of Wales visited India between 1875-6, 450 rank and file and the band entrained from their station at Bankipore in Bihar for Calcutta, on the 17th December 1875, to provide a Guard of Honour when HRH arrived on the 24th December.
In December 1877 the regiment embarked for England and was stationed at Gosport, with further moves to Aldershot and Preston before being ordered to Ireland in 1883. Prior to this the British Army had been re-organised in 1881 and the 100th Regiment was renamed The 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment ( Royal Canadians ). There home Depot became Birr, in County Offaly, Ireland. By this time the composition of the regiment had become predominantly Irish, with only a sprinkling of Germans left. Most seeking permission to return to Germany by 1882. From 1896 to 1897 the 1st Battalion was stationed at Tipperary Town. Barracks At this stage the uniform was the standard pattern for Line Infantry, blue helmet with usual star hemet-plate, the ground in the centre of the plate being red, scarlet tunic and blue facings. The 1st Battalion in India had a white helmet with the plume of the Prince of Wales's badge mounted on red cloth on the puggri at front. Both battalions saw service in the South African War, the 1st from early days but the 2nd arriving from the West Indies in January 1902. The 1st Battalion formed part of Sir Leslie Rundle's 8th Division, together with the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards and 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. The 8th Division was given the difficult task of holding the formidable enemy forces against attack on the right flank of Lord Roberts's Army. So well was this done that Sir Conan Doyle mentions General Rundle's operation in glowing terms.

" So well did he select his positions that every attempt of the enemy,
and there were many, ended in failure. Badly supplied with food,
he and his half starved men, held bravely to their task, and no
soldiers in all that great host deserve better of their country "

The battle-honour ' South Africa 1900-2 ' was awarded to the regiment, although a total of 120 casualties were suffered, officers, NCOs and men. The 1st Battalion came home, but the 2nd Battalion stayed on in South Africa after the war, moving on to India in 1907. Whilst at Mauritius in 1906 new colours were presented by the Governor on the 2nd April. First mention of pipers comes from the Regimental Journal in 1909:

" The pipers have no distinctive features of dress. They wear dark blue forgae cpas with scarlet welt and band. The scarlet tunics have white piped scarlet shoulder straps bearing the regimental title in white embroidery and white piped dark blue collar and cuffs. The two drones of the pipes are united by a cord ending in a tassel. There are eight pipers, one a sergean ".

" On St patrick's Day 1909 the 1st Battalion attended service in the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Plymouth; six Irish pipers were on parade for the first time. At the Sergeant's St Patrick's Ball held at the Stonehouse Town Hall,
the music was provided by the Battalion String band, under the skilful baton of Sgt Reilly, while a novel feature was furnished by the introduction of the Irish pipers ( their first appearance in public ) who, during two of the intervals, marched up and down the room amidst loud applause, the success of his bantlings bringing a gleam of pleasure to the anxious and fostering eye of Lt Orpen-Palmer "

During the Great War, there were seven battalions of the Leinster Regiment, the 1st and 2nd were Regular Battalions, the 3rd Reserve and 4th and 5th Extra Reserve ( these being the former Militia Regiments ) and the 6th and 7th Service Battalions. The 2nd Battalion returned home from India in 1911, was stationed at Cork, so on the outbreak of war came over to England and thence to France, landing at St. Nazaire on the 12th September 1914.
The 1st Battalion was in Fyzabad, India, in 1914, and was able to sail from Bombay by October, arriving in the United Kingdom on the 16th November, and by Christmas had landed in France as part of the 27th Division. Remaining in France for one year it transferred to the Middle East theatre of war in December 1915, to Egypt in September 1917 and to the 10th Division Palestine towards the end of 1918. The 3rd Battalion also saw service on The Western Front during World War I. Lieutenant John Vincent Holland, from County Kildare of the 7th Battalion, who were fighting with the 16th ( Irish Division ) was awarded the Victoria Cross " for most conspicuous bravery " at Guillemont, France on the 3rd September 1916. Three soldiers from the 2nd Battalion were also awarded the VC.

John Vincent Holland VC ( 19th July 1889-27th February 1975 ) born in
Anthy, County Kildare, Ireland. He was 27 years old, and a Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment, attached to the 7th Battalion when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. " On the 3rd September 1916 at Guillemont, France, during a heavy engagement, Lieutenat Holland, not contenet with bombing hostile dug-outs within the objective, fearlessly led his bombers
through our own artillery barrage and cleared a great part of the village

in front. He started out with 26 bombers and finished with only five after capturing some 50 prisoners. By this gallant action he undoubtedly broke the spirit of the enemy and saved many casualties. He was far from well at the time and later had to go to hospital ". John Holland died at Hobart, Tasmania on the 27th February 1975. He is buried at Cornelian Cemetary, Hobart.

John Cunningham VC, born in Hall Street, Thurles, County Tipperary
( October 22nd 1890-April 16th 1917 ) was 26 years old and a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment. The following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. " On the 12th April 1917 at Bois-en-Hache, near Barlin, France, Corporal Cunningham was
in command of a Lewis Gun section which came under heavy enfilade fire. Although wounded, he succeeded, almost alone, in reaching the objective with his gun which he got into action in spite of much

opposition. When counter-attacked by a party of 20 Germans he exhausted his ammunition against them and then started throwing bombs. He was wounded again and fell, but picked himself up and continued to fight single-handed with the enemy until his bombs were finished. He then made his way back to the British Lines with a fractured arm and other wounds. There is little doubt that the superb courage of this NCO cleared up a most critical situation on the left flank of the attack ". John Cunningham later died from the effects of his wounds near
Barlin on April 16th 1917. He is buried in Barlin Cemetary, plot 1, row A, grave 39.

Marin Moffat VC ( 15th April 1884 - 5th January 1946 ) was born in Sligo, Ireland. He was 34 years old and a private in the 2nd Battalion Prince of Wales's Leinster Reiment when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. " On the 14th October 1918 near Ledeghem, Belgium, Private Moffat was advancing with five others across the open when they came under heavy rifle fire at close range from a strongly held house. Rushing towards the house through a hail of bullets, Private Moffat threw bombs and then working to the back of the

house, rushed the door, killing two and capturing 30 of the enemy ". He died in Sligo on the 5th January 1946.